#SundayEssential# Delving into our Rough Trade Essential album range, one weekend at a time. A seriously dreamy blend of downtempo electronica that defined late 90s chill music. A truly immersive experience.

Rihanna was asked in an interview about putting her relationship ahead of her businesses and music, and this was her response: Reporter: “Have you ever considered stepping back from your brands or music to focus more on your relationship?” Rihanna: “We talked about it, but I made it clear that wasn’t happening. Even though he was disappointed when I shut it down, he eventually accepted it because everything I’ve built is in a strong place right now. I’m not stepping away for anyone.” Reporter: “So how do you think he actually feels about this decision, even though he had little choice but to accept it?” Rihanna: “My work and my independence come first, and he understands that. Maybe later when things naturally slow down we can look at it differently, but for now this is my decision, and I’m sure he’ll get used to it.”

Sony's producer pulled each new Spider-Man aside before filming and lectured them not to date their co-star. All three ignored her. Amy Pascal ran the warning like a ritual. She sat down Tobey and Kirsten. Then Andrew and Emma. Then Tom and Zendaya, separately, right after casting them in 2016. Her exact words were "Don't go there. Just don't. Try not to." Her record now stands at 0 for 3. And each pair went further than the last. Tobey and Kirsten lasted about a year. Andrew and Emma made it four. Tom and Zendaya blew past engaged entirely. Tom confirmed this summer that they're already married, after AI-generated wedding photos went viral and his grandmother panicked that she hadn't been invited. He told her she had nothing to worry about, since the family was all there. The pattern was never a coincidence. A chemistry read is the final step of casting a romantic lead. Sony auditions hundreds of actors, then tests the finalists in pairs to find the two people whose attraction looks most real on camera. The winners get paid to gaze at each other for three movies across six years. The studio built a machine that selects for chemistry, then asked it to stop producing chemistry. Pascal has made peace with it. Her current position is that MJ and Peter just always fall in love, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Superman was the first major superhero. Batman sells the most comics. Black Panther is the richest. The Flash is the fastest. Mister Fantastic is one of the smartest. Superman is one of the most powerful. So why do so many of us love Spider-Man the most? ❤️🕷️ Because when we look at Peter Parker, we tend see ourselves. He isn’t perfect. He struggles with money, relationships, loss, and also he is lonely. He makes mistakes, gets beaten down, and sometimes wonders if being Spider-Man is even worth it. But he still gets back up. And also he faces villains most powerful villains ain’t got the balls to face Peter never asked for his powers. He never prepared for it From time to time he, doing the right thing always came with a price. Peter loses jobs, friends, relationships and chances at a normal life. But whenever someone needs help, he puts the mask back on. Even when people hate him. Even when nobody thanks him. And those jokes? They’re not just for comedy. Sometimes Peter jokes because he’s scared. It’s how he keeps himself together when everything is falling apart. That’s why Spider-Man feels so human. He doesn’t always win. He doesn’t have everything figured out. He just keeps trying. Maybe that’s why we connect with him so much. Spider-Man reminds us that you don’t have to be perfect to do the right thing. You just have to keep getting back up. That’s what makes Peter Parker special. Not his powers. Not the suit. The person underneath it. ❤️🕷️ Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #spidermanbrandnewday#

Sadie Sink says she "knew nothing" about Jean Grey before Marvel called her about the role: "People had started rumors about me playing that character — for like years, it had kind of been circulating online — so that was all I knew about her. But I had never seen 'X-Men,' so I was just unfamiliar. Then Kevin [Feige] and Louis [D'Esposito] from Marvel called me, set up a meeting and told me about the character and her role in 'Spider-Man.' Then I did more research on her, and I was like, 'Oh yeah, this is a no-brainer!' She's such an iconic figure in X-Men and in comics, and I'm very excited to bring my iteration of her to life."

For today's Sunday Review, we're considering The Cure's club-friendly remix collection Mixed Up, an album that served as a spirited rebuke to critics who wished to paint goth’s posterboys into a corner

Exclusive: Tom Verlaine's wildly expansive record collection is going on sale via Discogs and Academy Records. We speak with his friend Thurston Moore and Discogs about the late Television frontman’s wide-ranging musical tastes