Famous for their synchronized and organic rhythms, The XX are one of the most celebrated indie groups to date. Their music is notably influenced by Daft Punk and M83, which is quite evident throughout their deep under-toned beats. In their new album “I See You,” The XX incorporates reggae and other forms of hip-hop as an attempt of diversification on their music. Though, many indie bands have been unable to pull this off, The XX is able to bring it together wonderfully. Unique to this group in “I See You,” The XX captivates and pulls audiences towards them in a new way. Forging their own path for their music has truly paid off in this album.

The album opens up with hip-hop influences in the song “Dangerous.” In this rhythmically pleasing outline, with a trumpet background, the XX brings their music to a new level of maturity. Unlike many of their past tracks, “Dangerous” excites and energizes audiences with beats that grabs listeners attention from the beginning of the album. As the music melts, listeners can easily dance and follow along with the beats of this track.

In “Lips,” The XX reincorporates their EDM and indie influences. With light drumming and a pitched bass guitar background, listeners are soothed by Coachella vibes right in their own home. The ethereal sensations that The XX has displayed finally become effective in their music. The transition that this group has been trying to make has become a work of art and is clearly shown in their modern beats that makes this group noteworthy in the modern music scene.

Though, the beats are absolutely beautiful and special throughout the album, the vocals of the groups continue to be excruciating. Their vocals are like oil and water – neither will mix with the other. The rhythms and sounds have so many pulses that brings the music alive, but this group continues to incorporate tiresome vocals, adding a layer of uselessness that the group could do without.

In “Brave For You,” The XX continues along their path of melancholy with an organ filled ballad. Electric bass guitar strings play off in the background creating a feeling of discomfort. The sounds and instruments simply do not mesh well together in a relevant direction. Whether that was intentional or not, The XX must be admired for capturing listeners attention.

One of the most popular tracks off the album is “On Hold,” a true pop song. The XX pursues a catchy chorus and that echoes smoothly making this song one of the most special tracks off the album. The band laments a lost love with this ballad, while an echoing voice breathes into the chorus. This song truly stands on its own for innovation and relevance, proving that The XX has credibility to their craft.

The interesting aspect about this album is that you will either love it or hate it. As a previous listener of The XX this was not their worst work yet, but I was still bored throughout their album. The group makes some of the most interesting rhythms in the indie rock music scene, but this group fails to push the limits with their music and lyrical content. There is a lot of work that they can do with the substance they have, and it is unfortunate that they fail to expand their abilities as artists.

The post The XX proves that they are more than your typical indie band appeared first on The Retriever.

James Van Der Zee, Shirley Chisholm, James Baldwin and Misty Copeland all have one thing in common: They are all iconic African Americans who have influenced and rewritten the course of history. 

Haven’t heard of them? Well, Director Hana Sharif is determined to illuminate a seemingly forgotten footprint scattered throughout history, showcasing the work of many different African American visionaries with her direction of Baltimore Center Stage’s, “The Ground on Which We Stand: An Exploration of Black Excellence.”

By teaming up with 100 youth from the Baltimore chapter of the Jack & Jill Foundation, a nonprofit committed to preparing young African Americans for leadership, Sharif hopes to create a “powerful moment of learning and sharing” and a “platform for [African American] youth” to highlight their ancestry and their excellence.

As a youth member of the Jack & Jill Foundation herself, Sharif has immense respect for the foundation’s mission of service and leadership and is excited to dive into work that she finds “incredibly meaningful.”

Featuring unique art, film and performances utilizing projection technology, “The Ground on Which We Stand” combines the work of African American intellectual icons with the voices of our nation’s future and in doing so, blurs the line between the past and the present.

Throughout rehearsals, Sharif has been astounded at how seamlessly the students shift from speaking as historical figures to speaking as themselves; it is often so well done that it is difficult to discern where one voice stops and the next begins. “The youth deliver [these works] in a way that is incredibly profound,” Sharif said. “They see themselves as part of the continuum.”   

“The Ground on Which We Stand” is an exploration in understanding the great depth of excellence in African American history. Sharif consistently challenges the youth involved to “dig deep internally” so that they can “articulate who they are and why they are.” There is no better time than the present to experience a stronger sense of self and to open a conversation about the rich African American history never taught in schools outside of the context of the Civil War.   

Sharif believes that these students will walk away from this experience with a better understanding of where they came from, equipped with the knowledge that they are part of the history that they celebrate.

By allowing the students to give agency to the historical texts and events, they simultaneously pay homage to their ancestors’ contributions to our country and become a part of these contributions as they write themselves into the historical narrative.

As Sharif said, “These children are going to change the world.”

“The Ground on Which We Stand: An Exploration of Black Excellence” will be a one-time-only performance at Baltimore Center Stage on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online and will benefit the Jack & Jill Foundation of America, Inc. and the Franklin Square Elementary and Middle schools.    

The post Baltimore Center Stage’s production explores Black excellence appeared first on The Retriever.

Isaiah 43:1-4 (NIV) - “But now, this is what the Lord says-he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.”

How do you react to a stubborn and antagonistic attitude? Do you immediately bend and let him/her win or do you fight back to have the last word? God’s response to a stiff-necked people who would not follow and obey Him was “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” God’s salvation in Jesus Christ is the last word. He did not deal with them according to what they deserved. Instead, mercy triumphed over judgment. In other words, God responded not like us, but according to who He is. We too are called “you are mine.” He gave His life in exchange for ours.

We will encounter trials, disappointments and maybe even tragedies as God summons us to persevere on this salvation journey with Him, but He promises “I will be with you” - and gives Himself to us. So let’s be willing to listen and take His promise to heart. May God not pass us by. May His eternal love come in greater power so many others may also hear Him calling, “you are mine.”

-CH

UMBC is one of the the nation’s top colleges “for students seeking a superb education with great career preparation and at an affordable price,” notes an announcement today by The Princeton Review.

The 2017 edition of Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck highlights universities across the United States that Princeton Review believes do a particularly good job of balancing excellent academics, affordability, and career services. Princeton Review bases its “top 200” designation on an analysis of more than 650 colleges across over 40 data points, covering everything from graduation rates to financial aid packages.

Princeton Review’s profile of UMBC highlights the university’s reputation as an academic powerhouse where “students take education seriously” and “it is cool to be smart.” The publication notes:

Undergraduates are enthusiastic about the “academic opportunities and scholarship programs available,” and say, “UMBC wants to see every student succeed—they provide you with the tools, people, and resources to make sure you get where you want to go in life.”

Specifically on the issue of value, Princeton Review writes, “Across the board, undergrads here brag that their school provides a ‘quality education at an affordable cost.'”

It also mentions UMBC’s robust, competitive scholars programs across a broad range of fields, including “cyber scholars, artist scholars, humanities scholars, public affairs scholars, women in technology scholars, STEM teacher education scholars and the Meyerhoff scholars,” which combine financial aid, research opportunities, special seminars, and other supports.

The Princeton Review profile also reaches beyond academics to touch on the student experience. The Colleges That Pay You Back guide notes:

…despite their dedication to hard work, UMBC students…say “that almost every student at UMBC is involved with at least a couple of extracurricular activities, which connect them to the campus.” The school has a strong reputation for diversity and students feel “it enriches our school and everyone gets to know everyone despite culture or ethnicity.”

UMBC has appeared on this “best value” list several times in the past, including in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016. Just a few weeks ago, UMBC was also again named a Best Value College for 2017 by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, featured on both its “top 100” public universities list and “top 300” national list.

Image: Flags in the UMBC Commons, by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

From cabinet members to secretaries, President Trump’s nominations are raising eyebrows. There have been questions about some of the nominees lacking the proper credentials for their respective positions. One of the most polarizing nominations is for the position of Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.

There are numerous reasons for why DeVos is not fit for the position. She does not hold a degree in education. She was never involved in public school systems. Although she is an advocate for education reform, her work is limited to campaign contributions for those who share her similar ideologies.

Public schooling seems to be an especially contentious debate topic that is stalling DeVos from being sworn in. She does not have personal nor work-related first-hand knowledge when it comes to both lower and higher public education.

There were several warning signs when DeVos was asked about matters relating to universities. She dodged questions concerning campus sexual assaults. This is a critical matter to focus, since one in every five women and one in every 16 men are sexually assaulted on campus during their time in school.

Erika Echols, a junior sociology major, stated, “I do not believe she has the proper qualifications when it comes to education … It seems she is very biased and only  looking to help charter and private school[s].”

The major worry students should have towards DeVos is not simply her relative inexperience in holding office and education positions, but the ignorance she displays towards the rapidly growing issue of student debt.

Growing up in and marrying into extreme wealth, neither she nor her family ever needed assistance. Her fortune is estimated into the billions. She is not familiar with the sometimes financially crippling student loans and the necessity of government assistance when pursing a degree.

Although personal wealth does not necessarily equate with an antagonistic view regarding student debt and government assistance, it was, however, clear in her hearing that she was uninformed about many aspects of the federal student loan program.

The federal student loan program requires trillions of dollars in federal aid. DeVos even admitted to never having any sort of experience running an agenda with such scope and intricacy as this program.

Her inadequacy for the position of Secretary of Education also comes from her lack of a starting point in education reform. DeVos has never worked her way up the relative “food chain” of educators. Instead, she has been catapulted into a nomination for our education system’s top position.

Some ideas held by DeVos are not all inherently faulty. For example, she wants to fund more charter schools, which have shown to improve the education of some students. However, her absence of any sort of training for the important job as the head of education is worrying.

The responsibilities of the Secretary of Education scale the entirety of the United States and affects nearly every family. Clearly, no thought has been put into the possible detrimental effects of appointing someone without the proper resume to such a chief government seat.

The post Say no to DeVos for Secretary of Educaton appeared first on The Retriever.