There is a distinct feeling that comes with the end of something. It’s not always immediately apparent to me, as I often am too concerned with specifics. Where I left my phone, where my water bottle is. Things that distract from the grander point, or blur the lines between what truly matters and what doesn’t. I’m not so sure my uncertainty about my phone’s location … Continue reading An Ending
In 2019, Megan Phelps-Roper’s life changed. Formerly under the spotlight as a disaffected member of the ultra-conservative Westboro Baptist Church, Roper has since been a commentator of sorts, tracking current issues in politics and culture from a centrist perspective. Her latest and most ambitious undertaking is a podcast covering the events of bestselling author J.K. Rowling’s life and recent controversies. Smugly named “The Witch Trials … Continue reading From Her Hogwarts Mansion: J.K. Rowling and how to Control a Narrative
Nearly two decades after its conception, the internet brought the creation of YouTube and several other platforms that served as video creation sites. But it wasn’t until 2011 when Twitch and the live-streaming fad gripped the online culture. Twitch was a near instant success, providing a more intimate experience and connection with content creators. In addition, it provided opportunities for live engagement–and more dedicated fans. … Continue reading How Streamers Wield Their Influence Online
For decades, the outskirts of Oklahoma City served as a dumping ground for “chat”, toxic residue left over from long forgotten limestone and dolomite mining expeditions. Today, those very “chat piles” gradually damage the buildings and air, creating a slow moving ecological disaster. In the past couple years, the dirty, damaged, and warehouse infested slums of Oklahoma City has birthed a growing experimental music scene, … Continue reading Chat Pile: The Band Born from Disaster
McCaskey students might seem normal to you. You may look at the student body and view a normal group of students. In my quest to find and befriend truly heroic individuals, I’ve stumbled upon a few truly Enlightened people, who use their profound intellectual fortitude to bring out the best in those around them. Xavier Smith is a Hegelian, Anti-moralist, pantheist alternative educator, who seeks … Continue reading Conversations with an Intellectual: the Xavier Smith Story
Spotify and Apple Music. Both are extremely popular music streaming services that function on a similar basis of pay-to access, granting the entire world of music for a monthly price. There’s been a significant increase in discussion about the two streaming services, given the Spotify Wrapped and Apple Replay. Both of these streaming services have obvious benefits to them, being in demand access to music … Continue reading Which is Better: Spotify or Apple Music?
In a hazily shot YouTube video, Brandon MaCartney sits at a table after shooting footage for an upcoming project. “My music is love, man”, he says to the camera, as two scantily clad women duck in and out of the room. The music video for “Wonton Soup” may have been recorded over 10 years ago, but it is an important example. It reminds us that … Continue reading Transcending the Joke Status: Bladee and the Power of Online Music
If you ask an older adult in your life, they can probably recall a time they were warned of the razor blades in Halloween candy. It’s a cyclical scare tactic. A new public enemy emerges every 5 years or so, and threatens the livelihood of children…through Halloween candy? It’s not hard to see that this seems far-fetched. According to Scientific American, no childhood deaths have … Continue reading Halloween and the Rainbow Fentanyl Panic
For the past three decades, country music has been a genre plagued by mediocrity. Perhaps not just mediocrity, but consistent themes of bigoted messaging and cringeworthy dogwhistles are simply the norm. Of course, this is referring strictly to the watered down, tired, and dull stereotypes of pop/bro country, as the roots of outlaw and alternative country continue to thrive, even today. The unfortunate lull that … Continue reading How Orville Peck is Reinventing Country Music
The music underground of the 90’s was defined mainly by the whim of teenagers everywhere. The almost compulsive pull away from the glam rock and hair metal aesthetics of the 80’s created some of the oddest and most ambitious genre mixings to date. The creation of shoegaze fusing sweet, melodic dream-pop and post-rock walls of harsh guitar sound with emotional, lovesick lyrics was a force … Continue reading The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads: The Greatest Shoegaze Album of All Time
Image credit: Tim Mercandetti As a student who tries to steer clear of the school administrators, my original feelings on interviewing one were somewhat mixed. The constant negative mindset I wrap myself in when arriving at school every day is not unique to Wyatt Potter, as much as I wish that were the case. It’s much easier to present yourself as an uncaring enigma than … Continue reading Hope, Kindness, and Teaching: A Conversation with Mr. Hanson
When a person close to you says that they have become a “free thinker”, it probably fills you with dread. Kanye West’s family might feel the same. The horrible truth of mental illness is obscured, because the noise Kanye is making is much more interesting to pay attention to. The constant fashion updates, unhinged rants, and arguments with former friends are certainly a spectacle, but … Continue reading The Severity of Kanye West’s Irresponsibility
The current scarcity of quality rock music within the mainstream during the last decade has certainly been felt. Although there are many rock-influenced fusions that produce quality music, it seems that the self proclaimed “rockstars” of this generation are cash-grabbing derivative clowns that attempt to tear a piece of cloth away from a bygone era of music. Many critics claim that the lack of sonic … Continue reading The Glowing Man: A Masterpiece of Progressive Rock
To start the new year off right, many highly anticipated albums have been released. After a very bright and exciting 2021 full of great musical releases and not much else, even more projects are expected to release in the new year. The main attractions this week include new albums from R&B veteran “The Weeknd” as well as melodic trap artist “Gunna”. To start with The … Continue reading Recent Album Releases: Gunna vs. The Weeknd
The 2022 Grammy nominations have been fully released to the public, and the results are disappointing as usual. Many undergraduate artists were expectedly denied their chance at a Grammy, while the usual candidates continued to rack up nominations. This isn’t to say that all of the albums nominated for album of the year were disappointing, as the otherworldly and dark production in Kanye West’s “DONDA” … Continue reading Five Albums that were Snubbed “Album of the Year” Grammy Nominations
Vidette 