Arts

Arts

It's a 'Cole World': J. Cole brings beats to Boston

By Mackenzie Tatananni | October 8

Cole seems too big to be contained by the word “artist.” He is a producing, lyric-writing, Grammy award-winning music machine who has amassed a cult following since his first release, “Cole World: The Sideline Story”(2011). The album debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, and things have only gone up from there. His five subsequent albums would also top the charts (most of these debuting at No. 1). His most recent release, "The Off-Season" (2021), scored Cole his sixth consecutive No. 1 album in the country — so what better time to treat the fans to a concert?

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Columns

For the Culture: Pop culture flirts with intimacy

By Paul Osmond | October 8

Last year, I observed “the arrival of colorful knitwear with intricate patterns, landscapes and famous artwork” and predicted they would be paired with “’70s printed designs” in 2021. Although I have not seen as many Renaissance paintings knitted into clothing as I would have liked, there has blossomed a homely new connection between streetwear and knitwear. While streetwear was never against knitwear, it hardly employed the material — growing from skater culture, streetwear material primarily comprised denim and nylon. However, streetwear’s appreciation (and borderline obsession) with vintage clothing has burgeoned as the formerly “grandma” material has permeated the community.

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Music

Weekender: Nothing could ever stop Samia from showing up

By Jack Clohisy | October 7

In true indie-pop concert fashion, college students lined up outside of the Brighton Music Hall on Oct. 1 to get a glimpse of one of their Spotify discoveries first seen in person when Samia Najimy Finnerty, known mononymously as Samia, traveled to Boston for her fall tour.

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Columns

Dreaming of Sandman: Gods and free will

By Sadie Leite | October 7

College students may debate free will from time to time, out of academic curiosity or their own growing independence.  Volume 2 of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman,” “The Sandman: The Doll’s House” (1989–1990), could add a new perspective.

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Music

A reunion with Phoebe Bridgers

By Jack Clohisy | October 6

​​Over a year has passed since Phoebe Bridgers released her Grammy-nominated second LP "Punisher" (2020), and after the pandemic delayed most chances for Bridgers to perform live in front of her fans, she finally hit the road with her band on a reunion tour in September. Traveling nationwide, this is the first time Bridgers is able to perform her newest hits in front of audiences ready to break out their best screams for "I Know the End" and tears for the remainder of her catalogue.

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Columns

Brands who deserve our dollars: Naclo Apparel and Aliya Wanek

By Colette Smith | October 6

As temperatures start to drop and the leaves begin to turn, it is time to break out your fall wardrobe and, perhaps, look for some new additions for your closet. If this is the case, here are some fashionable fall options from Black-owned clothing brands.

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Arts

'Sex Education' Season 3 teases young love and heartache

By Jaden Shemesh | October 5

Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault.

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Columns

On Demand: 'Generation,' confusion, emotion and other things that end in -ion

By Raga Chilakamarri | October 5

I’ve only recently reconciled with the fact that I’m a member of Generation Z. Beyond being a Sagittarius born in the Year of the Dragon, I’m not quite sure where I expected to lay in the generational matrix; though, one viral tweet did confirm that I’m an honorary member of the Black Eyed Peas.

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Arts

60 artists, 3 days: An honest review of Governors Ball

By Maeve Hagerty | October 4

Three days in harsh sunlight, surrounded at any given time by hundreds — if not thousands — of people: glitter, neon polyester and discarded hard seltzer cans everywhere. The Governors Ball Music Festival 2021 was, simply put, a lot.

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Columns

K-Weekly: Why 'Loser=Lover' needs to be in your playlist

By Odessa Gaines | October 4

If you’re not familiar with the ever-growing world of K-pop, or international music in general, you may be looking at this section and wondering, what even is "Loser=Lover?" But never fear, dear reader, as I am here to shed some light on who TXT is and why you need to stream the group’s music.

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Arts

What to watch this spooky season

By Emmy Wenstrup | October 1

With spooky season fast approaching, many viewers may soon be tempted by the ever-popular horror genre. Filmmakers often use horror as a critical lens to examine what society itself may be afraid of, as Jordan Peele does with “Get Out” (2017) and Bong Joon-ho with “Parasite” (2019). In other cases, filmmakers take traditionally “scary” motifs and turn them into comedy, as Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement do with the series “What We Do In The Shadows” (2019–). As the month of October draws near, it’s time to look at appropriately themed content.

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Arts

‘I Am Batman’ #1 only partially fulfills its promise

By Carl Svahn | October 1

A Black Batman was inevitable. The idea of a man so wronged by a city and a system resonates with the Black experience in America. There are of course grounded Black superheroes at the Big Two (also see the Milestone heroes), but none of them have the inherent appeal or cultural power that Batman does. With a new Black Captain America in the MCU and a Black Superman project in the works at DC (alongside last year’s surge in race-based violence and national racial reckoning), there has never been a better time to let this idea spread its wings. John Ridley and Olivier Coipel’s "I Am Batman” #1 has all the hallmarks of something great, but its strange relationship with continuity and backstory holds it back.

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Columns

For the Culture: Why does hip-hop love Takashi Murakami?

By Paul Osmond | October 1

Ubiquitous in pop culture since the early 2000s, Japanese contemporary artistTakashi Murakami is familiar with co-relating high and low culture. Among other achievements, he founded the “superflat” theory, which draws on traditional “flattened” Japanese printing with anime and pop culture imagery. He is also famed for his strong collaborative relationship with high fashion label Louis Vuitton, with whom he produced several legendary pieces, and he frequently teams up with fellow fashion icon Virgil Abloh. Perhaps most incredibly, he has had his work exhibited at the Palace of Versailles in France. However, Murakami remains legendary in my mind for the special relationship he has formed with modern hip-hop.

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Columns

Dreaming of Sandman: The hero's grumpy start

By Sadie Leite | September 30

The comic book series "The Sandman" (1989–) by Neil Gaiman, is the story about stories written by a writer who loves all other stories. This column is a story about the story about all other stories.

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Television

'Reservation Dogs' is changing the representation game

By Emmy Wenstrup | September 29

The name Taika Waititi on any project makes it worth watching – the Māori actor/director/producer extraordinaire seems able to add his certain flair to anything and make it work, whether that be a satirical yet moving look at a brainwashed Hitler Youth in “Jojo Rabbit” (2019) or a vampire mockumentary in “What We Do in the Shadows” (2014). More recently, he has lent his star power as an executive producer and writer for “Reservation Dogs” (2021–), his second team-up with FX on Hulu after the success of his “What We Do in the Shadows” spin-off series. 

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Columns

Brands who deserve your dollars: Unspun

By Colette Smith | September 29

Denim jeans are an item that most people have in their closet, but they are also one of the worst offenders in the apparel industry when it comes to polluting the environment.To grow just enough cotton to make one pair of jeans, 1,800 gallons of water are required. Furthermore, the additional dyeing process and machine washing used to make jeans means that one pair uses around 9,982 gallons of water. So while it is clear the industry needs to change to help the environment, it is sometimes unclear what steps in the production process can be changed to make improvements. 

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Arts

George Wein, founder of Newport Jazz Festival, dies at 95

By Miles Singer | September 28

George Wein, who launched the Newport Jazz Festival, died on Monday, Sept. 13 at the age of 95. News of his death resonated throughout the jazz world, with many musicians and institutions offering words commemorating his life and legacy. Jazz at Lincoln Center praised Wein’s vision for the jazz festival in a statement, writing that he "presented the most comprehensive cross-sections of great artists from all generations in an imaginative and unprecedented variety.”Pianist Jon Batiste spoke lovingly about Wein's personal influence on him, and said that all music festivals owe something to Wein.

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Column

On Demand: An ode to 'Halt and Catch Fire' and the glory of new beginning

By Raga Chilakamarri | September 28

Wishing my life was a TV show has the same energy as romanticizing trips to Costco and pretending The Sink baristas are the archetypal “popular kids.” Although I don’t need it, I just want an excuse to battle through song ("Glee," (2009–15)) and speak in an Irish accent ("Derry Girls," (2018–)) and drink coffee for lunch ("Gilmore Girls," (2000–07)). Instead, this column is my chance to ramble, uninterrupted, about TV shows I love and to imagine myself as the Athena to Ryan Murphy’s Zeus (i.e. a screenwriter’s brainchild).

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Arts

'Montero' is monumental

By Maeve Hagerty and Geoff Tobia Jr. | September 24

It has been almost three years since the release of the multi-platinum certified “Old Town Road” (2019) which started rapper Montero Lamar Hill, better known as Lil Nas X, on the proverbial road to fame.Over the course of those years, Lil Nas X went from working two jobs at Zaxby’s and Six Flags Over Georgia to becoming a global superstar.“Old Town Road” was the song that changed his life, and the music scene, dramatically. Pulling together a banjo, collaboration from rock band Nine Inch Nails and a $30 beat,Lil Nas X created the most certified song in history. It seemed likely that Lil Nas X might be a one-hit wonder or struggle to find his footing in a music industry that is often openly hostile to people of color, especially those who identify as members of the LGBTQ community as he does.

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Arts

Injury Reserve's 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix' expresses pain through groundbreaking music

By Geoff Tobia Jr. | September 24

Injury Reserve’s future suddenly became uncertain following the passing of key member Stepa J. Groggs in June 2020. The experimental hip-hop trio, composed of rappers Groggs (Jordan Groggs), Ritchie with a T (Nathaniel Ritchie) and producer Parker Corey, was suddenly a duo. This summer, they finally announced the release of their newest album“By the Time I Get to Phoenix” (2021). The album, released Sept. 15, is their sophomore studio record and it is a genre-demolishing, mind-bending album full of sadness, aggression and hope.

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