Lancer Spirit Online

Column: ‘Guitar Hero’ is ruining music games again

Plastic instruments are making a comeback, but not without Activision's caveats.

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
October 21, 2015

For music game fans, the genre that had lain dormant was springing into a new, glorious Age of Enlightenment. And then Activision showed up.

Column: Does authenticity matter in art?

The Internet levels the playing field for music unlike ever before

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
October 13, 2015

The evolution of the ego in a world where identity loses meaning has given way to a scene that both repulses and feeds off image.

Press Play 3/29/15: Lords of the Game

A Death Grips 'postmortem'

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
March 29, 2015

From the start, Death Grips has been about much more than the music.

Press Play 12/22/15: The Beauty of ‘Benji’

Examining Sun Kil Moon's tragic opus

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
December 22, 2014

There is no individual moment that stands out on Benji. It is an album that must be taken in full to appreciate.

Press Play 9/24/14: In Defense of ‘Destiny’

Why Bungie's latest matters more than you think it does

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
September 24, 2014

While perhaps not quite as revolutionary as Bungie had envisioned, Destiny is one of the sleekest, most enjoyable shooters to hit consoles in quite some time.