The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for music, movies and more
By ALYSSA CREVOISERAT — arts@theaggie.org
Album: “Who’s the Clown?” by Audrey Hobert (2025)
Addicting and charming, Audrey Hobert’s “Who’s the Clown?” is the ultimate debut album for the odd, off-putting and strange. Marked by a synthesizer, saxophone and staple guitar, Hobert evokes a strange sense of nostalgia and yearning in the album’s 12 tracks. “Who’s the Clown?” is my favorite album of the year, and Hobert’s witty stream of consciousness has become nothing short of an obsession.
The tracks’ composition is unique and compelling, and Hobert’s narrative-style lyricism has become a trademark of her songwriting. Songs like “Wet Hair” and “Sex and the City” take the listener down fictional paths that speak to feelings typical of a woman in her 20s — sparkly crown on her head and wine bottle in hand. Hobert’s references to pop culture and nods to a shared human experience make the album relatable and authentic. “Who’s the Clown?” encourages listeners to channel their inner weird girl, embrace eccentricity and accept awkwardness as an embarrassing yet endearing inevitability.
“Who’s the Clown?” is a 2000s coming-of-age movie that Hobert writes, directs and stars in, and its tracks are pop perfection for anyone looking for the catchy, witty and personally relatable. If you haven’t listened to the album or watched its equally compelling music videos, what better place to give it a try than a small college town?
Book: “The Scorched Throne” duology by Sara Hashem (2023-2025)
“The Scorched Throne” duology, consisting of “The Jasad Heir” and “The Jasad Crown,” is Sara Hashem’s Egyptian-inspired adult romantic fantasy series. My favorite fantasy reads of the year, this duology is the perfect blend of grounded worldbuilding, compelling characters and relationship dynamics that go beyond tropes and buzzwords. Unlike some of the other books that populate this genre, Hashem’s blend of cultural history and mythology, believable character arcs and commitment to rich, epic storytelling are a testament to her craft.
The series focuses on Sylvia, a fugitive who was once heir to the Jasad throne, who has taken up residence in a small village. With no intention of returning to Jasad and reclaiming the throne, her people — Jasadis, individuals who possess magical capabilities — have been demonized, hunted and killed in the decade following Jasad’s destruction. “The Jasad Heir” follows Sylvia as she is roped into a series of trials and rebellion schemes in order to free herself from persecution and a lifetime of hiding. Sylvia and Arin plague my mind, and unfortunately, I have cried in the car several times thinking of trips to a mist-covered bridge, sesame candies and a fig necklace.
Song: “Janie” by Ethel Cain (2025)
Ethel Cain’s newest album, “Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You,” is filled with haunting, melancholic tracks, and “Janie” is no different. Brimming with self-loathing, loneliness and mournful resignation, “Janie” denotes the unique sense of abandonment that comes from the change and growth of someone you love — “Please don’t leave me / I’ll always need more / Please leave open your most quiet door.” Cain’s delicate yet intense vocals wash over each of the track’s lyrics, and every second of the song’s five-minute run is lyrically beautiful.
In the track’s opening verse, the narrator’s desperation and torment is overwhelming, as she longs for something to leave a tangible mark — “Shoot me down / Come on, hurt me / I’m wide open and deserving” — rather than the slow decay of neglect and betrayal. Cain’s character considers herself inextricably tied to Janie, and with the death of their friendship comes the loss of Cain’s identity and purpose. With lyrics like, “I can see the end in the beginning of everything / and in it, you don’t want me,” Cain creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where what was once a possibility is now an inevitable loss. If you’re looking for a new song to accompany you on lonely nights, look no further than “Janie.”
TV Show: “The Paper” (2025)
This one goes out to the unique community that appreciates a sitcom and newspaper crossover — if you’re reading The California Aggie Culture Corner, that’s probably you. “The Paper,” a spinoff of “The Office” with the same documentary crew, follows a local newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. Part of a paper company that also specializes in toilet paper, the Toledo Truth-Teller consists of untrained reporters, borderline unethical practices and a newly hired Editor-in-Chief with a passion for journalism.
While the show is not quite on the same level as its predecessor, “The Paper” is not another victim of a spinoff cash grab. The characters are likeable and unique, and the show pays homage to the original without losing originality and charm. For those looking for a comforting, wholesome series: “The Paper” has already been renewed for a second season, and you can watch the first 10 episodes on Peacock now!
Written by: Alyssa Crevoiserat — arts@theaggie.org
