Arts & Culture

The Consortium for Women and Research and the Film Studies Department at UC Davis are presenting the fifth annual Feminist Film Festival, which will take place at 6 p.m. on Apr. 10 and 11 at the Veterans Memorial Theatre.

Finally, the much-anticipated album from Barenaked Ladies has arrived! It definitely provides a new sound - this is not the same Barenaked Ladies of a few years back. Although their style has evolved into something less eccentric, this album offers a much wider range in genre than any of their previous records.

Tracks from Michael Johnson's 2009 release, Ape School, were semi-recently remixed and put onto an a seven-track compilation unoriginally titled Remixes. The songs carry similar resonance as the original tracks, however twangs of electronic pop and hip-hop make are present throughout the EP. Though both "That's OK" and "Wail to God" were each remixed twice by different artists, they produce substantially differing sounds from one another.

Volume Two is a near perfect sequel to She & Him's adorable debut album, evoking the same sweetness in 13 pretty, vintage pop songs. With the exception of 2 covers, Volume Two is written by quirky film actress Zooey Deschanel and produced by singer-songwriter Matt Ward.

It seems that the popularization of Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion in early 2009 convinced many experimental electronic artists that aimlessly noodling around with noises, sounds and excessive reverb was an acceptable thing to do. This is not the case for Jonas Reinhardt's second Kranky release, Powers of Audition. The San Francisco-based quartet has a flair for integrating and accentuating hypnotic progressions and sinister overtones.

Art and marketing are entirely different fields, but when it comes to attaining a solid career, they're entirely inseparable. I don't really know anything about marketing, but it seems obvious what works and what doesn't when it comes to selling yourself through your work.

As the weather continues to heat up, Sophia's Thai Kitchen will be breaking the ice and resuming its annual outdoor music season. Starting with Nick Jaina on Apr. 8, Sophia's will host shows on their outdoor balcony and continue booking until mid-October.

With the same fervent passion for the art form of theatre and dance, Masters of Fine Arts graduating students Amy Louise Cole, Anne Reeder, Brett Duggan and James Marchbanks will enter one stage with four unique solo performance pieces in Solo Explorations. This week, MUSE previews the four performances.

Here are some characteristics essential to Roger Greenberg, played by Ben Stiller in Greenberg: He is cold, aloof and dispassionate toward change. He exemplifies the peculiar notions of a highly unlikable man whose only tool of comfort is his Chapstick.

UC Davis world music aficionados have reason to rejoice this spring. On Apr. 8, Senegalese singer Baaba Maal will embark on his first United States tour in four years, making a stop in Davis on Apr. 15. Tickets are on sale for the concert, to be held at 8 p.m. in the Mondavi Center's Jackson Hall.

While students were busy cramming for finals and ignoring the world outside of their heavy books and notes, the Richard L. Nelson Gallery was busy preparing the opening of three new exhibits.

A jester on a pig. Aerial views of rivers, grassy fields, countryside. The Davis Amtrak Station, depicted in brushstrokes. Wetlands. Step foot into Davis's Aioli Bodega tapas restaurant on 2nd Street, and an ambiance of refined dining, wining and scenic art awaits you. Aziz Bellarbi-Salah, waiter at Aioli Bodega and family member of the restaurant owners, said that the owners of Aioli have a good partnership with the John Natsoulas Gallery. As a result, they display many of the paintings from his art gallery collection.

MUSIC Student Chamber Ensembles Today, 12:05 p.m. and 4:10 pm, free Room 115, Music Building Head on over to the music building today at noon for a free concert by student chamber ensembles. For more information, visit music.ucdavis.edu. Happy Thursday: Black Cat Bone Today, 4:00 p.m., free Rominger West Winery, 4602 2nd St., Suite 4 If you love the blues and live music, you'll love the Black Cat Bone. This four-piece combo consists of a harmonica, bass, guitars and drums. All that music might make you hungry, so order a glass of wine and some appetizers while you're at it. Hefty Thigh: Fem Fest DJs and Bands Friday, 7 p.m., $5 general, all ages TCS Building (formerly the Art Annex) Come party and spread the fem-love with KDVS 90.3 FM and the Davis Feminist Film Festival 'til two in the morning! Enjoy performances from Inca Ore to A Sunny Day in Glasgow, along with some great DJs. Check out the KDVS Events Facebook page for more information about the bands.

When most people go to a garage sale or thrift store, they see practical items sold for bargain prices. But sculptor and UC Davis Master of Fine Arts Ron Baron looks at those castoff objects and sees a work of art. Today, artists, aspiring artists and fans of art alike are invited to attend a free lecture given by Baron as part of the Art Studio Lecture Series. The lecture will be held in the main room of the Technocultural Studies Building from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

In their debut, Montreal-based alt-rock group Chocolat produces a creative and alluring soundscape that integrates hints of folk, pop and blues into psychedelic garage rock. Singer Jimmy Hunt's Dylan-esque croon sails over feverish guitar riffs, strains of intricate bass lines and a frenzy of walloping drums. Chocolat EP is clearly indebted to many of Chocolat's influences, such as the Kinks, the Yardbirds, the Pretty Things and Jacques Dutronc. The content of the seven songs are centered around the rock 'n roll lifestyle - that is to say the songs are generally about sleeping with your best friend's girlfriend, funding a party with your girlfriend's paycheck, Johnny Depp, groupies and watching the one you love get fat.