Leisure

Reviews and think pieces on music, movies, art, and theater.

Leisure

Critical Voices: Shout Out Louds, Work

While mixing easy-going pop rock with heartfelt lyrics Sweden’s own Shout Out Louds have been attracting buzz since their last release, 2007’s Our Ill Wills, broke into the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

By February 25, 2010

Leisure

Suffer for Fashion: Costume chaos in Canada

I’ll admit it’s been a glorious two weeks of Olympic activities.

By February 25, 2010

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Yr Blues: Help wanted for GU’s music scene

ven now, over four years later, it’s hard to say exactly what I expected of the so-called “Georgetown Music Scene” when I first arrived on campus in 2006.

By February 25, 2010

Leisure

The Wolfman cometh, maketh a bad movie

Much like the titular monster, the arrival of The Wolfman was heralded by bad omens and concerned whispers. And whether you are a Victorian country dweller or a contemporary moviegoer, the proper course of action remains the same—stay away.

By February 18, 2010

Leisure

Ris-oundingly bad

Ris Lacoste is a culinary legend around here. Her decade-long reign as executive chef at 1789 was exceptional, bringing critical acclaim, not to mention “Restaurant of the Year” awards, to the corner of Prospect and 36th Street NW. In December, after a four-year absence, she re-emerged on D.C.’s restaurant scene with a place of her own: Ris.

By February 18, 2010

Leisure

Leh’zur Ledger: A vinyl-laden Valentine’s

I spent my Valentine’s Day in a dimly lit concert hall filled with dusty milk crates. What better way to spend this Hallmark holiday than by participating in a form of consumerism a little more genuine than one made of cheesy greeting cards and freshly cut roses?

By February 18, 2010

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Photography exhibit shed light on the Darkroom

In the Darkroom: Photography Before the Digital Age is not art for art’s sake. Rather, it’s art for the sake of education—an appreciation for the history and scientific complexity of the method that has been lost at today’s world of Wal-Mart printout stations and Facebook album

By February 18, 2010

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Critical Voices: Toro y Moi, Causers of This

Plenty of words have been written about chillwave, but for Toro y Moi, I don’t mind adding some more. The band’s newest album, Causers of This, stands out in the midst of a chillwave hangover—or, given the saccharine hooks of Neon Indian, perhaps “despite all of my chillwave cavities” is a better metaphor.

By February 18, 2010

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Critical Voices: Local Natives, Gorilla Manor

The first instinct upon listening to a new band is to draw comparisons to established artists on the scene—to see if it fits into your canon, justify your love or indifference, or even just satisfy the nagging suspicion that you’ve heard the arrangement before. Indie newcomers Local Natives make that practice frustrating, if not impossible, with their first full release, Gorilla Manor.

By February 18, 2010

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Rub Some Dirt On It: Alternative energy sources

Years ago, the most unwholesome beverage a kid could buy at a convenience store counter was a sugar-laden can of Coke, and the only option available to sleep-deprived college students was an extra large cup of coffee.

By February 18, 2010

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Bottoms Up: A guide to open bar crashing

It was Booker T. Washington who said, “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” Washington, master orator that he was, apparently never attended an open bar reception.

By February 18, 2010

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Daniel Tosh on sex changes, dead parents

Daniel Tosh, comedian and host of Comedy Central’s Tosh.0, talked to the Voice’s Leigh Finnegan and other college newspapers this week about the new season of his show and the response he gets for his scathing brand of humor.

By February 11, 2010

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No Haneke panky in The White Ribbon

Michael Haneke must hate Sherlock Holmes. His newest movie, The White Ribbon, is a whodunit without a who—there’s no butler with a grudge, spurned lover, or jealous colleague lurking in the shadows.

By February 11, 2010

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Nicklen’s picklens of arctic animals at Nat Geo museum

The Arctic is a place of contradictions. The tranquil beauty of the white tundra and the cool blue waters belies the harshness of the conditions.

By February 11, 2010

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Pizza, “il” advised

Upperclassmen will fondly remember 1063 31st Street NW as the location of The Alamo, a terrible Mexican-ish restaurant that did not card, where freshmen without fake IDs could order expensive margaritas and run into hallmates from Darnall who were drunk on Coronas and stuffed with mediocre tortilla chips.

By February 11, 2010

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Critical Voices: Hot Chip, One Life Stand

Hot Chip, a five-piece electronic outfit from London, has put out three middling albums with monster singles tucked neatly away inside each one.

By February 11, 2010

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Critical Voices: Yeasayer, Odd Blood

Yeasayer’s Odd Blood cover may be the most hideous thing I’ve seen since Tubgirl, but there couldn’t be a better visual complement to this group’s sound.

By February 11, 2010

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Yr Blues: Let’s talk about sex … and music

Feburary 14 is upon us, so it’s time to set the mood. You know what I’m saying—maybe it’s a nice bouquet, a little bit of chocolate, or a thoughtful card that will get the evening in motion.

By February 11, 2010

Leisure

Suffer for Fashion: A rich man’s Olympic wear?

With the Winter Olympic games just around the corner, there’s quite a bit of talk on the Internet about what the team uniforms for the parade of athletes at opening ceremonies will look like.

By February 11, 2010

Leisure

O’Keeffe blooms at the Phillips

The Georgia O’Keeffe: Abstraction exhibition opening this week at the Phillips Collection will radically redefine the way people view the iconic artist. O’Keeffe becomes youthful, revolutionary, and full of contradictions.

By February 4, 2010