Mythic Art: Sovereign of the Clouds of Dawn

Ming Dynasty
Sovereign of the Clouds at Dawn, Ming Dynasty
Mythic Art
By MISSY ROSENTHAL 

Sovereign of the Clouds was created and commissioned for the last group of the Chinese dynastic cycle, the Ming dynasty. The piece tells the story of the Saintly Mother or the story of the Sovereign of the Clouds of Dawn, which came to existence fairly late in Chinese history, early Ming era. The Saintly Mother of the Shandong province and many come to worship her on the east peak of the Five Sacred Peaks. The Saintly Mother's father, the g-d of Mount Tai, controls the gateway to death. Contrarily, the Saintly Mother exhibits compassion in relation to life such as childbirth. The Saintly Mother's bright aura and her father's dark aura are essential to the balance of life. The relationship illustrated by these two deities are what originate the Taoist principle of yin yang, where without two opposing forces a balanced society would cease to exist. 

Sovereign of the Clouds depicts the Saintly Mother in her celestial court. The Mother is shown with birds on her headdress showing her support of all life. The intricate patterns and decadent clothing illustrate Ming culture. Red in Chinese culture symbolizes luck and prosperity, which the Saintly Mother expresses in her garments. Cultures from all over the world contain myths that still play an active role in society. The principle of yin yang was applied to Chinese culture as a result of this myth and remains a quintessential marker of Chinese culture. For this reason Sovereign of the Clouds should be classified as Mythic Art. 
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Mythic Art: Calumny of Apelles

Calumny of Apelles
Sandro Botticelli, Calumny of Apelles, 1497
Mythic Art

By MISSY ROSENTHAL 

Calumny of Apelles depicts a dramatic court case where the physical manifestation of Slander or Calumny (illustrated in brown with a decadent golden staff) with the help of his assistants drag an innocent man to the King. Each figure in the piece represents a different emotion or action, for instance, those who assist Slander are Fraud and Conspiracy. One of the attendants attempts to break apart the bond (exemplified by the physical bond of the characters through their hair) of Slander, Fraud and Conspiracy. The woman in the black cloak (Repentance) mourns for the young man's salvation while staring at Truth. Envy dressed in green and Ignorance dressed in red surround King Midas and whisper into his ear. 

Botticelli created this work based off of the painting completed by Apelles. Apelles', a renowned artist of the Hellenistic period of Alexander the Great, work did not survive. However, Lucian of Samosata who was a writer and commentator of the time period, recorded the details of the piece and the story itself. Although, the contents of the story are myth, Apelles himself was wrongfully accused of assisting Theodutus of Aetolia in revolting in Tyre. Shortly before Apelles was sent to execution, Apelles' friend revealed the truth and his accuser was sold into slavery. 

The Renaissance in Italy sought to revive the old cultures of Greece and Rome. Renaissance Italy was fascinated by the story of the myth and Apelles' actual story. A Florentine banker commissioned Botticelli to paint this work in the Papal Mint. The piece contains decadent sculpture and gold throughout the palace, a reference to the famous fable about King Midas, in which everything he touches subsequently turns to gold. Botticelli's Calumny of Apelles discusses bias in the legal justice system, prejudice in Roman and contemporary society and importance of art in lives of the ruling class. For these reasons, Calumny of Apelles serves a representative piece of mythology in art. 

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The Schizophrenic Van Dycks

Anthony Van Dyck
 

By EMMA SHAPIRO

The "Schizophrenic Van Dycks" made their debut in 1690 with this album. Their works follow a Flemish folk style, mainly consisting of instrumental tunes, and popularly featuring harpsichords, lutes, viols, and cellos. Like their namesake, Anthony Van Dyck's, transformation of classic stiff British painting into fluid artworks, the "Schizophrenic Van Dycks" wanted to abandon stuffy ornamental baroque music.

 They invented a genre that allowed people to think about their different selves. Their music promotes a withdrawal from reality into a state of delusion. The cover choice reflects this theme of self reflection and confusion. After discovering this album within Rubens and Rubenesque I have done a fair amount of listening and thinking. I felt particularly connected to their song "Sir stole my goatee," as I believe society lacks creativity in the realm of new styles, and many times people seem to evolve into copies of each other. I wonder whether the cover intends to tell people to look at the different people they are in various mindsets, or if the Van Dyke's also noticed a sameness in Baroque culture. 

Editor's Note: Students happened upon a cache of hidden records with cover art from the Baroque masters. They were charged to investigate the vinyls. The above are their findings. 


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Useless Lamentations and Rose-Colored Men

Rembrandt





By MEGAN GANNON

Useless Lamentations and Rose Colored Men 
The Counterproductive Resurrection 



Excerpt from back of the Album: 
In their first ever duo album, Useless Lamentations and Rose Colored Men have teamed up to bring you The Counterproductive Resurrection, an album bred in gospel tunes and head banging tracks. Stevie Urban and Francis Barefoot, the lead singers of the bands, describe their album as the heart and soul of nothingness, describing how no matter hard you try all of our actions in the end up being counterproductive...hence the album title. They explore their counterproductiveness through the rough tones and soft melodies of handcrafted banjos.

Rembrandt's The Abduction of Ganymede, struck the band’s fancy due to its dark undertones yet surprisingly optimistic outlook with the hawk’s successful capture. The bands see the child as a representation of humanity, and view themselves as the hawk, charged with drawing the voice from the screaming child. Useless Lamentations has opted to not take profits from the album’s launch, only wishing that listeners give them their soul instead. They mean this in the sense that fans send in a piece of hair, so the band can use it for their costumes for their upcoming world tour. In their final note about the album, both bands reiterate the importance of title, saying “Do not, do nothing, and let the hawk come down upon and carry you screaming soul away." 


Editor's Note: Students happened upon a cache of hidden records with cover art from the Baroque masters. They were charged to investigate the vinyls. The above are their findings. 
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Saturn and Sons

Rubens
       
By Bhux

Saturn and Sons
Midnight Delight

Saturn and Sons has finally released their must anticipated album, Midnight Delight. This death metal band is no stranger to controversy after their previous album, Screaming Babes, landed them in hot water. Fans and critics alike have been quick to praise Midnight Delight.

I met lead singer, Titan Cronus, for an interview to discuss his inspiration for his album. During the short interview, he described the impact of recently having a son with his wife. After his birth, he described his feelings, “It was such an emotional time for me. I just felt so much competition after the birth of my son, he could be a better musician than me. I wanted to make music to reflect this fear in me. Imagine what it’d be like to be a god of your art and a little jerk comes around and threatens that!” 

The other band-members were unavailable to interview, as per Titan’s insistence. The mysterious veil that surrounds this band continues to fascinate fans with Midnight Delight. Little is known about the band, and their notorious screechy screaming and distorted but impact lyrics only adds to their mysterious complexity. Recent press surrounding the controversy of their new album has shed little light on the band. Saturn and Sons is currently under fire and face a potential lawsuit for allegedly violating copyright law. Psychedelic rock legend known only as Goya, has claimed that Saturn and Sons stole his original album cover art for his album, Saturn Devouring his Son. When asked about the recent accusations, Titan, of Saturn and Sons, claimed original ownership of the album cover’s subject. In our interview he explained, “Yeah I can’t believe Goya is trying to rip off my work. I made this from my heart. The birth of my son inspired me to create the cover, how could Goya feel anything like that? He doesn’t even have a son! My album is raw, from the heart. It’s flesh ripping good.”

Editor's Note: Students happened upon a cache of hidden records with cover art from the Baroque masters. They were charged to investigate the vinyls. The above are their findings. 
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Girl Sense

Nayoung Kwon


By NAYOUNG KWON
Girl Sense  
Motorcycle 

Oohyo, a Korean indie musician has brought candy like music to the listeners. Although she is not well known like the others, it's easy to fall in love with her unique flat and high toned voice. The album Girl Sense by Oohyo gives calm and indie vibe to anyone who listens to it. With her soft voice she harmonizes it with techno to give a bit of Jazzy feeling. Some of her other songs can bring out tears because she sing with 100% emotion which I like that about her... In her album she sings mostly about becoming an adult and the past she brought with her to this day. 10/10 would recommend. 

Editor's Note: Students happened upon a cache of hidden records with cover art from the Baroque masters. They were charged to investigate the vinyls. The above are their findings. 
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THESE WOMEN B CRAAAZy

Judith and the Head of Holofernes

By SAI GONDI

THESE WOMEN B CRAAAZy.
Rube the Dude 

 Tracklist:

1. Who needs relationships when you have cereal (3:28)

2. Single only plannin' to mingle (2:30)

3. Netflix and kill (feat. The RemBRATS) (3:03)

4. WhyD she slash my tires (1:27)

5. I WANT MY HOODIEZ BACK (feat. Snoop Dogg) (4:22)

6. New PHoNE WHo DIS (3:12)

7. make up YOUR D*M* mind where to eat (1:13:45)

8. shes still worth it (0:04)

Bonus Track: nvm track 8 iz wrong she CRAZŸ (12:42)

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩

BOOM. Notorious rapper and R&B vocalist Rube the Dude, originally named Ver Meersux, revives his otherwise lackluster career with his latest album THESE WOMEN B CRAAAZy. The concise yet absurdly long album, credited to Track 7, narrates the extremely unstable relationship of Rube the Dude. The masterful storytelling, skilled lyricism, and poetic flow rivals some the likes of today's leading artists such as Jermaine Cole and Drake. In an TMZ interview, Rube states his girlfriend, Carrie Vaggio, does not mind the album. Since his breakthrough success, the young artist has entered the world of art collecting. His fascination with art might explain his choice to use a classic painting as his album cover. Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Peter Paul Rubens encapsulates the essence of the album, according to Rube, who chose his stage name based of his favorite painter Rubens. The rising star believes the story of attraction and betrayal between Judith and Holofernes highlights some of his tracks, such as Tracks 1 and 4. Highly recommend this album for those who desire a mix between storytelling rap and soul piercing vocals. Not to mention two fantastic features who help spice up this already blazin' hot track list. Now plug in those headphones and hope your brain doesn't melt of Rube the Dude's sheer musical genius.

This review was written and sponsored by Rube the Dude.

Editor's Note: Students happened upon a cache of hidden records with cover art from the Baroque masters. They were charged to investigate the vinyls. The above are their findings. 

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Dead Man Walking and the Etched Cherubs

Ellie Schneider

By ELLIE SCHNEIDER

Dead Man Walking and the Etched Cherubs
Chimney Smoke

Dead Man Walking and the Etched Cherubs were your average garage-band, literally.. for they played in the garage of the lead singer’s house until they were discovered by Mr. Rembrandt at the Renaissance Man Talent Agency. The group comprised of three young men at the ripe age of 24 who have been playing music together after meeting in Sunday school at the neighborhood church. When Mr. Rembrandt suggested changing the band name to something else, the band refused to abandon the name that reminded them of their founding. Chimney Smoke was their debut album, containing songs named after the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The album name was inspired by the house on their street that burned down while they were practicing in the garage. Lead singer, Josiah Marks, said, “We think G-d was speaking to us, like he did with the burning bush to Moses. That was the night I knew selling my car to purchase an authentic lute from biblical times was going to be worth it.” Dead Man Walking and the Etched Cherubs have gained popularity among church youth groups and will be touring on college campuses starting next fall.


Editor's Note: Students happened upon a cache of hidden records with cover art from the Baroque masters. They were charged to investigate the vinyls. The above are their findings. 
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Lovestruck and Livestock, Thisbe

Ethan Doskey

By ETHAN DOSKEY

Lovestruck and Livestock
Thisbe (Deluxe Edition)

In the front cover of this album lay several scattered sheets of notebook paper covered with sloppy handwriting. These words transcribed an interview with Bean Handerson, the lead band member of Lovestruck and Livestock.

"Bean, what caused you to temporarily leave Deathro Dull to for Lovestruck and Livestock?"

"Well chap, I felt like letting go, you know? I feel like as a society we a too clingy and feel like we have an umbilical cord connecting us with these false desires and 'needs' as if we're grown babies swimming in this pool of helplessness, to put it frankly."

"You are a renown self-taught oboe player and you used to make masterful solos back with Dethro Dull; I don't remember hearing any of that in Thisbe.

"Actually, it is still there, but we decided to record them from across the pasture in France where the recording studio."

"So that explains this thirty seconds of seemingly silent audio in 'Automotive Gasp'..."

"Exacto-runey, I wanted to fabricate this sense of confusion and intrigue in the piece."

"And why did you chose Rembrandt's Slaughtered Ox as the album cover?"

"Well, you know... *unintelligible*.... and I think it really speaks to our music, you know? And the woman in the background is like this mystifying being who is casting a spell of the viewer and... *unintelligible*... you know? *unintelligible*... so that's why we decided on the name Thisbe."

Editor's Note: Students happened upon a cache of hidden records with cover art from the Baroque masters. They were charged to investigate the vinyls. The above are their findings. 
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The Bulky Babes

Libby Rohr
Two Satyrs, Peter Paul Rubens, 1619
By LIBBY ROHR

The Bulky Babes
Myths and Monsters

Busting into the indie rock scene with their first hit album Myths & Monsters, this up-and-coming trio heads draws on older ideas and stories while incorporating the steady roller coaster of emotional expression and the juxtaposition of light and dark content you find in some of our more contemporary music.  Petal, Pauline, and Ruby, the founding members of this group, say the band came into being one day in late June while these music major friends were in Germany for the summer. One day while wandering the winding streets of the small village of Siegen, the girls bonded over a mutual desire to see a shift in the music world from the more grandiose and poised nature of the previous era to one that recognizes the same dramatic elements in a more realistic way. From this craving, they began to make music that brings classic images to life in the human world. Now, three years later, they're poised to top the list of next year's "Artists to Look Out For."

These imaginative (and busy) ladies often address issues of body image in their deeply sensual music. Sometimes they take a more individual look at humanity, while other times they bring to life stories we all know by heart, centering around the noble sacrifice, love, and devotion. Their smooth rhythmic beats seem to rock you in circles while more striking moments pop out here and there. Lyrically, their words seem to capture a vibrant image of life without ignoring the darkness in the background of it. They have a way of making their audience feel the conflict they're expressing while maintaining a focus on the emotion of it all.

When interviewed about their process, the girls took a humble stance, best summed up by Ruby's comment, "We're just simple women standing alone with our instruments, asking God for inspiration." To which, Pauline added, "Every child has the spirit of creation. The rubbish of life often exterminates that spirit. We're just looking to get back to that." The girls expressed a fondness for their fans and supporters as well as their countless mentors and heroes from which they take such inspiration. By the end of our little chat, they'd convinced me that their popularity is best attributed to a recognition of their own passion for the work as well as their focused transformation of archetype stories into relatable yet lively tunes. Whether or not that's something you believe, there is no doubt that they're a talented trio.

This album has kicked off a long European tour that will end in Antwerp the last week of May. Check out their music on iTunes, SoundCloud, and Spotify. @TheBulkyBabes

Editor's Note: Students happened upon a cache of hidden records with cover art from the Baroque masters. They were charged to investigate the vinyls. The above are their findings. 

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