Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud Ed Sheeran's new album Play, and the Spinal Tap reunion
Sep 12, 2025
Richie Assaly, a Toronto-based freelance culture writer, and Maura Johnston, a Boston-based music journalist, discuss the cultural significance of the Spinal Tap reunion and its satirical commentary on the music industry. They critique the long-awaited sequel, debating its failure to recapture the original's charm. Shifting gears, they explore Ed Sheeran's new multi-genre album 'Play' and its quest for global appeal. They also dive into Justin Bieber's lo-fi release and Lizzo's thoughts on navigating music discovery in the age of algorithms.
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Nostalgia Overcuts Satire
- The Spinal Tap sequel trades sharp satire for nostalgia and familiar chemistry among the aging cast.
- Richie Assaly enjoyed the film mainly because of the performers' rapport and an enthusiastic audience of diehard fans.
Sequel Feels Out Of Time
- The film feels out of step with modern satire by reusing old jokes and cameo beats that break immersion.
- Leila Latif found it so flat it almost made the original feel worse by comparison.
The FIFA-Fication Of Pop
- Ed Sheeran pursues global crossover by deliberately adopting international sounds and star collaborations.
- Richie Assaly calls this trend the “FIFA-fication” of pop, aimed at placemaking in global ads and events.