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Arts and Entertainment

A&E 4/8/25 11:28pm

Review: "The Crux" Should Redefine Djo

By Ridhi Dondeti

Joe Keery’s work has been boiled down to Steve Harrington from “Stranger Things,” but this label shouldn’t define his 10 years in the entertainment industry. Keery, under his stage name “Djo", is the voice behind the TikTok hit “End of Beginning,” which was released with his album “DECIDE” in 2022 and climbed the charts for the first time in 2024.  With “The Crux”, Keery’s third album, he tries to separate his work as Djo and an actor, evidenced by the album’s visual of Keery escaping a building. 

A&E 4/8/25 11:27pm

Review: “Lonely People With Power” merges blackgaze fury with dreamy introspection

By Arman Saxena

Fifteen years into a storied career that’s crisscrossed the boundaries of black metal and shoegaze, Deafheaven has found a way to once again outdo themselves. “Lonely People With Power” feels like a triumphant return to the band’s blackgaze roots, fusing massive walls of guitar-driven sound with whispery dream-pop interludes, recalling their classic album trio of the 2010s (“Sunbather,” “New Bermuda” and “Ordinary Corrupt Human Love”). It also bears the learned refinements of “Infinite Granite,” the 2021 album where they dabbled more boldly in cleaner vocals and atmospheric passages. 

A&E 4/8/25 11:20pm

Review: sad women rejoice! Japanese Breakfast is back, and her pen is lethal

By Basma Bedawi

Michelle Zauner returns as Japanese Breakfast for the first time in two years with her new album “For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women).” The album comes 10 years after Zauner’s mother died, and Zauner said in a DIY Magazine interview that her grief speaks to the album’s theme of melancholy. This melancholy is potent throughout this album: Zauner has an incredible knack for turning her life experiences into pieces of masterful fiction set to music. She sprinkles blink-and-you’ll-miss-it metaphors and references throughout the album.  

A&E 4/8/25 11:17pm

Arts and entertainment courses to keep you sane this fall

By Arman Saxena

Another course registration period – closing this Friday – has forced us to contemplate whether to drop a major or drop out altogether, but no worries: to assist you in considering your options, the Thresher has compiled a list of unique classes offered this fall semester.  

A&E 4/1/25 11:39pm

ktru’s annual Outdoor Show moves indoors, still thrills

By Charlie Cruz

ktru’s 33rd annual “Outdoor Show” music festival shifted indoors March 29 due to concerns about inclement weather. Despite the last-minute location change, attendees, performers and organizers said the event retained its lively atmosphere and community spirit.

A&E 4/1/25 11:18pm

Review: ‘Invincible’ Season 3 contemplates the weight of heroism

By Charlie Cruz

When I think of "Invincible," I immediately picture Mark Grayson at the emotional center of his universe, much like Spider-Man anchors the Marvel world. Mark is a hero deeply shaped by tragedy, yet driven by a seemingly impossible desire to remain good. Despite pure intentions, his efforts often backfire spectacularly. And ultimately, despite his reluctance, he faces uncomfortable truths about what it genuinely means to be heroic. 

A&E 4/1/25 11:16pm

Review: “Dead Channel Sky” sees Daveed Diggs and clipping. enter electronic utopia

By Arman Saxena

Even if you weren’t annoying in middle school, the first thing that probably comes to mind when you hear the name Daveed Diggs is “Hamilton.” But before Diggs made his debut as Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette on Broadway, he was creating dark and mechanical soundscapes as the lead vocalist of the experimental hip hop outfit “clipping.” along with fellow musicians William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. 

A&E 4/1/25 11:12pm

Katie Butler embraces nuance, community through violin

By Angelica Hernandez

Katie Butler didn’t enjoy playing the violin when she started at four years old – it wasn’t until middle school, when she got to play with an orchestra, that she discovered her passion for the instrument. Now, she’s majoring in violin performance at the Shepherd School of Music and enjoying every moment. 

A&E 4/1/25 11:11pm

Review: ‘Black Bag’ is a masterful, original spy thriller

By Jay Collura

Over the three years I have been writing for the Thresher, I consider myself lucky when I’m able to review just one movie directed by one of my favorite filmmakers. Steven Soderbergh is the exception, somehow releasing two movies – “Presence” and “Black Bag” – in just two months. 

A&E 3/25/25 11:15pm

Review: Collins’ latest will keep you reading ‘til sunrise

By Hugo Gerbich-Pais

Nearly 17 years after The Hunger Games was released, Suzanne Collins masterfully transports – no, throws us – right back to our first introduction of the series. Writing with a tenacity that mimics the heroic journeys of her characters, Collins’ second prequel is a delight to read, for seasoned fans and first-timers alike. 

A&E 3/25/25 11:15pm

Review: Collins’ latest will keep you reading ‘til sunrise

By Hugo Gerbich-Pais

Nearly 17 years after The Hunger Games was released, Suzanne Collins masterfully transports – no, throws us – right back to our first introduction of the series. Writing with a tenacity that mimics the heroic journeys of her characters, Collins’ second prequel is a delight to read, for seasoned fans and first-timers alike. 

A&E 3/25/25 10:33pm

Playboi Carti’s “MUSIC” is a whole lotta meh

By Arman Saxena

After nearly five years of canceled release dates, cryptic livestreams and scattered singles that never quite materialized into anything more than music videos, Playboi Carti’s “MUSIC” is finally here. The album, stuffed to the brim with 30 tracks, is both proof of Carti’s magnetic presence and a stark reminder that bigger is not always better. 

A&E 3/25/25 10:30pm

Review: “Mickey 17” is refreshing science fiction fun

By Jay Collura

I can’t think of a harder task than following up the Best Picture-winning “Parasite.” South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s masterpiece is one of the most beloved films of the 21st century, especially amongst Gen-Z filmgoers (myself very much included). In a year with many great films, “Parasite” stood head and shoulders above the rest, and whispers immediately started about Bong’s next project.

A&E 3/25/25 10:24pm

Review: The Sleeping Beauty Keeps You Awake

By Sara Davidson

The Houston Ballet just finished their performances of “The Sleeping Beauty,” a ballet based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. This classic piece ran for just over two weeks and included several performances with discounted tickets for students, both through the ballets “Student Rush” and “$30 under 30” deals. 

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