Matthew Collins

Leisure

Critical Voices: …Trail of Dead

I got some badass headphones the other day. Sennheiser HD280s—the big, over-the-head, “look at that music snob” kind. Go ahead, laugh at me in Pierce; at least I can hear... Read more

By February 26, 2009

Features

Dance Dance Revolution: Georgetown’s Ballroom Dancing Team

The music began, a quick four/four. Dryden counted the beats aloud for me through her broad smile as she led me through the steps I had learned a little over an hour ago. How did I get here? A mere 24 hours ago I had become an honorary member of the Georgetown University Ballroom Dance team. But hell, three weeks before that day they weren't even in my periphery.

By February 12, 2009

Leisure

A gallery of Vices

The National Portrait Gallery is an odd museum among D.C.’s many Smithsonian gems. For a hall full of paintings, it isn’t particularly concerned with any particular Art Historical ideas, and... Read more

By February 5, 2009

Leisure

Lez’hur Ledger: Valentine 3-D rips out one writer’s ‘Real-D’ heart

I hate horror movies. If you asked me to explain, I’d probably offer all kinds of reasoned explanations as to why most straight-up “horror” films are generally lacking any merit,... Read more

By January 29, 2009

Leisure

Critical Voices: Telepathe

My first run-in (or rather, almost run-in) with Telepathe was this past fall, when they were part of the oddly assembled Mad Decent Tour (dance DJ Diplo, tropical noise-punksters Abe... Read more

By January 29, 2009

Leisure

Critical Voices: Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand used to be my favorite band. Hell, theirs was the first concert I ever went to (Electric Factory, Friday, September 10, 2004). To my 14-year-old self, they offered... Read more

By January 22, 2009

Leisure

Critical Voices: Glasvegas – Glasvegas

The British music press hype-cycle has gotten behind a number of bands in recent memory, from well-known successes like the Arctic Monkeys and Klaxons to a few, well, stinkers (The... Read more

By January 15, 2009

Leisure

Critical Voices: Guns n’ Roses – Chinese Democracy

In 1991 the Minnesota Twins won the World Series; the Louisiana governor’s race included a former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard; former Soviet states declared their independence; and Nintendo released... Read more

By December 4, 2008

Leisure

Zack and Miri Make a Porno, awkwardly

Really, though, if you are the type who isn't immediately turned off by the crudeness of the film's title, you're probably excited enough about the pairing of Smith and Seth Rogen, two of the smartest juvenile comics in the film industry, to drop your nine dollars to check it out.

By November 6, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Of Montreal, “Skeletal Lamping”

An open letter to Of Montreal front man Kevin Barnes:

By October 2, 2008