Ryan Fine

Email Ryan Fine

---

Articles

ENTERTAINMENT

Frog Baby Film Festival 2018 recap review

By Ryan Fine , Joe Bursley and Ben Sapet / April 19, 2018

There were no duds at Frog Baby Film Festival 2018. From top to bottom, the lineup of short films was full of clever and enjoyable submissions in a wide range of genres and styles. The cowboy westerns, action and horror films, and dystopian comedies made it impossible to know what to expect next, and that’s not even to mention the categories for documentaries and music videos. The only thing these films had in common was that they all showcased the undeniable talent of Ball State’s own home-brewed filmmaking community.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

Lucy Dacus @ The Hi-Fi, Indianapolis (4/7/18)

By Ryan Fine / April 17, 2018

Unlike many rock artists of her time, Lucy Dacus does not raise the roof  or inspire any dance parties. However, her live show is anything but  timid. At her first-ever Indianapolis concert, she supported the aptly  named album ‘Historian’ with songs that told well-documented stories in  creative new ways. The subtly epic qualities of her music were perfectly  suited to the homely atmosphere of the Hi-Fi and the eager  attentiveness of the crowd. 

---

ENTERTAINMENT

‘A Productive Cough’ shows Titus Andronicus realizing ambition in new ways

By Ryan Fine / March 21, 2018

On 'A Productive Cough,' Titus Andronicus takes a narrower, more personalized approach to their Springsteen-inspired punk sound. It’s not as raucous as usual and it won’t have the same broad appeal as 'The Monitor' or 'The Airing of Grievances,' but it’s more fun than either of those albums and keeps many of their essential qualities. For those just seeking a good rallying anthem or a wayward ballad, this album is sure to impress.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

MGMT’s ‘Little Dark Age’ is their weirdest and most exhilarating album to date

By Ryan Fine / February 23, 2018

MGMT has recovered incredibly well from the muddled experimentation of their third album. ‘Little Dark Age’ sees the band returning to the hook-dominated landscape of ‘Oracular Spectacular’ and ‘Congratulations’, while also keeping the unique flourishes that defined their self-titled record. Though it is not entirely original in its psychedelic pop sound, its smart humor and tasteful melodies more than make up for any reckless borrowing. It takes all of the best parts of MGMT’s past releases and blends them together to bring forth an intense, whimsical new era for the band.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

It’s a potato: 20 years later, how ‘In the Aeroplane Over the Sea’ has become a bizarre culture of its own

By Ryan Fine / February 10, 2018

Man, who cares if it’s cliché? Music does bring people together. And if there’s one band who can teach us that, it’s Neutral Milk Hotel. 

---

ENTERTAINMENT

‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction’ Season 1, Episode 1: “It’s a Whole New Ball Game Now”

By Ryan Fine / January 26, 2018

Though the first episode of ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction’ will please those who desperately miss the sound of Obama’s voice, the episode doesn’t have much substance apart from the people involved. Letterman and Obama have a likable dynamic that makes it fun to watch at surface level, but the interview lacks a level of importance that could have really made Obama’s reappearance into something noteworthy.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

The Year in Review: Byte’s Top-Reviewed Movies of 2017

By Emily Reuben , Daley Whilhem , Jeremy Rogers , Ryan Fine , Sarah James , Michael Robb and Conner Tighe / December 29, 2017

Every year produces a relentless heaping of blockbuster films that sell fantastically, but how many of them are actually good is another question entirely. Though the major circuit may have been a little bit short on masterpieces this year, it was by no means empty. We got another great Pixar movie, a beautiful shoutout to The Room, and the best M. Night Shyamalan film in a long time. We also caught a whole host of independent films at Heartland Film Festival this year, some of which were made in our own backyard. So as it turns out, the year of The Disaster Artist wasn’t such a disaster after all.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

The Year in Review: Byte’s Top-Reviewed Albums of 2017

By Ryan Fine , Preston Radtke , Sarah James and Phil Akin / December 29, 2017

Music reviews were a new endeavor for Byte this year, but it was a great first year to cover. We saw some disappointments from previously loved artists like Arcade Fire and Blondie, to be sure, but we also saw some pleasant comebacks and changeups from the likes of Lorde, Aimee Mann and Paramore. Some of these albums made us smile and others made us cry, but they all left some sort of indelible mark on us, and that’s why they’re the best albums of 2017.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

Pop Tabs S1E7: Star Wars Battlefront 2, The Crimes of Grindelwald, and Gal Gadot

By Ryan Fine , Matthew Yapp and Mayzie Brammer / December 6, 2017

Pop Tabs returns along with Matt and the gang! On this episode, the conversation turns to Johnny Depp remaining on the cast of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald despite the allegations that he assaulted his wife. We then delve into the controversy surrounding EA’s newest cash grab video game Star Wars: Battlefront 2. Finally, Gal Gadot stood up to Brett Ratner by refusing to star in Wonder Woman 2 if he was involved in the production.

---

ENTERTAINMENT

The surprises and shoe-ins of the 2018 Grammy nominees

By Ryan Fine / December 5, 2017

All things considered, the pool of nominations for this year’s awards are the best they’ve been in a long time. Even though the Grammys are trying really hard to make Record of the Year their top prize, most people still have their eyes on Album of the Year, and this year’s choices for the gold are stacked.