Arts & Culture

Halcyon is defined as tranquil, peaceful and carefree. In this sense Halcyon Digest seems like it should be a musical volume that exudes calm. But despite its optimistic name, dark undertones ride many of the songs on Deerhunter's fourth album.

It doesn't matter whether you hate him or love him, no one can deny that Kanye West knows how to make a stellar record.

For a film whose cast includes legends such as Christina Aguilera and Cher, this soundtrack is, to be polite, underwhelming.

Ah, winter break. Time to spend half the day sleeping and the other half being slowly eaten by your couch in front of "Jersey Shore" reruns, right?

Alameda-based band Finish Ticket, whose bassist, Michael Hoye, is a first-year student at UC Davis, has made it to the final 10 out of 94 bands competing for the chance to open alternative rock station Live 105's "Not So Silent Night" concert extravaganza. The show will be held on Dec. 10 at San Jose's HP Pavilion.

You've seen the scene a million times before, but you always forget just how bad malls are during the necessary Christmas shopping period. The parking lots are full, the lines are long, kids are screaming as they wait to sit on Santa's lap.

Can you imagine deeply saturated images of atmospheric clouds and vast sonic landscapes inching closer? There's something about the works of Kronos Quartet and Icelandic band Sigur Rós that amplifies human emotion on an immeasurable scale.

When you hear the term "radio drama," your mind may stray to a 1940s block radio with old character voices streaming out of it. UC Davis has a much more visual and modern interpretation of that concept.

I had a cousin come in angry because he wasn't invited and he punched his dad.

One might think a demure Disney princess and gallant displays of male bravado would characterize Disney's new movie Tangled. But Tangled at once provides unexpected twists while breaking with traditional gender roles.

Two taxi rides in St. Petersburg, Russia, turned out to be the kryptonite that eliminated Michael and Kevin Wu from The Amazing Race 17.

Musicians, choreographers and dancers don't often take the stage at the same time. But in a new show called 6 Degrees, that's exactly what they'll do.

THIS WEEK IN DAVIS: Wayne Thiebaud in Conversation with Kenneth Baker; Myx Presents: Loaded; Ornette Coleman.

Kid Cudi produces a dark sophomoric album that not only doesn't satisfy fans, but also deeply confuses them. Man on the Moon II not only has very little to do with Man on the Moon I, but it also shows a whole different side of the emo rapper.

Rihanna is back and she's louder than ever.