The Wake, Issue 7, Spring 2015

Volume 14, Issue 7 | feb 16 - mARCH 1

So...Salad, Again PG. 13 | Q&A With Phox PG. 16

ADVERTISE HERE CHEAP RATES, THOUSANDS OF READERS CONTACT OFFICE@WAKEMAG.ORG

THE WAKE STUDENT MAGAZINE | VOLUME 14, ISSUE 7

EDITORIAL: Editor-in-Chief Grace Birnstengel Managing Editor Lauren Cutshall

Copy Editors Sara Glesne, Lindsey Pastrorek

Cities Editor Emily Mongan

Editorial Interns Kevin Beckman, Olivia Riley, Sawnna Stennes

Voices Editor Kayla McCombs

Faculty Adviser Chelsea Reynolds

Sound & Vision Editors Alex Nelson, Sara Glesne

Art Interns Breanna Vick, Breck Hickman, Andrew Tomtem, Olivia Novotny, Cera Nelson

Art Directors Lizzie Goncharova, Max Smith

PRODUCTION: Executive Director Kelcie McKenney

Social Media Manager Abby Richardson

Head Designer Amanda Gentle

Finance Manager Nels Haugen

Graphic Designers Kayla Lutteke, Erin Slayton, Becca Sugden

Distributors Ryan Condron, Chris Roebber

Web Manager Carter Gruss

Production Interns Sam Gordon Caleb Vanden Boom Alexa Orak

Public Relations/ Advertising Manager Jennifer Burns

THIS ISSUE: Photographers Lauren Cutshall, Trevor Scholl Illustrators Olivia Novotny, Andrew Tomten, Caleb Vanden Boom, Brianna Vick, Breck Hickman, Cera Sylar, Lizzie Goncharova, Kristen Wagsness, Liana Matt Contributing Writers Amar Hasshim, Jeff Knoespel, Emma Klingler, Emily Morgan, Lauren Cutshall, Olivia Novotny, Olivia Riley, Madison Bloomquist, Kristen Wagsness, Alex Nelson, Ryan Meany, Karl Witkowiak, Shawnna Stennes, Grace Birstengel, Robby Hughes, Peter Diamond, Maci Bekel, Jacob Merritt, Olivia Heusinkveld, Eric Newland, Trevor Scholl, Lianna Matt, Russell Barnes

Revel on the Runway PG. 5

So...Salad, Again PG. 13

Love in the Land of 10,000 Lakes PG. 8

Q&A: PHOX PG. 16

The Superbowl Party PG. 11

Coping with the End of Parks and Recreation PG. 19

Open Letter to the Anti-Leggings Women PG. 12

What I’m Looking Forward to in 2015 PG. 20

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR Forward Thinking It’s 2015, and The Wake is back and better than ever.

Whether it’s your first spring semester or your last, it’s funny how time seems to speed by. One second your mom is making you grilled cheeses and checking if you finished your homework and the next it’s internship applications and thinking about the “real world” after graduation.

That may seem really scary, but it can actually be really spectacular. The future may be this big mystery to us now, but there is so much ahead of us that we can look forward to. Even in 2015 alone there’s a plethora of opportunities to check out! In this issue, we’ve put together a list of just some of the things we’re most looking forward to this year.

This big mysteries ahead of us shouldn’t stop us from running head first into the unknown and conquering all life has to challenge us with. That may sound fluffy, but looking bravely at what lies ahead is all about the attitude. You probably don’t have it all figured out yet (trust me, none of us do), and that’s okay. Half the excitement comes from the

©2014 The Wake Student Magazine.

All Rights Reserved.

Established in 2002, The Wake is a fortnightly independent magazine and registered student organization produced by and for students at the University of Minnesota.

The Wake Student Magazine 126 Coffman Memorial Union 300 Washington Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 The Wake was founded by Chrin Ruen & James DeLong.

surprise of it.

So whether you’re still trying to decide what your major is or if you’re worrying about internships or jobs come summer (check out our guide to the internship fair in this issue!), keep your chin up. The future has a lot in store to offer you, and besides, you can do it! The Wake’s here to believe in you, and I know we can make 2015 the best year yet.

Kelcie McKenney Executive Director

Disclaimer: The purpose of The Wake is to provide a forum in which students can voice their opinions. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not representative of the publication or university as a whole. To join the conversation email gbirnstengel@wakemag.org.

www.wakemag.org facebook.com/thewakemagazine @the_wake wake-mag.tumblr.com

ONE-PAGE MAGAZINE

WAKE RANTZ Sharing a room makes me feel for kids who had to growing up. Beyond just having to live with someone else and their schedule, I have to put up with someone else’s interior decorating that is the polar opposite of mine. I would never choose to put homemade chevron print artwork on my walls, but here we are. I am surrounded by anchors and painted woodblock initials that I did not ask for. I now live in Pinterest hell.

I would rather sit next to a rambunctious child than have to sit by one more businessman on public transportation who thinks it’s super chill if he takes up all my leg room, leaving me squished. It has nothing to do with men being bigger, I’ve sat next to some pretty long-legged ladies who know how to respect personal space. Do you men not take up enough space already?

I’m ashamed that I go to a school that hosted Iggy Azalea for their homecoming concert. Her image is founded in cultural appropriation. In the wake of the events in Ferguson, rappers everywhere were stepping up to give support, and Azalea was silent. Azealia Banks said it best in her December tweet aimed at Azalea: “Black culture is cool, but black issues sure aren’t huh?”

WITh EquAlITy ANd FAcIlITIEs FOR All?

By Madison Bloomquist An anonymous source recently filed a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights claiming the University of Minnesota’s athletic program is in violation of Title IX guidelines. To comply with Title IX, a university must provide equal distribution of resources to male and female teams. An athletic program found violating the guidelines could lose federal funding. The criticism of the University’s program stems from the planned 2015-2016 redesign of Bierman Athletic Village, which

Why ThE EARTh Is BuRNING uP

includes plans to tear down the current running track and rebuild it at a currently undisclosed location.

However, the complaint implies the redesign puts the women’s team at a disadvantage. An anonymous member of the women’s track team believes that this is not a gender issue at all, as both teams will be equally affected. Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams currently call Bierman home, and both teams will be relocated next year. A federal investigation into the complaint is ongoing.

MENTAl hEAlTh lOGIc

By Kristen Wangsness 2014 was officially the hottest year in recorded history.

Despite strong scientific evidence that points to global warming as the source of soaring temperatures, some people still refuse to believe that climate change is a real, factual thing. When asked why they thought 2014 was so sizzling, responses included: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

People are using microwaves more than ever before It’s not actually hotter, it’s a government conspiracy The music video for Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” Kanye and Kim got married More WiFi hotspots Sriracha “Too Many Cooks” are burning up the kitchen Ra, the Egyptian sun god, is getting stronger Beyoncé still exists and still gets hotter every year.

8.75%

The Purple Onion Bathrooms (so dark)

17.14%

The Wake office

ANNOyED WITH SOMETHINg? Send your 10 to 150-word rant to rants@wakemag.org and yours might be in our next issue!

37.14%

Down by the river

37.14%

In a housing construction pit

4 | FEB 16 - MAR 1

Where are the best places to hook up on campus?

THE WAKE CITIES

REVEL On thE RunWAy

thE dEsiGnERs Of tOMORROW shOWcAsE thEiR sEniOR cOLLEctiOns

By Olivia novotny Photos By trevor scholl On Feb. 7, the graduating seniors of the apparel design program gathered in Rapson Hall to showcase their work as part of REVEL, the 47th Apparel Design Fashion Show.

The apparel design program is a selective one; this year’s graduating class started with 40 students as freshmen, and ended with just 13.The team of designers invited The Wake to a studio tour to get a sneak peek of the collections before the show.

“We are all so different, there is nothing really in common that any of us have,” senior designer Tess Ross said.

Strong women inspire Tess Ross’ fashions. “I think being a woman is something to be proud of. A lot of the time in fashion in order to be powerful they have to wear masculine clothes, black and powerful things like that,” she said. “But I think pretty is powerful. If you want to wear a suit, you can wear a suit, but I think you can “

“My focus for this collection was fiing athletic body types, all my models have different fit issues so that was an interesting challenge,” Ashley Jensen said. All of the pieces in her collection of fall menswear staples are interchangeable, and a number of them have leather toggles that she laser cut and created herself. Jensen prefers creating menswear, and plans to design for men in the future.

“REVEL was our way of celebrating. We want people to revel in it, to enjoy it with us, and experience it with us.

This is more important than graduation, this is kind of like our commencement into being designers.”

And different they are, ranging from go-go dancer drag queen costumes to swimwear, and from winter resort wear to bridal. One look around the room and it’s clear that each designer has their own unique style.

One common theme among all of the designers is challenging stereotypes. Lauren Kacher created gender-neutral clothes for her collection. Ross challenged the stereotype of strong, masculine clothes by creating a very powerful, feminine collection. Not only are the designers challenging stereotypes with their clothes, but some are challenging the stereotypes of models as well.

Giselle Yuer Wei used only short models. Designer Jared Jurentkuff used drag queens as some of the models for his collection. Another designer, Ashley Jensen, broke the stereotype of tall, skinny male models and found men with more muscular, athletic builds for her clothes.

The designers had to find their own models for the show, leading some to choose models from agencies, and others to pick from their friends. They also had to create all their own accessories, meaning everything down to the last detail was done by the designers themselves. REVEL was essentially their thesis papers, their final projects in the major.

“When I tell people I’m working on my thesis, they don’t really understand what I’m saying,” Ross said. “They think I’m working on a paper and I’m like, ‘No, I’m pleating for like 10 hours.’” The designers will continue to work on independent studies and other classes until their graduation in May before heading out into the real world.

Each designer has different plans for the future. Some want to jump right into the industry, like designer Katie Mackereth who has already worked to design the 2016 Polaris Winter Line and plans to continue designing for outerwear. Other designers plan on furthering their education like Lauren Kacher, who is applying to study apparel design in London at the world renowned Central St. Martins, a school whose alumni include Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen.

Check out full coverage of the REVEL show online: www.wakemag.org/author/olivia-novotny

“All of my pieces are inspired by a different country from when I studied abroad,” Anna Peshock said. “This is my piece that represents the Atlantic Ocean, it’s like the sunset on the water.” Peshock said her inspiration for her collection came from growing up as a synchronized swimmer and making all of her own suits for competition. “They are all swimwear, but they all have skirts or jackets, so it’s stuff you wouldn’t actually wear to the beach,” she said. “Whether it’s costuming or doing more synchronized swimming, even doing regular clothing—you get to express an idea or a story or something that is personal to the customer.”

“I play with erogenous areas of the body, so on this one I have the abs exposed, some others I have the hips exposed, it all depends on the particular look,” Jared Jurentkuff said. To find some of his models, Jurentkuff went to a drag show and asked people he thought would work well. He chose synthetics for this project because of how easy they are to clean, allowing go-go dancers and drag queens to throw them in the wash after a performance

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THE WAKE CITIES

sAy yOuR GOOdByEs tO nyE’s

fiVE REAsOns tO hit uP thE nORthEAst LAndMARK BEfORE it cLOsEs

By Emily Mongan and Lauren cutshall For 65 years, Nye’s Polonaise Room has stood on Hennepin Ave. as a nostalgic gateway to Northeast, serving up cocktails and kitsch for all who entered. In December, the owners announced that the Minneapolis landmark will close its doors in late 2015 to make way for a high rise apartment building.

Whether you’re a Nye’s newbie or a frequent patron of their sparkly gold booths, there’s still time to get a taste of one of Minneapolis’ nightlife staples. And The Wake has your reasons why you must: 1. A+ for 1950s ambiance. While Nye’s may seem like just a corner restaurant, it’s really more of a time machine. The stained glass lamps above you may remind you of your grandparent’s basement, but the overall dim lighting and plasticky gold booths make for some fabulous ambiance. Though you might keep checking the bar to see if Don Draper is sitting at the end of it, rest assured that it’s still 2015.

2. It’s Polish paradise. Nye’s Polonaise Room, as the name suggests, specializes in Polish fare. Order a plate of pierogies to go with your drinks, or go all out with the Polish sampler featuring pierogies, Polish sausage, sauerkraut, cabbage rolls, and potato dumplings. To accompany your authentic eats, visit Nye’s on the weekend to catch The World’s Most Dangerous Polka Band (yes, that’s their name) doing what they do best.

3. Cocktails on cocktails. Though Nye’s has a fairly impressive tap collection, you should really be looking at the cocktails. Stick to what you know with Nye’s Classic Martini, or if you are more adventurous, check out the Blue Monday, which certainly delivers on its, well, blueness. Feeling local? Try the Nordeaster or the Hennepin Ave. specialties.

4. It has all the music. If karaoke, polka, or piano bars are your thing, then you’re in luck. In Nye’s main dining room you can easily nod along to the classic tunes from the piano bar. And when you’re stuffed full of Polish food, you can make your way over to the bar side of Nye’s and listen to some more live music—sometimes

it’s polka, sometimes it’s samba—it’s always something different.

5. It’s got street cred. You know you’ve truly made it when America’s favorite frosted-tip rocking TV food critic patronizes your restaurant. That’s right, Nye’s has been featured by none other than Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. If you need some classier convincing, Nye’s also holds the distinction of being named one of Esquire’s Best Bars in America in 2006.

LAuREn cutshALL

REViEWinG thE OBViOus An AVERAGE JOE’s fiRst ExPERiEncE With MEsA

By Emma Klingler If you ask any University of Minnesota student about dining establishments in the campus area that you should pay a visit to, you are likely to hear Mesa Pizza among the more common suggestions. Founded in 2006, Mesa has a proud legacy of atypical topping options, such as the widely popular macaroni pizza.

I decided to visit this famed hot spot in the heart of Dinkytown to see what all the fuss was about. I was not disappointed. Though there were only two other customers in the building—one of whom was taking a snooze—it had a lively atmosphere due mostly to the exuberance of the multicolored walls.

The counter displayed an array of the most bizarre and unique pizza topping combinations imaginable, such as potato and pasta (yes, pasta on top of the pizza).

The staff was particularly helpful in the navigation of the selections; when I pointed out a particularly

6 | fEB 16 - MAR 1

healthy-looking pizza, they informed me that it was “Spinach Mush.” I was shocked by this naming as I thought it was a fine-looking slice, until my companion pointed out that it contained mushrooms. I was a bit put off when the employees told me they were out of drinks that night, but my discomfort was alleviated when they proceeded to inform me what a joke was.

The prices were reasonable for the novelty of a guacamole burrito pizza. My entire meal cost me exactly five dollars. Beside the register, there was a tip jar that read: “Your donation funds important alcohol research.” Not only did I have a delicious meal, but I was able to contribute to science, adding to my overall good feelings about the place.

The building is well equipped for studying, though the outlets are several feet above the counters. These are easily accessible by standing on the countertop to plug in electronics.

Mesa Pizza is within easy walking distance of Insomnia Cookies, so you may enhance your dining experience with a dessert. It is clear from such a successful outing that Mesa Pizza isn’t leaving anytime soon.

The seating options were quite varied as well, with the choice of bar stools facing the wall or bar stools facing the window. I chose a seat by the window and had a lovely view of a bike being stolen across the street.

AndREW tOMtEn

THE WAKE CITIES

ALL’s fAiR in JOBs And intERnshiPs

hOW tO cOnquER thE u’s JOB And intERnshiP fAiR

By Jeff Knoespel

the door the day of the fair.

There comes a time in every college student’s life when they realize it’s time to start looking for a job or internship. Well maybe not every student, but then this article isn’t meant for them. This article is for those people who are nervous about taking that first step out into the professional world.

For the fashion-conscious, the first thing you may be wondering is what to wear. “Dress as if it were for an interview,” Ben Hansen, a College of Liberal Arts career counselor, said. The key is to dress conservatively. Think suit and tie, blazer, blouse, pant suits and similar professional attire.

That first step will be a good one if it’s a step onto the floor of the University of Minnesota Job and Internship Fair, being held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Every job fair has three crucial stages to pay attention to: the before, during, and after.

Many people only focus on the “during,” while they are actually at the fair talking to the employers. Making a good first impression with the prospective employers is important, but unless they are so impressed that they offer you a job on the spot, the game is won (or lost) before and after the fair. Here are a few quick tips on how to make the most of the Job and Internship Fair.

BEfORE The Job and Internship Fair is open to all students at the University. Do not feel discouraged from going if you are only a freshman. At the very least, going to the fair will be a good experience and will help you practice talking with employers. The fair costs $10 to attend if you register before Feb. 17, or $25 if you register at

But if you plan on going to the fair without a resume, you might as well go naked, because that is basically what you are without one. Resumes can be honed and polished in the University’s Career Services Center.

Print them on sturdy resume paper. Think about how many employers you might want to talk to. Make sure you have enough copies to hand out to them, and then bring along about five more copies just in case.

The night before the fair, make sure you get a good night’s sleep. Eat a good breakfast and stay hydrated.

Hansen says that employers will take notice when you have more energy.

that you are interested in even if you think they cannot use you. Broaden your scope to see new opportunities.

“I don’t see students being open to a lot of opportunities,” Hansen said. He says 93 percent of employers are hiring for all majors.

AftER Now comes the important part: what you do with all those business cards you just got. “Business cards are that golden ticket,” Hansen said. Send a thank you note or email to the person you spoke with. Be brief, but thank them for their time and mention one or two specific details that came up during the conversation. And there’s no harm in attaching your resume.

Job fairs can be intimidating and even discouraging, but knowing what to do and taking the right steps to prepare may mean the difference between having your resume crumpled up and thrown in the garbage, and landing that dream job or internship. Be ambitious!

You got this.

duRinG The fair will last from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but as they say, the early bird gets their dream job. Get there right at the beginning. The big room may be intimidating, filled to the brim with a sea of suits. Walk around a bit and get a grasp of which companies are where before diving in.

Introduce yourself with that 30 second “elevator speech” that everyone tells you about. Say your name, major, and year along with any relevant experience you may have. Telling them about that extra experience or being knowledgeable about what kind of positions they have available will set you apart from the competition.

“Make sure you do your research,” Hansen said. “You are going to look much more prepared.” A good tip is to ask the employer to tell you more about a specific position.

Between conversations, take a quick break to collect your thoughts and take notes on the last conversation.

This will come in handy for after the fair. Stay at the fair for at least an hour and a half. Talk to those companies

PREPARE for the fAiR checklist Download the Job and Internship Guidebook app at guidebook.com/app/umn Practice your “elevator speech”

Layout and iron your outfit

Print several resmes

Get a good night’s rest, and go get ‘em!

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THE WAKE CITIES

LOVE in thE LAnd Of 10,000 LAKEs

thE BEst PLAcEs fOR dAtEs in thE tWin citiEs

By Amar hasshim Whether you’ve been with someone for years or just worked up the nerve to ask that special someone out on a date, finding the perfect date spot can be a challenge. To alleviate some of that stress and help you keep that spark alive even after Valentine’s Day, we’ve gathered a list of some of the best places for a date here in the Twin Cities. From entertainment, to dining, to places that are perfect for a romantic walk, this guide’s got it all.

Our guide will help you keep your budget in check as well. Estimated costs are ranked on a scale of one dollar sign ($) to three dollar signs ($$$).

WAtch Are either one of you a cinephiles? If so, a classic movie night would be a good way to bond over your shared interests. Whether it’s a love story or Liam Neeson’s third Taken movie (he trained Batman and Darth Vader, and is Zeus and Aslan for crying out loud! Who was crazy enough to kidnap his family again?), a movie ticket starts at $6 at the Theaters in Mall of America. And more good news: if you are a student, discounts are available if you present your student ID when purchasing tickets.

Want to stay closer to campus? St. Anthony Main Theatre also offers $6 tickets with a student I.D. along with snacks and drinks for cheaper than some chain theaters. The best part? Main St. is on is home to several unique restaurants and offers some of the best views of the Minneapolis skyline to be had.

THEATERS MALL OF AMERICA - $ Address: 401 South Avenue, Bloomington, MN 55425 Phone: (952)-883-8901

ST. ANTHONY MAIN THEATRE - $ 115 Southeast Main Street, Minneapolis, MN 55414 (612) 331-4724 If you’re more into live performances, no worries! Minnesota is not just the land of 10,000 lakes, but also land

8 | fEB 16 - MAR 1

of 10,000 theaters. The Twin Cities has the highest number of theater seats per capita in the U.S. outside of New York City, so you can be sure to find a performance to fit your tastes. Whether you’re interested in classic Shakespeare, improv comedy, or a performance with a more cultural flair, the theater scene in the Twin Cities has it all.

GUTHRIE THEATER - $$$

Address: 818 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: (612)-377-2224 Visit guthrietheater.org for ticket information

ORPHEUM THEATER- $$

Address: 910 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403 Phone: (612)-339-7007

EAt Whether you’re looking to grab a quick ice cream cone or pull out all the stops with a three course gourmet meal, our list has you covered. Hit up Izzy’s for unique ice cream flavors including burnt caramel, cereal milk, candy cane and Summit Oatmeal Stout, or stay close to campus with Dinkytown favorite Loring Pasta Bar. And there’s a bonus if you go on a Friday or Saturday night—Loring hosts salsa dancing night after dining service ends.

IZZY’S ICE CREAM - $

Address: 1100 2nd St. S. Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: (612) 206-3356

THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY - $$ Address: 233 Park Ave #100 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: (612) 341-0949

LORING PASTA BAR - $$

Address: 327 14th Ave SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 Phone: (612) 378-4849

CAFE LURCAT - $$$

Address: 1624 Harmon Pl Minneapolis, MN 55403 Phone: (612) 486-5500

LA BELLE VIE - $$$

Address: 510 Groveland Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403 Phone: (612) 874-6440

ExPLORE The Twin Cities is one of the most scenic major metropolitan areas thanks to its many lakes and placement on the Mississippi River. Keep it simple (and affordable, because, let’s be real, we’re all in college here) with a romantic stroll, and take in all the sights the city has to offer.

STONE ARCH BRIDGE The historic area is home to mill ruins and one of the coolest views of downtown Minneapolis.

UPTOWN Enjoy Lake Calhoun, fabulous mansions, and plenty of stores to do a little window-shopping.

HARRIET ISLAND Just across the river from downtown St. Paul, Harriet Island hosts several music and cultural festivals, and some killer Mississippi River views.

LOWERTOWN This St. Paul neighborhood will soon have the new St. Paul Saints baseball stadium, but currently has a farmers market, the St. Paul Art Crawl, and a hip downtown vibe.

“Keep it simple (and affordable, because, let’s be real, we’re all in college here) with a romantic stroll”

THE WAKE VOICES

It’s stIll HAppEnInG

A brief overview of the UkrAine-rUssiA conflict by lianna Matt The upside with evolving into a world power is that you don’t have to worry about the mother country calling you back. Ukraine, on the other hand, is sidled up right in the nook of Russia’s arm, and has enough shared history to want to stay there for a while. Well, at least some of its inhabitants think so.

Ukraine, the “bread basket” of Europe, has only been independent from the Soviet Union since 1991.

Before that, it had the great pleasure of being partially owned or invaded by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Poland (and sometimes Lithuania), Germany, and Russia (pre-USSR). Of these “visitors,” the one who has remained closest is Russia, but that’s partially because the Russian culture—the people—was born there.

In the ninth century, the Vikings who would later become Russians came down from the north, conquered Slavic land, and claimed Kiev as their capitol.

Only due to Mongol invasions did they retreat north again to Moscow.

After “Kievan Rus” and the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings dissipated, Ukraine shuffled around a bit (to put it benignly), until it fell under the control of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in 1922. Stalin had a vision of Ukrainians working on collective farms, and when they refused, he created a famine that killed up to 10 million people. To repopulate, he brought in many Russian natives to the southern and eastern parts of the area. Remember that; it becomes surprisingly important later. Then when Nazi Germany waltzed through the land, many Ukrainians allied with Hitler, their savior from Stalin, only later to be used as slaves.

Once Stalin got hold of the territory again, he sent thousands of German-supporters to Siberian labor camps or to quicker deaths.

of Russian gas supplies by about a third,” according to BBC. While people attack Russia for wanting to influence Ukraine, opponents attack the European Union and the United States for wanting to have the same economic control.

Pro-Russian sentiments are very strong in eastern Ukraine and much more scarce in the west, causing election controversies in 2010 and eruption over the refusal of treaty with the European Union—a deal only 43 percent of the popular vote was behind, according to the Washington Post. At the end of November, 2013, 100,000 protesters gathered in Kiev, and in early December, 800,000 people were in the city protesting.

Ukrainian President Yanukovych tried to quell the commotion by enacting anti-assembly and speech laws to give even more power to his police forces. In January 2014, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned as a result of the anti-protest laws’ brutality. In the midst of the political change, parliament repealed the severe anti-protest laws and worked at releasing 200-some arrested protesters, but the violence didn’t stop. BBC lists Feb. 20, 2014 as the “worst day of violence for almost 70 years,” ending with the death of at least 88 people in a 48-hour time frame.

Parliament ruled to remove Yanukovych from power Feb. 22.

To add onto the political tensions swirling around Ukraine’s different regions, Forbes adds that Ukraine’s oligarchies had created their own corruption within the old government. Perhaps under May-elected Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko they will lose the scope of their influence.

Shortly after former President Yanukovych fled the country, pro-Russian activists began to occupy different buildings in Crimea. It was their turn to protest for their wants, and they wanted to rejoin Russia. BBC states that with a Crimean voter turnout of 80 percent, 97 percent of the citizens wanted to reunite with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin heard their cries, moved to defend them from Ukrainian attack, and annexed Crimea into the Russian Federation March 18.

Protests. Russian-backed militants. Shot down planes. Fire. Brimstone. Everything.

On May 2, 2014, 42 pro-Russian citizens died in a building fire that pro-Kiev activists herded and trapped them in. So, really, which side is worse? Or is it based on who fired the first shot?

Every good villain has a shred of relatability in them, and if western media is casting President Putin as the villain, then surely his recent pursuit of eastern Ukraine is an understandable mission to unite his people’s history. Some people in Ukraine consent, but some do not. Who gets to decide? The people who say no? Rare is unanimousness in nations.

In trying to separate the motives and the means, some factoid, some buried history will always pop up, rifling your perfect logic. What value do you care about most in the Russian-Ukraine conflict that justifies the play-out of your opinion?

In 1954, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev gave Kiev the Crimean peninsula. There, the Russians that Stalin had sent into the area had propagated over the years, leaving the population of Crimea about 58.3 percent Russian and 24.3 percent identifying as Ukrainian, according to Ukraine’s 2001 census.

Russia and Ukraine have sustained a complex, interwoven relationship, Crimea or not, with Russia acting as the big brother. On Dec. 17, 2014, Russia gave the Ukrainian economy a much-needed boost by “buying $15 billion of Ukrainian debt and reducing the price

lIAnnA MAtt

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THE WAKE VOICES

chArlie hebdo: An AttAck on free speech, or is free speech the probleM?

A difficUlt conversAtion MUst be hAd

By Erik newland On Jan. 7, two gunmen attacked the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris and killed four cartoonists and several others after Charlie Hebdo published an issue with a caricature of the prophet Mohammed on the cover. Though French police killed the gunmen and dealt with a related hostage situation two days later, tensions remain high in France and abroad for more reasons than the obvious terror threat.

The events in France have sparked debates about free speech around the world. A massive demonstration with the slogan “Je Suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”) filled the streets of Paris a week after the attacks where thousands stood in solidarity with the slain journalists.

Not everyone believes that Charlie Hebdo was in the right, however, especially when the magazine’s first cover after the attack features another depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.

violence, under the protection of the First Amendment.

That, Winer said, is one of the most important major differences between Europe and the United States: European countries have the power to prosecute hate speech. To Americans that have been raised to defend the First Amendment to the last, this power has connotations of censorship. But in the wake of events like the Charlie Hebdo attack, and a rise in high-profile hate speech such as from the Westboro Baptist Church, Europe’s laws against hate speech start to seem like a tempting alternative.

A few of the panelists explained the context of the attack. University anthropology professor William O. Beeman tried to teach why it is sinful in the Islamic tradition to create an image of the Prophet Muhammad. Islamic texts prohibit idolatry and the worship of images, and Islamic scholars have long prohibited from

nothing in Islamic texts prohibits non-Muslims from creating images of Muhammad, he said. however, that’s not an invitation to do so needlessly.

One such conversation about free speech was hosted in Anderson Hall at the end of January. American Studies professor Riv-Ellen Prell organized a panel titled “Can One Laugh at Everything? Satire and Free Speech After Charlie” with three University of Minnesota professors, a law professor from William Mitchell College of Law, and political cartoonist Steve Sacks of the Star Tribune. Prell introduced the panel and asked: “What is free speech? What does it mean in Europe and in the United States?” It was too lofty a question to answer in an hour, so the panel’s purpose was merely to continue the conversation that began after the attack.

First to present was Anthony Winer, the William Mitchell, professor. Winer explained the Supreme Court case Hustler Magazine v. Folwell. The outcome of the case firmly placed hate speech, as long as it does not incite

10 | FEB 16 - MAR 1

ingly negative. One person in particular, a female Muslim student named Hoda, spoke for ten minutes criticizing the panelists of oversimplifying the issue.

“Whenever something happens against a minority it’s all “free speech,” but whenever something happens against those with more power, legislation can be passed,” the student said. She brought up a good point.

An interfaith rabbi in the audience asked why the panel was made up of all white faculty members. Though I don’t believe race was the issue of the panelists, I think they did suffer from only examining the issue from a First-Amendment-minded, American viewpoint.

In my opinion, free speech is a right that should be protected in the way the United States aggressively protects it, but it can be and has been abused. Charlie Hebdo can be commended for its bravery, but we shouldn’t forget that they were publishing things they knew would offend people greatly. As Steve Sack said at the presentation, “Every cartoon will upset someone.” The fact that they continued printing depictions of the prophet Mohammed shows that though they might be controversial heroes of free speech, they lack taste and maybe even common sense. I believe Charlie Hebdo should show some restraint not out of censorship but out of respect.

producing images of Muhammad because they might be worshipped, according to Beeman. Nothing in Islamic texts prohibits non-Muslims from creating images of Muhammad, he said. However, that’s not an invitation to do so needlessly.

Jane Kirtley, media law professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, talked about the various media responses to the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. Some publications reprinted them to stand in solidarity with the Je Suis Charlie movement, while others did not, because they believed them to be in poor taste. A few who refused to print the cartoons admitted they would not in fear of inciting the same type of violent reaction that Charlie Hebdo did.

When the panel was opened up for audience questions, the response to the presenters was overwhelm-

Andrew toMten

THE WAKE VOICES

tHE supER pARty

A perfect reAson to celebrAte life by trevor scholl

The first Sunday in February begins like all the others. A longing to sleep in and be lazy, maybe eventually get to homework or a lame job. This day could be like the rest, but one grand distinction lies between this Sunday and any other. It is not just a chance to catch some football on TV. It is the last chance to watch football for months as the two best teams play. This is a chance for people across America to have one last day to gather on a couch or in a bar with friends and party hard on a Sunday, if only because we can.

The excuse is there, the seven-hour pre-game is there, and a halftime that is filled with Katy Perry riding a giant lion puppet is there. Super Bowl Sunday can be like any other, but to most college students and people around the country, the NFL has made a spectacle larger than anything else, just so we can party.

Let the celebrations begin.

because there is no niche to this event.”

The words ring true on Super Bowl Sunday. You don’t have to like sports, funny commercials, or Katy Perry as long as you like a good party. Then the game actually begins. Jets fly over the host stadium in Glendale, Ariz. and fireworks fill the sky. As the game continues, attention seems to divert from the actual flow of the game and more towards conversations, jokes, and halftime music acts until a big play happens here and there. This is the brilliance of a multibillion-dollar league putting on a multimillion-dollar show that is watched by 100 million people. While it is a championship game of the most popular sport in America, it is just a game. Getting the majority of the country to gather together for the same event seems like a ridiculous task. Yet we buy the beer, the wings, the nachos, and the apparel and join together.

The game ends and the sober rides begin. The game can be broken down to how the Seahawks should have ran the ball and how a series of late game blunders cost them a second Super Bowl victory in a row, or how with four touchdowns, Tom Brady wins his fourth Super Bowl with the Patriots. That is about as tedious as breaking down the game needs to get. Confetti flies and players on the field cry tears of joy and pain. Next year, two teams will do the same.

I commend the Super Bowl. Not for its sport, ads, or spectacle. I have to applaud the party it has created: a day to consume and get rowdy for two teams to whom I have no allegiance. It is a chance to get people who don’t do much to come around. So, Super Bowl party, it was great. I’ll see you next year.

The Super Bowl can’t be ignored. I can’t turn down one of the largest parties of the year. This day is filled with friends, beer, commercials, special brownies, and to top it off: a football game. Trying to get through it with full consciousness is the real game on this day, and if you don’t, who cares? Unless you’re a dedicated Seahawks or Patriots fan, or you bet your house on this game, the only real issue here is when to start the party.

As I get up, make coffee, watch figure skater Tara Lipinski interview football players to fill time in that immortal pre-game show, I know where this is leading: the day after the Super Bowl, which is usually filled with skipped classes, work call-ins, and a desire to keep things dark and quiet until the headache goes away. According to the International Business Times, 1.5 million Americans were expected to call in sick to work, with 4.4 million being late. Those numbers might only be higher if it was a regular work Monday the day after New Years Eve or Independence Day. If I were to avoid a day of such legendary status, I would be doing a disservice to those who have made this day what it is.

I gather together with a group of friends and acquaintances around a large television as the afternoon wanes. “I can’t imagine a better reason to get together with friends and drink,” said recent University of Minnesota graduate Matt Dornfeld. “It is the perfect chance to party with college buddies and new friends

MAx sMItH

WWW.WAKEMAG.ORG | 11

THE WAKE VOICES

open letter to the Anti-leggings woMAn

A MAn’s sExuAl uRGEs ARE HIs OWn REspOnsIBIlIty

By Russell Barnes Dearest Veronica Partridge, It has come to my attention that you have decided to no longer wear “thin, form-fitting yoga pants or leggings” in public, unless you wear a shirt that covers your rear end. You say you want to respect your maker and your husband, but your logic makes me disappointed, not necessarily with you, but with society’s influence on you. The bottom line is that you are not the problem, and I’m saddened to think you are contributing to it.

We live in a society where we blame victims and force victims to conform to the demands of the white, cisgender, heterosexual, able-bodied Christian patriarchy. As a woman, I would hope you have realized how much less privilege you have compared to your male counterparts. However, if you haven’t, you are more likely to be systematically victimized by these privileges that legally and socially oppress minorities, who possess much less power and social control. Take a look at rape culture and how so many women do not receive justice for being sexually assaulted, while the often-male alleged perpetrators are praised for being football players.

I’m not saying that your privileges are anything to be ashamed of. However, I am saying that our society

shames people for not having these privileges. Those without them are seen as less human, as having less worth to society. Take the previous rape culture example and think about how sexual assault cases are covered. Some media’s coverage, in particular CNN’s, of the Steubenville rape case, where an intoxicated teenage female was sexually assaulted by various teenage males, focused prominently on the alleged rapists being football players instead of the effects the incident had on the victim.

These women, much like many other minority victims, are often depicted as the root of sin. However, last time I checked, our country’s land was founded on the genocide of Native Americans and our modern economy is rooted from the African American slave labor that led to the Civil War. Who controlled the genocide and slavery? Predominantly white men.

If you’re reading this, you probably want to ask me how you, as a white female, can relate to the minority status of people of color. Although you have the privilege of being white-skinned, you have also been historically oppressed as a woman. People of color and women have to cater to white patriarchal standards of acceptance, or else they are seen as deviant.

When you are seen as deviant, you are seen as the

perpetrator of sin.

You are not creating sin by wearing yoga pants. You are not an almighty witch, luring men’s eyes towards your ass. It is a man’s choice to check you out. It is a man’s choice to catcall you as you walk down the street. Not wearing yoga pants will not solve the bigger problem of misogyny.

I can understand why you feel the need to cover yourself, but I want to further stress that you are not the cause of the problem. You should be able to wear whatever you want and not feel lusted after or shamed. It is tragic that you feel the need to protect yourself to respect your husband. Where are your priorities in this? Frame this argument in terms of you, not the desires of others.

I also saw that you wrote a response piece to your original blog. Or, should I say, you disclaimed that you wrote it with your husband (which saddens me. where is your original thought?). I’d like to say that I’m really sorry that you were called so many hurtful things, as that’s not how we open the door to such an important conversation. However, I’m not sorry for pointing out flaws in your argument.

In this response, you mention specifically that women have an obligation, and you do as a Christian, to “be mindful of the things that may cause my brothers (and sisters) in Christ to stumble.” After this, you state it is not solely the man’s responsibility to not look at a naked woman, but that both men and women should play out responsible sexuality.

Not wearing a top does not always have to be sexual.

The breasts are not even a sexual organ. While men (and people of other gender identities) may be attracted to them due to natural selection, this does not give anyone permission to look at or touch your chest. You can be a beautiful woman with double D’s, but not wearing a shirt, or showing a little bit of skin, is not a direct or indirect way of asking to be tokenized as a sexual object.

Essentially, you’re blaming the victim as the victim of an oppressive patriarchy. You’re blaming the victim of a group of people that you’re a part of. And while your opinion deserves to be respected, it also will be critically analyzed. You are a human being, not a prisoner of the patriarchy. Be free and do you.

lizzie gonchArovA

12 | FEB 16 - MAR 1

so...salad, again

Being a vegetarian at the U

By Olivia Riley As a vegetarian at the U, do you know how many bland, virtually identical salads I have consumed over the course of the last two years? Far too many. Do you know how many times I’ve looked longingly at the quesadillas, grilled cheese, pasta, lasagna, soup, potatoes, and burritos, and thought: “Did you really have to put meat in there? Did you really?�

Breanna vick

Breck hickman

lizzie goncharova

lizzie goncharova

andrew tomten

max smith

olivia novotny

cera sylar

max smith

the wake FeatUre

Flickr / jessica spengler

Sometimes, when you have a midterm and two papers due, and you come down to the dining hall looking to pack in some serious food to get you back on your feet, the number of options that are off limits because someone got over-excited with the bacon bits is downright depressing.

place to start. “Just like any other diet, it is important to eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, plenty of leafy greens, whole grain products, nuts, seeds and legumes,” Brott said. “Enjoy sweets and fatty foods in moderation just as you would with any other diet.”

Planning a vegetarian diet, especially if you’re at the mercy of dining hall menus, can be a daunting task.

It can also be a totally unfamiliar idea to those who didn’t grow up eating a vegetarian diet. However, our campus dietician Jenna Brott can give you a

Brott notes that vegetarians can easily meet their protein needs, as long as they consume enough calories to maintain their weight. “Examples of high protein options are soy, beans, peas, lentils, grains, tofu, nuts and seeds,” she said. Vitamin B12 and Iron

14 | FeB 16 - march 1

are two of the most commonly found deficiencies among vegetarians, but Brott says there are plant sources of iron, and that the consumption of eggs and milk can provide a vegetarian with enough Vitamin B12. For vegans, the problem is a bit more difficult, but fortified foods and supplements can do the trick, in combination with a balanced diet.

In terms of health benefits to a meat-free life style, research shows that plant-based diets reduce the risk of cardiovascular and other chronic illnesses such as heart attack and stroke, Type 2 Diabetes,

the wake FeatUre BALANCING A VEGETARIAN DIET FRU

ITS

25%

&V

EGE

TAB L

ES

PRO TEIN 50%

One issue CAA is particularly concerned about is the loss of packaged vegan means that the West Bank Skyway, Coffman’s Gopher Express, and the Gopher Spot in St. Paul have all stopped carrying. “I mean, they were kind of terrible, but they were something, and they were there. Now there’s nothing,” one member said. But this is not a new feeling for vegetarians and vegans on campus. According to CAA members, every single meal at the U is a struggle.

This struggle is one of the driving forces behind CAA’s Meatless Monday campaign, the beginnings of which can be seen in dorms.

GRA 25%

INS

caleB vanden Boom

hypertension, and certain cancers, according to Brott. If health benefits aren’t reason enough for you to make the switch, one might consider the plight of the animals we slaughter for food.

Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) is one student group making moves to stop animal cruelty.

Attending their meeting on a snowy February night, I was immediately greeted with a firm handshake and a beaming smile from their effusive leader, Unny Nambudiripad, executive director and co-founder of CAA. Within ten minutes, I was sitting at a table with a warm bowl of vegan lentil stroganoff and a half a dozen fellow vegetarians and vegans. As the meeting progressed, I discovered that the stroganoff was truly incredible (the pot was scraped clean within ten minutes) and the company I shared was even better.

CAA is your go-to resource if you’re a vegetarian on campus interested in making a difference. The group hosts pay-per-view events promoting awareness of animal cruelty, various vegan food events, and connects with other animal rights and environmental activist groups on campus, in the Twin Cities, and nationally.

Perhaps what CAA is best known for is the annual VegFest. This year’s VegFest brought a staggering 2,300 people from both on campus and the larger Twin Cities area into Coffman Union, where they could sample a huge variety of foods, listen to speakers talk about philosophy, religion, and national politics, peruse exhibitions, and watch cooking demos.

The goal of VegFest is to inform people about vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, and also provide these people with resources to move towards a plant-based diet. VegFest was so popular this fall that Coffman was packed nearly out the door, leading CAA to look for a larger venue to host the event next year.

On Earth Day in 2014, the U worked to bring awareness of both the environmental and health impact of our heavy meat consumption with a meatless meal in the dining halls. “Since then, we have had Mindful Mondays during the fall in the residential halls that have been 50 percent meatless,” said Brott. “We would like to continue bringing awareness to this topic and have been reaching out to others within the campus community for support.”

The Meatless Monday campaign is still a work in progress, but CAA hopes for more headway in the future working with UDS to offer meals that are good for the students, the environment, and animals.

The path to veganism or vegetarianism is different for everyone. Some members of CAA were kind enough to share their stories about how they chose the vegetarian lifestyle with me.

Moose Kusik recounted to me how their transition into vegetarianism two years ago and veganism last year was a long time coming. “I had a lifelong love of animals, and I just couldn’t have dogs and cats and then turn around and eat pigs, chickens, and cows,” they said. Kusik was originally an animal science major, but later realized the program was focused on the science of animal production for human use.

“I was suspicious they weren’t telling us the whole story of what happens in the food production industry,” Kusik said. “So I started doing my own research.”

Kusik then switched to PreVet.

vegetarianism.”

Many members of CAA share a common feeling: “Why isn’t everyone a vegetarian? Isn’t it obvious why we make this choice?”

“It’s a cultural thing,” Nambudiripad said, referring to the hesitation to switch to vegetarianism. “[Eating meat] is what we’re used to. It’s traditional; it’s eaten at holidays; it’s ritualistic.”

Nambudiripad believes eating meat is seen as the norm. “But it’s good to challenge and question things,” he said. Having support at home is important, so those who come from meat eating households have to fight an uphill battle to change their diets, according to Nambudiripad.

Being a vegetarian isn’t always easy. Options for a decent variety of relatively inexpensive, efficient meals are sometimes hard to come by and occasionally non-existent, and with the added pressure of going against the societal grain, vegetarianism can be unappealing. But with Internet resources, exciting improvement in the fields of fake meat and meat substitutes, and the resources and support available right here on campus, vegetarianism is an entirely doable option with personal and environmental benefits for any student.

One great, incredibly convenient resource U students have is the nutrition section of the Boynton Health Services website: http://www.bhs.umn.edu/ east-bank-clinic/nutrition.htm. The page offers online resources to help plan a healthy diet, both vegetarian and otherwise, including the opportunity for personal dietary consults for students. Additionally, students with questions about dining options or their diet can contact campus dietician Jenna Brott directly at brott015@umn.edu.

“My parents weren’t very accommodating [to vegetarianism], but then going to college and being on my own really opened my eyes,” Kusik said. “I tried to do only one meal with meat a day, and eventually I stopped eating meat altogether, and I never went back.”

Tyler Tracy’s choice to stop eating meat shared several of the same characteristics as Moose’s. Tracy felt a strong dissonance between his ethical and political views vs. what he ate. “I felt I wasn’t seeing meat as a meal, but as corpses,” he said. “This happened long before I became aware of the larger philosophy of

Flickr / lars p.

www.wakemag.org | 15

THE WAKE Q&A

Q&A WiTH pHox

jusTin sEngly

on the big stage, you can feel disconnected.

Our struggle is to try and figure out how to be one unit while spread out like that.

By grace Birnstengel Wisconsin-native PHOX were lucky enough to open for Dr. Dog all three nights they played in Minneapolis in February: the 5 at the Turf Club, and the 6 and 7 in First Avenue’s Mainroom. We sat down with guitarist Matt Holmen before PHOX rocked the Turf and learned about Justin Vernon’s home studio, messing up on stage, and what happens when one six-person band lives in a house.

THE WAKE: Everyone always asks you guys about what it’s like being from Baraboo, Wisc., but i’m more interested in what you thought of the packers loss.

MH: Oh, it was devastating. We were driving home from tour and we had our friend’s dad DVR the game.

I turned off my phone so we had no contact with the world. We caught the game right at the end and we were in shock. We were sure that the whole state was celebrating and that we were going to go out and party.

16 | FEB 16 - MARCH 1

THE WAKE: so you guys are big fans?

MH: Jason and I are huge fans. It’s one of those things. It’s a Midwestern thing. The comradery, the massive eating.

THE WAKE: The whole band lived in a house in Madison, Wisc., and recently you moved out…

MH: Yeah, we did. Solemnly. It sucks. It was such an ideal living situation. We all got together and created this parody radio show together. It was my mom’s house; she was on vacation. It felt like old times. We were all together on the floor and we never used desks. We just got into a child’s mindset, just playing.

Drawing on the floor with crayons.

THE WAKE: And then you moved back to Baraboo. is that where you’re living now?

MH: We moved out [of the Madison house] the week we started the headlining tour. So we all reasoned it was time. It was rational to not get a new place. We

just put our stuff in our parent’s garages. Which has been fine. We cleaned the house up. We spent three years there. That’s where we wrote the majority of writing for the album. I think we played every venue in Madison.

THE WAKE: Even the Alliant Energy Center?

MH: Ooooh, you got me! No, we did not play the Alliant.

THE WAKE: What’s your fan-base in Wisconsin like?

What’s it like to play home shows?

MH: We haven’t played a show in Baraboo in two years, but we’re going to do one this summer. It’s awesome, we know everybody, and it’s a small town.

Whereas Madison is a college town, and none of our fans are University students. So it’s small. Most of our friends in Madison are living and working there.

It’s like a class reunion. So many people we grew up with come out. Usually people are drinking a lot of [New Glarus] Spotted Cow before we play. I was

THE WAKE Q&A thinking next time we should play first, and then have a dance band, because we don’t usually drink a lot while we play. If we’re more sober than the crowd it’s like “Aw, man.”

THE WAKE: you recorded your debut self-titled record at April Base, justin Vernon’s home studio in Eau Claire, Wisc. Tell me about what that was like.

MH: That was awesome. It’s a house and the studio is the basement. It still has that house feel. You can make eggs and walk around in your slippers, so kind of feels like you’re at home. A studio atmosphere can be dry and spooky. You want a little spookiness to get you playing, but not enough to get you out of your head. All of the Bon Iver instruments and their touring rig were there, so we had access to all that stuff. There’s a guitar that has the lyrics of “Stacks” taped on it, all the verses in different places.

We played every guitar in the studio. I didn’t even choose guitars based on the what would sound good for a particular song, just which one I hadn’t played yet. Like, “We need to use the ‘Skinny Love’ love guitar at some point, so yeah, that sounds fine.”

THE WAKE: justin was there for a while at the beginning, but who recorded the record?

MH: Brian Joseph. We actually had a sleepover at his house last night. When we first heard Brian Joseph was recording our record, we thought he was Danger Mouse, because Danger Mouse’s name is Brian Joseph Burton. But then when we found out, we were like, “Oh! We were wondering why you lived in Wisconsin and why you were white.”

THE WAKE: pHox has so many contributors that use so many instruments. What’s your songwriting process like?

MH: There is a lot of jamming all day. Early on we just stepped on each other’s toes a lot, fighting for attention. It’s normal. After a few years of playing with each other and listening to recordings, you get more of a perspective and judgment about when you’re just making noise to make noise. It’s like a monkey peeing into its own mouth. And you know, saying like, “I love what you were playing there, so why don’t I just not play.” Monica will come out with a melodic idea, and then we play around with it. Everyone takes turns figuring out what they can add. Sometimes we go too far. When we play it live it’s different. Sometimes we get around two microphones, like bluegrass style. It’s so fun. It makes us feel more connected to each other. We play in clubs a lot, but then to go and play places like First Avenue’s Mainroom, we have to try hard to remember that there are other people on the stage. On the big stage, you can feel disconnected. Our struggle is to try and figure out how to be one unit while spread out like that. We’re figuring it out.

it feel like everything is happening so fast, or what?

MH: We feel like things are happening fast, but still at a doable pace. Nothing completely crazy has happened. Well, we’re playing Coachella and Bonnaroo this year, so that’s pretty crazy. That’ll be the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me.

THE WAKE: Which artists are you most excited to see at those festivals?

MH: Definitely Father John Misty and the Punch Brothers. Jack White is headlining Coachella, so that’ll be cool. I’ve never seen him.

THE WAKE: you play tomorrow night with Dr. Dog at the Turf Club. Have you played there before?

MH: Nope, we haven’t played there before. It’s funny because we used to drive to Minneapolis to see bands like Anti-Flag, Rancid, and Less Than Jake at First Avenue, and now we’re playing in their venues.

THE WAKE: What can one expect at a pHox show?

MH: Well you know, sparklers and gas, jokes, spoofs.

(Laughs). It’s nice because Dr. Dog is giving us a substantial set. We get to play for 45 minutes instead of 30! We’re trying to do a diverse set including a sit down segment if the crowd is feeling it. Expect diversity in the demeanor: lighthearted but still honoring Monica’s stories in her songs. No James Dean smoking on stage.

THE WAKE: What’s your favorite song to play live and why?

MH: My favorite is “Blue and White.” It’s an older one that we didn’t rerecord for the LP. It was on our video EP and the recording was great. We wanted it to be a piece of the full-length. It’s our most serious song and everyone always feels it. It’s dark but also loud. It’s really fun to play, and we very rarely fuck it up. Except when we played Chicago a couple weeks

ago. The beginning is a heavy moment where the music starts and Monica says “I belong to me alone when I’m alone.” After she sang that, my guitar fell off my back and 4 feet to the ground. It was on and let out this huge noise in the middle of this moment.

Everyone was like “Ohhh boy…” I think Monica and Matteo both fell over laughing on stage. Sometimes those moments happen.

THE WAKE: What’s next for pHox? MH: We’re starting to think about the next record and more songs. Those are bubbling. We’re working on a film project cause we haven’t done that in awhile. Zach and Matteo scored an animated short that’s nominated for an Oscar. It’s called “The Dam Keeper.” Check it out. PHOX did a version of one of those songs that should be coming out soon.

THE WAKE: The Wake is made up of a lot of aspiring student artists, both in our membership and readership. Do you have any advice for young people trying to make their art into a lifestyle?

MH: Do it with friends. Get a support group that will be honest with you, but also build you up. Don’t quit.

Make something that’s true to yourself, and other clichés that you can find in my book How to be an Artist. (Laughs). Actually no, there’s a great book by Eddie Campbell, the Scottish cartoonist, called How to be an Artist. The book is about how he’s turning a marginal medium into a career. He’s always hopping from lily pad to lily pad, always making art he loves.

[His art] doesn’t have a huge place in culture, but he talks about how to advocate for it and how to do what you want to do. Very useful read for anyone thinking about quitting.

THE WAKE: you released your debut lp released in june, now you’re playing shows with Dr. Dog. Does pip

WWW.WAKEMAg.oRg | 17

THE WAKE SOUND & VISION

q&A: no pRoBlEM RECoRds

FoUndERs oF nEw MinnEApolis CAssEttE lABEl REFlECt on tHEiR FiRst sEvEn MontHs By shawnna stennes Inspired by the cassette revival, helping out their pals, and a desire to give Minneapolis music the glory it deserves, Jordan Bleau of local band Frankie Teardrop and photographer Alexander Uhrich created No Problem Records. Since its formation in June 2014, the cassette label has released the tunes of local bands such as Suzie, Frankie Teardrop, VATS, and Teenage Moods; each band seems to fall into their own genre, yet are held together by a common thread of lo-fi and a “let’s do it together” ethic.

that could potentially turn into something else.” And I was immediately like, Jordan has all these songs. I wanna put out a Frankie Teardrop tape. So I texted him and I was like I wanna do this. And there was no conversation; it was just like, let’s do it together. So yeah, we started our record label in like two to three months. And then we just shredded for five months.

JB: We had no clue what the fuck we were doing and we still... well, we’ve learned some things. We’re just not business-minded.

The Wake sat down with them in their Whittier apartment, in the open space between stacks of cassettes and merch, to talk about their No Problem Singles Club, the state of the Minneapolis music scene, and the toils of diving into the uneasy waters of the music industry while still keeping it real.

the wake: Both of you have lived in other states for a long period of time and have experienced other music scenes. How would you describe the Twin Cities music scene and how does it compare?

the wake: So tell me about the role each of you play in No Problem Records and why you got started.

JB: Yeah, so it’s a team; we’re a squad. It’s like me and Alex, working out of our various apartments and trying to pick out local bands that are super duper good and are doing something that could totally clean up on a national level but maybe don’t have the means to.

AU: It definitely was started in part with the idea that Minneapolis doesn’t get enough attention on a national level. People don’t really come here on tour. Well, they do now and they do more and more I’ve noticed, but because it’s so far from anything else, it often gets skipped. It’s not a convenient place for people to tour when they’re doing national stuff. So I feel like this community is a really well kept secret too, like there’s a lot of really amazing bands happening here that maybe don’t get the attention they deserve because you know, people don’t come here on vacation.

JB: Yeah, it’s not Brooklyn. the wake: So you guys started No Problem Records last June, three months after you had met each other, right?

AU: Even less than that, I think. At that time I wasn’t spending any time making art and I always have felt like one of the best things for me is to help facilitate other people’s creativity or help people make their stuff happen. And I was at dinner with my mom actually, so shout-out to my mom for No Problem, and I was commiserating and she was like, “Why don’t you figure out something that you could spend like 100 bucks on that could grow? Like something you could invest in

18 | FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 1

one show and that tape is like fucking amazing. Like if we could give it enough legs to get to whomever the right fucking people are, that shit would clean up.

AU: I think we’ve also focused on diversifying. Not a single one of our tapes sounds like another tape that we’ve put out, like they’re kind of all across the board.

It’s not about being a genre label; that has never been the goal. It’s always been about, oh, that’s just fucking good.

Read the rest of the interview online at www.wakemag. org/author/shawnna-stennes

JB: Well, ‘cause I’m not from here, I have kind of a different perspective on how the scene works and local bands around here and I think that sometimes there’s a lack of constructive criticism. You know, scenes and art get better when people are willing to give each other feedback that is not always positive. I think that’s a huge thing here that really kind of surprised me.

AU: I think it’s very insular. I feel like everybody knows each other, and it’s an excellent thing about supporting your friends and playing shows and going to your friends’ shows, but a lot of people don’t necessarily keep it real about what’s going to make it a better thing for everybody. And you don’t ever want to like, shit on anybody or make them feel bad, ‘cause that’s not the point; that is very rarely productive either. the wake: Since No Problem Records began in June, you guys have put out releases for Frankie Teardrop, Dee Dee Mayo, Real Numbers, Suzie, VATS, and Teenage Moods. How do you decide which artists to work with?

JB: What I like about the releases we put out is that all the artists we put out make like really fucking amazing, challenging shit that, like I said, could clean up on a national level. Like that Dee Dee [Mayo] tape for example, that’s Ian’s solo project and he’s played like

BRECK HiCKMAn

THE WAKE SOUND & VISION

CopinG witH tHE End oF pARKs And REC in FoUR EAsY stEps By olivia Heusinkveld With just four simple steps, you can learn how to be best prepared for the hardest loss since the death of Li’l Sebastian.

1. tREAt. Yo’. sElF. Be it a tall stack of waffles or a nice hot bowl of soup on a park bench, now is the time to be kind to yourself and do what makes you happy. After seven years of devoting countless weeks to these characters, the ending of a television show can feel like an entire branch of your family has died. Take some time to mourn the loss and don’t be ashamed to force your local diner to give you all the steak, bacon, and eggs that they have. You deserve it.

2. #Livetweetthisbitch Show your friends that you are literally so upset by the ending of Parks and Rec that all you will be doing is writing a spin-off series about Ben and Leslie’s

children taking over the world. Be sure to follow Tom Haverford’s technology habits and reach ‘Donnawatching-Scandal’ levels of devotion. With carefully constructed tweets, you can create the ruse that you are #unbreakable.

BREAnnA viCK

3. Spend time with family and friends To prove that Parks and Rec has truly made you a better person, remember Leslie Knope’s motto: “Friends, Waffles, Work.” Embrace this message by spending time with the people in your life who are beautiful, tropical fish like the perfect nurse Ann Perkins. Whip out a game of Cones of Dunshire, listen to Ginuwine, and drink blueberry wine. Let your friends know that you like them and love them.

to seek out the next big thing. Whether it be the next “Low-Cal Calzone Zone,” Entertainment 720, or simply transforming a pit into a park, remember to never halfass two things. Whole-ass one thing. (Note: Due to the struggles related to the project “Requiem for a Tuesday,” we do not recommend creative endeavors into claymation as you may be especially sad during this time).The ending of Parks and Rec may have you feeling like an Eagletonian has insulted your beloved Pawnee or even as if you are Jerry/Larry/Terry/Gary himself. However, 4. Create the next best thing (after Parks and Rec, of course) with the above steps, you can both mourn the loss of a Now that one of the best shows on television is ending, great show while also celebrating its life. it is your responsibility to use your Burt Macklin skills

tHE YEAR oF tHE REAR

FouR ReaSonS why booty-CentRiC muSiC videoS aRe one oF the moSt imPoRtant outComeS oF 2014

by Jacob merritt

I’m not sure if Sir-Mix-A-Lot is still among the living, but I’ll venture to guess that wherever he is, he is grinning in a way most pleased. With Nicki Minaj releasing the music video for her single “Anaconda” this past year, followed shortly after by the “Booty” music video from Jenny-from-the-Block, the new wave of booty craze has taken the Internet by storm. Despite controversy surrounding the idea that artists are deliberately degrading themselves to sex objects in order to sell their music, I am going to list several reasons why my anaconda not only does, but also should support the movement.

1.it’s fun Imagine you’re at a “social gathering” where everyone attending is drinking (obviously responsibly). Out of the corner of your eye you see that loud chick—whom you’ve naturally avoided all night because she makes you nervous —approach the auxiliary cord. The song “Booty,” featuring Iggy Azalea, begins bumping. What do you do? The answer is: you dance. You can’t control

it. It happens. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background, if a song has a way of capturing an audience and bringing them together, I see no reason to resist the results.

2.it’s edgy This is a new generation, known for pushing envelopes, taking risks, embarrassing themselves at the VMAs, and exposing crotch to paparazzi. Our society is becoming more comfortable with itself and the barriers that prevent an artist from releasing “racy” material are breaking down. “Anaconda” is a step in a process.

Whether that step is left or right on the moral scale is still up for debate, but any step is progress.

3.it’s hot Don’t lie. It really is.

of makes it hard to complain about the direction these videos are taking. With artists like Meghan Trainor emphasizing ideas like not being ashamed for having a little extra butt, one must see that as a good thing.

Body confidence is an issue that, while still poisoning our society, is advancing, and I’m all about that bass.

But please leave the treble on because the song sounds awful without the treble.

Having a backside isn’t something to be afraid of anymore. “Not only does [having a booty] support youwhile you are sitting, it is an important ass-et to the art of dance,” Paige Holm, student and self-proclaimed booty-enthusiast, said. So flaunt what you’ve got, shake what your momma gave ya, and be proud of the skin you’re in, because body confidence is the new black and 2014 showed us how sexy confidence can be.

4.it’s empowering Mass media’s recent embracement of curves and obnoxiously large derrieres as something to be proud

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THE WAKE SOUND & VISION

what i’m Looking FoRwaRd to in 2015

By Ryan Meaney untitled LP: kendrick Lamar, release date tbd “Classic.” Such a label is extremely daunting to overcome, especially in music. There are only a handful of artists who have lived up to the hype of their first LP with an equally stellar sophomore effort: Kanye West’s Late Registration, Pavement’s Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, and Vampire Weekend’s Contra, to name a few. For the most part, the hype is simply too much to handle, and the second record seems to fall flat under pressure of the immense expectations. Kendrick Lamar’s debut, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, dropped a bomb on the rap world. Not in a great while had we heard a young rapper speak so eloquently about life in Compton, with such wisdom and passion and gravitas. He was a new, fresh voice that the rap community desperately needed, cutting through the party-drug fueled hip-hop dominating the airwaves. Lamar’s second release is arguably the most hyped album of 2015, and rightfully so. He dropped the first single, “i,” last September, a jaunty feel good track based around an Isley Brothers guitar

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sample. A few months later, Lamar was one of the featured guests on The Colbert Report, debuting a new untitled song featuring the enthusing bass playing of Thundercat. With socially aware lyrics and minimalist instrumentation, Lamar appears to be divulging from what made his previous LP a renovation. No matter the outcome, we will be all ears once he decides to unveil it to the world. tobias Jesso Jr.: goon, out march 17 There have been thousands of songs about love and heartbreak. There have been thousands of songs written about how difficult it is to make it in Los Angeles. The key to making these songs sound fresh is to be heartbreakingly truthful, like the listener is reading the artist’s diary. These themes are the basis for the debut album of Canadian singer-songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr., a former member of little known band the Sessions, who has dealt with the wrath of Hollywood firsthand. After the group disbanded, Jesso Jr. remained in L.A. for a few years, writing most of the songs on Goon about the hardships the city of angels brought him. His longtime girlfriend soon after broke up with him and thus, the tragic singer-songwriter was born. The songs Jesso Jr. has dropped so far have been mostly piano based, with his Harry Nilsson-esque voice rolling slowly and sweetly over his slow-hand playing style. The

followed this mantra, with satirical lyrics meant to not only stimulate but also even poke fun at the audience who chooses to listen (“I’m writing a novel/ because it’s never been done before”). Perhaps the Tillman is taking a new approach to his songwriting with his sophomore LP, I Love You, Honeybear.

The first single, “Bored in the USA,” is a harrowing examination of current state of our country and the people who live in it. At one point in the song, Father John Misty lists off all of the issues that he faces being a middle-class American, such as receiving a useless education and keeping his prescriptions filled. During this, a laugh track softly fades into the background, mocking Tillman as if he is a player on a stage. The satirical Father John Misty might be gone, but in his wake is a cynical songwriter searching for light in the dark.

Rock the garden, walker art Center, June 20-21 For those of you who prefer music of the live variety, the Rock the Garden music festival is coming back to the Walker Art Center this summer. Hosted by The Current, Rock the Garden features artists from a wide spectrum of genres for thousands every year. Last year, indie rock mainstays Spoon as well as hip-hop legends De La Soul headlined both days, featuring local musicians Jeremy Messersmith and Dessa, as well as popular acts such as Guided by

songwriting itself conjures thoughts of a young Billy Voices and Kurt Vile. While the lineup for this year’s Joel, had Billy Joel decided to write underground festival will not be announced until March 31, there hits for Nilsson himself. We as the audience have are numerous acts that we’d like to see on the bill. been granted exclusive access to the heartbreak of a The War on Drugs are coming off the release of their young man just trying to find his place in the panthe- critically acclaimed album Lost in a Dream, and their on of popular music, and what a fun ride it should be. old school rock grooves would be a welcome sound to the festival audience. Local hip-hop collective Father John misty, i Love you, honeybear, out Feb. 10 Thestand4rd released their first LP this past year, It is difficult to pin down just what exactly Father and the St. Paul crew could bring their youthful exuJohn Misty (J. Tillman) is trying to convey to us. In berance to the show. Tickets go on sale April 7. Be interviews, it seems as though he is some sort of sure to pick them up early; this is a hot ticket for the cheeky, hipster anarchist who loafs through life summer months! much like an old hippy lost in a time long forgotten.

Many songs on the singer-songwriter’s debut record

THE WAKE SOUND & VISION by alex nelson

marina and the diamonds: Froot, out april 3 H.B.I.C. Marina and the Diamonds has for months been priming our appetite for her third studio album, Froot. Our first taste of the album was a single of the same name that marked a welcome lyrical return to the signature eccentricities her first album was rife with. (“Baby I am plump and ripe / pinker than shepherd’s delight / sweet like honeysuckle late at night”).

This actual art-pop queen has ditched the promiscuous alter ego that informed her second album, Electra Heart, and left behind the club-based beats that accompanied that era. Since the release of “Froot,” Marina has blessed her fans with “Happy,” a moving ballad about finding true happiness in yourself, and “I’m a Ruin,” a shimmering selection showcasing the

star’s penchant for penning an excellent pop tune.

Her aesthetic fusion of cosmic imagery and sparkling fruit icons, combined with offering one track per month until the album release, has fans salivating over her most exciting era yet.

Lana del Rey: honeymoon, release date tbd Last year in our “What I’m Looking Forward To in 2014” piece, I wrote about my anticipation for Lana Del Rey’s (unnamed at the time) follow up to 2012’s Born To Die. The result, her slow-burning Ultraviolence, saw a departure from her “gangster Nancy Sinatra” pop to smoky indie-rock, thanks in part to production cooperation with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. The sultry starlet already has a name

for her next release, Honeymoon, and has reported having fun “sinking into a noirish feel for this one.”

The record is rumored to feature a track entitled “Music to Watch Boys To,” suggesting a return to the playful, girlish attitudes of Born To Die. Plus, we can expect Honeymoon to end with a cover of Nina Simone’s “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” The singer has expressed a desire to summarize each record with a jazz cover (Ultraviolencefeatured a cover of “The Other Woman”). Del Rey has proven that her artistic vision is a force to be reckoned with, and with a title like Honeymoon—and apparently complete artwork to go with it is already finished—she once again makes the list of things I’m most excited for in this upcoming year.

by karl witkowiak modest mouse: Strangers to ourselves, out march 17 It has been eight years since Modest Mouse’s last full album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. EIGHT. YEARS. You bet I’m excited to hear some new content from one of my favorite indie bands. Already, the band released three songs, the bombastic “Lampshades of Fire,” the mellow “Coyotes,” and the serene “The Best Room.” These songs show that, though they’ve been gone for a while, Modest Mouse still has it in them to create thought-provoking and overall fun music. The compositions are complex and Isaac Brock’s vocal delivery is still as potent as ever. Their newest album is set for release in March and I eagerly look forward to the rest of the songs on their latest attempt. new Fire emblem game, release date tbd Though this has been revealed recently, the hype for the newest Fire Emblem game is already huge.

I only started playing Fire Emblem Awakening about a month ago, but it has already become one of my favorite games for the 3DS for its complexity, character development, and just plain fun. Not much has been revealed about this new game aside from more detailed battle areas and the return of certain features from Awakening (such as the much-loved pair up system), but the game does show some promise, thanks to continuation of the Fire Emblem Awakening art style and a strong historical feel present in all Fire Emblem games. An interesting addition I would like to see in this game is the ability to choose whatever side of the war you would like to fight on, which would allow for much more replay-ability.

Just Cause 3, release date tbd Another one of my all-time favorite games gets a sequel? Hell yeah! Just Cause 2, while not perfect, was a seriously fun game, allowing you to traverse

the largest recorded video game overworld, topple a dictatorship, and blow up everything in sight using tools like a grappling hook, parachute, and a wide arsenal of vehicles and weapons. What would make this sequel even more fun? More useful utilities such as a flying suit would be a start. Letting you explore subterranean areas and scale up buildings would make a welcome addition as well, as it makes an already large game world even bigger. Overall, I would like to return to yet another large world and blow up everything in sight... just cause (har-har). mortal kombat X, out april 14 The tenth installment of the gory, yet incredibly fun, fighting series is also the first on next generation consoles. Old fan-favorite characters, such as Scorpion and Sub-Zero, return amongst some new faces.

Each character also gets three different play styles in order to give the roster more variety. Best of all: more gruesome fatalities. Only a few fatalities have been shown off so far, but if you get the chance, go on YouTube and see for yourself how much more grisly the fatalities have gotten. We’ve come a long way from the original Mortal Kombat on the arcade.

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THE WAKE SOUND & VISION

SundanCe 2015

odditieS, eXPeRimentS, and soCiAl CoMMEntARY by kristen wangsness

Since 1978, the mission of Sundance Film Festival has been to promote and discover independent films. Cinematic gems such as Napoleon Dynamite, Beasts of the Southern Wild and Reservoir Dogs have all risen from previous festivals, and this year’s offerings look promising as well. Some highlights: me and earl and the dying girl Alfonso Gomez-Rejon‘s film did well at the festival, winning both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for drama and the Audience Award for U.S. Drama. It centers on Greg, a high school loner who makes strange videos with his friend Earl and is forced by his mother to befriend his classmate Rachel when she is diagnosed with leukemia. the wolfpack Crystal Moselle created a documentary on six brothers and one sister who grew up locked away in a New York City apartment. Their perception of the outside world has been built by the over 5,000 movies they have watched and their extremely infrequent voyages into the outside world. The film was awarded the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for documentary.

KRistEn wAnGsnEss

the Stanford Prison experiment Kyle Patrick Alvarez directed this film based on the notorious, real-life experiment of the same title. The movie follows subjects placed in pretend roles of prisoner and guard as they internalize the power dynamics in shocking ways. Tim Talbot received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for the screenplay.

Chuck norris vs. Communism This eye-catching documentary demonstrates the influential power of media, specifically the effects of Western film on Romania. Ilinca Calugareanu’s film details how bootlegged Hollywood movies and a brave translator sparked a revolution against the Iron Curtain. hot girls wanted Netflix picked up this film, making it the first they have ever acquired from Sundance.

Produced by Rashida Jones and directed by documentarians Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus, this film shines a harsh light on the exploitations and harmful effects of the porn industry that consumers can’t see from behind their computer screen. the nightmare This documentary-horror hybrid narrates the experiences of eight people who suffer from sleep paralysis. Reenactments and retellings of night terrors and dreamscapes illustrate this surprisingly common condition. The director, Rodney Ascher, is known for the film Room 237, his eccentric analysis of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining.

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THE WAKE SOUND & VISION

3 reVieWs

sleater-kinney.cOM

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still alice

Panda bear

By Maci Bekele

By Robby Hughes

Still Alice is a rare gem amongst this year’s movie releases; it has a complex storyline portrayed by talented, believable actors.

The fifth solo release from Animal Collective’s Panda Bear, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper, offers a vibrant range of psychedelic tracks that will please fans of hisprevious projects, but it ultimately relies too much on his signature sound.

The movie follows the story of Alice Howland, a linguistic professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease that gradually robs her of her memory and speech.

The story is told from Alice’s perspective; it places the disease in the front and center of the film and shows us the impact it has, not only on Alice but also on her family. The idea of forgetting not only who everyone else is, but also who you are is profoundly terrifying, yet the movie manages to show the horror, and also the heroism and love of family that can triumph in such a situation.

The complex story of Alice is made more digestible through an invigorating performance by Julianne Moore. Her acting is pure and raw. It’s heart wrenching to watch Alice’s memory deteriorate, yet Moore manages to portray her withstanding spirit during some of the darkest moments of her life.

The movie’s message is not only applicable to those with Alzheimer’s disease. Perhaps the message is similar to the butterfly necklace Alice puts on as her memory dwindles. Like the fleeting existence of a butterfly, Alice’s memories are short-lived. Yet in this tragic moment, Alice learns that what matters is not how long you live, but the moments in between, the reverence and enjoyment of each day as if it were to be forgotten tomorrow.

The tracks on the album feature many of the hallmarks of Panda Bear’s previous solo efforts within the context of well-developed soundscapes. Staying true to the typical Panda Bear style, the album predominantly features distorted looping instrumentals and echoing vocals that are seamlessly blended with the ethereal backdrops. These musical motifs are occasionally laborious due to over-implementation of effects and flourishes that are evocative of Panda Bear’s past albums.

That being said, the layering of sounds on the album are developed further than many previous Panda Bear projects. This attribute gives each song a deep and well-developed sonic environment while also maintaining coherent song structure. Another positive feature of the album is the cohesiveness of the tracks, which flow in an extremely effective manner with the use of the interludes and lingering fadeouts. The album’s fluid nature allows the full album to be superior listening experience over any single track.However, the album bolsters the singles “Mr. Noah” and “Boys Latin,” which are capable of standing alone as effective compositions. These positive qualities can provide an exciting listening experience, but, without attentive listening, the album was easy to fade into the background due to its failure to break new ground and over-reliance on the Panda Bear brand.

sleater-kinney, no cities to love

By Peter Diamond Sleater-Kinney are back.

It’s been nine years since the Pacific Northwestern riot grrrls said their supposed goodbye with their cataclysmic 2005 release of their album The Woods. After their noisy finale that was near bursting at the seams with both bitterness and sweetness, the reunion album was destined to be a tough act to follow.

Never has Janet Weiss’s drumming been tighter, Corin Tucker’s wail more haunting, and Carrie Brownstein’s guitar licks so razor sharp. Not a note is out of place or a guitar solo overbearing. Weiss, always the underrated secret weapon of the group, keeps the album going at lightning speed throughout with few breaks to catch a breath in between.

Fortunately, they manage to pick up right where they left off, leaving the interim period unscathed as they make up for lost time. “Price Tag,” the album’s blitzkrieg opener, blazes through the economic recession of the late ‘00s. “A New Wave” fuses Brownstein and Tucker’s complementary vocals and guitar work in a beautiful call and response between the pair. “It’s not a new wave / It’s just you and me,” they sing together.

For a group that declared in 1996, “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone,” it’s pleasing to see them continue to push the envelope almost 20(!) years later. Their formula has always been their sisterhood, embracing the “otherness” within rather than being at ease with the “girl band” label so many tried to (and still) reduce them to. No Cities is about legacy, age, a movement — a testament to Sleater-Kinney’s revolution — and a reminder that the fight is hardly over.

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