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NOSTALGIC NEWS

35 YEARS AGO

Teen Wolf was released Conor Farrell

5 YEARS AGO

Straight Outta Compton was released Morgan McMillan

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...” 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.

NOSTALGIC NEWS

5 YEARS AGO

Until Dawn was released Louise Chase

10 YEARS AGO

Mockingjay was released Lucy Maggs

Released on August 25th 2015 in the U.S. and on the 28th in the U.K., Until Dawn is a singleplayer horror game by Supermassive Games starring Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere among others in its cast. Paying homage and invoking several infamous horror movie tropes, your choices throughout the game - however insignificant - can determine which of the eight main characters make it to the end. There are numerous iconic moments that made this game for me, such as Mike’s run to save girlfriend Jessica or some of the many different endings. And I am someone who loathes horror games, but this just had me captivated! It has seemingly infinite replay potential, with the variety of alternative pathways to go down, and collectables to uncover.

Will your nerve hold out? The game makes use of the motion controls - so having a steady hand can mean survival. Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay completes The Hunger Games trilogy, which took the young adult world by storm in both book and film form in the early 2010s when revolutionary dystopia was at its peak. Looking back, it provides an entertaining yet important conclusion to not only its story but the broader concepts of capitalism, rebellion and the perpetuating cycle of revenge.

Mockingjay hammers home the complexities of rebellions, trusting its young readers to engage in questions surrounding the morality of war and how far revenge can be used as a justifiable motive. Although the book has received criticism for wrapping up the trilogy a little too quickly, it certainly introduces and further explores enough of its own world to be unique against Battle Royale, for which The Hunger Games has been frequently compared to.

5 YEARS AGO

Chvrches’ Every Open Eye was released Connie Seamer Chvrches’ second studio album Every Open Eye was released five years ago. A confident continuation of the sounds from their previous album, Every Open Eye saw the band delve further into what they knew made them good. Choosing not to shy away from their identity as a synth-pop band; the album comprises of nine radio-friendly dance anthems and two slower ballad tracks, allowing plenty of scope for dancing and ambition-filled lyrics. Every Open Eye is plastered with inspiring lyrics which see the band fighting adversity - during the album’s release, Lauren Mayberry received many misogynistic comments which we see her rise above. Along with celebratory tracks like ‘Clearest Blue’, where the simplistic sounds build towards an emotional instrumental break, this album defines the band’s uplifting spirit and focused nature. Although Every Open Eye perhaps lacks the early danger and urgency that The Bones of What You Believe had, it still maintains a fully charged atmosphere that guaranteed the band some smashing headline sets.