CD REVIEW The Shins' Latest is Nothing to Wince At
What's different? More specifically, what did the flagship indie pop band of this decade lose or gain by waiting almost four years in between releases? The crest of the Shins' popularity was arguably the prominent use of their songs in the hit 2004 film<i> Garden State</i>. A sensible band would've put something out soon after either to capitalize on their newfound recognition or to quickly and decisively steer their music away from any association with idiot-savant/idiot Zach Braff, or — if they're particularly devious — both. Thankfully, the Shins' newest album, <i>Wincing the Night Away</i>, is good enough — great enough, in fact — to make their intentions irrelevent.
Dance Review A Fairies' Night Out
George Balanchine's ballet, <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i>, conveys Shakespeare's tale of love and magic through a compelling interaction of vibrant visuals, exquisite choreography, and Mendelssohn's stirring score. The ballet debuted in New York City in 1962 and has finally found its way to Boston for the first time.
THEATRE REVIEW My Vagina Is a Tech Article
Last week marked the sixth annual MIT production of the <i>The Vagina Monologues</i>, a series of short skits designed to break the cultural taboos surrounding women's issues. Specifically, the production addresses worldwide violence against women and related atrocities by exploiting the power of theater as a forum for uninhibited speech. Young women — typically one at a time, as the title suggests — deliver stories of love, terror, happiness, strife, and hope as told through their adopted characters, most of which are based on the accounts of actual women interviewed by playwright Eve Ensler.
COMIC REVIEW Garrison Keillor Finds Humor in it All
Back in the proverbial day, things were different. You didn't have the Internet to tell you any little thing you ever wondered, you could get on an airplane without having to take off your shoes, and you didn't need computer graphics to be entertained by spectacle. Heck, you didn't even need electricity. Yes, hard as it may be for us to believe, there was a time when a single person could tell a story so interesting, so vivid, so engaging, that one could sit entranced for hours just listening.
THEATRE REVIEW Anything But Imperceptible
With a nonlinear, unconventional attitude towards storytelling that approaches genius, Suzan Lori-Parks is becoming one of America's foremost contemporary playwrights. After the recent successful premiere of her "365 Plays/365 Days" project in over 600 theatres across the country, Parks now begins her spring 2007 appointment as MIT's artist-in-residence. It is therefore fitting that MIT Dramashop has selected one of Park's earliest plays, Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom, as the first production of 2007.
CONCERT REVIEW I Think I'll Go to Boston
This was an unusual concert. If the audience had come for an enthusiastic, hyped show, then they should have left after the opening acts. Those who left feeling satisfied, on the other hand, were those looking for familiar old songs along with previews of new songs on their upcoming album. For a band still working to build up a solid fanbase, Augustana performed surprisingly many new songs. <i>All the Stars and Boulevards </i>came out<i> </i>over a year ago without much success until recently, leaving the group plenty of time to work on new material. Other new songs that the band played that night, "Cocaine" and "Either Way I'll Break your Heart Someday," had a fresh and lighter sound that will hopefully be represented on their next album.
CONCERT REVIEW It’s Worth Coming Out of Hibernation For
I’m not one for revelations, especially those of the self-referential kind, but I’ll let you in on a little trade secret: writing reviews about concerts is essentially formulaic. I wonder whether rock critics sit down at their desks with a grocery list-like set of criteria for an article. Have I located and named the band’s current stomping grounds? Did I scour my music library for several reminiscent artists, and did I mention these artists nonchalantly? Have I eloquently and convincingly described the band’s redeeming abilities despite its clear weak point? Have I picked a member who is most vital to the band’s survival? Can I see where this band is going and set a projected timeline for its success? If you answered yes to all these questions, you may have written a rock review!
RESTAURANT REVIEW Inconsistencies at Atasca
With low ceilings, rich wood, and calming earth tones, the atmosphere at Atasca in Kendall Square is warm and inviting, even during the cold winter months, when the radiance of sunshine cannot be enjoyed on the restaurant’s large patio. Atasca’s menu is authentic Portuguese with an emphasis on seafood, including cod, shrimp, and sardines, among others.