Happy daylight saving time! What will you do with your extra hour this week?
Maybe you’ll listen to Swedish pop icon ABBA’s new album or watch the Colin Kaepernick docu-series. Whichever way you use that extra hour, make it count by doing something new and putting yourself and your enjoyment first.
If you’re lost on an activity, look no further than the recommendations provided by the Minnesota Daily’s Arts and Entertainment desk.
“Colin in Black & White”: This six episode Netflix mini-series tells the story of a younger Colin Kaepernick who had to endure adoption by tone deaf white parents who thought his Black identity was a phase and a nuisance. Despite the resistance of his parents and sporting coaches, he found ways to embrace his Blackness. The story follows Kaepernick throughout his adolescent and adult years and is narrated by Kaepernick as he interjects between scenes of the show. The show highlights the highs and lows of his life as he attempts to embrace his Blackness while being told that he shouldn’t. The first episode begins with Kaepernick giving a history lesson about slavery auctions, in which he compares to the NFL combine and workout camps. The show’s story is created and written by Ava DuVernay and Kaepernick. The series is unique in that it takes on the form of a documentary and TV show in which Kaepernick’s narration includes historical information about the intersection between race, sports and politics. – Jarrett George-Ballard
“Voyage” by ABBA: Forty years later, the Swedish pop group has released a 10-track album that is every bit as “trend blind” – as its members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have mentioned in recent interviews. There’s a sappy Christmas tune tossed in (“Little Things”), a tale of a woman battling envy over a lover and their dog (“I Can Be That Woman”) and a reunion ballad (“I Still Have Faith in You”), among an assortment of other over-the-top, synthy beats. For long-time ABBA lovers, the music isn’t likely to disappoint. Between songs like “Keep An Eye On Dan” and “I Can Be That Woman,” the subtle references to past melodies and common themes found in their earlier works are ever-present. However, if the only way you can digest their popular anthems is as part of the “Mamma Mia” soundtrack, you’re more likely to struggle when it comes to finding joy in songs whose structure hasn’t changed since 1981. – Sophia Zimmerman
“Good For You” by Houndmouth: Houndmouth’s musical niche lies somewhere between folk, rock and alternative blues. Whatever the label may be, the band’s sound certainly makes for the perfect fall soundtrack. Their new album, “Good For You,” feels like it should be listened to on a chilly walk with a hot beverage in hand; its 10 tracks offer a hearty mix of acoustic and electric guitar, steady percussion and stacked vocal harmonies that create a warm, autumnal vibe. Give the album a go this week, and romanticize the end of this short season before the colder days that lie ahead. – Macy Harder
Screening of “Blue” at the Walker: The Walker Art Center will be doing a free screening of Derek Jarman’s final film, a 1993 narrated reflection of the director’s lost fight against AIDS, on Thursday night. The film was originally released only a few months before Jarman, a gay rights activist and close friend of Tilda Swinton, died of the disease. If you’re a broke college student that’s been meaning to check out the Walker, now’s your chance — very rarely will there be a better opportunity to experience queer cinema like this. – James Schaak
“New Shapes (feat. Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek)” by Charli XCX: It’s been a minute since Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek hopped on a song together and gave their listeners the retro-pop energy boost that comes in the form of Charli’s music. This ‘80s-esque pop song offers vocal textures, brash beats and three minutes and 20 seconds to lose yourself in the operatic tones of Caroline Polachek — not to mention the utter poetry of the lyrics “You call it art, but you pulled on my heart and you twisted it into a new shape.” Godspeed to anyone who’s listening to this song and going through a breakup. – Nina Raemont
