James McGrory

Leisure

Inaugural art

As the season for high-end Inauguration balls arrives, the District’s art scene reminds us of both its contribution to the presidential race and the harsh economic reality that leaves most... Read more

By January 15, 2009

Leisure

Framing humanity in a snapshot culture

America is a snapshot culture. A single still frame is enough for the viewer to get lost in a remembrance of the past, however fleeting. Thus, a professional photographer’s goal is to draw attention to a piece of history with each frame he takes.

By December 4, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: The Samuel Jackson 5, “Goodbye Melody Mountain”

When a band names themselves after both Samuel L. Jackson and the Jackson 5, we expect great things. Perhaps the name of The Samuel Jackson Five speaks to a love of both ferociousness and pop sensibilities, which is exactly what Goodbye Melody Mountain has to offer. A breath of fresh air, they have taken the stale tendency of post-rock towards sleep inducement and made it something worth listening to.

By November 20, 2008

Leisure

Behind the bearded wonder

"For me, Abraham Lincoln exemplifies the possibilities of America," David C. Ward, a historian at the National Portrait Gallery said in his gallery's new exhibit. In celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the 16th president's birth, the museum has unveiled "The Mask of Lincoln," an exhibition of the mystery that lies behind the portraiture of the man.

By November 13, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Los Campesinos!, “We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed”

Los Campesinos! has defied the laws of nature. Or, at least, defied the nature of the music industry's slump. When a single band can muster up enough energy and talent to put out two of 2008's most notable releases while relentlessly touring, it seems like a slap in the face to the artists working tirelessly for over a decade on music that ends up taking an artistic step backwards (ahem, Axl).

By November 6, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Mount Eerie, “Lost Wisdom”

This album will put you too sleep, honestly. Not in the way that the atypical boring, formulated efforts of a below average pop song would. Rather, Lost Wisdom is a record of understanding and warmth. The voices resonating in your headphones will cause a moment of clarity and the heartfelt lyricism will pacify the worst case of stress.

By October 30, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Dillinger Four, “C I V I L W A R”

Does anyone else miss socially aware pop-punk music? I’m not talking about Green Day and Sum 41’s gimmicky politico-punk balladry, but something more along the lines of what Dillinger Four perfected fourteen years ago. With a shallow catalog of only four full lengths to date, this long-lasting band has finally released its Chinese Democracy in CIVIL WAR, a record six years in the making.

By October 16, 2008

Leisure

Choke the Movie

“All I had to do was answer one simple question: what would Jesus not do?” Choke aims to answer this peculiar question of morality with a 90-minute cinematic rampage through sex addiction, self-discovery, and the realization that the embodiment of a holy foreskin’s DNA may be walking the earth. Chuck Palahniuk’s latest big screen adaptation is a dark comedy, in tune with a foul representation of human motive.

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Okkervil River, “The Stand Ins”

Will Sheff of Okkervil River has nearly perfected the pop song. His melodies, which underlie the strength of his heartfelt crooning voice, are immediately noticeable on The Stand Ins, the sequel to 2007’s acclaimed The Stage Names, which was originally planned to be a double album. While still displaying Sheff’s distaste for pop culture, The Stand Ins also deals with the ideas of both conceit and faltering love in great detail, while simultaneously orchestrating memorable moments of pop bliss.

By September 11, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Ra Ra Riot, “The Rhumb Line”

Ra Ra Riot is an enigmatic band. A mere six months after their formation, this Syracuse sextet worked their way to the stage of the CMJ Music Marathon and shortly thereafter played esteemed festivals like South by Southwest and the South Street Music Festival. The group’s defiance of the standard slow stagger towards acclaim is even more admirable when you take their genre into consideration. Ra Ra Riot’s indie pop niche is usually flooded with ambiguous, recycled material, but The Rhumb Line mixes the instrumental bounciness with the vocal serenity of a Belle and Sebastian ballad. The product can only be described as a tranquil yet danceable medley of sounds.

By September 4, 2008