Crimson staff writer
Noah S. Guiney
Latest Content
Framing Harvard Film
As the Carpenter Center celebrates its 50th anniversary, film pieces from past and present students show that Harvard’s program in film education coalesces with the liberal arts curriculum and results in a unique, holistic preparation for the film industry.
She's Looking Good
“She’s Looking Good” handles this dichotomy extraordinarily well. At no point does the song feel disjointed, nor do any of its constituent parts seem out of place. Given the history of both the artist and the record label, which worked with local blues and rockabilly artists as well as soul, this shouldn’t be surprising. The musicians who defined soul as a genre were actually working within a pre-existing framework.
A Passionless "Paramore"
The trick is figuring out how walk a narrow line between indulging your creative urges and staying true to your roots—and your fan base. Every group that has achieved financial success while maintaining a sense of artistic integrity has figured out this formula, and the ones that haven’t, well, haven’t.
I Keep Asking You Questions
Black Ivory should have been New York’s answer to Sly and the Family Stone—they certainly were good enough—but due to a combination of poor timing and the limits of a small label they never got the audience they deserved. However, great music is timeless, and even though they weren’t appreciated in their day, Black Ivory found a new audience in a bunch of hip-hop producers with an ear for a great groove.
Big Bird
One of the hardest things for any artist to do is to mesh two different styles without compromising the integrity of either one. “Big Bird” is an example of precisely how this should be done. It is full of rock elements, but never once sounds like anything but a soul song. It captures both rock’s hard edge and soul’s lushness.
Soul Fever
By the sound of it, if Queenie caught her man cheating, he’d be lucky if he got a three-second head start.
This Love Starved Heart of Mine
Sometimes I feel like writing for the Arts Board is a bit like being a defense attorney. Granted, there are some things on which we all agree (shout out to Kendrick Lamar and Pokemon Blue), but a large part of my artistic taste has to be defended.
9th Wonder Discusses History of Hip-hop
9th Wonder sees himself as a not only an artist, but also a mix between educator, curator, and librarian.
Calderwood Collection Celebrates Old Persia at Sackler
“In Harmony,” which opened on Monday and will remain on display until June 1, consists of the collection of Norma Jean Calderwood, a private art collector, curator, and former fine arts lecturer Boston College, who amassed an extensive array of Islamic art over the course of her life.
Five People Chris Brown Is Most Likely To Fight With Next
Like an active volcano or a Kardashian sex tape scandal, it seems the question with Chris Brown isn't whether he will strike again, but when. As a public safety precaution, the Arts blog has provided a list of the top five people Brown is most likely to fight next. You have been forewarned.
'12 Angry Men' Rocks Agassiz with Righteous Indignation
The show boasted a very strong cast and costume design, and, apart from some slight directorial hitches, succeeded brilliantly in capturing the nuances of the characters.
'Bengal Tiger' is a Roaring Success
The acting is sometimes sometimes spotty, but “Bengal Tiger” is driven along by Park’s standout performance that highlights the script’s nuances.
Taking A First Look At The Arts First Weekend
A selection of Arts First events not to miss.
Beautiful ‘Señora’ Reaches the Clouds
TEATRO!'s "Nuestra Señora de las Nubes" provides a heartrending yet comic look at life in Latin America. Through its stellar physical acting, the cast manages to communicate the plays universal appeal despite the fact that it is almost entirely in Spanish.
Brilliant ‘Ma Rainey’ Explores 1920s Racism
The Huntington Theatre Company's production of "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" provides a fitting swan song to their exploration of playwright August Wilson's hugely influential "Pittsburgh Cycle," a set of 10 plays that explores the African-American experience in the 20th century.
