[Playlist of the Week] 10 Music Videos for the End of School
As finals rear their ugly heads around the corner, the season of cabin fever for students everywhere begins. While studying proves to be more difficult by the hour, we’ve put together a video playlist to push you through the last days of spring semester.
[Playlist of the Week] 15 Weird Science Music Videos
Last week in science: Newsweek has evidence to back if aliens exists, they’re huge, SNL made fun of Scientologists, a “terror bird” has been discovered and the Brontosaurus has been resurrected as a genus. Oh, and it’s almost finals week for all you Science majors out there, so we’ve devised a playlist to get you through the week.
[Video Playlist of the Week] Girl Power
The first quarter of the year is coming to a close and the women of the music industry have been slaying the competition. With new releases from some of your favorite artists and some artists you should know, this week’s playlist is packed full of the latest jams. Girl power!
- Madonna - Living For Love
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The queen of pop has been doing massive PR work for her new album Rebel Heart. Just this week she wrapped up “Madonna Week” on Ellen and just released tickets for her upcoming tour (35 cities in the U.S.). While her album may have dropped this week, it’s worth the listen for fans to hear the queen of pop coming back to the top.
- Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do
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Ellie Goulding gained some major publicity for this song, which appeared on the 50 Shades Of Grey soundtrack. While the movie was a total flop amongst critics, the song went straight to #1 in most countries and snagged the #3 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
- Phoebe Ryan - Ignition / Do You… (R.Kelly / Miguel Cover)
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Browsing through Spotify’s “Top Hits” playlist, I discovered Phoebe Ryan’s mashup of R.Kelly’s “Ignition” and Miguel’s “Do You…” which is adorable (if you can call a song adorable) as well as catchy. While she doesn’t have many other songs yet, I’m guessing she’ll be in the “Top Hits” playlist with another song soon.
- Charli XCX - Famous
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Charli XCX just released her music video for “Famous” this week, which is directed by Eric Wareheim of Tim And Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! As a Tim & Eric fan myself, I was pretty pleased with the outcome. The video and song are “#LMFAO tite.”
- Marina And The Diamonds - Forget
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Marina And The Diamonds recently released her third album, FROOT, which has many critics fawning over her matured sound. A definite spring tune.
- Matt And Kim - Can You Blame Me
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Matt And Kim are about to drop their fifth studio album, New Glow, on April 7, 2015, but their newest single “Can You Blame Me” is already out for your listening pleasure. Perk: in this version of the song (Kim version), you can put your device (mobile, tablet, iPad) up to your face so it’s like Kim is singing through you.
- Florence + The Machine - St. Jude
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The English songstress has released her first single this week from her upcoming album, How Big How Blue How Beautiful, which will be released June 1, 2015.
- Best Coast - Heaven Sent
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FINALLY, Best Coast are putting together their new album, which is going to be released May 5, 2015. Thus far, if “Heaven Sent” and “California Nights” are indicators of how the album will sound, fans should get pumped (even Bill Murray is a fan). It seems Bethany Cosentino has been hard at work at something other than trying to get Drake to become her BFF.
- Oh Honey - Sugar, You
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The two New York singers came together a couple of years ago to create Oh Honey, an alternative-pop band with acoustic flare. Their newest EP, Wish You Were Here, dropped this week via Fueled By Ramen. The band is still under the radar, but have been featured on Glee, Red Band Society and various commercials.
- Courtney Barnett - Pedestrian At Best
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This Aussie has been getting quite the hype lately with the release of her debut album this week, Sometimes I Think And Sit And Sometimes I Just Sit, which is exceptional.
Girls Season 4 Recap
“I’ve seen a lot of things, I’m 25 years old.”
If you’re like me, you can be cynical, but hopeful all at the same time. As a 20-something woman, it’s hard to comprehend the vagueness of growing up. There isn’t a handbook on it and there isn’t a self-help seminar you can go to that’ll make even the smallest decision easier. It’s the boring lifestyle of being a grown-up that scares me to insanity; and it’s that connection to the women of Girls that has pulled at every heart string of mine during season 4.
In this season of Girls, an HBO show centered around a group of New York women struggling to kickstart their lives, viewers were taken on a personal journey of discovery through each character unlike the previous seasons. A small breakdown of where the characters start off this season:
- Hannah leaves New York to pursue her dreams of becoming the literary voice of her generation in Iowa, maintaining a long-distance relationship with Adam
- Jessa has thrown her filter to the wind, speaking her mind and telling those around her exactly what she’s thinking; like a cold-hearted Judge Judy of free therapy
- Shoshanna has graduated and realized the real world is absolutely terrible
- Marnie is realizing being the other woman to her bandmate, Desi, isn’t working out so well
As the season progresses we also see the men in the ladies of Girls lives take a 180 turn. Desi ends up leaving Clementine for Marnie (and proposing to her later on), Ray gets fed up with his neighborhood government officials and runs for office and Adam starts a new relationship with a woman named Mimi-Rose Howard.
Marina and the Diamonds: "FROOT"
The saying, “the third times’ the charm” has worked for few artists, and Marina and the Diamonds fits the phrase to a T when it comes to the release of her junior album, FROOT. She’s already established herself as a powerhouse indie-pop woman with many faces, some sweet and some fierce, but always fresh.
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With the release of her first album, The Family Jewels, in 2010, Marina Diamand is was an excited, young woman searching for the road of fame and fortune with an innocent sparkle in her voice. Her sophomore album, Electra Heart, took listeners on a journey through her alter-ego’s Madonna-esque heartbreaker lifestyle, which produced chart-topping hits like “How To Be A Heartbreaker” and “Primadonna” in 2012.
FROOT is different than anything Marina has done in the past; then again, she’s always been this way. Every album she has put out has been a different persona, but FROOT is Marina all grown-up. Taking cues from a place of self-discovery and space-y themes, FROOT is the perfect balance of sweet and powerful.
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Her singles thus far, “Froot” and “Forget,” might be the only two songs off the album that are reminiscent of the old Marina with Bjork style vocals mixed in. Nonetheless, they’re pop chart worthy while maintaining a strong indie sound (which might have to do with the 1980’s arcade 8-bit soundbyte in the background). “Blue,” a personal favorite, has that heartbreaker “girl power” perspective that Marina has been perfect at putting into lyrics: “No, I don’t love you/No, I don’t care/I just want to be held when I’m scared/And all I want is one night with you/Just cause I’m selfish/I know it’s true.”
Once again, Marina has done everything herself. Standing behind her one producer this time, Marina oversaw the mixing, the editing and the finishing all while writing all the lyrics herself. She said she was able to grow up, in a sense, from Electra Heart and become the woman she is today because of FROOT. Taking on influences from 70's disco and early 80's electronica, FROOT holds its own sound with Marina being the ringmaster behind it all.
While FROOT is different than the faces of Marina in the past, some of the songs might get lost for fans of her earlier, more upbeat work. It's not that the songs are good, it's that they are sultry and mature. Even if pop enthusiasts favor her singles off FOOT, the rest of the album is clearly definable as indie. But that's not why she does what she does; Marina wants people to follow her as she discovers herself and that's exactly why FROOT is the perfect fit as her junior album.
Austin 3:16 - The Top 10 Stone Cold Steve Austin Moments
"Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!"
From 1989 came one of the greatest wrestlers in history: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. The beer chugging, all-American badass of sports entertainment took on everyone from Santa Claus to Donald Trump. In honor of Austin 3:16, we've compiled a list of some of the best Stone Cold moments in the WWE.
10. When Stone Cold gave Santa Claus the stunner
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A Stone Cold Stunner is truly the only gift that keeps on giving.
9. When Stone Cold stunned everyone during Sunday Night Heat
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YOU GET A STUNNER AND YOU GET A STUNNER AND YOU GET A STUNNER! EVERYONE GETS A STUNNER! During Sunday Night Heat on June 6, 1999, Stone Cold opened up a can of whoop ass on everyone including D-Lo Brown, Mark Henry, Jeff Jarrett, Meat and Val Venis.
8. When Stone Cold gave Donald Trump a stunner
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Most likely one of Mr. Trump's most memorable moments in history is when Stone Cold gave him a stunner during Wrestlemania 23 after chugging some beers.
7. When Stone Cold got arrested for stunning the WWE CEO, Vince McMahon
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The stunner that started it all. During the very first Monday Night Raw on September 22, 1999, Stone Cold stunned WWE CEO, Vince McMahon. Being escorted out of the ring by police, Stone Cold and McMahon have been feuding ever since.
6. When Stone Cold drove a zamboni to the ring
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On September 28, 1998, Stone Cold ruined Mr. McMahon's WWE Championship belt speech to Kane and The Undertaker by driving a zamboni into the ring. Oh, and then is detained by seven police officers because "you don't order Steven Austin to do a damn thing!"
5. When Stone Cold stunned Booker T
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During Wrestlemania 27, Stone Cold and Booker T were having a friendly beer when Stone Cold threw a stunner out of nowhere, making Booker T spit out his beer.
4. Every time The Rock got stunned
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Without contest, The Rock snags the spot for the most convincing sell of post-stunner syndrome of all time.
3. When Stone Cold stunned the entire McMahon family
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On RAW's October 3, 2005 special, Stone Cold brought a family closer together by stunning each member of the McMahon clan.
2. When Stone Cold chaired everyone in the face during Smackdown
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Stone Cold just faced everyone with a chair during Smackdown in the early 2000s and then left, like a badass. Definitely one of the best "ARRIVE. RAISE HELL. LEAVE." moments.
1. When Stone Cold drove a truck full of booze into the stadium, attached a firehose to the back and sprayed The Rock
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There isn't a wrestler out there who has the entertainment value that Stone Cold had during the Attitude Era. The Texas Rattlesnake attached a FIREHOSE to a COORS TRUCK and gave The Corporation a beer bath.
And that's the bottom line....'cause Stone Cold said so!
20 Artists You Need To Know: Summer Festival Edition
Header by Bryan Allen Lamb.
With spring getting into full swing, summer seems within reach already. For music junkies, spring just means a couple more months until festival season. Whether you're planning on hitting all, one or none of the festivals listed in this week's playlist, all of the artists are definitely ones you should know.
Bonnaroo - Check out Run The Jewels
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A hip-hop duo from New York with just two albums under their belt, but mucho street cred amongst hipster rap enthusiasts and the hip-hop community. A definite must-see.
Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath
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I’ve seen Black Sabbath live, and believe me, it’s sad. Just a bunch of pissed off seniors narrowly escaping the bus ride back to Shady Pines. Do yourself a favor and check out the funky bunch known as Brownout who add groovy bass lines that even Ozzy approves of.
Warped Tour - Check out Riff Raff
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If you don’t know who Riff Raff is by now, then listen up: the walking, talking, real-life version of the “alleged” inspiration for James Franco’s Spring Breakers character is playing all Warped Tour dates. The nonsense rapper of neon-flavored Bart Simpson shaped Cheetos is just a skip-and-a-hop away from your hometown. His bogus rhymes are catchy, fun and worth the money to see up close. Also, his merch table is probably going to be full of light-up do-rags or rhinestone encrusted McDonald’s toys from the 90’s.
Candy Hearts
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If you’re already at Warped Tour, then you’re probably going to be at the Candy Hearts show, but the general public might not have the pop-punk upper hand that you do. For those that don’t know, Candy Hearts are a cutesy pop-punk trio from New York who could be described as: Paramore + Bubbalicious Cotton Candy gum + a wink + a diary. If you’re a fan of New Found Glory, State Champs, or Set It Off, then Candy Hearts are a must-have in your library.
Bunbury - Check out The Front Bottoms
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The acoustic pop-punk band have been a Warped Tour hit for some time, but they're moving up the ladder of notoriety ever since their 2013 release of Talon Of The Hawk.
Lindsey Stirling
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Don't even act like you know someone who plays the violin flawlessly, let alone be able to entertain millions in the age of technology doing so. Plus, she often themes her songs to a certain era or place, so her outfits and performance are sure to be entertaining.
Coachella - Check out FKA Twigs
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Amongst all of the gigantic, jaw-dropping artists featured at Coachella this year, one who has been kept more on the hush is FKA Twigs. FKA (Formerly Known As) Twigs started out in 2013 as a YouTube sensation and then POOF! Her sultry demeanor and daze-y hip-hop style are what make her so intriguing. Not to mention her image/feminine mystique is the IRL version of Tumblr, which is probably what Coachella is looking for.
Marina & The Diamonds
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I. Love. Marina. And. The. Diamonds. And you should too. She’s an indie-pop artist who has more soul and flavor than most of her sugary sweet counterparts. Her deep, Welsh accent pulls through the electro-Madonna-esque beat of her songs. Also, her outfits are described as “retro cartoon-ish,” so expect an exciting visual; I’d describe her sound as that too. She may be popular among the invested music critics and indie-pop enthusiasts of the scene, but she deserves to be more than just an honorable mention.
South By Southwest (SXSW) - Check out All Them Witches
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The Nashville natives of All Them Witches have the classic-rock, heavy riff act down to a T. What sets them apart from that blase "hip radio rock friendly" sound is that they have a groovier, sludge inspired Queens Of The Stone Age tang to them.
B.I.C. (Bitches Is Crazy)
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The Bronx hip-hop/rap group known as B.I.C. produce raw, Latin-influenced rhymes similar to their modern counterparts (IE: A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, etc).
[Review] Man Seeking Woman
There are a few shows on television that bring artistic originality to the table while being undoubtedly hilarious. There’s also a fine line when it comes to intelligent comedy and alternative comedy. In some cases, the line is blurred. Much like my Silicon Valley review, the new FXX show, Man Seeking Woman, has me utterly captivated by the somewhat campy, yet refined comedic rendition of literary boy-wonder Simon Rich’s novel, The Last Girlfriend On Earth: And Other Love Stories. This show is daring, absurd and relatable to anyone who has ever felt like love was out of their reach.
A little background about the novel is that Simon Rich is one of the world’s youngest and funniest writers in the literary community. Graduating from the prestigious Harvard University after becoming president of the iconic Harvard Lampoon, he landed a gig as the youngest writer for Saturday Night Live at just 24 years old. Within his first year he was nominated for an Emmy for his work on SNL. Later, he moved onto being a staff writer at Pixar. While he’s only 30 years old, he has published numerous humor novels and columns in the New Yorker similar to the style of acting played on the show. His book, The Last Girlfriend On Earth: And Other Love Stories, throws readers into a semi-fantasy world where impossible obstacles are put in front of him in order to get over a messy break-up and get back into the dating world.
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The show's key players, Jay Baruchel and Eric Andre, seemed like polar opposites when the show began based off Baruchel’s typecast of being a total granola, white dude and Andre’s chaotic, alternative comedy endeavour of The Eric Andre Show. Yet, when you see how Josh Greenberg (Baruchel) and Mike (Eric Andre) interact with each other, it comes as no surprise that they play off each other’s weaknesses. The show begins when Josh’s college girlfriend, Maggie, breaks up with him and in a desperate funk, Josh tries to be cope by attempting to get over his fear of meeting women, going on dates, talking to his mother and “finding himself.” With the help (or lack there of) of Mike and his sister Liz, Josh learns how to date in a world where love seems to fall into the category of being a necessity rather than a natural rite of passage in life for people in their mid-twenties.
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Problems that range from being set up on a blind date with an actual troll, finding out Maggie is dating Adolf Hitler (see video below), faking his own death to get out of a camping trip and becoming jealous of his short-lived girlfriend’s best friend, a tentacled Japanese penis monster, are all obstacles for Josh in the game of love. Man Seeking Woman adds depth to exploring love while bringing in nonsensical humor to the audience. With underlying themes such as finding the right girl, knowing when love is real and knowing when it’s not, the show puts authentic situations into play without leaving the viewers feeling heavy-hearted. If anything, viewers should feel connected to Josh; he’s the poster boy for “nice guys finish last” in a world full of alpha males who avoid love like it’s a prison sentence.
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The target audience is the millennial demographic, who seem to be completely consumed by superficial dating apps and drinking too much, which is addressed in the show as well. Yet, the show uncovers the compassionate side of Josh whenever he fails at trying to find, leave and sometimes, force these “love-y dove-y” feelings upon himself and the women in each episode. The dialogue is brief, to the point and easy to follow for audiences who are used to the antics that each actor portray in their previous work. Their real life situations of trying to find love in an unlovable world are backed by off-the-wall predicaments like having a priest perform an exorcism on your ex-girlfriend’s belongings that just won’t leave you alone or having to attend a destination wedding in actual hell. Better yet, your ex-girlfriend is at the same table as you. These are some of the weird comparisons and “what if” imaginative ideas everyone has thought about when given the short end of the stick of love. If you’re anything like Josh, there is a small glimmer of hope that you don’t have to go through it alone. You can catch the last couple of episodes on FXX at 10:30pm EST.