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(07/02/21 2:00pm)
by Anthony HerringI’m just going to come out and say it: I love The Last of Us Part II. Sure, it made some controversial choices that didn’t sit well with everyone—Joel’s death primarily. Yes, it also made you play as the woman that killed him—who I found to be a compelling character. And yes, it was a pretty depressing game all around.Despite all of that, I still loved it.
(06/09/21 2:33pm)
by Anthony HerringWords cannot express my love for Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series. I first played the initial three games—Drake’s Fortune, Among Thieves, and Drake’s Deception—back in high school, and wow, what a ride. The adventures of Nathan Drake and his friends captured both my imagination and my attention for months on end; I couldn’t stop playing them (resulting in play sessions that I labeled “Uncharted Days”).It was around this time that the next Uncharted game, titled A Thief’s End, was announced. The first teaser released for the project held a dark tone, with Drake waking up wounded in a jungle. While doing so, a voice over of his mentor, Victor “Sully” Sullivan, was playing; he asked Drake if he was willing to continue on the dangerous quest that he’s currently on. The trailer then ended with the title card.As the release date drew closer, Naughty Dog announced more about the game: Drake had an older brother named Sam, who was never mentioned before. Along with that, this was to be the final entry in Drake’s story, and the series creator, Amy Hennig, was no longer helming the project. Taking her place was Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley, the two directors behind the critically acclaimed, survival horror masterpiece The Last of Us. Needless to say, this game was shaping up to be familiar, yet different from its more light-hearted predecessors, and I couldn’t have been more excited.With A Thief’s End having celebrated its fifth birthday this past May, I wanted to discuss why I feel that this is the best installment in the series.
(04/30/21 7:46pm)
By Anthony Herring
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has officially entered a new era of storytelling. Having utilized feature-length films for 11 years straight, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced that the MCU would venture into the world of television. At Comic-Con in 2019, he revealed that these shows would be released on Disney+, starting with five: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, Loki, What If…?, and Hawkeye. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was scheduled as the first show to be released, with a tentative date of Fall 2020.
Everything changed when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Every MCU show was delayed, resulting in the schedule being shuffled around to accommodate production changes. As a result, the first show to be released on Disney+ was WandaVision (back in January 2021), with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier following suit on March 19th. The show—part of the MCU’s Phase Four slate—manages to tell a compelling and timely story, despite a few stumbles here and there.
Two peas in a pod
Set six months after Avengers: Endgame, Sam Wilson (played by Anthony Mackie) struggles with the fact that Steve Rogers chose him to be the next Captain America. Rather than take up the mantle, he decides to give it away to the U.S. government—a decision that backfires. What ultimately makes Wilson’s arc gripping is not only due to Mackie’s insanely likable performance, or that Wilson proves himself worthy of being Captain America time and time again—but because the show chooses to discuss how he is a Black man in America. He gives up Cap’s shield for this reason, as he believes that there’s no way that the country will accept him as this symbol of Americanism. The inner conflict presented here is portrayed well, and ultimately has a satisfying conclusion.
The second half of this duo is none other than Bucky Barnes, played by Sebastian Stan. Before this show, it can be argued that Barnes didn’t really have any discernible character traits. The best I could give you regarding that is that he was both Steve Rogers’ best friend and the Winter Soldier. (Infinity War and Endgame did him no favors, as Barnes had barely any screen time in those films.) Thankfully, the show actually takes the character’s past and uses it in impactful ways, demonstrating how he seeks redemption for his crimes as the Winter Soldier. Not only that, but he feels like a real character, as there are multiple facets of his personality on display, such as his remorse and personal growth. The chemistry that Stan shares with Mackie is wonderful too (which is great, or else the show’s premise would’ve fallen flat).
The Star-Spangled Man without a plan
One of the show’s newest characters is John Walker, who is played by Wyatt Russell (the son of Kurt Russell, who was also in the MCU as Ego the Living Planet). The U.S. government chooses Walker—which goes against what Wilson wanted when he gave the shield away. To make matters worse, Walker is shown to be the perfect soldier: brave, in peak physical condition, and highly decorated—but not a wholly good man, which is in stark contrast to Wilson and Rogers. As a result, he is revealed to be emotionally unstable and slightly insecure, making dangerous and reckless decisions at the worst possible times.
Russell does an incredible job showing these aspects of Walker’s character, so much to the point that many have thrown hate towards him. (Frankly, that hate should be thrown at Walker, not Russell, he’s just doing his job as an actor.) Despite all that, there are moments where the character expresses his humanity, which ultimately makes him a rather compelling anti-hero instead of a full-on villain.
Chillin’ with a villain(s)
Speaking of villains, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has a group of them in the name of the Flag-Smashers. They are led by Karli Morgenthau (portrayed by Erin Kellyman), and their goal is to make the world how it was during the Blip (the five-year period between Infinity War and Endgame). While their goals were clearly illustrated, Morgenthau and her accomplices as characters themselves were pretty uninteresting and unmemorable.
Thankfully, the same cannot be said for Daniel Brühl’s Baron Helmut Zemo (who returns from Civil War). While it can be argued that Zemo didn’t have to be in the film—the Sokovia Accords provided enough for the Avengers—he definitely was one of the highlights of it. Zemo is one of the better MCU villains we’ve gotten, and it was delightful to see him return. The show reveals more about his backstory, gives a deeper insight into his hatred towards superpowered individuals, and manages to do the impossible: turn him into a meme. (That last part is a sight to behold.)
Lastly, Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter returns as well (with her last appearance being in Civil War). Unlike the more benevolent portrayals of the character in the past, she is instead cast in a more suspicious light. She lives in the city of Madripoor (a staple from Marvel’s X-Men comics) and partakes in very mysterious dealings. Without getting into major spoilers, it is an interesting route to take Carter—considering that she’s the niece of the heroic Agent Peggy Carter.
Sources: The Verge, Entertainment Weekly, CBR, IMDB
Images: The Mary Sue, USA Today, Deadline
Featured Image: MediaScrolls
(04/23/21 5:38pm)
by Savannah Jordan I recently started my teen drama watchlist in June when I finished Gilmore Girls for the first time. Gilmore Girls was the first teen drama I had watched and I loved the sense of real-life that revolved around the characters’ lives, as well as the time and effort the writers put into scripts to make the audience feel what the characters are feeling in a certain moment. Before Gilmore Girls, I didn’t have a specified watch list. But, after researching more about the show and its characters, other teen drama promotional posts kept making their way onto my screen and I fell down the teen drama rabbit hole. For instance, One Tree Hill made numerous references to Dawson’s Creek, and it really made me want to watch Dawson's Creek, so I could better understand why One Tree Hill made the reference. It honestly makes the show so much better when you understand its pop-culture references. I have been into watching teen dramas not only because of the screenwriting, but also because I love the drama that ensues. I love the character “ships” that are created within shows and debating what person was right for who. I like really digging into the characters’ lives and getting to know their whole story, and that they have a continuous story to keep you hooked, not one plot-point per episode, like action and crime shows such as NCIS or Chicago Fire. Getting to know character backstories and being able to follow one continuous story plays into allowing someone to appreciate each individual character—no matter how good or bad of a person they may turn out to be—and the show itself.After Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dawson’s Creek, I kept watching other teen dramas because they offer so much more than just a TV show to watch—they offer a lifestyle. They make you feel like you are living the character’s lives with them as they teach you lessons about love, strength, weakness, friendship, forgiveness and life in general. I have compiled a list of lessons that I have taken away from my top six favorite teen dramas; working my way up to my favorite lesson.
(04/23/21 2:15am)
By Arianna Sergio
You can’t call yourself a music connoisseur if you’ve never listened to Sir Paul McCartney. McCartney changed the music world forever when he emerged on the scene with his fellow Beatles bandmates—John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—and soon enough, Beatlemania swept the nation. With hits like “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Hey Jude,” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” among many others, The Beatles were the biggest thing at the time and were unstoppable. That is, until McCartney famously announced that they were breaking up due to, “Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I [McCartney] have a better time with my family.” Since then, he has had an outstanding solo career, releasing 26 studio albums. His newest album, McCartney III Imagined, is unlike anything he, or anyone else in the music industry, has ever done. Of course, there are plenty of artists who do covers of other artists’ music, but other than McCartney, I have never seen another artist openly invite other artists to create new interpretations of their own compositions.
(04/21/21 5:15pm)
by Conner TigheCunning, beautiful, and the ultimate survivor of the horrors of fame, actress Drew Barrymore has had quite the acting career now at 46 years old. On April 13, Barrymore got candid with actress Demi Lovato about Lovato’s struggles with fame and being in the spotlight at such a young age. Barrymore mentioned she could relate to Lovato’s recent documentary Dancing with the Devil, which detailed the young actress' time in and out of rehab and how she reclaimed her sobriety after a scary overdose in 2018. With a career spanning nearly four decades, Barrymore has come close to some devilish misfortunes herself, but what makes her life so tragic and inspiring at the same time? The answer comes with Barrymore’s deep ties to Hollywood starting at such an early age.At the age of five, Barrymore appeared for the first time on-screen with sci-fi film Altered States, released in 1980. The actress had a more than troubling upbringing with an abusive father who left Barrymore’s family when she was just six months old. Her mother, Jaid, was an aspiring actress, sharing a similar dream as her father. With only her mother left to raise Barrymore, she was often found at Hollywood parties with her mother drinking, and she has admitted that even at the young age of seven, she was combining alcohol with ice cream.
(04/16/21 8:30pm)
by Conner Tighe
Perhaps one of the most well-known novel, movie, and gaming series of the past decade, Harry Potter has become something of a milestone in my life. It was one of the first games I played, and over a decade later, it’s still one of the series I enjoy playing. Whether it’s dueling Death Eaters, flying on a broom, or sneaking past guards, the Harry Potter series has had its ups, but it certainly has had its downs in the gaming franchise. Here, I rank the series from best to worst.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
I'm biased when I say this title is the best, as it’s the first one I played in the series. But, after having played all eight titles, I still think it provides the best experience. Potter’s second year provides the most fun and true-to-heart Hogwarts experience. Players will collect Famous Witches and Wizards Cards, unlock new spells, and more. Furthermore, players can zoom around the castle on a broom. By finding lost items for students around the castle, players will earn more house points than other houses. Racing with your broom, throwing gnomes through hoops, and buying up all of Fred and George Weasley’s goodies in their shop make the experience that much better than releases afterward.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Potter’s first adventure on the PlayStation mirrors Chamber of Secrets almost exactly, with only a few slight differences. Again, players will complete daily tasks, find lost inventory for students, obtain new spells, and more; but this game is glitchier, has different areas to explore, and offers different spells although sharing similar spells with its successor.
While sneaking past prefects, body-binding spells go through walls, making your job that much more difficult. The screen will go black at times, forcing you to restart from wherever you last saved. In that sense, the game is ruthless in making you redo tough challenges if it decides to glitch on you. But the overall experience is still there for Potter fans.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Potter’s final journey ends in mediocre gameplay and a fast-paced storyline. Players can switch combat spells to match enemy attacks and defense positions. Players can experience characters like Professor McGonagall, Seamus Finnigan, Ginny Weasley, and more. The game's mission to include diversity this way is a hopeless trope. No two characters are different as everyone uses the same spells. The only "side missions" include collecting small glowing orbs to unlock character trophies. However, the experience has its sense of replayability. Sometimes the most exciting part of the journey is the end.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Creators took the combat system to a whole new level when this installment came out. Potter begins his journey with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, searching for Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Players will protect wizards and witches from both Snatchers and Death Eaters. Voldemort’s followers won’t be the only enemies Potter will face. Spiders, dementors, and more await the three. The missions seem repetitive after a while, making the game feel useless. Potter enters the Ministry of Magic after escaping with Voldemort’s locket. This makes no sense in the realm of logic, and I can’t ignore the fact the game took this route with the plot. The experience is worthwhile for one play-through, but beyond that, little takeaways come from the experience.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Potter’s sixth year is a mere copy of his fifth as an errand boy. You can brew potions and duel students and Death Eaters. Nearly Headless Nick guides players around the castle. It was an upgrade from the Marauder's Map idea with its predecessor. The lack of real combat makes the upgrading system futile. The game follows the book and film well and is a mediocre year at Hogwarts.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Prisoner of Azkaban was the first sign that the trio was growing up. The plot balances classwork and side plots. You’ll battle creatures using different tactics and spells. This was the last game in the series to incorporate the Wizard and Witches card hunt, which was disappointing. The classic dueling system was not as good as the previous release, and the game took away the broom flying option. The game was a drab forgotten release, much like Goblet of Fire.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Order of the Phoenix expanded upon the dueling system, allowing players to use more combat spells like stupefy, protego, and petrificus totalus. Unfortunately, much of the game is taken up by having Potter run errands for students involved in Dumbledore’s Army. By using the Marauder’s Map, players will explore Hogwarts’ dungeons, corridors, and exterior to upgrade spells and achieve tasks. It gets boring quickly but is better than its forerunner.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Oh boy, this game was bad. The combat system, the bug issues, the lack of scenery and levels. The famous trio returns to Hogwarts, maneuvering challenges related to the Triwizard Tournament. Players can cast a variety of spells at the click of a button. The AI casts the spell related to the individual situation players are put in. By pressing one button, the correct spell will be cast, depending on the enemy's weakness.
Players will explore the Herbology greenhouses, the infamous Little Hangleton Graveyard, and more. Potter will battle fiery salamanders, poisonous bugs, and all other sorts of craziness. You can collect Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans and challenge shields to upgrade skills. Although the game attempted to make the most of the experience, it failed. The AI gets stuck in corners, and you replay levels repeatedly to make sure you can get to other levels.
Sources: Scout Life
Featured Image: Pinterest
(04/13/21 10:21pm)
by Kellyn HarrisonDespite the alarming number of assignments congregating on my to-do list and the mountains of textbooks piled on the desk in my tiny dorm room, I scrolled through Tik Tok. I did this because it is the only thing that drags me from the pull of schoolwork and gives me a break from the pressures of being a sophomore in college. Most of my feed includes memes and music, so I am used to people on the platform recommending me new music. But it was the dreamy and up-beat sound used as a dramatic parallel to the heavy references including systematic racism and generational trauma that drew me to Rina Sawayama. I immediately searched for her music and have been listening to her self-titled debut album since then. In fact, I am listening to it now as I fiercely type at the very desk I should be finishing homework at. Instead, I need to share with the world how groundbreaking Sawayama is, so her music can be spread and appreciated as the piece of art it is.
(04/12/21 8:31pm)
By Mason Kupiainen
Melissa McCarthy’s career feels like it is going down the same path as Adam Sandler’s. She started with a few gems, including Bridesmaids and Spy. Then—for some reason—she started appearing in awful projects like The Happytime Murders, Ghostbusters, and The Kitchen. One aspect that has made many of her films bad has been her performances. Like Sandler, McCarthy has taken on the shtick of being the loud, obnoxious, annoying, and idiotic character. It worked in Spy, but that type of character hasn’t worked for her in any of her other comedies. McCarthy’s latest comedy brings her gimmick to the superhero genre in what might be labeled her worst performance and film yet.
Thunder Force takes place in a world with superpowered individuals. When Emily (Octavia Spencer) creates a treatment that gives ordinary people superpowers, Lydia (Melissa McCarthy) accidentally gets injected and develops super strength. Lydia’s friend, Emily, starts the treatment as well, developing the power of invisibility, and the two must team up to stop a dangerous villain. Although the Thunder Force trailer wasn’t promising, having Spencer as one of the leads was promising since she generally picks great projects. However, Thunder Force turned out to be worse than it appeared.
A comedy without humor
The main priority of any comedy should be to make the audience laugh. Unlikable characters, a horrible story, and cringy dialogue can be forgiven if the movie can make you laugh. McCarthy has proven herself to be a great comedic actress in Bridesmaids and Spy, but the comedy here goes for the low-brow, uncomfortable, and cringy humor. The humor switches from McCarthy’s usual screaming and obnoxious comedy style to drawing out what should have been a quick joke into a full scene of focusing on one joke. For example, there’s a scene where McCarthy makes a joke about Steve Urkel, which then gets drawn out into a scene where no one understands the joke and her imitating Urkel. The same thing is done a little bit later with a joke about Jodie Foster. The humor was more uncomfortable to watch than it was funny.
Almost all the characters are unlikeable in the film. With the exception of Emily’s daughter, Tracy, who was the most level-headed of all the characters; everyone else is too annoying to like. McCarthy basically plays herself: the screaming and wailing, over-the-top unpleasant person. She has given some awful performances in films like Tammy and The Boss, but her character is too obnoxious and annoying to care about.
The film even has two great actors, Spencer and Jason Bateman, and still isn’t able to have any likable characters. Spencer’s performance is poor, and her character lacks any substance. Although the film takes place in a world with superheroes, Bateman’s character felt odd within the film as his character has crab claws for arms. It didn’t add any humor to the film and didn’t fit within the world they set up.
Spotty action
The action in the movie is a mixed bag. Some action sequences were terrible, while other scenes were well-handled and entertaining. The final fight of the film is thrilling for the most part and has some great moments. It takes place within an office building, and they’re able to integrate their surroundings into the fight. Some of the other action scenes try to add awful humor into them by making jokes throughout the fights. During these sequences, the humor throws the scene off and makes what could have been thrilling action into a mess of a scene.
A great element of many superhero films is the villain. Characters like the Joker, Thanos, Mr. Glass, and Loki have helped improve their films. The villain in Thunder Force, The King, doesn’t have any of the elements that made villains like those great. He was your typical, run-of-the-mill villain who doesn’t have any depth and comes off as simply an evil villain who must be stopped.
From a filmmaking aspect, this movie doesn’t provide anything worthwhile. There weren’t any creative shots or scenes that were well handled. It all felt fundamental and cookie-cutter. Nothing ever felt intentional or the director trying to make a creative decision but rather felt like an average person trying to make a movie. Having some creative work behind the camera could have made some scenes more interesting; instead, you’re left with every scene feeling lifeless.
Sources: YouTube
Images: Den of Geek, Chicago Tribune
Featured Image: TV Insider
(04/09/21 6:05pm)
By Blake ChapmanEarl Simmons, aka “Dark Man X” or “DMX,” has died at the age of 50 after suffering “catastrophic cardiac arrest” according to a statement from his family.The Yonkers-born recording artist, famous for songs like “X Gon’ Give It to Ya,” “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem,” and “Where The Hood At,'' was rushed to White Plains Hospital in New York early April after suffering a heart attack following a potential overdose, which remains unconfirmed. Soon thereafter, he was reported to be in critical condition and placed on life support.News of DMX’s condition was met with support from all around the music industry including artists like Missy Elliot, Rick Ross, and Chance the Rapper. In a statement to TMZ, a representative for Simmons said, “the overwhelming outpouring of heartfelt love, encouragement, support and prayers for Earl. Earl is someone whose life and music have been a source of inspiration and strength to so many people around the world. It is reassuring to see his fans return that same passion and energy to him during his time of need."https://twitter.com/chancetherapper/status/1378412368393277444?s=20Along with a lengthy discography and filmography including three Grammy Award nominations and 19 movie roles, Simmons' legal issues and health issues have also been numerous. He spoke openly of his crack cocaine addiction in the past, and claimed he suffered from asthma and bipolar disorder. Over the course of his career, he racked up multiple arrests for reckless driving, animal cruelty, and drug possession. In July 2017, he was charged with 14 federal counts of tax fraud for failing to file income tax returns between 2010 and 2015.He is survived by his 15 children, mother, and fiancé Desiree Lindstrom.
(03/28/21 9:00pm)
by Annie BastianThe opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board. One of the best feelings in the world in finding new music through an artist that you already love. Recently I was listening to songs by the artist eaJ, also known as Jae from the K-pop band Day6, when I came across a collaboration he had done with an artist I had never heard of called Seori, a South Korean R&B artist. Naturally I clicked on the video to listen to it, and it took approximately 30 seconds for me to completely fall in love with her voice. The song “It just is” captured Seori’s dream-like voice that makes you connect to both the song and the emotions that come with realizing you are in love, even if you do not speak Korean. I was hooked and I needed to hear more of her voice.
(03/23/21 7:36pm)
Ball State Daily · Remixed and The Coven: To the Beat of Feminism
Welcome back to another episode of Remixed! On this special crossover episode with the Coven, join us as we discuss women's place in the music industry, female music icons, and the current state of feminism in the music industry. Tune in for all this and more on this special crossover episode of Remixed and the Coven!
Hosts: Sam Shipe & Shwetha Sundarrajan
Edited by: Sam Shipe
Graphic by: Emily Hanes
(03/19/21 7:00pm)
by Conner TigheThe opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board. When thinking about female superheroes and villains, there’s a wide span of variety. Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, and many more; but one stands out. Not only for her unpredictability, but as one of the few females to side with a hero and battle him at times. Selina Kyle, more commonly called Catwoman, is one of the most mysterious female heroes/villains of the DC Universe. She has been portrayed by several actresses over the years, with each portrayal being different from the last. With Zoë Kravitz playing Catwoman in 2022’s The Batman, I thought it was only fitting to look back at the past lineage of women—from worst to best—who have portrayed the infamous whip-wielding burglar.
(03/13/21 9:07pm)
by Mason KupiainenThe opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board. Over the past decade, we’ve seen an increase in female directors given the opportunity to direct more high-profile projects including Wonder Woman, Charlie's Angels, Captain Marvel, and Mulan. Other films like Booksmart, Little Women, and The Babadook get high praise for their quality, as well as being directed by women. However, there have been many other great films from previous decades that were helmed by women that were exceptional, and maybe even better than ones directed today. However, they have not received the same praise or been even mentioned when discussing films directed by women.
(03/13/21 5:00pm)
Theatre and dance majors will be performing in the first dance show of the spring 2021 season in "Tribute." "Tribute" is a 50 minute show choreographed by Anne Beck and Michael Humphrey showcasing the African roots of popular musical stylings such as Jazz and swing, and how it even affects modern styles of dance and music. The show will be only shown as a livestream on March 13, at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, please visit bsu.edu/theatre.
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(02/27/21 3:00pm)
by Lia Weisbecker-Lotz
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
February is Black History Month and for a while now, I’ve wanted to write about Black punk bands. Punk has always been a community meant for those angry at the world, for screaming for change, for the chance to be heard, and most importantly, to be able to be themselves without backlash. Even so, after my last article on female punk bands, I realized that punk has not been so perfect at making sure everyone is heard and appreciated. But it’s the groups that aren’t as heard that are the most important to listen to. Black punk bands help spread not only a form of education as to what the Black community is going through, but also offer each other a sense of belonging in a largely white community. While the bands listed are Black punk bands, some are also infused with people of different races. However, this doesn’t change the importance or the impact of their messages and how they help the Black punk community. I do want to leave a disclaimer: I’m a white person who has never dealt with racism or its horrors, and I will never claim to. I can only hope to learn from the Black community about the problems they face and ways that I can support them through it.
Red Arkade
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="403"] Image from Afropunk[/caption]
Red Arkade is a high-energy, aggressive band from New York City. They released their first EP, Livewire, in 2016 which introduces the group’s main message: the desire for and importance of freedom. Red Arkade’s songs largely focus on being who you are and doing what you want with your life. Strangely for a punk band, their music is incredibly positive and invigorating, full of speedy riffs and hard-hitting drums. Red Arkade consistently mixes elements of hip hop and hard rock into their songs, which adds to their uniqueness in the punk community. Their latest EP, We Don’t Sing Pretty, was released in 2018 and seems to be about them claiming their spot as a punk band.
Big Joanie
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="401"] Image from Rolling Stone[/caption]
This London-based trio formed in 2013 to join a DIY festival and quickly started cranking out EPs. Big Joanie has become a haven where the members can “be completely themselves as Black women.” The three of them work to bring attention to the Black punk community in the UK and the fact that POC members of the punk scene exist. Big Joanie’s members even created the Decolonise Fest, an annual London DIY festival specifically for POC punks, and the Stop Rainbow Racism campaign. Their music is strongly reminiscent of post-punk bands, experimenting with heavy, harsh, and slow sounds. Most of Big Joanie’s songs center on the emotion behind the end of a relationship, full of a certain bitterness and longing. Some of their other songs discuss the racism they and others have dealt with from both individuals and society. Sistahs was their 2018 debut album, and they plan on releasing a follow-up album this year.
The TxLips
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="400"] Image from VOX ATL[/caption]
A musical collective, meaning that membership and participation are flexible and rotated, The TxLips currently have 14 members. Established and led by Gabriella Logan, this all-black, and mostly female group has been making music since 2018 and has been working toward its goal: to push “the status quo of what the world says artists of marginalized identities can do.” With a variety of artists, the music The TxLips produce is diverse, influenced by a lot of different backgrounds and genres. Many of their songs do contain consistent emotions regarding angst, anger, and the desire for a different life. In 2020, they released their album Prison of Life, which contains some remakes of songs from their original EP, Queens of the New Age.
FEVER 333
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="399"] Image from The Guardian[/caption]
FEVER 333 is a punk band that was created to be the soundtrack of the rebellion. They formed in 2017, debuting in the most punk way imaginable, an “unpermitted” demonstration at an LA landmark to share their ideas. Shortly after, FEVER 333 worked on releasing their first EP, Made An America, (its title song earned a Grammy nomination) a year later. The group’s songs are vehemently, unapologetically about the rampant amount of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and general inequality in the U.S. The trio has songs calling out the unjust system capitalism is built on: “BURN IT,” “Walking in My Shoes,” “SUPREMACY,” “Soul’d Me Out,” etc. Often labeled post-hardcore, FEVER 333’s music is rapid and raucous, while experimenting with elements of rap, trap, and metal music. They use their latest EP, Wrong Generation, which came out in 2020, and continue to use their unique sound to spread their message demanding change.
The Muslims
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="404"] Image from Scalawag Magazine[/caption]
Another trio, The Muslims are an all-queer punk band that was prompted by the aftermath of the 2016 election to come together. They released their first album, The Muslims, in 2017 where they specifically call out the Islamophobia that’s pervasive in the U.S. They regularly use satire and humor to make songs that both mock white supremacists, transphobes, fascists, etc. whilst furiously pointing out the impact they have on African-American, queer, and other minority communities. The Muslims’s music is energetic, fun, and full of disgust at the current state of society. The trio’s lyrics switch between clever and blunt and are always complemented by the gritting, potent riffs and drums. Gentrified Chicken was their last album; it was released in 2020 and is focused on the government’s failures in recent years.
The 1865
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="404"] Image from Musical Notes Global[/caption]
Created in 2017, The 1865 was launched by well-known music journalist and producer/director Sacha Jenkins. Jenkins has stated that he created The 1865 to be able to “voice his frustrations and expressions of the current political landscape.” The band is named after the year the Civil War ended and slavery was abolished. While this was a turning point in history, The 1865 uses their music to point out how slavery continued to have an impact on African-Americans. Their songs are based on the perspective of enslaved and previously enslaved African-Americans during that tumultuous time. The 1865’s music matches the intensity of their lyrics, with powerful bass lines and full of violent energy. Their last album came out in 2019 and is titled Don’t Tread On We!
Sources: Afropunk, Big Joanie, BTRToday, Chardine Taylor Stone, Ebert Fest, Facebook, Genius, IMDB, Indy Week, Kerrang!, Kill Rockstars, Kit Monsters, Gal-dem, Play Alone Records, Riot Fest, Spotify, The Fader, The Grammys, The Guardian, The Muzlimz, The Txlips Band, This Magazine
Images: Afropunk, The Guardian, Musical Notes Global, Rolling Stone, Scalawag Magazine, VOX ATL
Featured Image: Scalawag Magazine
(02/26/21 10:00pm)
by Conner Tighe
In 1975, Toni Tennille stepped on stage sporting a sparkly purple dress and a bob haircut. “Okay, let’s get it, honey.” she said, smiling. Husband and wife duo Captain and Tennille dominated much of the 70s with their keyboard and piano instrumentals. Their 1975 cover of Neil Sedaka’s “Love Will Keep Us Together” did more than just rack in popularity. It continued the common tradition of husband-and-wife musician groups, like John Lennon and Yoko Ono and Sonny and Cher. Unfortunately, the duo’s time in the spotlight didn’t last much longer than a decade, leaving the memories of the two that much more reminiscent.
Captain and Tennille were known for their love ballads, never straying from the slow, peaceful story of two in love. The two never fully joined the ranks of “stardom” after forming in 1974, but created eight albums and had an admirable career even with underlying issues. “Love Will Keep Us Together” was the band’s number one hit till 1979 when “Do That To Me One More Time” was released, which again hit number one in early 1980. In comparison, Richard and Karen Carpenter sang similar sounding music for those unfamiliar with the band. The Carpenters captured the essence of love and the perfect life throughout much of their career with hits like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Top of the World,” and “Can’t Smile Without You.”
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="409"] Image from Showbiz CheatSheet[/caption]
Daryl Dragon, known by his stage name Captain Keyboard, worked with The Beach Boys for five years until he joined Tennille in 1972. Tennille, at the time, was creating music for the musical Mother Earth which tackled environmental issues caused by large corporations. Tennille was and still is a gifted singer-songwriter. In an interview with Bob Andelman, she claimed that much of her career was for Dragon’s approval, which she never fully received. She blames much of his behavior on his childhood and growing up in a dysfunctional family, and says that he never said “I love you” once in all the years they were married.
Even after their career peak, the two continued working together until their divorce in 2014. The duo’s time together was mainly glued by a contract and a shared business that thrived for decades. Tennille claims she tried to “fix” Dragon, but it never happened. As much as it appeared that Tennille and Dragon were the perfect musical couple, it was a different story behind closed doors. In a 2016 interview with Insider, Tennille said, “People thought we had this fairytale relationship, and I knew that they would be disappointed.” Tennille wanted to marry Dragon initially but says they worked better as professionals, not husband and wife.
Two years later, Tennille published her memoir about her career and marriage to Dragon, writing on some difficult subject matter. To say the least, the two had a rocky relationship. Dragon dealt with tremors for much of his later life until his death in 2019 from kidney failure. Tennille is still sporting her same haircut from three decades ago, a decade where many would say was the happiest time of the duo’s life. But to Tennille, now is her time of freedom from a man she called her best friend for over 30 years.
Sources: CBSNews, Discogs, RateYourMusic, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, UCR, USA Today, Village-News, YouTube
Images: Showbiz CheatSheet
Featured Image: NPR
(02/15/21 12:30am)
by Arianna Sergio
Once the Christmas season passes and we bid adieu to jolly St. Nick, the ruby and blush colored rose bouquets, countless brands of heart-shaped chocolate boxes, and colorful plush animals of all types as big as the eye can see start barreling in on the shelves. Tis’ the season for the only day of the year where it's socially acceptable and celebrated to be super corny and mushy with your lover. This day practically oozes affection. This kind of love is a challenge to flee from when it surrounds every move you make throughout February, so the majority of people either completely love it or completely hate it. I have certainly flip-flopped from one side to the other, but something that remains a burning question in my head is how did Valentine’s Day become a holiday?
Lupercalia and St. Valentine
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="414"] Image from Mental Floss[/caption]
This story kicks off with the earliest origin of Valentine’s Day: the pagan holiday Lupercalia. This holiday, which celebrates fertility, took place for centuries in mid-February. Lupercalia was one of the few pagan holidays that was celebrated 150 years after Christianity was legalized, showcasing how popular and influential it was within the Roman Empire.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="413"] Image from Catholic Online[/caption]
At the end of the fifth century, Pope Gelasius became the new pope and stopped anyone from celebrating Lupercalia. Shortly after he announced this, the Catholic church made Feb. 14 their feast day to celebrate the martyred St. Valentine. I have to preface that in the early martyrologies three various St. Valentine’s are discussed, all sharing Feb. 14 as their feast day, and because the historical records are very few and scattered no one can wholeheartedly confirm who the “real” St. Valentine is. The first St. Valentine was a priest who doubled as a doctor. He not only educated the fellow Christians in his community to follow Jesus, but he also aided people who were sickly. St. Valentine was a publicly recognized leader in his Christian community, and at the time Christians were tormented for their faith and were highly sought after and jailed, so he eventually became jailed and then beheaded. The second St. Valentine was a Bishop of Terni, then known as Interamna, and he also became jailed and then beheaded. The third St. Valentine suffered martyrdom with many others in Africa, but nothing else is known about him. Some believe that all of these versions of St.Valentine are the same person, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
Why is it associated with love?
There are copious theories as to why the holiday is associated with love. A few of the most popular being: that in the Middle Ages in France and England it was commonly believed that Feb. 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance; St. Valentine signed a letter that ended with “from your Valentine,” to his jailer’s daughter, who he fell in love with and healed from being blind to a certain degree; and lastly St. Valentine opposed Emperor Claudius II commands and, in secret, married couples to pardon the husbands’ from war. All of these beliefs can provide us with some sort of idea to entertain, since none of us will for sure know what the “real” reason is.
Next time you are shopping at your local grocery store purchasing some of the discounted limited edition Valentine’s Day treats, you can ponder about the mysterious theories that surround St. Valentine, why the pink and red doused holiday is celebrated for love, and how it came to be what it is today.
Sources: BBC, Britannica, Catholic Education, History, National Geographic, Saints Resource,
Images: Catholic Online, Mental Floss
Featured Image: History
(02/14/21 10:30pm)
by Lia Weisbecker-Lotz
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
I love celebrating Valentine’s Day, but not for the reasons most people do. For many, Valentine’s Day is about spending the day with their significant other, showering them in love and care. For me, it’s about expressing my love and appreciation for my friends, family, and myself. I started this tradition in high school where I would make personal Valentine’s Day cards for all of my friends, or anyone I wanted to be friends with. I’d spend hours making these cards, using a list of people I enjoyed being with and a list of things they were interested in. I’d write down any puns I could think of that were also compliments and practice drawing cute versions of animals or characters they liked. As an example, I made one friend who liked hiking and camping, a card with a drawing of a s’more with a cute face below the words “I need s’more friends like you!” I wanted to remind people, especially the ones who weren’t in romantic relationships, that someone loves them. I wanted them to know that I listen to and care about what they’re interested in and passionate about. Because you shouldn’t have to be someone’s partner to be valuable to them.
For some reason, our society holds romantic relationships above platonic ones, making them seem as if they are milestones for everyone to reach. Family members that you haven’t seen in a while always end up asking, “Have you found a boy/girlfriend yet?” Depending on your sexual orientation, hugging anyone of the opposite gender immediately leads to someone asking, “Oh, are you guys dating?” This is especially obvious around Valentine’s Day, as all the commercials and rom-coms begin to play. But if this is the holiday of love, then why doesn’t it include all types of love?
When we’re children, we go around giving cards and candy to every one of our classmates, even those we aren’t very close to. Then at some point, we’re convinced that Valentine’s Day is only meant for couples and crushes. The way there’s an emphasis on romantic relationships, is a mistake. A majority of the most important and longest-lasting relationships are platonic. And there are people who aren’t interested in dating during a certain period of their life, or at all. Which should be normal. And it should also be normal to celebrate your love for friends and family on a day about love.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="404"] Image from Mashable [/caption]
Of course, I’m not the first person to think friendships should be celebrated. In the TV show Parks and Recreation, the character Leslie celebrates “Galentine’s Day,” a day dedicated to her female friends just before Valentine’s Day. And people have started to take up the holiday, making it a day to celebrate the special relationship that comes with female friendships. In 2011, the UN declared July 30 National Friendship Day. Many people in the U.S. celebrate this day by posting photos of friends on Instagram or Snapchat and typing out what they appreciate about them. There’s even a National Self Love Day on February 13 that some celebrate.
Despite this, I think it should be Valentine’s Day where we can celebrate the love of friends, family, and ourselves. The people who dislike Valentine’s Day often dislike it because of the focus on and pressure for romance. Or simply because seeing others in a romantic relationship makes them feel lonely. But this is a day about reminding people that love exists for them. That they have friends who love them, and that they should love themselves. By genuinely making it a day for love, we can stop making people feel alienated or like they’re missing out. Honestly, sometimes, it seems that only people who are in love get to experience happiness on this day. That if you can’t get or simply don’t want to have a date, you’ll never get the joy of this love-crazy day.
Platonic relationships are just as, if not more, important than romantic ones. When romantic relationships fail, it’s our friends and family that we rely on to help us through. When we’re insecure or worried about something going on in a romantic relationship, it’s our friends and family we turn to for advice. Platonic relationships are the backbone and basis of love. Family provides you roots and friendships help you grow. Self-love is the product of that growth, being able to enjoy, not only time with others, but with yourself should be prioritized. Because you have to spend every second of your life with yourself.
Valentine’s Day can and should be, a special day for everyone. To love and be loved, is a special feeling that is not always romantic. So don’t forget all of the people who are here to support you through every dip and rise you go through in life.
Sources: Her Culture, IMDB, Instagram, National Day Calendar, The Atlantic,
Images: Mashable
Featured Image: History
(02/12/21 10:00am)
by Brandon Carson
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
Australia’s King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are the only known band with 16 albums, two official live albums, a wide variety of styles, and an entire universe linking them together. Formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, each record they make is a new unique take on their sound, starting from surf/garage rock in 2012 and currently landing in the microtonal sounds they tried back in 2017.
King Gizzard is the hardest working band to date. Before 2020, the band was constantly touring, even during their five-record-run of 2017. Each record builds their discography a floor taller, allowing for variety in their already energetic live shows. But not only are they just making the music, they also constantly tie together storylines, create characters, and build worlds inside these amazing records.