MAGDALENE Explores Misery and the Divine Feminine

After spending three years removed from both the music scene and public sphere, U.K.-based singer FKA twigs has returned with her second LP, “MAGDALENE,” which was released on Nov. 8. On its surface, “MAGDALENE” may seem like a break-up album following the singer’s highly publicized split from former fiancé Robert Pattinson. While this is in part true, the heart of the album reveals itself to be a deeper exploration of the divine feminine, spiritual and physical recovery and the disparate charac

Lana Del Rey’s Newest Album Rewrites American History

On her latest LP and sixth studio album “Norman Fucking Rockwell!”, Lana Del Rey pens a troubled homage to an America that is caught between a rich history of art and poetry, and a future that grows increasingly grim in light of modern politics. Del Rey offers no solutions, but instead attempts to write her own American history — nostalgic, confused, fractured, yet above all, hopeful. In the opening and title track, it is apparent that the singer intends to pull no punches in discussing her pol

Underrated Summer Songs You Might Have Missed Out On

The most recent top pop music charts would suggest that the sound of summer 2019 falls somewhere between Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” and Shawn Mendes’ and Camila Cabello’s “Señorita.” And, yes, somehow Lil Nas X’s long running hit single “Old Town Road” and its many remixes have remained up there too. However, with so many talented rising artists, it feels shallow to define our summer playlists with only these overplayed pop productions. So to boost our collective musical repertoire, I would lik

A Quirky, Artistic Tribute to Community and Cardboard

What do people and boxes all have in common? According to the performance artists in Whoop Dee Doo’s interactive art installation “Have You Seen the Ghost of John?”, the answer is the right to fall in love. Although the show was held in collaboration with Macon Reed’s “On World-Making: Context, Narrative, Myth and Truth” class at Amherst, it was only through the whispers of a few keen individuals that I was able to hear about the project and secure a spot at one of the three same-day showings wh

Julia Jacklin Tackles Pain and Desire of Love in “Crushing”

Since her 2016 debut, conservative chord progressions and moving vocalizations have marked the style of Sydney-based singer Julia Jacklin. The intonation she carries feels kin to that of fellow dreamy alt-folk singer Angel Olsen. However, unlike Olsen, Jacklin has recently found more edge in her lyrics and a shocking level of vulnerability. In her debut album, “Don’t Let the Kids Win,” Jacklin crafted a coming-of-age tale that is memorable for its stripped-back ballads that recount outgrowing he

Solange’s “When I Get Home” Interrogates the Individual

t first glance, the album cover for R&B singer Solange’s recently-released “When I Get Home” appears to be a partner piece to her 2016 album, “A Seat at the Table.” Both covers feature a stripped-down headshot of Solange, and even though little has changed in the technical making of the photograph, there is a clear shift marked on the singer’s visage. On the previous album’s cover, the styling clips lingering in her hair soften and compose Solange’s image, indicating some sense of intimacy to

"Cold War": A Triumph of Modern Cinema

Within our lifetimes we strive to experience one of the purest emotions known to man — romantic love. Approaching Valentine’s Day, it is impossible not to conjure up images of loves lost or found, rose-tinted and often representative of a sentiment much more universal than the individuals who comprise the affair. I find that we are taught about the culture of love through cycles of seeking and experiencing intimacy, meaning that love is as much about longing as it is about the romanticized partn

Paul Dano’s Directorial Debut in “Wildlife” Misses the Mark

Paul Dano has made a name for himself as a critically-acclaimed actor across a splay of successful independent films, including “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Ruby Sparks” and “Love & Mercy.” However, in his directorial debut “Wildlife,” Dano moves from in front of the camera to behind it. The feature film is an adaption of Richard Ford’s 1990 novel of the same name. Dano not only directed the film, but also co-wrote it alongside his longtime partner and fellow actor Zoe Kazan. The film, set in the

“Wobble Palace” Explores Millennial Romance and Instability

In this age of Tinder, political taboos and quarter-life crises, young adult romances are complicated. Director and writer Eugene Kotlyarenko attempts to dissect these trying times in his latest feature-film “Wobble Palace.” Drawing upon his own experience in a failing open relationship during the 2016 presidential election, he invites viewers into a cinematic world depicting the discordant romance of one couple fighting over who will keep their eccentric L.A. home. Between the AstroTurf carpe

McCarty Strives for Originality in Homage to Transcendentalism

Lisa McCarty stands with her arms crossed, nervously reading the room before stepping up to the podium. A small-framed artist with her head partially bowed, McCarty appears partly anxious and partly reverent of the guests who have gathered to hear her speak. Starting softly, her words begin to gain edge as she finds comfort in her pace, humbly detailing her own narrative and opening her love of her craft to the expectant room. The photographer and curator visited Amherst on Thursday, Sept. 13

“McQueen” Documentary Depicts The Man Behind the Handbags

Haute couture is offered to global fashion consumers as a delicacy — a rarity few can afford and even fewer deserve. The message is incredibly clear: high fashion is not only an art but a privilege to engage with. The veil of this exclusive industry is broken only through powerful faces who become cultural icons, such as Hubert de Givenchy, Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfield and Jean Paul Gaultier. However, the line between exclusive creator and famed icon has become increasingly more difficult to cros