Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last couple of months, then you know that the United States’ midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, November 6th, 2018. Midterms are held during the middle of the presidents current term of service — hence, “miderms” — and they are elections for the House and Senate, as well as governors.

So while we may not be voting for a new president just yet, the representatives that we put into office will really affect how “easy” the last two years of President Trump’s current term is.

So, yeah, you could say that midterms are pretty important.

To get in the spirit, I have created a top ten list of politically-motivated songs that I love and inspire me to get out and vote.

“Happy Judgement Day” by Neck Deep

“Happy Judgement Day” comes off of Neck Deep’s third studio album The Peace and The Panic. Hailing from Wales, UK, the pop punk band took their political stance on the political climate of the world shortly after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

There’s a strong, sarcastic tone throughout this song, seen in lyrics like “Oh, what a time to be alive! / Wake up and smell the dynamite.”

Themes that are touched upon include reliance on our phone screens, Brexit, the infamous Wall, and worshiping celebrities. There’s a lot touched on, but considering the enormity of what Judgement Day is supposed to be, it’s fitting to touch on that many themes.

The songs overarching opinion is that ultimately, we are f**ked, and we did this to ourselves.

“Building walls / dropping bombs / stop the world, I’m getting off / oh we almost had it / then we pissed it all away.” 

“Everyone Lies To Me” by Knuckle Puck

This track comes off of their latest release Shapeshifter. While the album in its entirety isn’t a political album, this track is one that comments on the nature of our current government.

The lyrics comment on how our current generation is undoubtedly listening to what the government is telling us, and how they make up our minds for us. There are lyrics in here that can’t be taken as anything but political — for example, “They’ll cut tax for crooked and corporate” and “Cause education only taught you what they want you to know.”

It’s on the angstier side of pop-punk, something that I’ve always really enjoyed about Knuckle Puck.

“Hands Held High” by Linkin Park

This song came off of their 2007 album Minutes to Midnight, and this track has always hit me right in the gut. The song criticizes rich men and politicians who use their power to further themselves in life.

There’s much speculation that this song directly comments on the Bush Patriot Act, by saying that Bush was taking away freedoms entitled to us as Americans.

Other parts of the song comment directly on the War on Terror, and certain scenarios that were happening in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What I like most about this song is not only the lyricism, but the simple snare drum beat that follows it. It reminds me of something that a marching band would play — and I’m sure it’s meant to sound like something a soldier would march to.

“Hero of War” by Rise Against

This acoustic track is always heartbreaking to listen to. The song follows a Iraq veteran looking back on the hardships that he endured during war.

The lyrics allude to a couple different situations, one of them being the human rights violations committed by American troops against detainees in Iraq.

“We took him away / A bag over his face / From his family and his friends / They took off his clothes / They pissed in his hands / I told them to stop / But then I joined in / We beat him with guns / And batons not just once / But again and again”

Another situation that arises is a woman or child that walks out during a firefight and how the narrator has to shoot them down, as they don’t know if they are an innocent bystander or a suicide bomber.

The song is meant to showcase the heartbreaking situations that our soldiers go through overseas, and to hopefully persuade people to not support the War on Terror.

“Dear Mr. President” by P!nk

P!nk is one of my favorite vocalists, and songs like this play a huge reason as to why that is. This song is so underrated.

This song acts as P!nk’s open letter to the president, who, at the time, was George W. Bush. The lyrics comment on the War on Terror, No Child Left Behind Act, the disapproval of homosexuality, lack of empathy for the poor, and Bush’s strong religious beliefs.

The lyrics are posed as questions, such as “How do you sleep while the rest of us cry? / How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?”

It’s a really moving song that stands the test of time; many comments on the YouTube video of this song suggest that President Trump have a listen.

“Still Waiting” by Sum 41

This song has a sick guitar riff that takes off in the beginning, which really drives this powerful anthem.

The song opens up with “So am I / still waiting / for this world to stop hating?”

Vocalist Deryck Whibley said in an interview with MTV back in 2002 that this song isn’t just about the war on terrorism, but “. . .the war on everything. It’s about the world as we know it.” He also said that the song was heavily inspired by the events of 9/11.

“American Idiot” by Green Day

Who would I be if I didn’t include “American Idiot?” This entire album of the same name was a concept album during the time of George W. Bush’s reelection in 2004. The song was heavily inspired by his politics, 9/11, and the War on Terror.

This song also comments on the affects that the media has on consumers, especially in the post 9/11 period where Americans were on edge.

This song is an absolute banger, in case you haven’t heard.

“A World Divided” by Our Last Night

This song doesn’t comment on politics the same way that the others on this list have, but it still shows a strong point of view: we are divided amongst ourselves by the color of our skin and our beliefs.

“Divided by the colors / Split by our beliefs / Forced against each other / nothing’s as it seems / But between white walls, we could forget it all / The fear would fade, we could start to change / A world divided and afraid”

I think it takes a good approach and is a little bit more timeless than the rest of the picks on this list. Segregation has always been an issue in our society and the way that we see each other.

“20 Dollar Nose Bleed” by Fall Out Boy

One of my favorite things about Fall Out Boy is that their lyrics are very much left up to interpretation — this song is no exception.

The song mostly refers to a drug called Benzedrine, an amphetamine that is known for causing nosebleeds. But there’s also some political references in the second verse:

“It feels like fourteen carats but no clarity / When I look at the man who would be king / The man who would be king / Goes to the desert, the same war his dad rehearsed / Came back with flags on coffins and said / “‘We won, oh we won!’”

It’s been speculated that this verse is about George W. Bush in his president-elect state (looking like fourteen carats but no clarity) and going to the same war that his dad had (George H. W. Bush also went to war in the middle east during his presidency).

“Imagine” by John Lennon

To close out this list, I figured I would bring back this gem. This has got to be one of the most political songs of all time, perhaps. This song came out by former Beatles member John Lennon in 1971. It was very anti-war, this war being the one in Vietnam at the time.

The lyrics are asking the listener to just imagine what life would be like with no religion, no countries, no possessions. It’s a really interesting thought. The simple piano that flows throughout the piece carries the lyrics from one verse to the next.

It’s a sugar-coated, optimistic, hopeful song. That’s something that we might need more of sometimes.

I hope you enjoyed my picks! Let me know what yours are!

The post Jen’s Top Ten’s: Favorite Political Songs appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The self-described “wonky funk” artist and East London native is well established in her home country; she performed in the Glastonbury Festival and even earned a Brit nomination in 2017 for Best British Female Solo Artist for her 2016 album For All We Know. I’m hoping Saturn, released on October 26, will put her on the radar for a greater American audience.

For people unfamiliar with Nao, it’s likely you’ve unknowingly come across some of her previous work. She is a credited songwriter on Ariana Grande’s song “Be Alright” on the album Dangerous Woman. She did background vocals for Kwabs on the song “Make You Mine” and was a featured vocalist on Disclosure’s album Caracal.

Known to blur the genre lines of electronic, R&B and pop, Nao proves her versatility in this recent album, combining different sounds and styles into an artful blend that applies to fans of pop and electronic alike.

Nao was inspired by the astrological concept of The Saturn Return, aka when the planet Saturn returns to the same place in the sky as it was when someone was born approximately 29 years later. The 13 track Saturn takes listeners on a trip, traversing feelings of despair and bliss and regret, all while maintaining lyrical creativity and mellow beats. When listening with headphones, it flows perfectly from one ear into the other. While Nao’s voice isn’t the most soulful, what she lacks in depth she makes up in breathy ballads and synthesized styles that keep listeners intrigued.

The title song (a personal favorite of mine on the album) featuring Kwabs is about inevitably revisiting an old flame, just how Saturn reliably returns to the same slice of the sky after some time has passed.

You leave and return / you’re just like Saturn to me / Eventually you will proceed to give me what I need / And that’s how it should be. It features underlying jazz beats, Kwabs’ soulful verses, and pop-y beats that give it a unique sound.

Another cosmic inspired song is “Orbit”, but it takes a slowed approach and explores feelings of nostalgia. Kind of sad but you remind me / You remind me of a love who outgrew me too.

Two more tracks that stick out are “Gabriel” and “A Life Like This”, but for very different reasons. “Gabriel” is a groovier and more lighthearted song, with complex layers of beats, while “A Life Like This” is more emotionally charged and personal: You’re like a window that keeps opening / I’m hoping that it stays the same and / Saturn won’t return to me. Beautiful strings are also heard in the chorus, adding another dimension to this song.

Nao may be teetering on the edge of mainstream music, since there aren’t any discernible commercial tracks that would mesh perfectly with what’s being played on popular radio stations. But I think that’s a good thing- Saturn showcases Neo’s skills as an emerging artist. If she makes an appearance at an American music festival in the near future, say Lollapalooza, I can say I was ahead of the curve for once.

Listen to the album on Spotify here.

The post Album Review: “Saturn” by Nao appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Flavors of Youth, originally known as 肆式青春, Sì shì qīngchūn, is a movie that explores three people in different Chinese cities: Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai.

Each segment did a fantastic job of being original from the others while also keeping to the main themes of growth and nostalgia. When looking at an anime film such as this the three key elements are animation, story and sound.

Flavors of Youth is seen to have amazing backgrounds and animations of food. These are exactly what I would expect from a collaboration between CoMix Wave Films and Haoliners Animation League. CoMix might sound familiar as they were the production company for the award winning movie, Your Name.

This Japanese-Chinese co-production was based around the Chinese idiom 衣食住行, yī shí zhù xíng. This idiom means clothing, food, housing, and transport. It denotes the basic needs of life. The movie focuses three stories around this idea and how mundane things can have huge emotional importance for the characters.

The first story, directed by, Jiaoshou Yi Xiaoxing, explores that. It depicts a young man who seems to have lost a flavor of ramen

he had as a child with his grandmother. It explores his life through the dish and the different places he orders it. This story had the potential to rise and really set a high standard.

However, an unneeded, slightly creepy, unrequited love situation prevents that. Despite this, the grandmother and ramen aspect of the story was enjoyable and even got me thinking of past dishes like my Granddaddy’s applesauce. A flavor that when tried, can bring you back to your childhood.

The second story, directed by Yoshitaka Takeuchi, is plausibly the weakest vignette. It is focused on two sisters who have lost their parents. This story fails to mention or even show key details that would allow you connect with one of the sisters.

The connection to China and nostalgia get lost along the protagonist’s journey of being a model. Ultimately it comes off more of a saccharine sitcom kinda ending than one grounded in nostalgia. This was the only section handled by a Japanese director; which could attribute to the different atmosphere this one gave off considering the movie is based on growing up in China.

The third and final story is directed by Li Haoling, a director who is known for incorporating smooth yet rich animation to many of his works. It focuses on a young man who moves back to Shanghai after many years of being away. He finds an old tapes him and a young love sent to each other and through them they reconnect. However, this one had many stereotypical scenes that never really seemed fully original. It just wasn’t the masterpiece I expected from Haoling.

Flavors of Youth falls short in not only story but sometimes animation as well. The movie seemed very focused on backgrounds.

The cities and towns were simply amazing throughout the film.

A risk that comes with extensive detail in backgrounds is loss of focus
on the characters themselves. This became clear throughout the film, especially
if compared to CoMix’s animation work on Your Name.

One thing that does need to be considered is this was a co-production. An issue that can commonly unknowingly come up is difference in artistic views. While only slight, this can be seen in the three different stories, all of which were handled by different teams.

While this is more effective and time efficient it does come with its issues. This can be seen in inconsistencies in the overall artistic vision and slight difference of atmosphere in the three stories. Many times it was the soundtrack that helped set the atmosphere.

By no means was this a bad film, it just didn’t own up to either of the production staffs previous work. Another huge factor is the fact this was both translated and edited into an ‘international edition’. There are few changes in the story itself, the language doesn’t always translate best it could.

While there were many discrepancies in the film it did do an amazing job of quickly taking you through three lives in different Chinese cities. The animation flowed very smoothly and while the characters didn’t match up to the background it wasn’t anything that took away from the films enjoyment.

Overall, the film did a superb job of exploring showcasing Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai through three lives. This insight, while not as intimate as the production staff had planned for, did do its job it making the viewer nostalgic.

Overall : B-

—————-
Story : C
Animation : B-
Music : B

The post Flavors of Youth: a Tasteful Nostalgia appeared first on KRUI Radio.

I had no idea what to expect walking into an empty backroom in The Mill. I was greeted by some friendly people ready to welcome me into the workshop. Do You Want To Play? was supposed to be an intimate, limited sign-up gathering, but I wasn’t aware going in.

On Witching Hour‘s website it said to RSVP, but as press I didn’t think of that before going into the event. I was quickly put on a waitlist. Though, I wasn’t the only one. Soon the room filled with people wanting to participate in the workshop who hadn’t signed up beforehand and to our luck the limited 16 participants turned into an inclusive group.

Natalie Benway-Correll and Alison Oliver hosted the workshop. Benway-Correll is a psychotherapist based in Coralville. She has experience in including the body in her therapy. Alison Oliver works as a sex educator at University of Iowa. She explained her passion in the education of sexual agency and opportunities that are flexible and protected by institutions.

The workshop was mainly focused on erotic vulnerability and education. Oliver and Benway-Correll wanted to help the participants share sexual vulnerability and agency. Oliver noted that eroticism is too diverse and variable to rely on the assumptions of our partners. The workshop was centered on these two main factors: mindfulness and presence and communication within the erotic community.

So, we started off with the simple question: Do you want to play?

Benway-Correll led us through a mindfulness exercise. Each participant was encouraged to pick a food item. A cutie clementine, carrot, or a raisin. I chose the cutie and let Benway-Correll lead me through mindful eating. She told us to focus on the food with all of our senses. To see the orange, to feel the grooves of the piece, to hear the squish, to smell the citrus, to taste slowly. This was supposed reflect a mindful reflection on sexuality.

The next two exercises were based upon erotic communication. We partnered up with a person around us. Now this was scary and awkward, but it really reflected the vulnerability of communication in eroticism.

Oliver walked us through the worksheet of our erotic menus and how to communicate them to our partners. Oliver mentioned that most of us never form the neural pathways that make us able to easily communicate erotic conversations. So, we were able to practice that with our partners. I am not going to lie, I was quite uncomfortable sharing something of this nature with a stranger. But, I really appreciated the notion. It is something we shy away from talking about and communicating when it is a really important thing to be open to.

The last exercise was based on physical communication and this was definitely the most nerve-wracking. We were told, if were comfortable, to massage our partners hand for 2 minutes. It was awkward, but fitting for the message of the workshop.

Sexual agency and vulnerability is something our society is closed off about. It was an interesting experience to be apart of and definitely took me out of my comfort zone. I think we should have more of these types of workshops to spread knowledge within our sexuality.

The post Witching Hour: Do You Want To Play? Workshop @ The Mill 10/13/2018 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The DJ’s setlist at the wedding had consisted mostly of songs hailing from earlier decades, many of which came from artists showcased at the Hall of Fame. It seemed so on the nose. We danced the night away to “Sweet Caroline,” “Shut up and Dance with Me,” and one of my personal favorites, “Livin’ on a Prayer.” If I didn’t know what places to visit while we were in town, I certainly did now.

The location of the museum was up for competition between various cities before Cleveland was awarded the honor by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation in 1986. While being a major stop for rock tours and founding the radio station WWMS, what really put Cleveland over the edge in gaining the Hall of Fame was Alan Freed.

Freed was a disc jockey for Cleveland station WJW in the 1950s and 1960s who first coined the term “rock and roll.” Not only did Freed come up with the name, he frequently played the genre on the station and advocated for its expansion.

We later discovered his jukebox shaped tombstone when exploring the expansive and beautiful grounds of the Lake View Cemetery. This 285 acre area contains the final resting place of many historic figures, even a large memorial for 20th US president James A. Garfield.

Recuperating from the unprecedented computerized voice of our rental car practically shouting “narrow lanes ahead,” we exited the highway towards the museum. Located on the west bank of Lake Erie, the building itself is a bit unorthodox just like the legacy of the music it houses.

The main design feature resembles the Luxor hotel and casino in Las Vegas, a big glass pyramid. Adorned by a lengthy statue out front that proclaims “Long Live Rock” in bright red letters, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is unapologetic about its presence. A liberal use of black and red decorates the interior but is overshadowed by the extravagance of the museum’s artifacts.

Decades of music memorabilia line the walls, and I found myself amazed around every corner. From famous stage outfits to the instruments used to create the music itself, rock history was everywhere. Some of my favorite pieces were Michael Jackson’s iconic sequined glove and a Rolling Stones pinball machine.

“Is that the real thing?” another visitor questioned when approaching Slash’s top hat in the Guns N’ Roses case. Of course it is, I thought. Everything here is real. Which is what makes it so unbelievable.

I was inches away from something that David Bowie wore on stage. A pane of glass distanced me from a guitar Paul McCartney played. I didn’t dare touch anything and face the wrath of the security guards but it amazed me that much of the decades-old items had held up so well.

This year’s inductees included The Cars, Nina Simone, Bon Jovi, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Moody Blues, and Dire Straits. If you, like me, are asking how is Bon Jovi only now getting into the Hall of Fame, the induction process is quite extensive.

Necessary talent included, artists only become eligible 25 years after their first commercial recording is released. According the the Hall of Fame’s website, “Ballots are then sent to more than 900 historians, members of the music industry and artists—including every living Rock Hall inductee—and the five performers receiving the most votes become that year’s induction class.”

While making it alongside some of music’s greatest legends may seem like an unachievable fate, it is possible. Recent artists are also featured in the museum. Katy Perry’s candy cane outfit and DNCE’s Star Wars themed concert garb lie inside glass cases on the ground floor. Even bands who have played right here in Iowa City like Saint Motel are present at the Hall of Fame.

Rock and roll lives in ever-changing artists and genres and will continue to evolve as the days roll by. As the sign outside the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame dictates, Long Live Rock.

The post An Oldie But a Goodie: A Trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame appeared first on KRUI Radio.

1.) Piece Of Your Heart

“Piece Of Your Heart” is the first single that MP dropped in anticipation for this album, and I gotta say that I love it. As I mentioned before, I wasn’t the hugest fan of their last two albums, but this song actually has me looking forward to their new album. It feels reminiscent of early Mayday, which as you’ll be able to tell soon, is my favorite era of MP (thus far). The lyricism is similar to their “A Lesson in Romantics” days, something I didn’t know I wanted to hear again. The instrumentation has been cleaned up since their last album (which IMO was a failed attempt at trying to “get back to the roots” of pop punk) and from what I’ve heard of the new album, it sounds like it will flow smoothly.

2.) I Swear This Time I Mean It

If there’s one thing that MP is really good at, it’s sappy ballads. This song, from their sophomore album “Anywhere But Here,” features an acoustic guitar paired with soft vocals from lead singer Derek Sanders. The tempo is pretty slow, almost as if Sanders is singing a lullaby. The song slowly builds, the music crescendoing from the slow tempo to fit smoothly with his gentle voice. Tbh, I could totally listen to this on repeat until I fall asleep. His voice is so soothing.

3.) Kids In Love

“Kids In Love” is another track from their sophomore album, and it’s also the first song I ever heard by the band; I was in 7th grade and thought that I was so in love with the guy I dated that year *cringe*. For as cringey as that is, it felt so applicable at the time – “We were just kids in love / the summer was full of mistakes we wouldn’t learn from.” Despite the memories of my first puppy love, this song feels timeless to me. The instrumentation stays interesting during the entirety of the song, and the lyricism doesn’t feel like it was directed at 13 year olds.

4.) When I Get Home You’re So Dead

This song hails off of their first and most celebrated album, “A Lesson In Romantics.” At the time, Derek Sanders was a co-vocalist with Jason Lancaster, who ended up leaving the band and joining Go Radio (before they broke up and he went solo). This break up song is so 2007 – not sappy and sad, but savage AF. The lyrics basically allude to the fact that the girl is a cheating whore and she won’t ever change. One thing I love about the lyrics is that it doesn’t sound cheesy AF, like some songs I’ve heard calling out ex-girlfriends for being whores. Instrumentally, the guitars sound angry, which helps the direction of this song channel the angsty side of pop punk.

5.) Three Cheers for Five Years

Eeeeeek, this song is so sad. This song was written by drummer Jake Bundrick, who found out that his girlfriend of five years cheated on him (and she told him on their anniversary, nonetheless). This piano ballad features a back-and-forth vocal trade off between Sanders and Lancaster, with vocals sometimes overlapping each other, but in my opinion showcasing the conflicting thoughts of a break up and how to deal with the news of your S/O cheating on you. I love that MP are able to tell stories of break ups in completely polar-opposite ways (see choice 4). The twinkling piano, the switching vocals, the overlapping of thoughts – they all culminate into a song that brings out emotion I didn’t even know I had.

6.) Still Breathing

“Still Breathing” starts off with a somber-sounding guitar, the chord blending seamlessly with Sanders’ vocals. Drums subtly come in throughout the verse and eventually build up into the chorus, which isn’t anything mind-blowing, but isn’t overly simple and boring either. I don’t really know what draws me to this song, but I enjoy it nonetheless.

7.) Just Say You’re Not Into It

Let me tell ya, this EP was *~amazing~*. This song follows the hearts of a conflicted relationship, where the two are fighting, however they want to forget about it for the night and “bring their hearts back home.” I love the way the song starts off, with the lyrics “In a show of hands / who has ever said these words before? / And in a show of hearts on the floor / who has ever meant them more?” I thought that line was just cleverly crafted and didn’t even need to be explained for it to be understood. That right there my friends, is good lyricism.

8.) I’d Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About

Long live the days of long song titles – can we bring that back please? I heard some rumors that “Sunnyland” will have more long titles – yay! Anyway, back to this song. The main reason I love this song so much is because you can hear so much emotion in both of the vocalists voices, but especially Lancaster’s when he jumps into the chorus. I honestly don’t really know what this song is about, who it’s about, what’s going on, but it makes me feel. It’s the weirdest thing – but hey, that’s what music does to ya. Also, with the guitar solos and the way that the song builds, the song flows together so smoothly and makes me want to throw down.

9.) Terrible Things

Okay sorry, we’re going to get sad again. But this song is just. so. beautiful. The narrator, a father, is telling the story of the father and mother – when they first met, when he proposed, and when she told him she’s sick. I mean, shit. Paired with the somber piano, this song is so sad and evokes so many emotions. The father is telling the son “So don’t fall in love / there’s just too much to lose.” and “Now son / I’m only telling you this / because life can do terrible things.” This song is basically a Nicholas Sparks book summed up in four minutes.

10.) One Of Them Will Destroy The Other

This song is one of the songs I actually like from their 2015 album, “Black Lines.” I love how raw this song sounds, in terms of instrumentals and in vocals. Sanders experiments with some more screaming, a change that really shook up their discography since Lancaster left the band. Some fans were disappointed, citing that MP is a band they go to for more sappy, heartfelt songs, not heavier music. However, I thought this was one track that actually did a good job of capturing that raw, stripped down sound that they were looking to do for the album. I don’t think it completely worked out for them – I saw them live shortly after this album was released and they played 3 songs out of a 20 song show from this album. That being said, the songs they did play were the good ones, so I wasn’t too disappointed.

So there you have it! I’m really excited to hear what their album will sound like, and of course, I will see them live at Warped this summer.

Check out my blog where I write more music related content, and follow my music Twitter to hear constant updates on everything music related!

The post Jen’s Top Ten’s: My Favorite Mayday Parade Songs appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Since that rather unfortunate question, I’ve held a decent amount of respect for sumo, though I did not actually start enjoying the sport until about one and a half years ago, while watching twenty-minute clips of sumo highlights on YouTube every tournament with my dad.

And now, being in Japan, I finally got the chance to go watch the sport in the flesh—let me take you through an average day of sumo for your average foreigner.

But first:

What is sumo? At first glance, wrestling. Upon further investigation, an ancient Shinto-based ritual sport drenched in history. In its youth (“youth” meaning before 1000 A.D.), sumo supposedly had a prophetic function for the year’s crops, until it gradually accrued popularity as a pure sport—famous warlord Oda Nobunaga called sumo wrestlers from around the country for tournaments. And then at last sumo became an established entertainment sport during the Edo period (1600-1867), molded into its modern form.

The basics of the game is for two rikishi (wrestlers) to wrestle until one either hits the ground with any body part other than their feet, or steps outside the rope ring. A rikishi can win by several means, or moves, including “force out,” “slap down,” “over-arm throw,” etc.

There are six tournaments, or Basho, per year—one for each season, and two at Nagoya and Kyushu, respectively. The seasonal basho take place at different locations around the country, including Osaka and Tokyo, starting and ending on a Sunday, lasting two weeks.

(for more detailed information, check this out)

The basho that I went to was the Summer Basho, held at the Kokugikan in Tokyo. I had originally wanted to order a good seat online, but Alas! I was too late. And so the only option left was to get “Day Tickets” (toujitsu-ken), about 23 bucks, which you can only acquire by lining up outside the Kokugikan, just a two minute walk from the Ryogoku train station. At dawn.

And so, after boarding a train at 5:40 in the morning and arriving an hour later, I ended up 93^rd in line.

Another hour’s wait later sitting on the sidewalk, it was finally time to purchase our tickets.

The thing about the cheapest tickets is that, though they require the most effort, they get you seats the farthest away from the main arena. It’s a flavorful mixture of extremes—but it also makes for a great experience.

You get in at about 8:00, the prominent rikishi don’t wrestle until 3:30, and so you have

about seven hours to kill by watching rookies, exploring the Kokugikan, eating, or sleeping (I did it all). I definitely recommend the eating. The food vendors boast a delectable box of yakitori (chicken kabobs), a variety of lunchboxes, ice cream, and other snacks/meals to keep you nourished and entertained throughout the day.

At about 2, you can get out of the building and line up around one of the gated entrances to watch the top rikishi come in with their attendants. After many long minutes of standing among other sweaty people, handkerchiefs on their heads, fans flapping, and camera at the ready, you finally get to see the sumo wrestlers begin to saunter in, clad in yukata and

sandals, stoically gazing ahead as fans shout their names (“Endo!” “Tochinoshin!”), and non-fans ignore them. Then it is time to return back to the arena.

When the arena is the fullest, and excitement is at its apex, and people are furiously munching at their French fries, the bouts between the top rikishi begin.

The neat thing about sitting all the way in the back, is that you can see the variety of people that come to watch. Foreigners, couples, families, old men, middle-aged women, and bands of middle-schoolers there for a school trip. Perhaps one

of the things I’ll probably remember the most is how the different middle schoolers had a competition trying to cheer for their rikishi the loudest.

Two hours later, you’ve finally seen the Yokozuna (the top of the top) finish their bouts, and then it is time to go home.

Perhaps the next best thing to watching sumo in person, was watching the people who came. I was surprised to see how popular sumo is still to people of all ages and countries, to form a rather cozy little community for the day within the Kokugikan.

All photos were taken by author

The post Matcha, Manga, and Mayonnaise: Sumo appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Formed in Glasgow in 2002, the Scottish indie rock band’s sound is as unique as their name.

Lead vocalist Alex Kapranos has a flexible voice that covers a wide range of tones. Much of Franz Ferdinand’s music has an emphasis on guitar, with four out of the five members, including Kapranos, playing the instrument.

Other members include Bob Hardy, Paul Thomson, Julian Corrie, and Dino Bardot, who joined the band in 2017 after original member Nick McCarthy left the band in 2016.

Franz Ferdinand first shot onto the charts with “Take Me Out” from their debut album in 2004, a song that has been in my Itunes library since middle school. No matter how old I am, I still get hyped up whenever I hear from the opening guitar chords of that song.

The riffs and beat are something anyone can bang their head to, and the lyrics are easy to sing along with.

Another quintessential part of the band is their imaginative music videos, “Take Me Out” being a prime example. It has a particular aesthetic emphasized by the color scheme of the animations.

Graphics align with the beats to create a thrilling experience. All their songs are perfectly complimented with the absurdist art of their videos, captivating for any listener.

Their new album, Always Ascending, came out in February of this year.

The title track has a punk feel combined with futuristic backing effects.

Its driving drum beats and bass guitar move quickly, making it a lively listen. Kapranos mixes a velvety melody with shout-like moments to bring out the energy of the piece.

He closes off his mouth a bit during the chorus to really emphasize the end of the word “ascending,” pulling you through the song as it ascends, appropriately, through several keys.

Always Ascending is full of music that harkens back to the punk movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Each song carries experimental work with sounds, lyrics, and rhythm. Kapranos hypnotic voice leaves you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see where a song goes next.

“Paper Cages”, the third song on the album, has a bouncy piano part that contrasts in a really fascinating way with the smoother flow of the lyrics. The song discusses humanity escaping the paper cages, and that “we’ll never be free if our incarceration is a story we tell, a tale of invention.” Franz Ferdinand’s lyrics challenge what music is “supposed” to do, offering obscure narratives through whimsical word choice.

Synthesizer and electric guitar galore, “Glimpse of Love” is a fresh take on musical tropes of the 80s. It has a aura of glam rock while still having the grittiness of more current music in its syncopation and beat. The music video is full of weird images with a retro theme, aligning with the mood of the album.

Always Ascending proves once again that it is definitely worth taking the journey into the strange and entrancing world of Franz Ferdinand.

The post An Oldie But a Goodie: Always Ascending appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Yes, cherry blossoms. Or sakura in Japanese. The symbol of transient beauty. Ahh.

Neighborhoods turn pink, the air feels fluffy, and all seems right with the world.

Time stops, but only to remind you of its presence as you watch the pink petals fall.

Sakura season is the ultimate experience, from the time the buds form until the trees shed their blossoms. And after finally experiencing sakura season for myself, I thought I would share with you the three main stages of this wonderful season.

The first stage is mostly one of anticipation—seeing the buds form. After weeks of damp cold and wind and wet snow, the appearance of the buds is that wonderful, warm sign of the coming of spring. These are by no means the first buds you’ve seen—the hardier plum trees have already bloomed at this point, as a sort of preview of what is to come. People are still wearing their scarves and heavy coats, waiting for that one warm day in which the buds will burst and signal winter to finally take its vacation.

Then the cherry blossoms bloom. There being multiple varieties, they don’t bloom at once but pop up in various shades of pink, salmon, and white. And it is so sudden that one morning on your usual walk to the local train station, you will suddenly notice monstrous pink clouds hovering over the street and people stopping for two minutes to take pictures before hurrying to the morning train.

Despite these pretty sights in the neighborhoods and little parks, many “go” to see the cherry blossoms in sakura hot-spots like Inogashira park, Ueno Park, the Sumida River, etc. Some just trek it, others go early in the morning to reserve spots for hanami, basically sakura-viewing parties. I went to Yasukuni Shrine and the neighboring Kitano Maru Park, that flanks the imperial palace.

The cherry blossoms were beautiful, of course. But I also enjoyed watching the people. People on lunch break, couples young and old, families, and friends, all took a break from their daily lives to look at the flowers and maybe sit for half an hour to eat lunch under the canopy of pink.

There is a word in Japanese (hitoiki) that roughly translates to “a breath”—and as you would expect, it means to stop and take a moment, often associated with a cup of tea. And I felt like sakura season is a particularly opportune time to take the moment to watch others take a moment. Everyone is united by one objective–to take a detour from life and enjoy the flowers.

The last stage, which rivals the second stage in beauty, is when the petals fall. Back home I never really appreciated flowers after they fell. Perhaps it’s common for us to associate the fall of the flowers as signal of the end. A bit like taking off Christmas decorations.

But here I noticed how much magic remains during and even after all the petals have fallen. Streams of pink run down the street. Blankets of petals flow down the rivers and pool up in eddies. Big trucks and bicycles pick up clouds of petals and send them swirling for a time in the air. Young couples and children try to catch the falling petals.

One morning, I happened to wander to a neighboring park and saw a bunch of kindergartners on recess, who were picking up big handfuls of petals, throwing them in the air, and stuffing them into little Ziploc bags provided by their teachers. It may just be my favorite sakura season memory.

Sakura season almost felt a bit like our Christmas—sublime, surreal, and short, ending before you’ve actually soaked everything in.

All photos taken by author

The post Matcha, Manga, and Mayonnaise: Sakura appeared first on KRUI Radio.

My Spotify playlists each carry a wonderfully weird meaning behind their names.

“It’s Not a Boulder” is a rock playlist inspired by one of my favorite Spongebob quotes, which is high praise considering I have been a fan of the cartoon for almost as long as I have been able to walk.

The Bee Movie sits behind the name “Barry,” a playlist of jazzy and soulful tracks.

Weird names aside, one of my favorite playlists has to be “Silver,” full of songs from movies and TV shows.

While memorable songs from The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off certainly make the list, many of the best songs on it come from the 2015 movie, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Based on the spy television series from the 1960’s, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is set in Cold War-era Europe, starring Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer as rival U.S. and Soviet spies.

The film captures the nostalgic action of the original with action sequences, comedic yet dynamic characters, and eye-catching visuals. On plot and performances alone this movie is commendable, but what really stands out is its soundtrack.

Roberta Flack’s 1969 song “Compared to What” opens up the film. An effortlessly smooth bass line and piano part contrast with a bright brass section to create a complex atmosphere.

This mimics the feel of the movie, with many lighthearted moments contrasting with intense action sequences. Flack’s alto tones play with emphasis and syncopation, pushing this jazzy piece to another level.

With a multinational story, the music of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. has songs in various styles and languages. “Jimmy, Renda se” by Brazilian musician Tom Zé underscores a scene in which the two spies are tailing the criminal mastermind, Victoria Vinciguerra, portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki.

The title translated to mean “Jimmy, Surrender,” sets up the tone of Zé’s spirited lyrics, further detailed in an analysis from the Red Bull Music Academy.

Its semi-chanted Portuguese lyrics and energetic guitar riffs accompany the action sequence perfectly, while also being a great song to practice your best secret agent moves to.

Tension between Illya (Armie Hammer) and Gaby (Alicia Vikander) is perfectly captured by Solomon Burke’s “Cry to Me.”

Burke’s smooth voice brings us back to 1962, when the song was released, which happens to be during the time period the movie takes place in. A jazz-like drum part with an emphasis on cymbals gives a sultry feel to the accompaniment.

Pushing aesthetics, the song has a soulful beat that plays up the romance between the two characters while bringing a bright contrast to the fighting within the scene.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. blends together different time periods, genres of film, and music.

While much of the soundtrack comes from older pieces from around the world, there are several original pieces written specifically for the movie by Daniel Pemberton.

Percussion is essentially a character in the film with how much it is showcased. Imitating movement and moods ranging from flirting to daring escapes, Pemberton’s arrangements carry a spy film linked to the 1960s into to the current era.

In trying to summarize how The Man from U.N.C.L.E. integrates music into its plot in an inventive and fun way, I leave you with Italian singer Peppino Gagliardi’s “Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera.”

The ballad talks about how music reminds the singer of their love, asking through the title “Who Wants this Music Tonight?” Napoleon (Cavill) is none too concerned about the fate of Illya, but eventually saves the Soviet spy he has been forced to partner with.

Combining clashing tones of a legato Italian love song and an extensive action scene encapsulate much of what the film accomplishes through its soundtrack.

And unlike the characters of the film, no spying is necessary to see its ingenuity.

The post An Oldie But a Goodie: The Music from U.N.C.L.E. appeared first on KRUI Radio.