JP Spence

JP Spence is a writer, screenwriter, and improviser living in Los Angeles. He previously served as the media critic for the Topanga Messenger and as Editor-In-Chief for the LA Valley Star. You can find Josh @JP_Spence on twitter or at any press screening.

Boarding House is a Reach

This isn’t a think piece. Not an “in defense of “article or a faux open letter. Let’s just call it what it is. Jack White wrote a bad album. For the first…

Judas Priest Remain Short on Firepower

British heavy metal band remain defenders of the faith. The term, “classic album,” and phrase, “returning to their roots,” are always problematic. It’s a bad sell. It’s the band saying, “sorry we…

SUPERCHUNK What a Time to Be Alive

Eleven albums in and Superchunk never sounded better. Despite what you may have heard, fun rock albums still exist. You know, the album that isn’t mired in a desperate rebrand, vague concept,…

Standup for Drummers is Decidedly Off-beat

From Saturday Night Live to Portlandia, Fred Armisen finally gets his solo Anyone expecting a pure standup set doesn’t realize that Fred Armisen marches to the beat of his own drum. The…

The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water Doesn’t Rock the Boat Pitching The Shape of Water as a parable is perfectly fine. Dark fantasy sounds more interesting than superhero saga. It still needs to be…

Redrafting the Justice League

Reaching a new nadir, Warner Bros. should look outside the motherbox. I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed. Maybe even more, concerned, if such a thing can exist for a multi-billion-dollar film franchise.…

Coco Makes the Crossover

Latest Pixar film is an instant classic. You’re going to cry. But we know that, right? Getting in touch with all the feelings is why we go see Pixar films. Some of…

Winners from Season Two of Stranger Things

Hopper, All Things ‘80s, and why Bob wins for losing. Enough time has passed. The spoiler embargo is over, multiple viewings have commenced and the gate’s been sealed. It’s time to break…

Stoneskipper Makes the Jump

Topanga local Brian Chapman’s EP makes loud statements by being decidedly delicate. Stoneskipper’s eponymous EP is mood music in the best way be it sunrise, sunset, nursing a hangover or a broken…