Merchandise malice

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Formerly published in The Other Press. Nov. 6 2012

Proper etiquette at the cash register

By Elliot Chan, Contributor

Nothing is stealthier than the month of November; every year it sneaks up and startles me. Now that it is here, that means Christmas and chaos are just around the corner. Breathe, keep calm; there is still time, but to avoid turning into a shopping mall monster, there are some lessons to learn. As a proud supporter of the “Customers are not always right” theory, I feel educated enough to teach it.

Inconsiderate people come in all shapes and sizes. But to members of the retail and customer service industry, everybody seems inconsiderate, and that’s something to keep in mind when approaching the queue. I know you’ve spent a long time at the mall, that you’re tired and frustrated from buying gifts, but the cashiers, clerks, and everyone else working have been there even longer. You chose to be at the mall—they didn’t. They were just victim to debts and the unfortunate holiday blackout schedules.

So how should you behave when the person behind the counter greets you with a friendly, yet composed smile? Smile back, of course. They aren’t the dirty squeegee guys that approach your car on the freeway exit. They are not attempting to waste your time by getting the price check or annoy you by asking if you are interested in their new promotion. They are just doing their job. Maybe not to perfection, but can you admit to never counting the hours until the end of a shift? So be a forgiving costumer, but more importantly, be a forgettable costumer.

You can learn a lot about someone by the way they handle their money. Having a good estimation of how much you have in your shopping cart before approaching the till can help you manage your wallet after the big lineup. There is a time and a place to pay with your loose change; the holiday season is not one of them. So if you’re paying more than five dollars by scattering nickels, dimes, and quarters onto the counter and expecting the cashier to count it all, you are inconsiderate. Admit it! And if you are buying anything less than 10 dollars by dropping a 100 dollar bill, well, don’t get angry when they hand you back a wad of fives. The ability to tell the difference between a bank and a store is important—recognize them before shopping.

Like bees in a hive or ants in their hills, we must all work together at a shopping mall. So please, control your children, walk at a steady pace—preferably on the right hand side—, and avoid loitering in front of entrances. Remembering these little tidbits might not make your shopping experience easier, but it’ll make everyone else’s.

Vancouver meets LA in first round

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Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 30 2012

Whitecaps make Major League history in sophomore year
By Elliot Chan, Contributor

The Vancouver Whitecaps will have a chance to do what their sibling professional athletic club could not. Yes, it was only seven months ago that the Vancouver Canucks, Presidents’ trophy-winning team got knocked out in the playoff’s in the first round by the LA Kings. LA went on to win the Stanley Cup, leaving a bitter taste to linger in sport fans’ palates. Well, redemption has resurrected in the form of the Whitecaps, because once again a Vancouver-based team will face a Los Angeles titan in the first round.

With that being said, I wouldn’t plan any parades yet. For many, the real championship was being the first Canadian team to ever reach MLS post-season. Everything now is bonus. After starting the 2012 season in terrific form and being touted as the most solid defensive team in the league, the Whitecaps stumbled down the stretch going 3-9-3 in their last 15 games. Vancouver’s far from stellar finish was highlighted by their potential playoff clinching game against Cascadian rival Portland Timbers on October 21. In front of the home crowd at BC Place, the Whitecaps didn’t simply choke, but required the Heimlich Maneuver to get them through the game. Losing 0–1 to a team more than 10 points beneath them was not a good sign. Fortunately, on the same night, the Seattle Sounders defeated FC Dallas in a 3–1 finish. That game mathematically knocked Dallas out of playoff contention and allowed the Whitecaps to be stretchered in.

It is the Caps’ first foray into MLS post-season and the LA Galaxy—last year’s championship team—are as experienced as it gets. In the three regular season games between both teams this year, the Galaxy won the series 2–0–1 and outscored the Whitecaps 7–2. With one game remaining in the season, LA could finish anywhere from six to 12 points ahead of Vancouver. There is no denying that the Whitecaps have a huge mountain to climb on November 1 at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles.

Moreover, playing away from home has not been a strength Vancouver can lean on. July 4 in Colorado marked their last win away from BC Place. Their eight game losing streak on the road can be a distant memory if they are able to defeat Real Salt Lake in the last regular season game on October 27. Doing so would go a long way in rebuilding confidence for an underdog team facing the bright lights. After all, stars don’t come any brighter than those of the LA Galaxy, such names as David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and Robbie Keane are as internationally recognized as it gets.

November 1 at 7:30 p.m. PST, Vancouver Whitecaps will face LA Galaxy in the Western Conference Knockout Round. If Vancouver manages to pull off an upset, they will remain in sunny California and face the San Jose Earthquakes on November 4.

Ghoulish garments

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Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 30 2012

Dressing for the Halloween spirits

By Elliot Chan, Contributor

Nightclubs, house parties, random neighbourhood cul-de-sacs: it doesn’t matter where you end up on Halloween night or the weekend prior. What matters is that you are dressed appropriately for the end of October ritual.

What is Halloween if not a chance to show all of your friends how clever you are? You’ve dug deep into the gallows of your imagination and scrounged up some abstract ideas. You tied them all together and examined yourself in the mirror. After nodding with approval, you headed off to the party and realized that most people don’t watch the same television shows, play the same video games, or even understand the same scientific concepts you do. So what ends up happening? Well, everyone you encounter that night will wholesomely ask you the same question: “What are you supposed to be?” You’ll look down at yourself, observe the obvious, and say, “Duh, I’m Kevin Kline’s character from Sophie’s Choice,” or “I’m the Prophet Skeram from World of Warcraft” or “I’m the concept of condensation.” I’m not telling you to dress like the cliché pirates, princesses, and cowboys. Thinking outside of the box is good, but remember you want to receive high-fives for recognition and not shunning looks of alienation.

Concerning the maniacs: as long as you are not physically injuring others, there is no such thing as an offensive costume. If you want to dress as a different race and/or gender, nobody will stop you. Explore, but consider ahead. Ask yourself, in a couple of years do you really want to remember that night you were cross-dressing? Your costume is a brief legacy; make sure you’re proud of it. We all wonder how we would look as Wonder Woman, but let’s not be hasty. You won’t offend me, but you might offend the person you become later on in life.

Concerning the femme fatales: for years now, girls have been using Halloween as an excuse to dress, shall we say, eccentrically, and that is why I enjoy Halloween more than Thanksgiving. But I will not let you get away with wearing a cat ear headband and a black low-cut dress and calling yourself a pretty kitty. Looking attractive is not a costume! It should be, I know, but it isn’t, so be creative. Also, don’t forget to bring a jacket; unless you’re going as Smurfette, you won’t look good with blue skin on the walk home.

As students, most of us are scrapping by, but it is not okay to rehash the previous year’s costume. Halloween is like New Year’s Eve: it’s about change, rejuvenation, and growth (or is that St. Patrick’s Day?). Costumes create a timeline for your life. To have the same costume every year is to have a repetitive, boring life that’s not worth remembering. So even if you throw something together last minute, it is still better than throwing on the same bed sheet and calling yourself a ghost for another year.

Despite the lack of statutory respect, Halloween is a holiday people remember. Dress accordingly so the memories don’t come back and haunt you.

The art of being alone

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Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 23 2012

There is no shame in solitude
By Elliot Chan, Contributor

After a grueling week of customer service and group projects, it’s healthy to want some alone time. Yet, to many people the idea of going out by themselves is pitiful. What could be worse than entering a restaurant and asking for a table for one? Society has made it taboo to enjoy solitary pleasures, but I find solace in knowing that nobody can alienate those already alone.

We live in a chaotic world where everyone is juggling responsibilities and relationships in one hand, and trying to hold their coffee in the other. People claim to know how to relax, but they’re often simply introducing another stressful activity. Don’t underestimate the strenuousness of hanging out with friends. It can be exhausting trying to gather everyone and diplomatically decide what to do. Enough of them—it is time to focus on yourself. Go on and ask yourself what you really want to do, and do it.

Time alone is not wasted time. In fact, occasional solitude is beneficial. For one thing, being alone allows your brain to function at a slower pace. In a group, a collection of minds can work as one to formulate solutions. Alone, your mind is simply allowed to drift from thought to thought, analyzing data at its own speed and arriving at personally desirable conclusions. This is a replenishing experience. I consider it the ground floor of being yourself. From there, you can understand your ideal mode of concentration and that is the staircase to self-discovery. Sorry to get all Zen on you guys, but it is a vital part of examining whether or not you are in fact a needy jerk.

Of course, I am not telling you to join a monastery and become a recluse. I’m also not telling you to cancel plans to take naps either. What I am saying is that it is okay to negotiate time with yourself, your co-workers, classmate, friends, family, and significant others. Solitude will improve your relationship with all those people, because any form of relationship is a reflection of yourself. So the better you recognize your own features, the clearer you can see those in others.

Being independent is a positive attribute. Some people consider it loneliness, but I consider it freedom. I am free to try that new restaurant, watch that old movie, or visit a town that I never knew existed. We don’t need to feel guilty or ashamed for going on adventures alone. We should feel privileged. So schedule some solitary time, because in a world of over seven billion people, it is the time alone that we should truly cherish.

Vampires, zombies, aliens, oh my! Why we love our classic monsters

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zomb

Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 23 2012

By Elliot Chan, Contributor

Mythology, folklore, and campfire stories have fuelled some of humanity’s most frightening monsters, but few of them have made an impact on pop culture the way vampires, zombies, and aliens have. Television, cinema, literature, and even public events are dedicated to these popular monsters. There is no killing our love for them. They will haunt us forever.

Monsters, like technology or any other form of entertainment, bridge the gap between generations. People live, age, and die, but our fears are immortal. Take a look at the vampire; is there a reason why contemporary culture still finds these castle-dwelling bloodsuckers relevant? Well, since the early 1800s, vampires have evolved from the caped Count who “vanted to suck your blood” to the Twilight series’ heartthrob we all know today. The vampires’ versatility is the reason they are so popular in entertainment. The fact that they not only transform into bats, but also take on human attributes makes them so dauntingly endearing.

While vampires are always different, zombies are always the same. So why do we have these undead obsessions? Hidden deep in our primal brain is the knowledge that one day, all will end. The plethora of apocalyptic possibilities is a rainstorm in our heads. We can shield ourselves from it, but we can’t stop it. Plagues and epidemics might seem like a concern for the dark ages, but even with our wealthy medical care we are not immune to diseases. With popular shows like The Walking Dead enforcing people’s fears and adding to the realism of such trying situations, there is no wonder that zombies are so frighteningly infamous.

We are not so different from the monsters we create—especially those that really make us cringe and shiver. Those that force their way into our lives are the ones that stem from a strong possibility of existing. All quality monsters are mysteries, and there is no bigger mystery than aliens. We can play ignorant and imagine a lonely universe, but to most people the idea of life beyond Earth is not only plausible but expected. With all our science and technology, the question is not whether or not there are aliens, but whether or not we will find them—before they find us.

It’s not an accident that certain monsters are more popular than others. Each one triggers a unique reaction in the human psyche. By analyzing these fictional fiends, we are able to dig deep into our instincts and understand the creative link between fear and fantasy.

Not ‘if’ but ‘when’

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Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 16 2012

British Columbia prepares for ‘the Big One’
By Elliot Chan, Contributor

Vancouverites sure are a whiny bunch. There’s never not something for us to complain about: it’s always raining, the traffic is bad, and it costs way too much to live here. We could go on and on, but it’s not until tragedy comes along that things are put into perspective.

For years now, citizens of the Pacific Northwest have been warned about “the Big One,” an impending catastrophic earthquake with no equal in recent history. Caused by the Cascadia subduction zone, an area off of the west coast where two tectonic plates meet. The movements of both plates force one beneath the other, causing tension to build up beneath the earth. When the tension is finally released, it will generate the most devastating of earthquakes, known as a megathrust.

There have been 15 megathrust earthquakes recorded in human history; the most recent being the 2011 9.0 magnitude in Japan. The Japanese were recognized for their earthquake preparations, but after watching their coastal towns get wiped away by tsunamis, we must turn the lens on ourselves and ask how properly equipped we are for a disaster of equal or greater proportion.

Give us 100 years and we still won’t be able to build an earthquake-resistant city. What we can do is apply our knowledge and preparation and create a system that will lessen the effects. Mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery are the four pillars of earthquake readiness.

The Shake Out

The first Great British Columbia Shake Out was held last year on January 26, in memory of the earthquake that struck BC on the same day in 1700. The Shake Out is a province-wide earthquake drill, where participants practice and demonstrate safety procedures. Possibly receiving publicity from the ominous nature attached to the year 2012, the Shake Out has enjoyed a surge in exposure for its second outing. The British Columbia Shake Out will take place on October 18 at 10:18 a.m. So wherever you are at this time, take a moment to test your reaction and comprehension of a safe earthquake protocol.

Douglas College is amongst the 18 post-secondary institutions participating in the drill this year. A committee of local, provincial, and federal governments, as well as private sectors and non-governmental organizations are responsible for organizing the Shake Out. This committee is in charge of spreading earthquake awareness to the apathetic masses. Although they are unable to predict when a damaging earthquake will strike, experts agree that there is a 1/3 chance of one hitting in the next 50 years, the same odds as contracting a heart disease (stroke, diabetes, etc.) So, along with eating healthy, getting plenty of sleep, and exercising, we must also be prepared for earthquakes.

Captain Brock Henson, the Emergency Program Officer of Saanich, informed The Other Press that on the 18th, over 100 different drills will be conducted by different organizations and first response agencies. Speaking on behalf of the fire departments, Henson stated that these earthquake procedures include getting the fire truck out of the hall, insuring that communications are running, and inspecting the building for safety and capability for operation. From there, many untraditional emergency drills will be conducted.

The Quake

The severity of earthquakes is one of the many things Vancouverites neglect, though I can’t blame them. We can’t necessarily live our lives anticipating disaster, but it’s reckless to be ignorant—especially after we’ve been given extensive warning.

Earthquakes are nature’s most violent fits. The best strategy is far from heroic: the drop, cover, and hang on for dear life method.

Common myths advise you to seek safety beneath a doorway or run outside. In the occurrence of a megathrust, however, these methods are regarded as unsafe. In many modern buildings, doorways are no more soundly structured than any other part, while it’s been proven that falling objects inside buildings more often injure people than the buildings themselves.

If you are in a room without any immediate shelter, do not flee. Instead, crouch down in the corner for stability and cover your head and face. If you happen to be outside, quickly find an open area without power lines or buildings. If you are driving, pull over and remain inside the vehicle. The key points to remember during an earthquake are: if you are inside, stay inside; if you are outside, stay outside; and avoid anything that may break or fall.

Cody-under-desk

The Aftermath

So you survived the upheaval, but the crisis is far from over. After the noise and quiver of the first shake, be ready for an aftershock that could occur anywhere from minutes to days after. Until then, follow the safety procedure and exit any building, assuming it is damaged. Any structure built before 2005’s strict earthquake code or ones that haven’t been subjected to seismic upgrades are seriously at risk of collapsing. Vancouver has over 8,000 buildings considered vulnerable, should a seismic attack hit.

Expect to be on your own without any emergency response for the next 72 hours after an earthquake. Electricity and telephone reception, both landline and cellular, will most likely be down. If communication has not been completely severed, Henson wants people to refrain from making phone calls. For those who need to communicate, sending text messages is the best means for contacting others.

Different areas of the Lower Mainland will suffer different consequences following the earthquake. Congested areas like downtown Vancouver will be isolated, as all bridges will be closed. Don’t consider driving or traveling far either, as the city will be one big construction site—what else is new though?

Although, the Lower Mainland is not a high-risk tsunami zone, coastal areas should still be avoided. All the while, Vancouver Island and Northern BC should take tsunami precautions. Waves have been known to hit land within minutes after the initial shock. The best way to prepare for such a crisis is to be knowledgeable about your surroundings. After an earthquake, experts estimate that citizens only have 10 minutes to get to higher ground, preferably 15 metres above sea level.

In the Lower Mainland, communities in Richmond, Delta, and the Fraser Valley built at sea level will be at the greatest risk. The soft, swampy foundation will cause flooding and soil liquefaction. Mitigation is the main defense; from there, the city can only hope that the structural standards and regular dike inspections are protection enough from the inevitable.

In all the scenarios, it is important to locate proper necessities, both medical and sustenance. No one should be complacent when it comes to survival gear. Take an afternoon and go stock up with a friend, a co-worker, or a family member. Preparation for an earthquake may seem tedious, but it is your responsibility to ensure as much as possible has been done to prepare. Miracles are not a reality, but earthquakes are. So don’t be surprised if tomorrow the globe stammers and whiny ol’ Vancouver is left speechless.

 

How are you, really? The complexities of small talk

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images

Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 16 2012

It’s not the size that matters

By Elliot Chan, Contributor

Small talk doesn’t need to happen, but it does. Often overwhelmed by the awkward silence between two people, small talk manifests itself in various occasions from waiting in line for coffee to mingling at a social gathering. Since it’s too strange to smile at someone and not say anything, we might as well try to perfect the skill. Properly conducted small talk will make a big impression, but there’s the possibility that negative repercussions will leave you looking like either an obnoxious rambler or a disregarding jerk.

While some of us have busy lives and are eager to get things done, others are lonely and starved for human contact. The key is being able to identify which is which. So before you ask someone how he or she is doing, ask yourself if you even care. A simple “Good morning,” or “Hello,” might sound drab and boring, but it’s a polite way of putting the conversation onus on the other person.

Some people prefer entering a conversation with “How are you doing today?” and most of the time it’s harmless, but every so often you’ll find someone who just isn’t doing well and wants to vent. Sure, you might’ve helped that person relieve some stress, but they also murdered a chunk of your day. Is it worth it? If you don’t want to know how someone’s weekend was, don’t ask. If you don’t really care how their family is doing, don’t inquire about them. To avoid exiting a conversation early and leaving the person feeling rejected, it is important to understand what you want out of the small talk.

There’s nothing wrong with the classics. Talking about the weather has become a cliché or a bad habit, but why should it be that way? Why can’t we just embrace the topic? After all, despite all the science in the 21st century, weather is still an uncontrollable factor in our lives. It’s fascinating! Shouldn’t we talk about that? And since so few of us are ever correct about it, shouldn’t we take in everybody’s opinion? If even the professionals can’t get it right, then it seems like a very harmless conversation to have

Well-constructed small talk can be a very enjoyable experience. It doesn’t need to have a compelling anecdote or a passionate rant; it only needs to be mutual.

The No Hockey League

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Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 16 2012

NHL players keep busy during lockout
By Elliot Chan, Contributor

There was a moment in early September when the sun was shining, the school year was full of optimism, and hockey was the furthest thing from my mind. Now, as the days are getting shorter and the NHL lockout continues on, the absence of hockey can no longer be ignored. Desperate to find my fix, I resorted to the Internet and found a sketchy website *shiver in shameful disgust* streaming European hoc

Photo by AP Photo/Petr David Josek.

key. Over a hundred NHL players have crossed the frozen pond, abandoned the Players’ Association, and found themselves dressed as billboards with skates.

At a glance, it seems as though the European leagues are the main benefactors of the lockout. After all, they did fetch such top players as Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Claude Giroux, Rick Nash, Jamie Benn, and most recently Tyler Seguin. But delving deeper and looking at some stats, it is strange seeing so few recognizable players on the top of the scoring list. It seems as though NHL players are taking a paid vacation overseas and occasionally fitting some hockey games into their schedule. Some consider the motive to play abroad as disrespectful; one of those was long time CBC sports commentator, Don Cherry, who claimed on Twitter that it is understandable for Europeans to go play in their homeland, but millionaires should not go abroad and take jobs from players trying to make a living.

Not all players jumped the fence. Those that stayed found comfort on Twitter. Pictures and tweets began surfacing of players exploring new hobbies and vocations. Others simply showcased their neglected hockey gear. It’s clear that some players are dealing with the lockout better than others, but nobody wants the season to commence more than Pittsburgh Penguin’s captain, Sidney Crosby. After suffering a concussion injury in 2010, Crosby has missed 101 regular season games. Considered the best player in the league at the time of his injury, most hockey fans anticipate him to be back in full form. Needless to say, the lockout is just another unlucky addition to Crosby’s fortunate career. Because of that very reason, many expect Crosby to really mull over the decision to play overseas, despite polar opinions from management and fans. Should the resolution of the lockout eat away the 2012-2013 season, expect to see more great players taking roles on foreign teams.

As days fall off the calendar and negotiations on the collective bargaining agreement continues, the season opener has been pushed back to October 25, best-case scenario. Worst-case scenario is that I might have time to spend with my family, to finish my homework, and to pick up extra shifts at work. Yikes!

‘Traffic’ detours through Vancouver

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Joyce Wieland executing O Canada (1970). Photo Credit: Bob Rogers

Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 10 2012

By Elliot Chan, Contributor

The first two floors of the Vancouver Art Gallery are currently closed due to renovation, but up on the third we find the metaphorical construction of an art form. An ambient of drills and saws could be heard as the escalator took me up to their latest exhibit. An uneasy sensation passed through me; I’d arrived in a cold artificial world. This well-traveled exhibit garnered its name from the concept of everyday human transition: Traffic. There couldn’t be a more suitable name to portray conceptual art, a form that took us down an eerie route of change, arriving at an evolved form of life with mass media and mechanics.

Various Montreal intersections were captured in grey-scale photographs, a work by Françoise Sullivan showed the physical form of a city morphing with the culture. Along the way, we saw more photographs, not only of landmarks, but also of people and household furniture. A piece by Suzy Lake called “Snapshots of real life conversation” showed multiple shots of a young woman, each picture displaying a different expression, seven of which are mysteriously circled by a thick felt marker. In “La Table Ronde” by Robert Fones, a circular table was photographed over the course of a month, presenting the accumulation and depletion of clutter.

The use of language plays a significant part in conceptual art as well, and is of course expressed throughout the exhibit.

Further down another corridor, we found a repetition of a sentence written out in cursive. The statement, made by artist Brian Dyson, said “I will not make any more boring art,” with the word “boring” crossed out with an “X.” Another artist, John Baldessari created the same piece, but chose to leave the word “boring” uncrossed.

Upon a white wall and within a painted acrylic square was the bold phrase “Get Hold of This Space.” The minimal piece by Gordon Lebredt was no Matisse, but it was a well-organized conceptual idea, which allowed it to take liberty of a wall better suited for a picture of a beach.

Television monitors were scattered all around the exhibit as well. In one piece called “Internal Pornography” by Lisa Steele, three televisions were set up beside each other, each showing a different channel. One channel showed a concerned a woman lying in bed, pensively discussing subconscious thoughts; another displayed the lower region of a nude woman drawing and cleaning an illustration of her inner female organs on and off her skin.

Although some pieces were disturbing and no doubt controversial, others simply suggested introspectiveness.

A black and white photograph by Garry Neill Kennedy entitled “School Photo”showed a bleak looking fourth grade class from 1972. The caption beneath it read “This piece is related to my involvement of attempting to remember all the people I’ve ever known. I was transfixed by the idea and wondered if such a task could ever be accomplished.“

Conceptual art stems from ideas, rather than actual products, and are then created and displayed. The “idea” per se is inside the paintbrush, the camera lens, and the sculptor. When looking at a piece, one must see beyond it and ask the question of “why?” instead of the question of “how?”—or “what?” for that matter. It is the artist’s concept and not their intention; the result is as unpredictable as traffic itself.

The exhibit, Traffic: Conceptual Art in Canada from 1965-1980 will be on display at the Vancouver Art Gallery until January 20, 2013.  In addition, At the Intersection of Painting and Photography by Ian Wallace will arrive at the end of October.

What: Traffic: Conceptual Art in Canada from 1965-1980

Where: The Vancouver Art Gallery

When: Now until January 20, 2013

Guitar’s golden girl ‘Glows’

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Arts_Glow

Formerly published in The Other Press. Oct. 10 2012

Kaki King’s new album
By Elliot Chan, Contributor

4/5

Considered by many as one of the best guitarists in the world, Kaki King confirms it with her sixth full-length album, Glow. Katherine Elizabeth King, a.k.a. Kaki King, returns to her roots with an instrumental collection that will be available on October 9. Displaying all her imaginative musical talent, Glow has the potency to transport listeners to other parts of the world, proving that even without lyrics, music remains a universal language.

With assistance from ETHEL, a string quartet based out of New York, Kaki King achieves a dynamic range, where one song can have a distinct feel of the Orient (“Bowen Island”) and another have a rich Irish sound (“King Pizel”). Some songs soundtrack the cacophonies of urban hustle and grind, while others evoke a tranquil imagery of somewhere far, far away. Very few artists are able to create settings the way King does.

In contrast to her 2010 album Junior, Glow lacks King’s vividly haunting vocals. Although her classical acoustic ability remains stunning, it is a shame that she did not contribute some of her poetic styling into her new works.

That is not to say she’s simplified her music though; on the contrary. Glow’s content is far more complex than any verse-and-chorus song around. But I am a sucker for lyrics; the added dimension of words is usually what makes a song memorable. Nevertheless, the album is King in her element; there is nothing she can’t do with six strings.

If busy students need a reason to explore new music, consider Glow to be a studying companion.

Kaki King will also be performing at the Rio Theatre next Tuesday, October 16. Tickets are only $20 at the door!