Arts

From the Office of the Tufts Daily

Earth takes on a more refined, musically mature sound in 'Angels of Darkness'

Ever wonder what exactly happened to some of grunge's classic bands? Look no further than Earth.

New CBS sitcom relies heavily on recycled plot lines

If you're looking for the next "How I Met Your Mother," look elsewhere.

Madeline Hall | The Tasteful and the Tasteless

For any honest individual who will admit to watching game shows, "Jeopardy!" has always been regarded as the classiest of the bunch. While game shows like "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and "$100,000 Pyramid" also attempt to challenge contestants with questions at a level higher than slight trivia, "Jeopardy!" is the snobby, erudite prototype for broadcasted knowledge competitions. Watchers tolerate this characteristic, knowing that the source of its pretentiousness is largely accounted for by the host, Alex Trebek. Assuming a viewer can stomach the haughty critique doled out by the graying host, "Jeopardy!" represents a highbrow form of game−show broadcasting.

Radiohead earns reputation for unpredictability with 'King of Limbs'

Radiohead's latest release, "The King of Limbs," is a surprise for even the most seasoned fans of the Oxford rock band. Those who have listened to the group long enough know Radiohead's incredible capacity for reinvention. After the band secured international stardom with its alt−rock masterpiece "OK Computer" (1997), it followed up with "Kid A" (2000), an electronic−rock fusion that has since garnered recognition as one of the most important albums of the past few decades.

A.R.T.'s 'Ajax' attempts retelling of classic tale

If there is one lesson to take home from "Ajax," Sarah Benson's disturbing portrayal of the end of the great war hero, currently playing at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), it's to keep pride in check. Unfortunately, while Benson's new interpretation of Sophocles' original story seeks to connect with the aftermath of brutality and violence, it loses everything else along the way.

Mostly positive reactions to Radiohead's latest

Radiohead surprised everyone when they announced on Valentine's Day that they would in just five days release their eighth studio album, "The King of Limbs." Even their most loyal fans could not have predicted that the record would come out so soon, or at all: The band had kept unusually quiet about its production and content.

Despite slow start, 'My Name Is Asher Lev' a thoughtful and clever adaptation of Chaim Potok's famous novel

Chaim Potok was an incredibly gifted writer. "My Name Is Asher Lev," an intricate story of conflicts in morality and social acceptance versus personal desires, is one worth telling to an audience.

Conversations' a careful arrangement of diverse photography

On the morning that the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) sent out its "Conversations: Photography from the Bank of America Collection" press release, a representative from the bank stepped up to a podium at the MFA to present the new exhibit. Her speech began with, "Don't you love waking up early in the morning to hear from a corporate sponsor?"

Sandler and Aniston charm as co-conspirators in 'Just Go With It'

Danny has wife problems: she beats him, she is addicted to crack and she flirts shamelessly with every man she meets. The biggest issue of all, however, is that she isn't real.

Top Ten | Things in/on which Lady Gaga should have arrived to the Grammys

She came in an egg, which was pretty weird, but the Daily Arts Department knows she could have done better. Without further ado (no waiting 72 hours!), here are the top ten things that Lady Gaga should have arrived in/on to the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards this past Sunday.

From the Office of the Tufts Daily

Dear Watson,

Theater Preview | With a touch of wit, the trivial turns important in 'Earnest'

Breaking news, Tufts: Starting tonight at 8 p.m., you can spend two hours ogling tuxedo-wearing men with means and British accents in the Balch Arena Theater. Oh, and if you're not into that, there's a play happening, too — it's opening night for "The Importance of Being Earnest" (1895), written by Oscar Wilde and performed by the Tufts Department of Drama and Dance.

Cut Copy serves up solid new album, proves strong songwriting skills

Oh, the '80s. Copious synth lines, tight leggings, nightclubs and Cut Copy … wait a second.

Timeflies, an 'electro-hip-hop-dub-something' duo, proves to be more than your average college band

Rob Resnick and Cal Shapiro are very excited about Timeflies, and they want everyone else to be excited, too. And it's easy to be excited about it — this two-man band really seems to be on to something.

Despite strong, experienced cast, 'Mr. Sunshine' fails to light up the room

Some TV comedies measure greatness in terms of jokes per minute. For instance, funnier equals better for Tina Fey and company on "30 Rock," even if it means cutting corners when it comes to plot and characterization. Other comedies can be good without being laugh−out−loud funny. "Scrubs" (2001−10), although it certainly had its humorous moments, was always at its best when it threw more serious dramatic elements into the mix.

Undertow' merges genres, tackles sexuality with supernatural approach

Genre mashups may be in vogue — check out "Zombieland" (2009), a fantastic horror−comedy, or Quentin Tarantino's entire filmography — but it's not often the pairing of two disparate storytelling approaches yields anything more than an interesting experiment.

Barney's Version' traces the life of one man through three decades, three women

There's a certain magic to films that champion acting, storytelling, complex characters and even subtlety — the unlikeliest of Hollywood virtues. Hunkering down in the comfort of a warm theater to watch these kinds of movies presents a world far from the big, loud and brash summer box office. Tent poles are replaced by prestige pictures, in which the only aspects that might be considered "big" are the reputations of the starring cast and the hands behind the camera.

Glee' recovers original energy after winter hiatus

One question is on every "Glee" fan's mind: will the show get back on track this season? After a Golden Globe win for Best Television Series (Comedy or Musical) and a semi−successful start to its second season, it seems the answer is yes, as "Glee" returned from its winter hiatus in nearly full force.

Google puts the world's art online

Known for their innovative approaches to all things Internet−related, the Silicon Valley aficionados at Google have broadened their horizons into the world of art. Their latest endeavor, the Google Art Project, is now up and running. With the help of a branding company called Schematic, Google has now provided the world with virtual access to 17 of the most internationally renowned art museums on the planet.