Vinyl Tap Goes Grunge
Regardless of what stage of life you might find yourself in, there is likely room for a little edginess. I am happy to assure you that we can provide. Our theme this semester is a sort of homage to the ‘90s, but I think that’s turned out to be a manifestation of a lot of deep emotion: nostalgia, anger, dissatisfaction, a desire to dig far underground and escape the chatter of the 21st century. For me, this issue was an opportunity to channel the psychological limbo that comes with being a senior: questions about the right path to tread, fear of losing the anchors to my reality when I leave college, and acceptance of the fact that it’s okay to be upset that the past four years didn’t go exactly as planned. We need to give ourselves some grace; recognizing and embracing these feelings is important.
However, this is also an issue about culture and community, just as Vinyl Tap has always been. It’s about empathy, release, and catharsis. It’s about soft smiles and power chords, telling stories and recollecting warm memories. We put on each other’s smudgy eyeliner and we dance like it’s the end of the world because we understand that we’ve all been through a lot; we can have fun and be angry at the same time. Like ragged hikers sharing a shelter in a storm, we gather together to reignite our creative minds. And to remember the ‘90s, of course. There is plenty of history here too. While we may not have lived through them, many of us grew up with lingering influences of the decade thanks to our parents, learned to love ‘90s music, or developed a respect for the underground art and music movements of the time. Within these pages, you will find a recollection of life on the road and the energy of a crowd, a contemplation on the emotional effects of “angry” music, and a reflection on the relatability of teen angst in TV shows. You will learn about the talents of the groundbreaking and underappreciated women in the grunge movement, explore the complex history of the Pixies, and you may even swear an oath against the chaos of modern technology and the anxieties that come with it. And don’t forget album reviews, haikus, art, and photos that we had a blast creating and curating. We’ve all worked very hard on this issue, and we’re proud to present it to you!
read it here: