"Grey & Greene" Offer Up Some Vintage Grooves

The multi-talented Grey DeLisle has released a lot of incredible music in the last few years, including the fantastic records She’s An Angel (2023) and The Grey Album (2025). She was the executive producer and driving force behind last year’s all-star benefit album It’s All Her Fault: A Tribute To Cindy Walker. But if you thought the amazing Ms. DeLisle (who’s also a marvelous voice actress and stand-up comedian) was going to rest on her laurels after that, then you don’t know her very well. Her latest album, Grey & Greene, is a fabulous collaboration with soul singer Les Greene, who you might recognize from Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 film Elvis, in which he portrayed Little Richard, or from his work with his fabulous soul/rock band, Les Greene and The Swayzees.

Grey and Greene is a sensational record, which finds DeLisle and Greene deeply inhabiting some soulful tunes which are infused with the sounds of classic soul, country, pop, and rockabilly, though the driving force here is soul with a capital S. Greene offers spectacular vocal work on the R&B flavored “I’m Gonna Let You Call Me Baby” and “Back of Your Hand,” while alt-country heroine DeLisle indulges her inner soul sister on the lovely “Mariposa” and the gospel-infused “Mister.” The dynamic duo trade vocals on the rollicking “Go Go Go,” “Shake That Thing” and “Home Wrecker,” which is a Greene led re-working of the title track from DeLisle’s 2002 album.

The tunes on Grey and Greene have a timeless quality, which is one of the hallmarks of DeLisle’s songwriting. She penned most of the tunes on the album, collaborating on several tracks with producer James Intveld. These exceptional songs are filled with real emotion, and the performances by both singers are outstanding. Just listen to the stellar work from DeLisle on the heartfelt “The Pieces,” and Greene’s exceptional take on the heartbreaking ballad “That’s All.” Their voices meld perfectly throughout the record, including on the closing track, a delightful cover of the John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John hit “You’re The One That I Want.” Here's a link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Rm8nR_dto.

The disc also features some fabulous backing musicians, including DeLisle’s frequent collaborator, guitarist and singer Deke Dickerson. Grey & Greene is a compelling, groovy and exuberant record. The disc moves effortlessly between multiple genres, including Southern soul, pop, rockabilly and country, but maintains a truly soulful sound at its core, steeped in real heart and emotion. If you’re a fan of Grey DeLisle and Les Greene, or dig the vintage genres featured on the disc, then this album is a must have. It's one of the best records of the year. Check out these links for “I’m Gonna Let You Call Me Baby” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7a0ev2pFcw and “The Pieces.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQs_D5qcnZs&list=RDEQs_D5qcnZs&start_radio=1.

The Monster and The Bride: Bonnie and Clyde?

Writer-director Maggie Gyllenhall's The Bride! is an inventive, kinetic and expressionistic re-imagining of the Frankenstein saga, focusing on the story of the Bride of Frankenstein. The bride of the monster was previously immortalized in the classic 1935 film helmed by James Whale. Gyllenhall's dazzling, creative and imaginative take on Mary Shelley's tale features an amazing performance by Jessie Buckley, who portrays both Shelley and The Bride, while Christian Bale portrays the Frankenstein Monster, and Annette Bening plays a brilliant doctor named Cornelia Euphronius.

The Bride! takes place in 1936 Chicago, where we meet Ida, a sort of gangster's moll who is possessed by the spirit of Mary Shelley, and begins blurting out the secrets of a gang boss named Lupino. Ida is killed while being pursued by Lupino's henchmen. Meanwhile, Frankenstein's Monster visits Dr. Cornelia Euphronius, who is experimenting with reanimating dead flesh. He begs her to create a companion for him. At first, she's reluctant, but ultimately she agrees, and it turns out the corpse they choose to work with is Ida's. The experiment is a success, but the revived Ida has no memory of her previous life.

That's the starting point for a wildly over the top tale that's partly a Bonnie and Clyde lovers on the run tale, mixed in with a female empowerment story, a classic 1930s style monster movie, and a little touch of an old fashioned gangster saga thrown in for good measure. Oh, and it's a moving love story as well! Guillermo Del Toro's fabulous 2025 film Frankenstein might be the more mythic "classic rock" version of Mary Shelley's tale, but Maggie Gyllenhall's The Bride! is most definitely it's irreverent punk rock cousin. This is a visually striking film, courtesy of cinematographer Lawrence Sher's and production designer Karen Murphy. And it's all shot in glorious black and white!

Gyllenhall's clever script combines elements of horror, comedy, and drama, with moments of real emotion and pathos, and her direction is nothing short of masterful. The cast is terrific, with Buckley and Bale doing superb work as The Bride and The Monster, while Bening shines as the somewhat mad doctor. The excellent supporting cast includes Penelope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard and Jeannie Berlin. Maggie Gyllenhall and her talented cast and crew took some really big creative swings on this project, and I think they succeeded in producing a creative, unique, and visionary film experience. If you're looking for something truly different on your movie menu, The Bride! just might fit the bill.