Midnights: The Taylor Swift Album to Rule them All

By Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

At midnight on October 21, Taylor Swift released her tenth studio album “Midnights”, to a world who had long been awaiting her return. Under the power of a dedicated fanbase, “Midnights” crashed Spotify upon its release and sold over a million copies in just one week. For Swifties everywhere, “Midnights” was the culmination of everything that Swift represented: love, heartbreak, self-realization, and raw, personal emotion. 

But what exactly makes “Midnights” a distinctly Taylor Swift album? For one, the usage of musical elements from Swift’s previous music breathes both new life and nostalgia into her latest tracks, reviving the pieces of Swift eras long gone. 

In “Anti-Hero”, Swift embraces the gated reverb, a muted electronically modified drum sound that originated from the 1980s. As a result, the song becomes reminiscent of her 1989 album, her previous ode to the funky pop of the 80s. She juxtaposes the upbeat pop melody with lyrics about how her own self-confidence wavers in her day-to-day life. Her music video portrays two versions of herself that interact with each other in a mentor-mentee relationship, where one Swift teaches the other about the cynicism and the fact that she, herself, is the problem in all of her relationships. At the end, three Swifts convene on a rooftop to share a drink, resolving her struggles with self-esteem with a simple toast.  

This interaction between multiple versions of herself isn’t contained to just “Anti-Hero” however. Swift also addresses herself again in “You’re On Your Own, Kid” which initially appears to be about her naivete as a young woman and the bitterness that she has developed in her later years. However, later in the song, Swift subverts her original narrative by saying that her independence is actually a strength that’ll allow her to move past any moment by herself as she sings, “You’re on your own, kid. Yeah, you can face this. You’re on your own kid. You always have been.” Swift fans who can recall the song “Fifteen” from her namesake album will immediately spot the similarities to the ending of “Fifteen” where she tells her former 15-year-old self to “Take a deep breath girl. Take a deep breath as you walk through the doors.” The theme of her future self reassuring her former self of their resilience pervades throughout her experiences and journey as a musician. 

In “Snow On The Beach” (ft. Lana Del Rey), Swift and Rey sing about dreamlike romances and surreal moments during love. Both of them have a light, airy melody line that aligns with the theme about being in the hypnotic clutches of love. Combined with the soft, lower-pitched instrumentals that accompany their voices, this song sounds a little bit like it belongs in her “Evermore” and “Folklore” albums. She utilizes the same gentle rhythms and tender percussion to give “Snow On The Beach” a comforting, warmer feeling. 

And perhaps the most obvious nod to her former music is the song “Vigilante Sh–” The spoken, monotone words followed by a bass drop is definitely an element that she explored in her “Reputation” album. Knowing that “Reputation” embodied the idea of being a “bad b—-,” it’s no surprise that the message of “Vigilante Sh–” is all about revenge and independence. 

But even despite the wide range of musical elements and themes, Swift wraps her Midnights album nicely with one overarching theme: the simultaneous ending and beginning of her journey. She reflects on her previous experiences (“Midnight Rain” and “Question..?”) but also notes the direction that she wants to move forward (“Labyrinth” and “Lavender Haze”). And perhaps there has never been anything more “Taylor Swift” than to know that reflection does not trap a person in the past, but instead, gives them an avenue to move forward. 

The Middle Class’s Enigma: RTD Denver

By: Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

A moth flutters violently against the glass of the lamppost up above, casting its shadow on the sidewalk in front of my feet. Although the time on my phone flashes just shy of 6 o’clock, the sun has long since sent its last farewell rays against the horizon. Snow is normally a gentle feeling, a delicate caress of snowflakes against my cheeks, but tonight, each flake stings my bare hands and burns the tips of my fingers, searing them a bright red.

Even with the daylight becoming a faraway memory with each passing minute, the city remains bustling and lively. Cars sweep past me in throngs, timed succinctly by the stoplight just a few steps down the street. Their headlights illuminate the streets for a couple seconds at a time, like a wildly mismanaged spotlight. In the distance, I can hear threads of Bon Jovi leaking out of the cafe behind me every time the cafe doors fling open. 

I’m not alone in my spot outside however. Around me, a handful of people shuffle around in their spots, trying desperately to fend off the Colorado winter with their respective coats and scarves. One person dons a pair of leather gloves, and I steal an envious glance at them as I warm my hands with the heat of my breath. 

The people here vary in age, gender, and clothing, but we share one thing in common; we are all anchored by the single sign stuck into the grass median that barricades the sidewalk from the street. This bright red sign, covered in various stickers and explicit graffiti, is the only indication that the city of Denver has designated this area as one of the RTD (Regional Transportation District) bus stops.

I check my phone. It’s now 6:05, and if Google Maps has predicted correctly, my bus will arrive in approximately ten minutes. In ten minutes, I could have made the journey back from here to my bedroom by car, but I shove the thought away, knowing that this will only make the wait in the cold worse. 

A cold gust of wind brushes by, and I flinch at how mercilessly it bites at my skin. This is one of the many bus stops scattered throughout Denver without a bus shelter, and while the city designer has tolerated the addition of a bench here, it does nothing to protect us from the frosty Colorado air. The rush of cars on the street feels a little more mocking when I picture how nice it would be to be in a space with an operating heater.

Denver is a city of commuters, and this statement is a cold, daunting reality to the Denver residents without the means of independent transportation. 

But how do you fix this? There is no simple solution to this, especially when it involves both infrastructural and cultural change. To create better public transportation, you need better infrastructure that facilitates the usage of buses and light rails, but for better infrastructure, you need money. And when a city needs to obtain money, they need to reallocate their budget and divert tax dollars away from another project. Colorado’s biggest taxpayers? The middle class.

Now this becomes the issue: few people find pleasure in knowing that they’re paying for a program that doesn’t benefit them. This raises yet another question. If the RTD is public transportation, then why isn’t it being utilized by the general public?

This question has a fairly simple answer. RTD Denver has a rather unfortunate image of being late, slow, dirty, confusing, and unsafe. Worse still, some of these adjectives are true. The shortage of bus drivers means that some routes remain poorly staffed, and bus wait times are long and far between. This results in people being willing to pay the increasingly absurd parking rates in Denver or take an Uber/similar rideshare, despite the prices of Ubers having increased by 92% between 2018 and 2021 according to Rakuten. 

However, it’s worth noting that Denver has been trying to improve the RTD experience. In August of 2022, Denver implemented the “Free Fare Month,” in which everybody could board and ride the RTD free of charge, in hopes of facilitating more rider usage. The RTD completed its 15L Improvement Project in October of 2021, which added bus shelters, security cameras, lighting, and benches to the stops along East Colfax Avenue. Right now, the RTD is working on adding another fleet of electric buses to its arsenal in 2023 after the Federal Transit Administration and the VW Settlement Program awarded the RTD $2.6 million and $8.5 million respectively. More information on these projects and other upcoming improvement projects can be found on the RTD website (rtd-denver.com). 

Most importantly though, the funding for these kinds of projects rides on the shoulders of the people. The more that the residents of Colorado demonstrate their support for public transportation, the more willing the government will be to allocate money for a better public transit experience. This simple act of demonstrating the willingness to ride the Denver RTD by everyday commuters could transform the experience of people who already need the RTD to survive. 

The longer that RTD Denver remains the middle class’s enigma, the longer that this city will fail its residents that rely on public transportation to go about their everyday lives.

The Grass is Greener (and the Seat is Shabbier)

By: Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

A luscious expanse of fresh turf spans the area behind Clarke Hall, its greenery a welcome hue after Colorado’s bleak winter. I stare in awe at my phone screen from my position in the music practice room as the Regis University Instagram showcases the newly finished turf fields with a high quality drone video. It’s furnished with more than brightly painted lines, but also with the vigor of youth, the promise of thrilling sporting events, and the passion of college athletes sweeping the fields.  

The new turf is the result of a generous amount of funding and donations, a move on Regis’s behalf to demonstrate their love for their student athletes. I witness this stunning display of love from where I am sitting on the ratty piano bench, whose legs have been stripped of their wood varnish and whose seat is draped in a cloth so tattered that it literally hangs onto the bench by mere threads. 

It is good to know that Regis invests so much money into student activities. I furiously wave my music folder back and forth to fan myself, since the practice room is so sweltering that there are remnants of sweat on the piano from whoever had played it last. But surely, this is not because of a problem with the ventilation or air conditioning in the music wing, but because of how fiery hot our enthusiasm for the new turf fields is. Just imagining the future glory that will be made by the Regis lacrosse teams on those fields increases the practice room temperature by fifteen degrees. 

Many people in the music program have asked what is the difference between the new fields and the old ones. We have all reached the mind-blowing conclusion that the grass is greener. This is, understandably, a must for athletes, since no sporting event is a real sporting event if the grass is an unsatisfactory shade of green. 

I decide that such a breathtaking turf field deserves a beautiful serenade. My fingers align themselves on the sticky, ramen-stained piano keys, and although my fingers are in the correct position, the chord I play is discordant and cacophonous.

The practice room’s piano is out of tune. But I accept that as a necessary sacrifice, so that the turf field’s grass is greener (even if the piano seat is shabbier).

Boba Spotlight: Colorado Tea Station

By: Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

Nestled just on the border of Denver’s bustling downtown district, Colorado Tea Station is the first pick for our Boba Spotlight and for obvious reasons. More than just a boba shop, Colorado Tea Station serves everything from takoyaki (Japanese octopus), instant ramen, and bingsu (Korean shaved ice) to mochi donuts and cake slices. Their menu truly lives to serve any type of craving you might have.

Overwhelmed by the sheer variety? Don’t worry! Their staff is always incredibly friendly and helpful, and service is quick even during rush hours. While waiting for your drinks and food, you can admire the Instagram-worthy interior and the zither they have on display in the drinking area. Their Korean music playlist is nothing to sneeze at either. 

Of course, this doesn’t mean that their boba is anything to sleep on. Having been there a couple times now, my experience has been consistently wonderful. The boba is chewy and soft, and you really can’t go wrong with any drink that you decide to pair it with. Colorado Tea Station also offers a variety of different toppings if you’re not particularly fond of the classic tapioca boba. They have a wide selection of jellies to add to your drink including lychee, mocha, and crystal jelly, and anybody feeling more adventurous can try out their taro and sweet potato balls. 

For their drinks, they offer the classic milk teas and fruit teas, but also some non-caffeinated choices for anybody who likes their boba late at night. As a person who prefers non-caffeinated drinks, I’ve gotten their strawberry milk slush and peach yogurt drinks, both topped with boba and incredibly tasty. Not a fan of cold drinks? They also offer a wide selection of hot traditional Chinese brewed teas such as jasmine and rose oolong. 

Their desserts are equally tasty and appetizing. My friends have boasted of their chocolate cakes and mochi donuts. Having tried their mango snow ice myself, I can’t say I’m surprised. Colorado Tea Station strives to only put out the best of the best, and they deliver on that promise. 

For our overall Boba Spotlight rating, this place deserves a 10/10. 

Photo Credit: Sandra Vo, Strawberry Milk Slush with Pudding and Boba

Photo Credit: Sandra Vo, Peach Yogurt Drink with Boba

Himalayan Spice Review

By: Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer

The fact that I ended up in Himalayan Spice Indian Cuisine was a total accident. My sister had just helped me move in for the spring, so we headed down Tennyson Street for brunch at the Denver Biscuit Company. It's a delicious restaurant, but given its promotion on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, everyone knows that. Thus, we chose to dodge the hour-long wait and give the little restaurant two doors over a shot. And I am glad we did. While Denver Biscuit Company may be popular, Himalayan Spice is a hidden gem.

The environment is warm and welcoming, with attentive wait staff and quick service. And the food? I will not go into a discussion about Regis’s cafeteria (that is a dissertation for another time), but I am often left feeling the need for authentically good, well-rounded cooking, and I know that I am not alone in that. The good news is that the solution is just a five-minute drive down Tennyson Street. The menu is packed with different traditional Indian dishes, all bursting with warmth and flavor. The restaurant also boasts a large vegetarian/vegan menu with gluten free options, so it is the perfect destination for groups with a variety of dietary needs. Additionally, they have spice levels indicated on the menu so you don’t find yourself with an under-spiced or inedibly spicy dish given your tastes. They operate on a 1 to 5 spice level: 1 being mild, 2 being medium, 3 being medium-hot, 4 being hot, and 5 being Indian hot. I, as a slightly-but-not-terribly pathetic white person, prefer medium hot for my curry, whereas Vietnamese Staff Writer Sandra Vo prefers hot. 

Regardless of where you’re at, there is a delicious, well-priced option for you at Himalayan Spice. You can choose from a variety of proteins, from lamb to chicken to seafood, to be prepared in many ways, from curry to dahl and sagg to masala. Regardless of what you prefer, there are also a plethora of delicious flavors of naan, a traditional Indian flat bread, to choose from, and you will receive bottomless basmati rice with your meal. The one thing to keep in mind during your visit is that you will spend just as long waiting for the check as you will enjoying your meal. Chances are you could reduce this wait time by flagging down the waiter if you so choose, or (if you are non-confrontational like myself) the time can be well spent digesting your meal over conversations with friends and family. If you are looking to try something new or simply spice up your college diet, Himalayan Spice is the place to go.

Photo by: Sandra Vo, Butter Naan

Photo by: Sandra Vo, Chicken Curry