I sit peacefully in the depths of a blissfully dark, cavernous Leacock 132, waiting for The Vagina Monologues dress rehearsal to begin—until a blood-curdling scream cuts through the silence and I jump from my seat. The shriek gives way to another and then another; they ring together in a cacophonous[Read More…]
Arts & Entertainment
Keep up to date on local art, new albums, and everything entertainment-related.
True Detective is for real, and it’s spectacular
*Spoiler Alert* When I first heard of True Detective, I was unsure of what to expect from the show based on its title alone, which hints at yet another generic crime TV show. However, True Detective not only exceeds all expectations, but also entertainingly reinterprets the buddy-cop genre in an[Read More…]
Osheaga: the small stage
There comes a time each year when it seems as though every other day sees another festival lineup released. As we crawl towards the end of winter, dreaming about weekends in the summer filled with music makes the final stretch a little more bearable. The headliners of these festivals don’t[Read More…]
Dale Boyle finds musical success by sticking to his roots
After enough predictable PowerPoint slides and monotonous note-taking, it’s easy to find yourself wishing for a teacher like Jack Black in School of Rock to come and shake up your lecture with an unconventional musical component. If that’s the case, then you should try taking a class with McGill’s homegrown[Read More…]
Giller nominee aims high but can’t hit all targets
“Most of the people who knew my mother either slept with her or wished they had, including me.” Thus, Wayne Johnston opens his ninth novel, The Son of a Certain Woman, long listed for the 2013 Giller Prize. With this tale, Newfoundland-born Johnston attempts his long-held goal to “one day[Read More…]
Run River North—Run River North
California based indie-pop group Run River North’s self-titled debut album exudes youthful passion and creativity that flows over kempt beats and calming lyrics. The six-member ensemble hailing from the San Fernando Valley area has perfected their unique brand of orchestral pop, trotting out one whimsical ballad after the another. The[Read More…]
Deep Cuts: Songs to cure your insomnia
Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey Artist: John Mayer Album: Born and Raised Released: May 22, 2012 This peaceful track off of John Mayer’s fifth studio album stands out as a thoughtful lament, ornamented with simple harmonica and sparing guitar. Mayer’s soulful vocals create a comfortingly repetitive effect, evoking feelings of both melancholy[Read More…]
The Fray—Helios
The Fray is back! Just over a year since releasing the commercially-successful Scars & Stories, the alternative rock band from Colorado have returned with their fourth—and ultimately, fairly predictable—studio album, Helios. The first 10 seconds of the opening track “Hold My Hand” are as brilliant as anything they’ve previously released,[Read More…]
Spring—Celebrations
In listening to Celebrations by Sprïng, a band that self-identifies as a “psychedelic rock band,” it’s hard to determine whether the multifarious tracks are true exemplifications of intelligent prog-rock, or if they’re too distracted and overdone to make a serious impression. Although the latter may be true for the average,[Read More…]
Keeping up with The Americans
*Spoiler alert!* It is unsurprising that in a time when American politics have reached new levels of dysfunction, Hollywood has capitalized on it by pumping out political dramas left, right, and centre. Hit series such as Scandal and House of Cards focus squarely on the inner workings of Washington politics:[Read More…]
