When it comes to albums, I unfortunately almost always judge them by their covers. And when it came to Japanese-Canadian star Saya Gray’s debut album SAYA, my judgment did not steer me away. I strongly believe a good album cover should reflect the nature of a record while being visually appealing, and SAYA checks both these boxes.
Across literary circles, Oprah Winfrey’s most recent book club selection Dream State by Hopkins Professor Eric Puchner is abducting fans from the real world, making them miss their subway stops. For me, returning to my dorm from Hodson Hall past midnight, I missed the man in a sandy suit with blonde hair and round glasses waving me down for a lighter. This was perhaps an odd occurrence for the backside of Gilman past midnight, but these things don’t matter when Dream State is on the mind.
The early 2000s — an era of low-rise jeans, chunky highlights and the unmistakable sounds of pop-punk anthems — are making a vibrant comeback in today's pop culture. From fashion runways to music charts, the Y2K aesthetic is experiencing a renaissance, captivating a new generation while evoking nostalgia for those who lived through it. This revival isn't just about recycled trends; it's a fusion of past and present, with artists like Addison Rae, Tate McRae, Olivia Rodrigo and even the iconic Lady Gaga leading the charge.
It is tough to say how this year’s Academy Awards will be remembered. It may very well be seen as a return to prominence for Brody, who experienced a 22-year gap between his Best Actor Oscars. It may also be seen as a massive day for Baker, who has always gained critical acclaim but never won it at the Oscars.
An die Musik Live and the Peabody Institute Jazz Department partnered to present a series of “Hittin' With the Youngins” on Thursday, Feb. 27, at An die Musik in Mount Vernon. This series offers the chance for one Peabody student to present their compositions alongside other Peabody musicians and one Peabody Jazz faculty member. Senior Noah Ford — along with faculty member Charenée Wade — presented this night.
Welcome to another list of upcoming media recommendations! This week’s picks include a movie about a man who can’t feel pain, a historical fiction about an apartment building, a pop album by Stela Cole and a performance of Mozart at the Peabody Institute.
If you are at all familiar with 2000s indie rock or early internet music culture, you’ve likely come across — or at least felt the influence of — Baltimore experimental pop band Animal Collective. Terms like “surreal,” “trippy” and “kaleidoscopic” now feel kind of overused and cliche when describing their music, but albums like Merriweather Post Pavilion or Strawberry Jam undeniably contain a delirious, effortless glee that make them an unmatched benchmark of the modern psychedelic genre.
If your midterms only let you loose for a limited amount of time, then where better to start than with these personal arts and entertainment recommendations, curated for Hopkins students like you?
Every so often, a story comes along reminding us that while Hollywood thrives on romance and fantasy, it’s also a deeply flawed industry filled with power struggles, questionable decisions and enough scandal to fuel the tabloids for years. Enter Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni and a film adaptation that was supposed to be about breaking cycles of abuse — but might have just exposed another one in the process.
On February 7th, the second floor of the LaB was set up with rows of chairs, ready for students to take their seats in preparation for the Open Mic that was about to commence. The MC for the night? Kiera “Ashlee Haze” Nelson, a poet and spoken word artist from Atlanta by way of Chicago.
To borrow from Companion, let me be premature in this review: Companion is a brilliant movie challenging what the horror genre is while still providing a self-contained, enjoyable viewing experience.
With the lion of March creeping around the corner, our hearts still beating from our Valentine fever, there is no time more in need of distraction. Spring will come, and our hearts will slow, but, right now, the wind is pouring through the tunnels and over the quads, romances and friendships are tested in the bitter cold and, most importantly, our free time is nearly nonexistent.
I have only seen one production from the Barnstormers, but I might be scared to see another. That is, because I worry it can’t possibly meet or exceed my experience witnessing their performance of The Importance of Being Earnest, an 1895 play by Oscar Wilde.
On Feb. 10, Mdou Moctar performed at the Arden Club in Wilmington, Del. Moctar, the stage name of Tuareg guitarist Mahamadou Souleymane, was accompanied by rhythm guitarist Ahmoudou Madassane, drummer Souleymane Ibrahim and bassist Mikey Coltun.
Welcome to another list of upcoming media recommendations! This week’s picks include a show about a political conspiracy, a romance novel set in the American West, an indie album by musician Saya Gray and a performance of presidential love poems at Creative Alliance.
Grand, cinematic and freshly futuristic, Eusexua is FKA twigs at her most experimental and intimate. It’s an album that refuses to be boxed in, challenging listeners to embrace both its intimacy and its unpredictability. And whether every experiment lands or not, FKA twigs’s ability to push boundaries remains undeniable.
At this point, just over a day has passed since I watched the 2024 film Nosferatu. I’ve let it sit. I’ve slept on it. And while I admit that I was initially dissatisfied, over the span of those 24 hours, I’ve found myself harboring a newfound appreciation for the movie.
The Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel took on the Leith Symington Griswold Hall at the Peabody Institute on Sunday, Feb. 2. They gave an incredible concert featuring works by Simon Laks, Olivier Messiaen, Ludwig van Beethoven and Maurice Ravel.
When Miller’s newest posthumous album, Balloonerism, was released, it felt like welcoming back a close friend. Once again, Miller was whispering, talking and laughing along with all of us. But, beyond that, the nature of the album has made me reflect on my very own nature and the changes I’ve been through since the first time I listened to his music.
This year’s GRAMMYs ceremony, held on Feb. 2, was a surprising return to form. It benefited from a year of music so strong that there were not many wrong choices to be made.
