The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 18

January 19, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 7 Arts & Entertainment OFFSHORE CALENDAR SocietyX: Therapeutic Art Workshop Jan. 19 | 11 a.m. RSVP Israel, a Culinary Tour Jan. 19 | 2 p.m. RSVP Artist Book: My Journey Workshop Jan. 20 | 10 a.m. RSVP The Magic Lab: a Virtual Open Mic Magic Show Jan. 21 | 7:30 p.m. RSVP Webinar: Gardening - What to do Before Getting Your Hands Dirty Jan. 22 | 3 p.m. RSVP A Global Destination for Art: Ardeshir Tabrizi Jan. 23 | 3 p.m. RSVP Barcelona’s Gothic District Discovery Jan. 25 | 10 a.m. RSVP Rating Trader Joe’s knockoff snack names It’s no secret to anyone that knows me that I love Trader Joe’s. I get almost all of my groceries there and I buy an embarrassing amount of fiery chicken curry. Every so often I’ll peruse through the snack isles, looking for new things to try. The only hit and miss options for me from Trader Joe’s have been the snacks. I’ve found some I really like and some that I would never imagine buying again. However, one of my favorite things about buying any food fromTrader Joe’s is the name. The titles and packaging designs of their name brand products can be weird, wild and downright hilarious. I’ll be ranking some of my favorites here. Trader Joe’s Sea Salted Saddle Potato Crisps (Pringles) - 7/10 I have to say, I like these knockoff Pringles more than the real thing. I am a big fan of Pringles-esque snacks, even the Aldi knockoffs. However, sometimes with real Pringles, you’ll get air bubbles in the chips, causing the whole chip to crumble when you bite into it. Trader Joe’s Sea Salted Saddle Potato Crisps don’t have that problem. They’re dense without being too thick; they’re simply perfectly salted little potato crisps. If I were to rate this snack just based on the name alone, I’d give it a 4/10; not too creative, but obscure enough that it’s slightly amusing. However, I have to take into account the packaging. There is the funniest little drawing of a cowboy riding a potato chip like a horse and that bumps my final rating up to a 7/10. Trader Joe’s Joe Joes (Oreos) - 9/10 These are another popular knockoff snack from Trader Joe’s. Honestly, these off brand Oreos are pretty good. They’re a bit more sturdy than Oreos are and the creme feels a little less processed, which I like. I can even see the little dark speckles from the vanilla beans. These treats may be hard to say, but they’re easy to eat. Based on the name and the fun packaging, which includes a friendly toucan who gives you strangely detailed instructions on how to properly eat Trader Joe’s Joe Joes, I’d give these cookies a solid 9/10. Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar (Cheese) - 6/10 Alright, this product isn’t necessarily a knockoff snack. In fact, it’s just cheese; a type of cheese that many who shop at Trader Joe’s regularly refer to as magical. According to Trader Joe’s own website, the cheese has been a staple product at their stores for over 10 years. The magic lies in the flavor-changing abilities the cheese holds. At first bite you taste a sharp cheddar, but as you continue to chew, it becomes even sharper and tastes more like a finely aged Parmesan. The real kicker for me lies in the name. I never would have thought that a cheese with the word “unexpected” in the name would sell so well, but Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar seems to have defied the odds. I’d give this magical cheese a 6/10. PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY S. GALLUS Joe-Joe’s Cookies and SSaddle Potato Crips make a good alternative to its popular snacks By: Sofia Gallus Arts & Entertainment Editor Experience a journey through the cosmos with “Watercolor Skies” by Covisky On Dec. 12, Covisky, a South Florida band now based in Brooklyn, NY, released its debut album, “Watercolor Skies.” The albumcombines different styles and emotions to give listeners a feel of the energy of the cosmos while in an earthly medium. Covisky is a psychedelic-spiritual funk band led by Giuseppe Storniolo. For “Watercolor Skies,” which was made 50/50 between both Miami and Brooklyn, Storniolo wrote, played, produced and mastered all instruments and vocals except for the drums, which were done by his brother, who also inspired the album’s name. “The inspiration [for the album] rises from life itself. The album is a sonic collection of my experiences and emotions… I guess the original spark or idea came to me on a random day through a breeze, or maybe, it was brought by a wave in theAtlantic Ocean. The name came about on a beautiful clear Thanksgiving morning when my brother, Francesco, said, ‘Wow. The skies look like they’re made of water,’” said Storniolo. “Watercolor Skies” consists of eight beautifullywritten songs. Meant to be interpreted by each listener individually, here is my experience and interpretation of this cosmic album. The album opens with “Slightly Off,” a jazzy psychedelic piece that will have you swaying and dancing in your seat. Everything about this song, from the bass to the guitar and vocals, sends you to a different plane and puts you in a good state of mind. “Left Eye,” the second song on the album, is actually spoken word poetry, which is a beautiful and original touch to the album. According to Covisky, his favorite song on the album to make was the third track, “Spirits,” which begins with a sort of meditational music and journeys into entrancing guitar, drums and vocals. “It was a cold New York February morning, one of those days that all feels off, riddled with self-doubt and feeling like a shadow on the wall. I grabbed my guitar and headed to Central Park, [as] the spirits were callingme outside on that day.Within the darkness, the muse found its way to me and the progression of the verse came out of my guitar as if it has been played by somebody else. In that moment, a beautiful song was born. Maybe, that’s why I wrote that ‘darkness is just another type of light,’” said Storniolo. “Torresiela” is the fourth song on the album, which begins with Covisky speaking and then transitions to smooth and jazzy synths, guitars and drums. This instrumental track lets the music speak for itself, sending the listening to another musical dimension. “Conduit Skin,” which was originally released as a single in October, is another psychedelic piece that features only music and is filled with synths and a groovy bass line, transporting the listener on a trip through time and space. The sixth song on the album, “Airborne Piroutte,” is one of the shorter tracks, but has a melody that relaxes listeners with its instrumentals as the album begins to wind down. The song also leads into “Shape of a Pocket,” the seventh track and most different sounding out of the album. To read more of “Watercolor Skies” by Covisky, visit www.nsuthecurrent.nova.edu. By: Flor Ana Mireles Copy Editor OBTAINED FROM COVISKY “Water Color Skies” the album