Deep Elm Records

Jacob Fricke

Since their founding in 1995, Deep Elm Records has consistently released only the finest music from bands in the emo, indie rock, punk, and post-rock genres. As of this writing, every single one of their releases is available as pay-what-you-want downloads on their bandcamp page.

Worthy of special recognition are the moody instrumentals of Moonlit Sailor, as well as the emo rock of Brandtson. The works of influential indie rockers The Appleseed Cast are available as well.

Deep Elm has stated that this will be their business model for as long as it makes financial sense. I encourage you to discover some of this music for yourself.

Phillip Malzer

Morning Phase, Beck

After a six year hiatus since his last record Modern Guilt, Beck is back with a brand new album Morning Phase. Over the course of his twenty year career, Beck has constantly changed his moods and styles throughout the different LP’s he has released, and while Morning Phase may be somewhat stylistically of a call-back to Sea Change, this album represents a side of Beck that I have always been intrigued with. Songs like “Blue Moon” and “Wave” echo the questions and problems Beck has had to deal with over this six year period in a very mystifying way. Morning Phase is another stellar album within his collection.

Patrick Wright

TV Show | Pokemon

Get ready to once again lose all productivity you might have had, as “Pokemon” is finally available on Netflix. Starting last Saturday, both the latest season and the original season of “Pokemon” are available to stream, as well as two “Pokemon” movies. Ash Ketchum is still following his dream of becoming a “Pokemon” master with Pikachu by his side, with a host of friends keeping him company along the way. While the original season may not have the highest production value, the nostalgia factor alone should be enough to keep you watching for hours on end, and the latest season is worth looking into as well.

Claire Wiebe

Restaurant l Pho Nguyen

Though not as famous as Lincoln’s other pho restaurant, Pho Factory, Pho Nguyen has delicious pho at a cheaper cost and higher quality. I really enjoyed the chicken pho, and my friend always orders tofu (a great vegetarian option). The noodles, meat, and veggies have just the right texture, and, unlike Pho Factory, the chicken pho does not include chicken skin (a definite plus for me). The atmosphere may be lacking, but then again, what’s better than sitting right next to a big shaker of MSG to put on your soup? The restaurant feels authentic. In addition to their delicious pho, I recommend the bubble tea. It is creamier than other varieties of bubble teas I’ve tried in Lincoln, and the bubbles are at the perfect consistency. If you’re feeling adventurous, give the durian bubble tea a try. Finally, Pho Nguyen has one of my favorite Southeast Asian drinks, iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk. Yum. Pho Nguyen is my first choice for Vietnamese food in Lincoln.

Dylan Kuzelka

Album | ‘It’s a Big World Out There (And I Am Scared)’ | Kurt Vile and The Violators

I can’t get enough of American indie rock artist Kurt Vile. Only the second time directly giving credit to the bandmates, Kurt Vile and The Violators’ newest EP “It’s a Big World Out There (And I Am Scared)” was released back in November. With two new tracks and outtake from other albums, this diverse set of songs recaptures the brilliance of their 70s guitar rock style.  Riding the wave of excellence from Kurt Vile’s last studio album, ”Walkin On A Pretty Daze,” the carefully crafted guitar riffs in this EP invite these songs to feel right at home in my Kurt Vile queue.

Colin Loberg

“25th Hour” covers the final day of Monty Brogan (Edward Norton) as he prepares for his upcoming prison sentence. Monty enters his final day of freedom paranoid about the connection between his girlfriend (Rosario Dawson) to his heroin bust and resentful towards his two childhood friends (Barry Pepper, Phillip Seymour Hoffman) who have chosen vastly different roads in life. “25th Hour” is remarkable for being the first (and best?) 9/11 movie and it achieves this by not focusing on the attacks but its lasting effect on NYC. From stockbrokers to school teachers, no New Yorker was able to escape the fallout.