Even if you are only the most passive of movie buffs, odds are good that you either own or have seen a few of the films that top popular culture's list for being Completely Messed Up, with a capital c, m and u. Odds are even better that, along with something by David Lynch and GasparNo?©, one of these films was written and/or directed by Harmony Korine.
For any musician or band who has had a career spanning more than four decades, it's usually fair to assume that their peak performing years are long past. While there are many bands with impressive, lengthy resumes that continue to tour, sometimes their concerts can seem stale - a glimpse of their former greatness. But on Monday night at the TD Garden in Boston, Neil Young and Crazy Horse gave a thunderous performance that proved that they are one of the true exceptions to that trend. Energetic, loud and vital, Young and company's concert was stunning for an artist of any age, let alone for someone who is 67.
British alternative indie rockers Alt?J recently received the 2012 Barclaycard Mercury Prize, elevating them from relative obscurity to the world's stage. As they possess an impressively unique feel, it's safe to say the award was well deserved.
"Silver Linings Playbook" marks another excellent addition to the filmography of David O. Russell, acclaimed writer?director of films like "The Fighter" (2010), "I Heart Huckabees" (2004) and "Three Kings" (1999).
Rihanna is a unique pop star. She's got a superhuman work ethic and she has released seven albums in seven years. Over that short time frame, she's made well over twenty hits, a collection that few musicians ever match. Her newest album, "Unapologetic," features yet another collaboration with her infamous boyfriend, Chris Brown. However, the single "Nobody's Business" ends up failing in a few regards.
If you are only going to play one chord for 20 minutes, you should probably choose wisely. This has always been one of the toughest aspects of ambient music: it demands a kind of resiliency in the ideas it tries to portray. Nothing can be more boring than a bad ambient song, or more hypnotic and immersive than a good one. It can often take a few listens just to decide just which a particular track is, but that opinion often feels set in stone after it's made. Thankfully, Brian Eno's latest album, "Lux," is great and deserving of similar praise to his most?lauded albums from the '70s and '80s.
Folk icon AniDiFranco performed to a moderately packed but extremely enthusiastic house at the Wilbur Theater on Nov. 13. Pearl and the Beard gave an inspired opening packed with powerful harmonies and cameos from quirky instruments like the glockenspiel and the melodica. The band has toured numerous times with DiFranco and it's obvious why she keeps asking them back - if Pearl and the Beard's latest album, "Killing the Darlings" (2011), is nice on an iPod, then it's mesmerizing live.
When The Who announced earlier this year that it was going to embark on a tour performing its classic album "Quadrophenia" (1973), some may have assumed this band was merely coasting on its previous successes. But from the opening song on Nov. 16 at TD Garden, it was evident that The Who was not just taking the easy way out. The 39?year?old"Quadrophenia," filled with intricate parts and demanding vocal lines, is a difficult album for any group to perform in its entirety, let alone for a band whose two principle members are nearing the age of 70. The Who was faced with quite a challenge on this tour, but Friday's triumphant concert proved that the legendary band can still deliver an incredible and inspiring performance.
Perhaps one of the most glamorous products of fashion, easily disseminated to far corners of the globe, is fashion photography. Major magazines with deep pockets like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar have travelled the world, shooting editorials in Peru or along the Great Wall of China. The idea of going on?location inspires envy as copy editors and stylists, used to working in the confines of a metropolitan area, dream of exotic spots and a little relaxation. The result: richly textured shots with a local, authentic flavor. You can't fake that. Unfortunately, however, this is not the norm for most fashion shoots, whether they are editorial or commercial. Oftentimes, the main components required of a fashion shoot are a lot of stamina and long 12?hour days on your feet to create the perfect Target advertisement or Ralph Lauren perfume ad.
At 21 years old, Jamie Lober, then an ambitious senior at Indiana University, did the unthinkable: she ran for mayor of her college town of Bloomington, Ind. During her campaign, Lober emphasized her experience working with the city government, businesses and schools, as well has her role as a student and community organizer for non?profits. Despite her impressive resume of civil service, Lober lost the election to the incumbent. Yet, a loss at the polls could not and did not stop Jamie Lober because she had something on her side driving her onward: pink power.
