Leisure

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

Leisure

Critical Voices: Depeche Mode, Spirit

At first, it seemed like there was a mistake. This was supposed to be the new Depeche Mode album, but it sounded like my mother’s Depeche Mode. It turns out this... Read more

By April 10, 2017

Leisure

Critical Voices: Raekwon, The Wild

Raekwon the Chef delivers another strong installment in his solo career with his seventh studio album, The Wild. Coming 24 years after his debut as a member of the Wu-Tang... Read more

By April 10, 2017

Leisure

Smurfs: The Lost Village Lacks Plot Development and Ingenuity

The Wikipedia description of the premise for Smurfs: The Lost Village is only two sentences long, and for good reason. The newest movie of the Smurfs franchise is the least... Read more

By April 10, 2017

Leisure

A Small Step for Man: Life Frightens Without Inspiring

In recent years, the moviegoing masses have been blessed with a varied and compelling assortment of space movies—the expansiveness of Interstellar, the claustrophobic survivalism of Gravity, the mere presence of... Read more

By April 7, 2017

Leisure

Developing An Argument is an Ambitious, Disjointed Realization

Christian Benefiel makes art that’s not meant to last. Not only does he use the natural supportive structure of his sculptures to keep them together, foregoing glue, nails, or any... Read more

By April 7, 2017

Leisure

WILD About Spring is an Idyllic Rendering of Nature

The brownstone houses populating our quaint neighborhood are home to diplomats, lawyers, and politicos alike, with boutiques, cafes, and salons peppered throughout. An occasional gallery is wedged among this eclectic... Read more

By April 7, 2017

Leisure

Gifted: A Disjointed and Emotional Journey

The opening shots of Gifted resemble a sunny home video documenting the first day of school. Seven-year-old Mary Adler (McKenna Grace) scowls over her breakfast at her bearded and rumpled... Read more

By April 7, 2017

Leisure

Hook, Line, and Slasher: Hookman is Terrific and Terrifying

By spilling forth everything meant to be contained in the fragile receptacles of human bodies—blood, guts, brains, you name it—the slasher genre appeals to the perverse in people. Hookman, the... Read more

By April 7, 2017

Leisure

Critical Voices: Spoon, Hot Thoughts

Spoon, a rock band hailing from Austin, Texas, released their ninth studio album Hot Thoughts on March 17 through Matador Records. Twenty four years and nine albums later, Spoon has... Read more

By April 3, 2017

Leisure

The Zookeeper’s Wife proves Engaging despite Lack of Depth

Holocaust movies are often tough to watch, be it for the imminent death scenes lurking around the corner or the constant violent, even exploitative, displays of injustice, torture, and overall... Read more

By April 3, 2017

Leisure

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Pushes a Deeper Question

The name Judas is universally recognizable. Though it has obviously gained recognition through centuries of retelling the story of Jesus of Nazareth, it has become synonymous with one word: traitor.... Read more

By March 31, 2017

Leisure

National Portrait Gallery Tells Story of America Through Reopened America’s Presidents Installation

With its reopening and new additions, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s America’s Presidents exhibition traces the legacy of the American presidency through 44 holders of the office. After closing for... Read more

By March 31, 2017

Leisure

CV: Goldlink, At What Cost

As it currently stands, the world of hip-hop revolves more or less around three musical nexuses: LA, Chicago, and Atlanta. King Kendrick and his TDE label reign supreme on the... Read more

By March 29, 2017

Leisure

The National Gallery of Art’s Writing Salon Provokes Creative Thought

On Saturday, a group of of mostly older D.C. residents sat on blue butterfly stools facing Jean Miro’s The Farm for the third session of this season’s Writing Salons at... Read more

By March 28, 2017

Leisure

GU ArtsWeek: A Celebration of Art and Unity

Monday, Mar. 27 has marked the beginning of the second annual celebration of GU ArtsWeek, an active invitation for all Georgetown students to engage in the arts. “The mission is... Read more

By March 27, 2017

Leisure

Concert Review: Tennis, 9:30 Club, March 19

Wearing a sequined shirt that looked like it belonged to Donna Summer, Tennis guitarist Patrick Riley walked on stage ready to perform. The duo’s second half and lead singer, Alaina... Read more

By March 23, 2017

Leisure

CV: Drake, More Life

More record sales. More streams. More Life. More Everything.   Less than eleven months ago the 6-God released one of the most anticipated projects in the history of rap music,... Read more

By March 22, 2017

Leisure

CV: Cameron Avery, Ripe Dreams, Pipe Dreams

After rising to fame as the bassist for the psychedelic pop group Tame Impala, Cameron Avery takes a starkly different artistic direction in his latest album, Ripe Dreams, Pipe Dreams.... Read more

By March 17, 2017

Leisure

Endless Reflections: Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrors

When people step inside one of the plain, fifteen-square-foot boxes at the Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum, they discover an endless world of lights, colors, and... Read more

By March 17, 2017

Leisure

CV: The Shins, Heartworms

The Shins have never been a band to take risks. After accomplishing the impossible by striking a remarkably original, balanced, and mature sound on their first record, growth seemed both... Read more

By March 17, 2017