The CUI staff takes on Arcade Fire in this week’s Project Playlist.
-By Annie Melton

The post Playlist Project: Exploring Arcade Fire appeared first on CU Independent.

The controversial, Palme d’Or-winning film arrives in select theaters on Friday.
By Annie Melton

The post Movie review: Blue is the Warmest Color appeared first on CU Independent.

Every three months there’s a massive influx of seasonal playlists — stereotypically, the idea is happy, upbeat and hip-hoppy for summer and calm, moody and intense for winter. Spring and fall fit somewhere in between: less brooding than winter and not as dance-y as summer.

What qualifies music to be “seasonal”? There are certainly different environments and circumstances to every season, especially for students who find themselves weighed down by the stresses of midterms and finals for one part of the year and free of any academic responsibility for another.

At this point in the fall, we’re sandwiched between midterms and the biggest party holiday of the semester. Finals aren’t too far off, but we’re still enjoying the last spurts of warm weather. Where summer and winter (and the music that defines them) seem to be absolutes, fall is transitional, and so is this playlist. Appreciate the sunny, warm days, and buckle down for the snowfall.

Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Annie Melton at anne.melton@colorado.edu.edu

While the Playlist Project will usually be focused on the Boulder and Denver areas, we’re headed down south this week, bringing you some of the best music that’s on display right now in the live music capital of the world—Austin, Texas.

This is the 11^th year of the Austin City Limits festival, and what’s usually one weekend in scenic Zilker Park has turned into two this year to accommodate the massive crowds. ACL is a perfect microcosm of its city, one of the more music-savvy places in the country and the stomping grounds of some true legends.

Check out the full festival lineup, complete with bios and songs, here.

Past Playlists

Week 1: An Introduction

Week 2: Boulder/Denver Artists

Week 3: September Debut Albums

Week 4: Upcoming Boulder/Denver Concerts

Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Annie Melton at Anne.melton@colorado.edu.

At a typical college party, the music is thumping, the bodies are grinding and Molly Enright is uncomfortable.

It’s obvious what the objective is. The room is full with the inevitability that lot of people here will be going home with someone.

Sex isn’t on everyone’s mind, though. It isn’t on Molly’s.

The GLBTQ Resource Center located in the Center for Community. (Matt Sisneros/CU Independent)

Molly identifies as asexual, meaning she doesn’t experience sexual attraction.

“In middle school, I had something like a crush,” she said. “But it was more of a friendship crush. In high school, people would be dating, and I thought it was stupid. I thought, what’s wrong with me? I’m not like other people.”

When she came across the term and definition of asexuality on the Internet, it clicked. Now a 22-year-old senior film studies major at CU, Molly is one of the founding members of Ahooray! (Aromantic/Asexual Student Society), a student group within the university’s GLBTQ Resource Center.

For the group’s other leader, 21-year-old senior psychology major Zach Powell, embracing his identity began with finding a pin. It belonged to his friend and was emblazoned with the asexual pride flag — four horizontal lines, black, gray, white and purple. It made a lasting impression.

Watching the documentary “(A)sexual” in February was his final confirmation. “It started to sound like how I was feeling,” he said.

For Zach, sex is “like washing the dishes.”

“It’s a whole lot of work for nothing,” he said. “Hugging, cuddling, kissing — that’s what feels good and genuine.”

College life is sex-saturated, but Molly and Zach don’t relate. That’s not the type of connection they’re looking for, they say.

Being asexual is an orientation, another spot on the vast spectrum of human sexuality. Some asexuals are romantically attracted to other people and others, aromantics, are not. Some identify as queer, some bi, some straight. Some avoid labels altogether.

“There is considerable diversity among the asexual community. Each asexual person experiences things like relationships, attraction and arousal somewhat differently,” the website for the international Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) says.

Molly and Zach represent some of that diversity. Both have had relationships and neither is celibate. Molly has only dated men but is hesitant to identify as straight, and Zach identifies as queer.

The study of asexuality, and resource centers, websites and the asexual pride movement are all relatively young. Zach considers it a “fringe” identity. AVEN, a powerhouse within the community, is only 12 years old, and most of the scientific research conducted to define and understand asexuality is post-millennial.

While other sexual orientations are backed by countless organizations with goals of social progress, asexuals find themselves lacking in support by comparison. As a result, neither Molly nor Zach are out to their parents, and only a handful of their friends know. They haven’t even come out to past partners.

“I mean, sex is the most normal part of humanity, right?” Molly said. “But it’s not enjoyable to us. We’re outliers.”

A 2006 study on asexuality by the Kinsey Institute acknowledges that sexual attraction and experience is considered standard behavior, noting “an assumption that some level of sexual desire is normative.”

College is often considered to offer the ideal environment and age range for sexual exploration. Approximately 60 percent of the national college student population engages in sexual activity at least once a week, according to a 2013 study by the University of Portland.

It seems as though what Zach and Molly want in a partner — friendship and emotional connection — doesn’t come as easily as plain old sex. Both admit that their lack of libido makes it harder to date.

“You still always hope that you’ll meet someone at a party, but it’s just difficult because most people are looking for sex,” Zach said. “There really are a lot of people who just want to have sex and then go about their daily life.”

“Sex doesn’t always mean love, obviously,” Molly said. “But people think love means sex.”

As alienated as they sometimes feel amongst the majority of their peers, they don’t feel like they’re missing anything by not having casual sex.

“The hookup culture just seems so dramatic,” Molly said.

“It doesn’t seem like people have very positive experiences,” Zach said.

Their goal with Ahooray! is to offer students on campus a safe space to discuss sexuality and past experiences. There are five members, including Molly and Zach.

“I’ve had insecurities about [being asexual], but I’m staying positive. I don’t think I’m doomed,” Zach said. “It’s just another part of establishing boundaries and expectations. It’s compromise. There’s give and take in every relationship.”

Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Annie Melton at Anne.melton@colorado.edu.

Between Boulder’s college town identity and Denver’s status as one of the major American cities, there are a lot of great opportunities for live music. You can catch a concert almost any day of the week, from enormously popular artists touring in arenas to smaller, more intimate settings.

Below is a list of some upcoming concerts in the area, followed by a playlist showcasing the artists.

Sept. 28: Big Gigantic at Red Rocks

Oct. 4: Papadosio at the Ogden

Oct. 7: KT Tunstall at Boulder Theater

Oct. 11: Gary Clark, Jr. at the Ogden

Oct. 13: Ani Difranco at Boulder Theater

Oct. 15: The Joy Formidable at 1st Bank

Oct. 16: Surfer Blood at Larimer Lounge

Oct. 18: Portugal. The Man at Boulder Theater

Oct. 21: St Lucia at the Ogden

Oct. 22: Earl Sweatshirt at the Fox

Oct. 22: Disclosure at Boulder Theater

Oct. 23: City and Colour at the Ogden

Oct. 26: Tame Impala at Boulder Theater

Oct. 26: The Shook Twins at Shine Boulder 

Nov. 6: Toro y Moi at the Ogden

Nov. 13: Explosions in the Sky at 1st Bank

Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Annie Melton at Anne.melton@colorado.edu. 

September is traditionally a pretty big month for popular music album releases, and this month is no exception–expect the latest from Arcade Fire, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Jack Johnson, Avicii, Kings of Leon and more to drop in the coming weeks.

But lot of great artists are making their debuts this month, and in true Internet-age fashion, we’re already a little familiar with some of them. LA’s crazy-talented Haim (disclaimer: one of my favorite bands) have been on the worldwide festival circuit for over a year now, but “Days Are Gone” isn’t out until the 30th.

British band Bastille hit it big with the single “Pompeii,” and their full-length album offers plenty of songs that are even better. Canadian R&B artist The Weeknd has been a critic’s darling since releasing a round of mixtapes in 2011. All of the musicians on the playlist this week have been giving listeners plenty of videos, acoustic sessions and exclusives through social media, making the wait for their albums a little less anxious.

The rest of this year and 2014 look to bring us some fantastic new music of every genre. These relatively young artists are incredibly accessible, which makes being their fan all the more rewarding.

Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Annie Melton at anne.melton@colorado.edu. 

Campus police arrested a man on Sunday they say they believe stole several laptops from Cristol Chemistry and the Engineering Center during the last two weeks.

Troy Wayne Sennet mugshot. (Courtesy CU Police Department)

Troy Wayne Sennet, 43, was arrested east of Norlin Library on suspicion of second-degree burglary, theft and false reporting.  He has previously been convicted of burglary, according to a police report from CU Police Department.

This incident follows the Saturday morning arrest of Matthew Stringer on suspicion of trespassing. Stringer, another previously convicted burglar, was seen by an officer in Ramaley Biology.

Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Annie Melton at Anne.melton@colorado.edu.

A man was arrested Monday afternoon after the CU Police Department received reports of someone on horseback on the Hill, apparently intoxicated.

Witness accounts say that Patrick Neal Schumacher, 45, of Colorado Springs, was seen hitting his horse around Broadway and Baseline Road. He was later arrested on animal cruelty charges. The horse had reared up on its hind legs, according to a CUPD news release.

Schumacher told police that he had been trying to hit a fly on his horse’s head.

According to the release, he later told police that he was traveling from Larkspur, Colo. to Bryce, Utah to go to his brother’s wedding after losing his driver’s license. Larkspur is about 60 miles from Boulder and about 600 miles from Bryce.

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Police received the initial reports around 2:15 p.m. Monday and officers spotted the man and his horse, Dillon, on College Avenue and Broadway a short time later, where the horse was stepping into traffic.

“Schumacher failed roadside intoxication tests,” the news release stated. “A small black powder pistol and beer cans were found in his saddle bag.”

(Photo courtesy @LostOnTheHill)

He was also carrying a small dog in his backpack at the time of the arrest, his pug, Bufford.

Schumacher has been arrested on charges of animal cruelty, prohibited use of weapons, riding a horse while under the influence of alcohol and reckless endangerment.

Dillon and Bufford are being cared for by the Boulder Police Department Animal Control Unit, Boulder Space and Mountain Parks and Humane Society of Boulder.

Follow this story for more updates.

Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Annie Melton at Anne.melton@colorado.edu.

Every place has its own musical history and atmosphere, defined equally by the artists and bands that made it big, the ones with cult followings and the ones whose popularity never escaped the city limits.

Boulder and Denver aren’t lacking in these categories, and they also have a fair share of up-and-comers making good music more than likely just a stone’s throw from where you’re reading this.

Take a listen and get a feel for what the local music scene offers today, and what bands were paving the way long before most of us moved here.

Contact CU Independent Managing Editor Annie Melton at Anne.melton@colorado.edu.