III is the Lumineers third album that just released on Friday September 13th, 2019. This album has an interesting bit to it, in that it has 3 chapters detailing the lives of three people who are related to each other. Each chapter is released separately, building up to the final chapter. Ten music videos are also released over the span of April – September, one by one.

The first chapter is about Gloria Sparks, a mother who is an alcoholic and makes many regrettable decisions. She is also unfit to care for her son, Jimmy Sparks.

The second chapter is about Junior Sparks, Gloria’s grandson who is cared for by Jimmy Sparks, Gloria’s son. His mother leaves him as a child for Denver, as the song Left for Denver entails.

The third chapter paints the story of Jimmy Sparks, Junior’s father and Gloria’s son. His wife left him with Junior when Junior was a baby and he struggles to get by. He accumulates piles of debt from gambling and from trying to raise his son. He is also an alcoholic, just like his mother.

I really like III album because it not only asks you to listen to it but to also feel something from start to finish. III is also a cinematic movie(if you watch all the music videos together) and it depicts three generations of Sparks’ family and the crippling effects of addiction. In part 3/10 of the music videos, Gloria is seen carrying her husband to her car to get help as he is injured. She then runs away when the police arrives on the scene when they crash into a truck. Later in part 10/10 of the music videos, Junior Sparks is seen doing the same. He carries his dad into the car as he is injured. He also runs away when the cops turn up.

It makes you wonder, will he continue the cycle Gloria started? Will he too become an alcoholic?

The music videos are also an experience of its own. They were actually really good that the compilation of the videos made it to TIFF(Toronto International Film Festival).

So what are you waiting for? Go and watch them!

Amidst the arrival of yet another bubble tea shop in Ann Arbor (opening on East Liberty) despite two new ones opening last spring, I have decided to definitively rank the four Michigan boba contenders (based on taste, options, and overall vibe). I love bubble tea, and living in a small town before college made it infeasible to cure my boba cravings. At college, I was delighted to find bubble tea stores on campus, even if there were only two mediocre spots: Sweeting and Bubble Island. Last semester, two big boba chains opened up shop, significantly ramping up the competition among local businesses. CoCo and Chatime opened up a whole new world of tasty drinks and hangout spots. I even learned how to make my own homemade tapioca pearls and milk tea, but nothing can compare to plunging a straw into the plastic top of an icy bubble tea. Thus, being a proud boba enthusiast, I shall provide my opinions on Ann Arbor’s four premier boba shops.

Bubble Island – 3/10

Bubble Island is truly the OG of bubble tea shops, located on South University right across Sweeting. This is the spot for hitting those bubble tea and french fry cravings at the same time after a late night studying or going out. Unfortunately, the drink selection is somewhat limited, and you can’t change the sweetness levels, so almost every drink is too sweet. The tea tastes pretty artificial and unsatisfying and Bubble Island remains the lowest ranked contender in the Great Ann Arbor Boba War of 2019.

Sweeting – 6/10

Sweeting is a step up from Bubble Island, but its drinks are just average. There’s truly nothing outstanding about Sweeting bubble tea, maybe except for the strange collage of French posters, images of Che, and nonsensical pictures lining its walls. I’d go here if I were near the UgLi maybe, but would rather go somewhere else for my bubble tea fix. But, I give bonus points for a good selection of desserts and even rolled ice cream made in front of your eyes.

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice – 10/10

I was one of those people who waited in line for hours during CoCo’s soft opening–the wait was so worth it. Upon receiving my milk tea with pearls after waiting for two hours, the sweet tea and chewy pearls satiated my longing thirst. It was the most delicious bubble tea I had ever encountered, which is impressive for a large chain inundated by boba fans during its first weeks; my delight was probably exaggerated by the long wait and trip up to North Campus beforehand. The tea was perfectly sweetened, and the pearls supple and soft. If you don’t live on North, it’s a bit of a trek up to get this boba, but boy is it worth every minute. There are also a lot of promotions every month!

Chatime – 8/10

Finally, we have Chatime, a classic go-to. I find its drink menu also a bit limited in choices, but there is never too long of a line and the bubble tea there hits the spot every time. The bulbous pearls are cooked to perfection, and the modern purple aesthetic really enhances the atmosphere of the cafe. While it isn’t the best boba I’ve ever had, I definitely recommend it after a dinner date perhaps, or after a long day of classes.

Nicole Denise White, also known as Niki, is a sophomore within the Interarts Performance BFA program at the University of Michigan. She aspires to work with scenic design, theater, and film in the future. Take a listen to her thoughts on what art is, what kind of art she enjoys creating, and the importance of human connection through art.

website: https://nicoledenisewhite.com