Bloglander

Every Tuesday we sift through the new music and DVD releases to see what's worth spending your money on, and what's better left to people with no sense of taste. Let's do it: 

MUSIC

Justin Townes Earle, Absent Fathers. The rabble-rousing roots musician (and son of Steve Earle) releases the follow-up and companion set to his excellent 2014 album Single Mothers. Here's a taste: 
Mark Ronson, Uptown Special. Bruno Mars and Tame Impala's Kevin Parker are among the vocalists taking the mic on a slate of new songs full of maestro Ronson's funk, R&B and soul beats. 
Panda Bear, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper. The founding member of Animal Collective releases his fifth solo set, a typical mashup of influences ranging from hip-hop to alt-rock. 

MOVIES & TV

The monster-sized mainstream release of the week is Gone Girl, a movie that will more than likely get a few Oscar nominations soon. You've probably already seen the well-received David Fincher flick, so consider checking out one of these under-the-radar efforts: 

Love Is Strange is an utterly charming love story, and one you haven't seen before. John Lithgow and Alfred Molina are happy, older newlyweds in New York City who suddenly find themselves forced apart and crashing with different parts of their respective families. 
Finding Fela! is a documentary about the pioneering African musician Fela Kuti, who died of AIDS in 1997. Critics didn't love it, but the music is undeniable. 
Jimi: All Is By My Side was a bit of a quiet release, but OutKast's Andre 3000 got some good reviews for this look at one year in Jimi Hendrix's pre-fame days.