Arts & Culture

This isn’t southern, bluesy jazz with melancholy saxophones and classic slow, swaying drumbeats. This is spontaneous, improvised, recreated and not really even jazz at all. So what can you expect when the band doesn’t even know what they’re about to play as they take the stage?

On a nearly annual basis, UC students face unexplained tuition increases and most are unsure of how the funds are used. The most recent decision to increase fees by 32 percent sparked significant controversy and complaints among students and faculty alike.

In many college towns, Davis included, Thursdays have developed a new moniker for those students without Friday classes: Thirsty Thursday. Tonight will give new definition to the term as Starting Six comes to Davis to perform their club banger “Thirsty,” among other songs.

MUSIC

Oh, how far our heroes have fallen. It is a sad age when one has to see a legendary folk-singer sink so low as to make an album of Christmas music. One must wonder how raspy voices and a mumbling Dylan can pull off singing songs of Christmas cheer and peace on earth.

Sacramento’s Life in 24 Frames are armed with swooning melodies and a slow-motion substratosphere that may leave you feeling, well, a little blazed. Their music is delicately woven through gentle lyricism and solid guitar moves that resemble kindred spirits Band of Horses and Explosions in the Sky. For instance, the track “You Always Were My Achilles Heel” is driven by a multidimensional wall of melancholic sound and wavering guitar lines.

In what is the opening of a nearing close, the University Chorus alongside the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra and soloists Yulia Van Doren and Jesse Blumberg will perform at the Mondavi Center on Friday at 8 p.m. The program will feature Vaughan Williams: Dona nobis pacem.

Like most series movies – think Harry Potter and Star Wars – the Twilight Saga will leave fans wanting more … but maybe no one else.

MUSIC

Imogen Heap, former member of British electronic-pop duo Frou Frou, again proves that her music has no counterpart in today’s music industry with her third album, Ellipse. Each song blends layer upon layer of rich vocals, percussion, synthesizers, orchestral instruments and more. Heap combines her breathy, dreamlike voice and poetic lyrics with melodies that are mellow yet incredibly complex, creating 13 tracks that are each completely unique.

Carrie Underwood’s new album, Play On, exceeds fans’ expectations with a full spectrum of songs. Although she stays true to her country roots, Underwood approaches country style with her own flair with some interesting new songs.

Neon Indian brings a new style of electro-pop music to the digital age with their debut album, Psychic Chasms. The band is the latest creation from Alan Palomo, who is also the mastermind behind the electronic project VEGA.