Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of neo soul, a genre born in the 1990s that blends elements of the 1970s soul genre and funk, jazz, hip-hop and other musical traditions. The music feels both warm and inviting, as if I’m at a cafe and there’s golden light streaming through the windows. As a fun way to commemorate this month, I’ve made a playlist of some older neo soul and R&B songs that you should check out.
These days I feel like I’m in a constant sprint towards Thanksgiving, which is so late this year that when we come back from break, it’s already time for finals.
By Ruby Voge, Opinion Co-Editor
• October 17, 2024
I don’t think of the uncertainty and powerlessness that can sometimes accompany childhood — the inverse of its innocence and lack of responsibility.
Nostalgia paints our memories into cinematic narratives. It colors them gold and pink like a late summer sunset. Nostalgia gives us something to fantasize about — to take us out of the monotony of the present and into the excitement of the past.
Various realms of the music industry are brought together in Charli XCX’s remix album, “Brat, and it’s completely different but also still brat,” released on Oct. 11. The album features numerous artists — ranging in genres from indie tunes to emo rap all fused in an astonishing reconstruction of Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, “Brat.”
The album features Robyn, Yung Lean, Bb trickz, Ariana Grande, Jon Hopkins, Troye Sivan, Addison Rae, Caroline Polachek, Bladee, A. G. Cook, Lorde, The Japanese House, Tinashe, Julian Casablancas, Bon Iver, Shy Girl, Billie Eilish and Kesha.
Lila Baltaxe | Senior Graphic Artist
When I was growing up, my parents would tell me that boyfriends would come and go, but friends would last forever.
Now that I’m older, I don’t entirely agree with that statement. Maybe it’s the romantic in me, or maybe it’s because I’ve had my fair share of bad friends.
So, I’d modify their advice slightly: When you find the right people, true friendship can be the most incredible thing.
A good soundtrack can elevate a mediocre movie into something better and bring an already great movie into the realm of a masterpiece. Listen up for five films that feature soundtracks worthy of enjoyment after the credits roll.
Last week, one of my friends reached out to me about her nerves surrounding going abroad next semester. She’s excited and knows it is the right decision for her, but she’s also nervous about being away for so long.
I’ve been thinking a lot about studying abroad in the future, too. Leaving the country can evoke competing emotions — anticipation for a new adventure, but also a fear of the unknown. Not to mention, it can be scary leaving a lot of relationships back in Boston.
Fighting with a friend might be one of the worst feelings. Even if it's not a full-blown argument and things are just a little off, it doesn't negate the fact that there are people in our lives that we feel comfortable confiding in. Being unable to talk to them can feel isolating.
I usually turn to sad music when I feel alone, but I will resist the urge to only recommend sad songs for this occasion — warm and cozy songs, artists and albums can do the trick, too.
Like most middle and high schoolers, I too had a huge boy band phase. My poison was Why Don’t We, the teenage boy group that came together in 2016 and is known for songs like “8 Letters” and “Something Different.”
Listening to their music and obsessing over their every move was an integral part of my middle school years — arguably, one of the most enjoyable parts of them. But as I grow older and watch the new generation of pre-teen and teenage girls unfold, it seems like they aren’t having the same experience as I did.
It’s already September, and while Boston’s weather might not have caught up just yet, fall is on the horizon.
September is overwhelming, regardless of the temperature. I start sweating just thinking about opening my Google Calendar during this time of year. Classes have begun and club meetings are ramping up. I looked ahead yesterday — even though I probably shouldn’t have — and my first midterm is less than three weeks away.
We’ve heard the “oonts oonts” jokes about dance music, but fewer people know the roots of that “oonts oonts” sound. The genre is about far more than just a bassline and upbeat vocals to jump along to at the club with a drink in hand.
As Boston begins to melt and we trade in our puffers for swimsuits, I can’t think of a better time to revisit what I consider to be one of the best summer albums of all time: Janelle Monáe’s “The Age of Pleasure.”
