Lana Del Rey: Born to Die

Lana Del Rey is shrouded in mystery and controversy. Even with backing by a major record label, the public criticizes as much as reveres work from this seemingly unknown artist. Some allege that her coy and shy nature is a gimmick, recounting her recent performance on Saturday Night Live. Whether people love or hate her, all eyes are on her debut album, Born to Die. Born to Die sounds less like an album than it does a soundtrack to a great American tragedy. It has relatively dark and spacey beats filled with Lana's…continue reading →

The Dean, I mean Oscar, Goes To…

Greendale Community College may be on an extended winter break at the moment, but Dean Pelton is busy as ever. If you don’t understand that reference, I’ll use layman’s terms. Jim Rash, Dean of Greendale Community College in NBC’s underrated sitcom Community,has been nominated for an Oscar in the Adapted Screenplay category for “The Descendants.” Rash and his writing partner Nat Faxon worked on the project with director Alexander Payne to bring “The Descendants” to the big screen, and now it’s being considered one of the best films of the year. The Descendants…continue reading →

Area 52: Sounds from Another World

Rodrigo y Gabriela are no strangers to lighting up a stage with performances that are nothing short of electric. Their unique blend of Spanish guitar with hard rock-caliber energy has made them alternative music favorites. Their newest musical approach, known as Area 52, sees a complete revision of their previous work and a reimagining of what their music is capable of. Accompanied by a 13-piece Cuban orchestra, filled with some of Cuba’s youngest and brightest players, Rodrigo y Gabriela seek to bring a new perspective to some of their more popular compositions. Blending…continue reading →

The Addams Family Visits Tulsa!

If you’re looking to escape the normalcy of life, The Addams Family may provide the strange factor that you’re looking for. The family that has spooked the funny bones of children and adults alike since the 1960s is returning for a six-day run at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center on the January 24th. The Addams Family follows Gomez and Morticia as they raise their two children, Wednesday and Pugsley, in a horrifically funny household along with Uncle Fester, Grandmama Addams, a butler named Lurch, and a hand called Thing. This Broadway-style performance, presented…continue reading →

The Art Of Silence

The Circle Cinema, Tulsa’s non-profit independent movie theater, brings us one of 2011’s most critically acclaimed films, “The Artist.” Nominated for six Golden Globes, the most for 2011, “The Artist” takes a look at George Valentin and his concern for his career as movies change from silent to talkies. In “The Artist,” George Valentin, played by French actor Jean Dujardin who won Best Actor at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival for his role, is concerned about how the invention of talkies will change his career. Along the way, he befriends an up-and-coming dancer,…continue reading →

The Shins: A simple return

The Shins have shocked the alternative music world with the release of their first single since 2007, entitled “Simple Song.” The single, one of ten on their upcoming album, Port of Morrow, continues the bubbly and energy filled indie-rock legacy the Shins established in their previous albums, energy that has won them critical acclaim for over a decade. Port of Morrow is set for release on March 20th. In addition to the core group, the album features some new faces with a few old ones worked in too. Guests on the album include…continue reading →

Dark Knight Rises

Earlier this year Christopher Nolan was nice enough to give us a sample of The Dark Night Rises, his final installment of Batman. Audience members who attended the IMAX showing of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol were the first to get a six minute glimpse of what we are in for with this movie; although like most things it has been leaked online now. Most people found the clip interesting and liked what they saw, but, had one major complaint; Bane, the main villain, was hard to understand. Critics and audience members alike claimed…continue reading →