Merry (week and slightly under a half till) Christmas! Do make sure that you enjoy every second of your festive break- yes even try to enjoy revising and writing essays. I for one will be listening to Last Christmas┬áevery day until the 1st of January when the work-out motivational playlist will be on everyday. Well until I make a little detour to the nearest McDonalds … Continue reading Christmas edition: Agony Aunt
First aired in 1989, this was not only the first Simpsons Christmas special but The Simpsons‘ first episode ever. It sets up a typical Christmas in the life of the dysfunctional family and begins the trend of what would be a series of eventful Christmases. The story starts with Bart getting a tattoo, which causes Marge to spend all their money on its removal. What … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 14 – ‘Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire’
ItÔÇÖs without doubt that this has been a considerably accomplished year for the up and coming New Jersey native SZA. To mention the most, 2017 has been the year of the release of her debut album Ctrl,┬áwhich has thrived significantly within the current music scene. To add on to that, SZA has officially qualified as a platinum-selling artist for the highly acclaimed singles ÔÇ£Love GaloreÔÇØ … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #14 SZA – Ctrl
When you think of Christmas, the last thing that probably comes to mind is a scary movie. But for those of us who may not be the biggest fan of this season, Krampus provides us with a way to feel a little Christmas-y without having ÔÇÿjingle bellsÔÇÖ and soppy love stories shoved in our not-so-festive faces. Krampus is based on an old myth; naughty children … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 13 – ‘Krampus’
ÔÇ£Being larger than life in a smaller worldÔÇØ That was Vince Staples telling Complex in an interview about the meaning behind his latest album: Big Fish Theory. The long beach 24 year old has been a close friend of the group Odd Future, working with Earl Sweatshirt and touring this year with Tyler, the creator. His second studio album only 36 minutes long, under Def … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #13 Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory
by Rachel Nurse 12th December 2017, New Theatre ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà DonÔÇÖt we all love a good panto around Christmas time? Of course, we do! Especially if the show is of Show White, arguably the most famous fairy tale of all time. Going to the panto is essentially opening a Christmas present early, it is full of surprises and excitement. The Cardiff New Theatre production of Snow … Continue reading Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs review: ItÔÇÖs Panto Time at the New Theatre
As far as collaborations in the world of music go, which can range from the predictable to the unexpected to the downright zany, Courtney Barnett and Kurt VileÔÇÖs debut combined effort Lotta Sea Lice rests somewhere between the former two. Sonically, their previous solo releases are distinct from each other, but borrow from the same worlds; while VileÔÇÖs back catalogue is fixated on the languid … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #12 Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile – Lotta Sea Lice
Matt Shapira is an artist, film-maker, and the mind behind the Roaming Elephant project. Though he is based in Los Angeles, he spends a great deal of his time travelling the globe, painting his elephant murals across all continents. He uses his art to promote his message, which, as I understand it, is rather easy to agree with.┬áWe should prioritise caring for our planet and … Continue reading An Interview with Artist Matt Shapira
A development from their 2015 album ÔÇÿMy Love is CoolÔÇÖ, Wolf Alice stick to their folksy- punk, hypnotic sound. The masters of juxtapositions, in this new album they use their mash-up of genres to their advantage to create this uniquely beautiful sound. The album artwork for ÔÇÿVisions of LifeÔÇÖ pictures a young, angelic girl dancing in a garden, looking as if she could be playing … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #11 Wolf Alice – Visions Of A Life
My controversial Christmas opinion? The Holiday is better than Love Actually. IÔÇÖm not even sorry about it. The Holiday follows Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, who are lonely at Christmas and decide to swap houses for the holidays. ItÔÇÖs your usual festive rom-com ÔÇô they each find their perfect holiday romance. What makes this better than Love Actually? The stories have time to develop, itÔÇÖs … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 11 – ‘The Holiday’
by Becca Moody 8th December 2017, The Little Man Coffee Company ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå Sam Lloyd is a new name to my ears. The 24-year-old from Newport has been performing stand up since he was in his teens, but it feels as if this is the start of something bigger as he starts to put together the beginnings of his next Edinburgh show, Pi├▒ata. He performs the … Continue reading Pi├▒ata preview review: Sam Lloyd prepares for the big launch
To capture both the elation and anxiety of an entire generation with a single album is no simple feat. Lorde, however, is no simple artist. After bursting onto the scene with her teenaged debut ÔÇÿPure HeroineÔÇÖ, she then proceeded to leave us hanging for what seemed like an unimaginable amount of time. Four years later, she has finally returned to us,and what a statement she … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #10 Lorde – Melodrama
Nativity is the perfect example of a family Christmas film in my opinion, because it embraces the key magic ingredients which make Christmas such a special time of year as a child. In the wonderful motion picture starring Martin Freeman, we re-learn about friendship, the love from those close to you and bringing joy to the world. Being part of the school Nativity was always … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 10 – ‘Nativity’
Hello Quenchers, it has been great hearing from you! Christmas is close upon us and I hope you have a wonderful time during the festive season. Make sure you take some time to relax as well as writing your essays and studying for your exams. You deserve a break after eleven weeks of university. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you! Here are … Continue reading December Agony Aunt Questions
Three years after his last album, ÔÇÿÔÇÖMultiplyÔÇÖÔÇÖ, Grammy winning artist Ed Sheeran is back with a bang with his much awaited third studio album Divide. The album consists of a collection of upbeat songs as well as ballads. The overall feel of the album is a very easy-going ÔÇô ÔÇÿÔÇÖman in loveÔÇÖÔÇÖ sort of vibe. Songs like ÔÇÿÔÇÖWhat do I know?ÔÇÖÔÇÖ talk about simple gifts … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #9 Ed Sheeran – Divide
I didnÔÇÖt think I couldnÔÇÖt love James McAvoy anymore, until I witnessed the wonder that is Arthur Christmas. With Christmas becoming a military mission, Arthur, the youngest of the Claus clan is one of the few working elves who just wishes for everyone to have a Merry Christmas, away from the hustle and the bustle of modern festivities. Young Arthur tries with all his might … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 9 – ‘Arthur Christmas’
Morrissey has come a long way since his days with The Smiths. ‘This Charming Man’ has become a little, wellÔǪ cranky. As an artist who is known for having an (often controversial) opinion on anything and everything, itÔÇÖs not an entirely unexpected evolution. Morrissey has never been one to shy away from political comment, but it becomes harder to take seriously when he comments on … Continue reading Low In High School- Morrissey Album Review
I havenÔÇÖt always been a fan of Harry Styles, but ever since the launch of his solo career, this ÔÇ£Sweet CreatureÔÇØ has surely made me one. The Directioner fangirl culture has always been something I found cringe-worthy and irritating; young girls screaming and crying at a bunch of young men who had songs handed to them on a plate by producers. So, naturally, when I … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #8 Harry Styles – Self Titled
by Becca Moody ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå 7th December 2017, The Other Room Ever wondered how our good old tradition of Christmas might look to someone who isnÔÇÖt familiar with planet Earth? Flossy and Boo (played by Anja Conti and Laura Jeffs) are ÔÇÿnot from around hereÔÇÖ, and in light of their lack of knowledge of Christmas, the pair has devised a play, The Alternativity,┬áall about their research … Continue reading The Alternativity review: Flossy and Boo explore Christmas at The Other Room
Maybe not the most famous festive film of the season however, guilty pleasures donÔÇÖt always have to be the most well-known or the most acclaimed. The 2006 movie Deck the Halls is one of my top essential viewings of the season because of its endless comic stunts, one-liners and hilarious on-screen chemistry between Mathew Broderick (Steve) and Danny DeVito (Buddy). Or maybe I just love … Continue reading Quenchmas Countdown: Day 8 – ‘Deck the Halls’
