Student channels fascination into conducting seminar on Franz Liszt

Beniko Hirosawa-Bates and her son strolled along the cobblestone streets of Hungary, exploring the same roads that 19th-century pianist and composer Franz Liszt walked 150 years prior. The fourth-year music history student traveled through Budapest, Prague and Vienna in 2005 to be closer to her favorite historical figure. Hirosawa-Bates dreamed of visiting Liszt’s apartment since […]

The unfortunate truth behind the scarcity of punk rock music on campus

Cameron Sasmor adjusted the headphones in her ears and turned up the volume, blocking out the bustle of Bruin Walk with the guitar riff to Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ “Blank Generation.” Sasmor glanced up at the students passing by, wondering if she was alone in her love for punk music. “There’s a certain mentality […]

Love | Hate: Can ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ still pack a punch?

The unmistakable theme song to “The Powerpuff Girls” filled many homes from 1998 to 2005 as fans around the world tuned in to watch Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup fight crime and the forces of evil. A decade later, Cartoon Network has announced “The Powerpuff Girls” series reboot for 2016. Though some original voice actors have […]

Album Review: ‘Always Strive and Prosper’

A$AP Ferg has shed his “Fergivicious” demeanor and repented to the “Hood Pope” one in hopes of finding himself. A three-year period has dramatically transformed the life of A$AP Ferg, from achieving success for his 2013 album “Trap Lord,” to the tragic loss of close friend and A$AP Mob founder A$AP Yams in 2015. Ferg’s […]

Love | Hate: Is the resurgence of vinyl fueled by love for music or capitalism?

Record Store Day, celebrated Saturday, drew music fans from all over the country to their local record stores to promote vinyl records and cassette tapes. Collecting and listening to vinyl records has been a long-standing tradition for music fans and the cultural aesthetics have seen an increase in popularity over the last decade among younger […]

Love | Hate: Should superheroes keep flying off to save each other’s films?

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is the first of many superhero movies to be released in the inevitable summer explosion of blockbuster films. While anticipation and expectations were high, the film was received with mixed reviews. Hype continues to build around movies in which multiple superheroes team up; however, many fans question Hollywood’s ability […]

Love | Hate: Is eating brunch an ultimate dining experience or unnecessary event?

Birds are chirping and flowers are blooming as spring blossoms around UCLA. While the season brings about pastel colors and outdoor fun, spring also means the rise of brunching. Brunch seems to be the pinnacle of springtime dining, and its overwhelming presence has crept into the weekend mornings of students. Is brunch the ultimate dining […]