Ab-Soul These Days… | Top Dawg Entertainment Artists in today’s musical landscape are subject to an ever-present struggle to remain relevant. Stars fade and trends will change, leaving a slew of nostalgia-inducing songs that formerly defined our times. What Los Angeles rapper Ab-Soul sets out to do on his new album is provide a time …
The young, bored, and rebellious Photo courtesy of Emily Marruci, SKH Gia Coppola’s “Palo Alto” leaves viewers wondering what they have just seen. The film explores the short stories of James Franco’s novel of the same name through a slow and simple plot line. It focuses on a group of privileged Southern California teenagers as they explore …
The Roots …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin | Def Jam There is still something to be said about consistency in music. Steadily producing quality art for more than 20 consecutive years is a feat that not many can achieve. The Roots are undoubtedly one of hip-hop’s most legendary bands and have been one of …
Episode 7 – “Waterloo” Photo by jasonwhat (CC) Although much of the lingering plot lines of this season were wrapped up, this episode was about forward-thinking and moving on. Peggy aced her Burger Chef pitch, with the support of Don. Much like the previous episode, this one provided insight into their platonic, mentor-protégé relationship. Director …
A second helping of Indonesian ass-kicking Back in 2011, the Indonesian martial arts extravaganza The Raid was a surprise hit with North American audiences, as many were drawn to its unique setting and no-nonsense approach to action. For the sequel, Welsh director Gareth Evans has the arduous task of trying to top the original film’s spectacle, …
Local group set to release new album in two parts Photo courtesy of the PepTides In love, out of love — everyone has an opinion on love. Local group The PepTides will release Love Question Mark on May 6, with the official release party at St. Alban’s Church on May 3 at 8 p.m. Students who saw …
Timber Timbre Hot Dreams | Arts & Crafts Canadian folk music group Timber Timbre, made up of Taylor Kirk’s vocals, and Simon Trottier and Mika Posen playing a wide range of instruments, is set to release their fifth album in April, following their 2011 Polaris Prize-nominated album Creep On Creepin’ On. This album has a dark, mysterious …
Marianas Trench guitarist promotes solo work in Ottawa Photo by Marta Kierkus If one thing can be said about Matt Webb, lead guitarist of Marianas Trench, it’s that he knows how to rock a crowd. On March 6, he was in town to perform at Mavericks and surpassed fans’ expectations. It was only the second stint …
Enemy reunites Jake Gyllenhaal with director Denis Villeneuve for the second time, following their 2013 film Prisoners. It tells the story of a young history professor who is dissatisfied with his life. He watches a movie in which there is an actor that looks identical to him. Falling into a sort of obsession, he arranges …
The University of Ottawa’s Office of Campus Sustainability hosted a public screening of the documentary Trashed on March 6. Featuring Jeremy Irons, the documentary is not quite as entertaining as his famous voice role as Scar in The Lion King, but it does bring an important and terrifying issue to light. The documentary tells the …
Spencer Murdock reviews Schoolboy Q’s latest efforts in this week’s Playback
Kid Cudi Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon | Wicked Awesome/Republic On Feb. 25, Cleveland emcee Kid Cudi became the next musician to ride the wave of releasing albums with little or no warning when he dropped his new album with only a tweet’s notice earlier in the day. Originally intended to be an …
Airplane action movie starts strong but ends in a nosedive Non-Stop is an above average thriller that gets you in the theatre and thoroughly entertains you for 110 minutes. During your stay, you are treated to a great cast of actors in low-key roles that build tension as they bounce conflict off one another. This …
Love isn’t the only thing that seems endless Based loosely on Scott Spencer’s 1979 novel of the same name, Endless Love is the second cinematic adaptation of an ageless love story. The melodramatic, teen romance stars British actors Alex Pettyfer (David) as the working class boy and Gabriella Wilde (Jade) as the privileged, but emotionally damaged girl. …
We like music. You like music. Let’s like music together.
A viewing experience that lives up to its title I would say That Awkward Moment is properly my first anticipated movie of the year. Picked off the 2010 Blacklist, the film tells a rather conventional romantic comedy tale, but from the male perspective. It’s a fresh angle to go on, and picking three actors who are …
On Jan. 24, Canadian soprano Donna Brown and elegant harpist Jennifer Swartz gave a concert in Tabaret Hall as a part of this year’s School of Music concert series.
Against Me! Transgender Dysphoria Blues | Total Treble Music This is the first album Against Me! has released since lead singer Laura Jane Grace came out as a transgender woman. Given the title, it’s hard not to listen to the album as a personal confession. The album title may imply a wallowing confessional, and a …
Perhaps Mary Shelley, gargoyles, and the battle of good versus evil were not a combination fit for a movie.
The first rule of Fight Club is….
There are standout funny moments in Her, a film that examines how humans adapt to technology and the effect it has on our relationships. This theme is very current, yet I was never completely absorbed in what I was watching.
Springsteen’s newest offering showcases the dichotomy of the Boss’s lyrical and musical content undercut by the irony of the album’s title.
There are a total of four published works exploring the Shawbridge boys’ farm, or as it’s known to most who spend time there, The Farm. The fourth and most recent is the personal story of a young girl in the early ‘80s who became a ward of Quebec’s juvenile system and spent her teenage years chasing her freedom at nearly any cost.
Childish Gambino Because the Internet Glassnote Records This is the second album from Childish Gambino, who most know as Donald Glover, former writer for 30 Rock and one of the stars of Community. The rapper and comedic genius comes back from his heavy rap mixtape Royalty and his successful first album Camp to give us …
Hundreds of students along with their friends and family members gathered in the Huguette Labelle Hall to take in musical pieces performed by students from the School of Music on Dec. 4.
