Arts

Arts

Tobias Jesso Jr. draws on predecessors to create masterpiece 'Goon'

By Nika Korchok | March 23

The first few strains of  “Goon” (released March 17, 2015), the first studio release of Tobias Jesso Jr.'s solo career, sound like they are from another era. In “Can’t Stop Thinking About You,” Jesso Jr. sounds like a modern day Billy Joel, a balladeer for the modern era, revamped. The piano keys tease at the harmony from Joel's “New York State of Mind” (1976) before launching into a full-fledged ballad, reminiscent of  '70s Billy Joel, Elton John, Don Henley -- the list goes on. Yet while bringing a healthy dose of homage to the greats, Jesso Jr. inserts his own soft crooning and blends it with a multi-genre influenced repertoire. The result is pure gold.

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Columns

Peculiar Paperbacks

By Helen Schmidt | March 23

If you've been a reader of my column for a while now, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of out-of-the-ordinary and unconventional books. They’re an enjoyable break from cookie-cutter stories that can flood the bestseller lists, and the hackneyed tales some authors can churn out in just a few months. ...

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Arts

Marina and the Diamonds paints biting, beautiful sonic portraits on 'Froot'

By Nika Korchok | March 21

Sometimes it takes a darling starlet a few walks around the block before she finds her precious footing, and only after she’s spent time wobbling down Sunset Boulevard in her cotton-candy-pink jelly-sandal high heels can her gait transform to a confident strut. Marina and the Diamonds, that '80s ...

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Arts

New Jersey artist Adam Hillman creates highly detailed pieces with contemporary zeal

By Anjali Nair | March 21

New Jersey is known for many things, from Bruce Springsteen to the hellish turnpike to the now-infamous Jersey Shore. However, many people may not consider the Garden State a hub for up-and-coming visual artists. As much as New York art snobs may scoff in disdain, the local arts scene in Mercer County ...

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Arts

New show 'Bloodline' combines family drama and noir mystery

By Grace Segers | March 20

“Bloodline” (2015), the newest addition to the growing pantheon of Netflix original shows, was released on March 20, with all thirteen episodes of the first season now available for streaming online. The show, created by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman, is both a moody portrait ...

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Arts

Silk Road Ensemble draws on diverse musical traditions

By Jennifer Straitz | March 12

When one thinks of renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, one likely pictures a soloist surrounded by accompanying string players in a full orchestra, with classical music wafting toward the audience. However, through the 2014-2015 season of the Celebrity Series of Boston, symphony-goers were recently treated ...

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Arts

'Unfinished Business' lacks cohesion between comedic, dramatic elements

By Oliver Gonzalez-Yoakum | March 12

"Unfinished Business" (2015) is a road trip comedy derailed. The car was fueled, all the luggage was packed away, Siri knew the route and snacks were packed for the kids. Vince Vaughn, Dave Franco and Tom Wilkinson carry the acting power, Berlin provides a beautiful playground and the subpar ...

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Columns

The one where the SWUGs go on spring break

By Nikki Blank | March 11

Dear SWUG,I’m so pumped to get off of this snowy campus and leave on a jet plane to someplace warm. Can you give me some tips on how to have a v SWUGGY spring break?- Spring Break Foreverrrrr Dear Spring Break Foreverrrrr,It’s finally here! A break from the madness! If you’re anything like me ...

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Arts

Mumford and Sons explore fresh musical territory with single 'Believe'

By Jennifer Straitz | March 11

While students everywhere in Boston rejoiced for the inkling of spring weather on March 9, fans of Mumford and Sons had something extra to be excited about: the release of the band's single, "Believe." The London band's first new music since the release of its second studio album "Babel" (2012),"Believe" signifies a significant departure from the folksy feel of both "Babel" and its first album, "Sigh No More" (2009).

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Arts

What's up this weekend

By Nika Korchok | March 11

Looking to make your weekend artsy? Check out these events!

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Arts

Top 10 things to NOT do over spring break

By Jessica Mow | March 11

Well, folks, spring break is upon us. One whole glorious week of relaxation and warm weather (unless you’re going somewhere cold. In which case, I’m so sorry). Assuming you’re going on vacation, or at least seeing the sun, there are lots of things I’m sure you’re looking forward to. You probably ...

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Arts

Highland Kitchen serves American comfort food with a twist

By Jacob Lipson | March 11

Tucked away in the heart of Somerville, the entrance to Highland Kitchen is nondescript, denoted only by a sign that looks far older than the restaurant it marks. The doors to Highland Kitchen opened less than 10 years ago, but the joint’s American comfort food has become a staple and, indeed, a ...

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Arts

Market Basket delivers fan-favorite covers with infectious spirit

By Nika Korchok | March 11

Market Basket is pure, unfiltered fun. The five-person Tufts band -- made up of senior Leif Inouye on rhythm guitar, junior Anna Kaplan on bass, sophomore Tucker Sjoblad on drums, sophomore Josh Berl on lead guitar and junior Mike Manzi on vocals -- formed at the beginning of this year, and it doesn't show signs of slowing down any time soon. During its interview with the Daily, the group proved lively. Feeding off of each others’ energy like puppies at an over-cramped PetSmart adoption event, they take turns answering questions in sequential letters of the alphabet. At the letter G, Inouye described the group’s influences.

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Television

TUTV to release new webseries 'Wave Jacked'

By Josh Podolsky | March 11

Broadcast television has, for a long time, staunchly held out against the internet revolution, instead choosing to keep its wares off the web for technical and legal reasons. The Average Joe found workarounds to these two hurdles long ago, and thus, in an absurdly simplified manner, the age of internet ...

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Columns

Calder's Contortions

By Emily Gruzdowich | March 10

Undulating, twisting and floating, Calder’s mobiles create perfect symmetry from imperfect objects. Odds and ends of metal painted in blaringly bright primary colors produce this mesmerizing mixture of media. Tangibly dense yet seemingly weightless, Calder’s mobiles gracefully orbit.Revolutionizing ...

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Arts

Prefab Messiahs return to music scene with spunky new album

By Anjali Nair | March 10

For the few readers who are well versed in the '80s underground post-punk scene of Central Mass., the name The Prefab Messiahs may ring some bells. For the rest currently scratching their heads in confusion, don’t worry -- the Prefabs have stealthily passed under the radar despite the success ...

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Arts

'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' shines with bright, wacky humor

By Grace Segers | March 10

“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2015), co-created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, is the newest Netflix original series; its first season is now available for streaming. All 13 episodes of the show were released on Friday, March 6 to better facilitate binge-watching. The show stars Ellie Kemper as ...

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Arts

Kelly Clarkson shines with powerful vocals on new studio album

By Josh Morris | March 10

After a two-year hiatus, Kelly Clarkson is putting it all together with her seventh studio album, entitled "Piece by Piece (Deluxe Version)" (Feb. 27). Although it’s been 13 years since Clarkson claimed the title of being the original "American Idol" (2002-present), this latest album from Clarkson is reassurance that her lasting influence isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. While there are some weak points on the record, it shines as a whole and demonstrates Clarkson’s extreme musical versatility.

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Arts

'My November Guest'

By Daniel Bottino | March 9

A sense of rural serenity and quietude pervades many of Robert Frost’s poems. Such well known lines as “The woods are lovely, dark and deep,” from Frost’s famous “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” (1923) almost effortlessly conjure up images of peaceful landscapes, untroubled by modern ...

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Arts

Reflecting on #TheDress

By Josh Podolsky | March 9

It took the internet by storm. Granted, its fame was not unprecedented for cultural memes, but something was different about this phenomenon. People had no control over how they perceived it -- their perceptions were totally unadulterated by social and cultural filters, relying solely on how their ...

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