Leisure

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

Leisure

Critical Voices: Interpol

Following their critically-acclaimed 2002 debut Turn on the Bright Lights, the New York quartet Interpol has emerged as one of today’s premier indie-rock acts. A few vocal critics, however, have harshly labeled the band as unimaginative because its particular mix of brooding guitar rock and dark lyrics bore more than a passing resemblance to 1970’s post-punk acts like Joy Division and Television.

By the September 23, 2004

Leisure

Better Than Marriage

A friend of mine recently told me about a literary journal started at the University of Virginia in which a column entitled “War on Words” takes issue with a certain detestable, overused or elementary word in the English language each week. “An interesting concept,” I thought, spacing out in my economics class one day, with odd visions of becoming the next William Safire (at least in one respect) dancing through my head.

By the September 23, 2004

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RJD2 lets the good times roll

It’s pretty hard to understand how R.J. Krohn, a white boy from Ohio, became one of today’s most renowned instrumental hip-hop artists. In 1996, Josh Davis, a.k.a. DJ Shadow, laid down his debut record, a revolutionary hip-hop/turntable album called Endtroducing.

By the September 23, 2004

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Better Than Marriage

There’s an odd seasonality to concert schedules. Spring and early summer seem to bring more reunions, like those of the Pixies and Mission of Burma this year, while late summer and autumn bring more bands going on farewell tours and breaking up.

By the September 16, 2004

Leisure

The Lists

I will admit that I shamelessly stole this idea from McSweeney’s, a quarterly publication edited by Dave Eggers. That said, these lists are the product of at least 10 minutes of concentrated effort, during which I wracked my brain and tested the limits of my pop-culture knowledge.

By the September 16, 2004

Leisure

Two weeks worth of leisure-time activities

Thursday, Sept 16 Trashcan Sinatras, Roddy Hart, 9:30 Club, D.C. Friday, Sept 17 Lungfish, Black Cat, D.C. This long-running D.C. band continues to appeal to a devoted fan base with their distinctly original variety of slow, deliberate hardcore. Saturday, Sept 18 The Thrills, Black Cat, D.

By the September 16, 2004

Leisure

M. Butterfly floats like a you-know-what, stings like a bee

The themes that define M. Butterfly seem especially relevant in light of the issues of gay marriage and American arrogance in the international arena at the fore of national discussion today.

Arena Stage’s 2004-05 season opener comes with an inescapable warning.

By the September 16, 2004

Leisure

When old fashions come back to haunt new runways

They say it takes at least two years for style-changing runway fashions to trickle down the couture ladder to their toned-down, department-store offspring. The trends that appear on the street, recently characterized by ruffles, shoulder-baring tops and hoop earrings, are the diluted and more practical versions of their over-the-top runway cousins.

By the September 16, 2004

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Narcissistic visions of sex and politics: September Tapes

Forget hybrid cars. Hybrid films are replacing the environmentally-friendly vehicles with a trendiness all their own. An increasingly popular genre, hybrid movies are fictitious films masquerading as reality, often using untrained actors and actual footage.

By the September 16, 2004

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Narcissistic visions of sex and politics: The Brown Bunny

Sex can mean love, lust, obsession or even violence and domination. Plenty of movies explore the motives behind sex, but in The Brown Bunny, Vincent Gallo, the film’s writer, director, producer and lead actor, makes all these forces collide within the context of one relationship.

By the September 16, 2004

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We don’t live here anymore: a wife-swappin’ good time

Adultery is a touchy theme, no?

By the September 9, 2004

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Promoting architectural awareness

Soup can sculptures, gentrification walking tours and workshops

By the September 9, 2004

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Fun for the ritalin generation:D.C. short film festival

The D.C. Short Film Festival offers 37 films this weekend, ranging “from a 56-second horror film to a 23-minute drama,” festival creator Jon Gann said.

By the September 9, 2004

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Striking the chords of compromise

“My brother got this dog named Midnight from a drug dealer,” bassist Justin Shuster (CAS ‘05) said, “and renamed it Roger. We put ‘em together.” And thus was born Midnite Roger.

By the September 9, 2004

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Critical Voices

The Voice reviews Bjork and Kings of Convenience

By the September 9, 2004

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Better than Marriage: Family Jewels

Your my butterfly, sugar, baby

By the September 9, 2004

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Lez’hur Ledger: Scavenger hunt

Voice Lez’hur scavenger hunt: Find the clues, win a child!

By the September 2, 2004

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National Gallery digs Islamic artifacts

Current exhibit promotes awareness of Islamic culture through chalices, tapestries

By the September 2, 2004

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O Show brings theater to first-years

O Showtastic!

By the September 2, 2004

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Better than Marriage: Media in the classroom

Forget PowerPoint presentations. Bring XBox into the classroom.

By the September 2, 2004