Sal Cinquemani

Nov 15, 2024 | slantmagazine.com | Sal Cinquemani

In an episode from the third season of Friends, Monica hooks up with a co-worker, Julio, who writes a poem inspired by their encounter titled “The Empty Vase.” Phoebe interprets the poem as a metaphor for what he really thinks of Monica: “My vessel so empty with nothing inside/Now that I’ve touched you, you seem emptier still.” Eventually, we learn that “The Empty Vase” isn’t about Monica specifically, but all American women.

Oct 31, 2024 | slantmagazine.com | Sal Cinquemani

Confession: I’ve never cared much for “Like a Virgin.” Madonna’s 1984 hit may be the first, if not the, signature song of her career, but it’s a trifle—a novelty, really—with its plucky, noncommittal guitar licks, sub-“Billie Jean” bassline, and the singer’s helium squeak of a voice. That last, integral element in particular has always irked me, as, from “Express Yourself” to “Don’t Tell Me,” Madonna has proven she’s capable of some deep, soulful performances.

Oct 24, 2024 | slantmagazine.com | Sal Cinquemani

Halsey isn’t a great impersonator. The singer’s fifth studio album, The Great Impersonator, draws its influence from the artists who have inspired her, from David Bowie to Britney Spears, but Halsey’s voice—both literally and figuratively—is distinctly her own. The album’s myriad references are weaved throughout its 18 tracks in service of her personal story, as she grapples with love, family, fame, and—especially—death. Mortality, in fact, is a central theme throughout The Great Impersonator.

Oct 23, 2024 | slantmagazine.com | Sal Cinquemani

The breadth of Netflix’s catalog of true-crime docuseries is deep and wide, with truly something for everyone—or at least some type of murder for everyone. The best documentaries reveal the truth about more than just their primary subjects, and the 20 true-crime series here expose the rot at the core of many of our venerated institutions.

Oct 11, 2024 | slantmagazine.com | Sal Cinquemani

In an age when remix packages often include little more than sped-up and slowed-down versions of songs tailor-made for TikTok, Charli XCX’s Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat takes a more holistic approach. The album serves as an extension of Charli’s project as an artist, and rather than commission a bunch of DJs to reinterpret the songs, they’re produced chiefly by Brat’s original creators.