Contributor: Adam R. Holz

Katy Perry says she wants to sing “purposeful pop” these days. Sometimes on Witness, she does. Other times, not so much.

Whether or not Rachel is victim or villainess, though, one thing’s pretty certain here: Wherever she goes, seduction, disarray and death sure seem to follow.

Megan Leavey is an inspiring story about two war heroes: a determined young woman and the dog she unexpectedly bonds with while serving in the Marines.

Dean is as quirky and meandering as its titular character’s offbeat drawings are, stumbling through its tragicomic (and occasionally profane and suggestive) narrative.

Terrific virtual fun awaits gamers in the digital final frontier. But some annoying Tribbles potentially lurk there, too.

Even Dwayne Johnson’s formidable biceps and sense of humor can’t save this raunched-up remake from drowning.

Linkin Park’s latest trades anger and angst for humility and maturity. (Well, mostly.)

The first single from this former One Direction member splits the difference between love and lust.

Mandisa’s latest gives us an intimate glimpse at her hard but redemptive journey through a season of grief and depression.

Everything, Everything invites us to root for and to romanticize a teen’s decision to potentially risk her life for a taste of freedom.

All of us need forgiveness, and all of us need to extend it to those who wrong us. Champion poignantly reminds us of that fundamental spiritual truth.

Selena Gomez’s latest single is mildly suggestive. Its video? A whole lot more so.

By the time The Wall crawls to its grim conclusion, it has mightily sought to subvert the American hero war paradigm.

Paramore’s latest album wades through loss, heartbreak and bitterness … without ever really turning a hopeful corner.

Snatched excels at gross-out humor, anatomical vulgarity and lethal hijinks. Between those gags is a story about a mother and daughter trying to reconnect.