NEWS
NOSTALGIC NEWS 35 YEARS AGO
5 YEARS AGO
Conor Farrell
Morgan McMillan
Teen Wolf was released
Teen Wolf (1985) follows seemingly typical teenager Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) as he discovers the family secret - he and his father are werewolves! Seeking fame and popularity, the physically inept Scott uses his newfound lupine abilities on the basketball court, earning respect and admiration of his peers while unintentionally pushing away his closest friends. Scott must now decide, does he really want to be defined by his hairy alter ego? The themes of Teen Wolf are universal and intergenerational. After all, it is human nature to crave love and acceptance. Some may view power as a shortcut to happiness, but that is rarely the case. As Scott’s father puts it in the film, “With great power comes great responsibility...”
Straight Outta Compton was released
Five years ago, we were graced with the excellent biographical drama Straight Outta Compton directed by F. Gary Gray. The film depicts the rise and fall of N.W.A and the lives of its key members Eazy-E, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. The film exemplifies the racial inequalities of 1980s America by showcasing the lives of young Black men within the era and the constant police brutality they experienced. The treatment of N.W.A and other young black men echo the same treatment people of colour still experience today. Although the film’s primary goal is focusing on the band, it’s also a great educational tool in understanding police brutality. Straight Outta Compton is an amazing film in the way it portrays the lives of N.W.A, whilst also sticking true to the hardships and struggles all the members faced.
5 YEARS AGO
The Fratellis’ Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied was released Vicky Greer
I’m a firm believer that The Fratellis are the most underrated of the meteoric noughties indie rock scene. Their debut album Costello Music gave us bangers like ‘Chelsea Dagger’ and ‘Henrietta’ that still spark the same reaction today as they did at the height of their popularity. Since then, they haven’t released a bad album, even if they haven’t reached the same commercial popularity as their first record. From this album, you can hear the band’s instantly recognisable, high-energy sound on the bigger tracks like ‘Baby Don’t You Lie To Me!’, ‘Too Much Wine’ and ‘Thief’, but they weren’t afraid of a quick energy change in the second act with ‘Slow’ and ‘Medusa in Chains’. But the greatest track is arguably the album’s opener, ‘Me and the Devil’, a deliciously addictive slow-burner which erupted into a belting finale. Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied set a new precedent of what we could expect from The Fratellis, paving the way for the free-spirit albums that have come since 2015. Unwilling to be defined by a single emotion, this album is further proof that The Fratellis are experts in their field.
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Images courtesy of MTV, and UNIVERSAL PICTURES
