1. ‘Burn, Piano Island, Burn,’ by the Blood Brothers (2003): The first few times I listened to this, I thought it was the worst thing I’d ever heard. Once I gave it a few more chances, it slowly started to occur to me that this music wasn’t horrible – I simply wasn’t ready for something so different and so ahead of anything I’d ever heard before. It sounds like ‘just noise’ at first, but close attention unveils the tremendous choreography of these dense songs – the chaos seems intimidating, but with time, the intensity of the album becomes euphoric. It’s unlike anything released in this or any decade. The closest comparison I can think of is Captain Beefheart’s ‘Trout Mask Replix00x00x00’x00x10’Jx00x00x00’x00x00x00x00x00x00x1cxb8
academia
Best arts of the decade: Music
As Alice and Peter arrive in Hell, they chase after their advisor through a series of Hell’s courts, which test their magical knowledge — and their relationship. Read More
BladeSmart kitchen knife
Best arts of the decade: Music
So, you have a degree in Biochemistry and English. You served in student government for four years, clustered in Astrophysics, and speak passable German. In other words, you’re unemployed. Read More
Commencement
Best arts of the decade: Music
For graduated senior Helen Jackson, who hadn’t been able to go home for breaks for the past two years, these last few months have been a much-needed break. “I’m moving halfway across the country in July for my PhD program, so I probably won’t be able to come home very often after this,” she said. Read More