“The Dandelions” As arthouse hits “Jules et Jim” and “Amelie” have shown in the past, French films have always had a talent for imbuing life with a whimsical charm, with a certain joie de vivre. Continuing in this tradition, “The Dandelions” freewheels through the vibrantly colorful yet psychologically troubled childhood Read More…
Those familiar with Restoration Hardware probably know it more for its furnishings and décor than anything else. But lately, the chain has been dabbling in the unlikely venture of music promotion. To accomplish this, they’ve opened a new branch called RH Music, dedicated to showcasing talented up-and-coming musical acts the Read More…
Is the MGMT heard on their self-titled album really the same band that released Oracular Spectacular six years ago? Obviously, yes, in terms of name and band members. But regarding sound, it’s harder to say. Their debut LP was mainly an exercise in standard psych pop with progressive rock embellishments, Read More…
The name of the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is pretty telling of its actual line-up: bulky, ironically mismatched, but ultimately enticing. Running since 2001, its thirteenth edition this year continues the tradition of featuring both long-celebrated names and more recent bands, ranging from bluegrass to folk, world music, pop Read More…
Thanks to the Student Union Program, Entertainment, and Recreation Board, better known as SUPERB, UC Berkeley is never short on entertainment. This fall, SUPERB is rolling out another stellar lineup, bringing the best, baddest bands and musical artists straight to campus and all for free. The Daily Californian is excited Read More…
While Converse’s Represent SF concert series at Slim’s was meant to function as a promo for the brand’s grand opening of its flagship store in the city last Friday, the ad was ambitious, to say the least. Running the course of the entire business week, each night was loosely devoted Read More…
If there’s one problem plaguing the creative output of NYC trio Yeah Yeah Yeahs (and rest assured, there is likely more than one problem), it’s that they don’t have much to prove anymore. After ascending to notoriety with their gritty, minimalist debut Fever to Tell, they managed to conjure up Read More…
The Flaming Lips have become something of a flanderized band. That is to say, much like Ned Flanders from “The Simpsons,” time has turned them into a caricature of what they once were. With each new release, this group of esoteric psychonauts becomes more exaggeratedly esoteric and psychonautical. Their 2009 Read More…
Justin Timberlake releasing new album Tuesday In a contemporary R&B world increasingly obsessed with obscure production tricks and emotional overindulgence (see “PBR&B”), only one panty-dropping powerhouse of Caucasian soul can save the genre from pretension: naturally, Justin Timberlake. Seven years after his massively successful record FutureSex/LoveSounds, JT makes a glorious Read More…
When an artist as iconic as David Bowie announces an album, expectations of something along the lines of a Second Coming tend to circulate. It was no help that Bowie’s announcement was coupled with the release of a new single, “Where Are We Now?,” a characteristically extraterrestrial ballad emanating the Read More…