Editor’s note: This post was updated May 6 at 4:53 p.m. to update the featured art. Lookalike contests break the fourth wall, reminding people celebrities are human too. Read more...
Photo: (Helen Juwon Park/Illustrations director)
Arts Columns
Arts, Arts Columns, Music
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November 23, 7:39 pm
Album review: Kendrick Lamar’s surprise release ‘GNX’ is unsurprisingly brilliant
This post was updated Nov. 24 at 9:26 p.m. On his latest album, Kendrick Lamar says it best himself: “Ain’t no other king in this rap thing.” In a tight 12 tracks totaling 44 minutes, the surprise Friday release “GNX” is Kendrick Lamar’s shortest project since 2016’s “untitled unmastered.” and uses every moment of music to its fullest extent. Read more...
Photo: Wearing a black leather jacket, backward baseball cap, white shirt and jeans, Kendrick Lamar faces the camera while leaning against the back of a car on the cover of his surprise album “GNX.” The 17-time Grammy Award winner’s new LP was dropped Friday and features 12 songs across 44 minutes of music. (Courtesy of pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records)
Arts, Arts Columns, Film & TV
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November 22, 2:20 pm
Film review: Despite production flaws, ‘Wicked’ bewitches audiences with charming performances
This post was updated Nov. 24 at 9:13 p.m. Under the weight of doubt, “Wicked” defies gravity – and for many, expectations. Directed by movie musical wizard Jon M. Read more...
Photo: Pictured is Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) (left) wearing a black dress and witch hat and Galinda (Ariana Grande) (right) in a pastel pink outfit. The duo stars in the fantasy musical “Wicked,” which released in theaters everywhere Friday. (Courtesy of IMDb)
Arts, Arts Columns, Music
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November 21, 4:36 pm
Winner Takes All: Which Ariana Grande album deserves the throne in her discography?
This Friday, “Wicked” will transport movie-goers to the realm of Oz, with pop superstar Ariana Grande set to star as Glinda. Before the film’s release – and to celebrate the artist adding three more Grammy nominations to her list of accomplishments earlier this month – the Daily Bruin revisits Grande’s discography to ascertain which of her albums so far shines brightest. Read more...
Photo: A collage of Ariana Grande’s seven studio album covers show’s the singer’s discography from 2013 to 2024. In the top row are her albums “Yours Truly,” “My Everything,” “Dangerous Woman” and “Sweetener,” and in the bottom row are her LPs “thank u, next,” “Positions” and “eternal sunshine.” (Photos courtesy of Universal Republic Records, Republic Records and UMG Recordings, Inc. Design by Lindsey Murto/Design director)
Arts, Arts Columns, Lifestyle
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November 20, 9:12 pm
Technical Difficulties: Audiences should analyze support of influencers marketing reckless content
Marques Brownlee is on the fast track to cashing out his goodwill – and so are many of his peers. Brownlee is a classy, confident YouTuber who has developed sway in the tech world after 15 years of posting product reviews and commentary videos to his self-titled channel, which sits just below 20 million subscribers. Read more...
Photo: (Helen Sanders/Daily Bruin)
Arts, Arts Columns, Theater & Fine Arts
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November 17, 11:57 am
‘Waiting for Godot’ offers unnervingly strong interpretation of classic play
This post was updated Dec. 1 at 9:52 p.m. “Waiting for Godot” gives exactly what it promises, for better or worse. Famously described as “a play in which nothing happens,” Samuel Beckett’s 1952 tragicomedy will sit at the Geffen Playhouse’s Gil Cates Theater until Dec. Read more...
Photo: (From left to right) Vladimir (Rainn Wilson) and Estragon (Aasif Mandvi) sit on a rock and look contemplatively into the distance. Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” will show until Dec. 15. at the Geffen Playhouse. (Courtesy of Jeff Lorch)
Arts, Arts Columns, Music
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November 15, 10:19 pm
Album review: Mary J. Blige’s ‘Gratitude’ showcases R&B legend if thematically scattered
This post was updated Nov. 17 at 9:00 p.m. Mary J. Blige’s latest album is an LP that her fans can be mostly grateful for. The “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” released her fifteenth studio album “Gratitude” on Friday. Read more...
Photo: Mary J. Blige sits on a black couch while wearing her red hair in a high bun and a black outfit with white polka dots on the cover of her fifteenth studio album, “Gratitude.” The nine-time Grammy winner’s new LP was released Friday and features collaborations with artists such as Fabolous, Fat Joe and FERG. (Courtesy of 300 Entertainment LLC. and Mary Jane Productions Inc.)