Top Picks: The study app Brainscape, Patty Griffin's 'Servant of Love,' and more
Powerhouse of soul
Those who are missing the great Amy Winehouse will find a lot to like in Andra Day. The husky-voiced retro-soul singer channels Winehouse, Nina Simone, and even a little Shirley Bassey on her stunning debut album, Cheers to the Fall. The sensual first single, 鈥淔orever Mine,鈥� is moving rapidly toward 2 million hits online, and 鈥淩ise Up鈥� is an empowerment anthem that could move mountains.
Flashcard ace
The slick study app Brainscape lets students create digital flashcards. They can refine each deck to phase out questions they have already mastered. Study groups can share materials or receive new questions from their teachers. And everyone can access these digital cards on iPhones, iPads, and Web browsers. The app is free, with add-on packs 鈥� such as SAT vocabulary and geography 鈥� costing between $4 and $30.
Observant songs
Suit up for a deep dive. Patty Griffin鈥檚 latest album, Servant of Love, demands full immersion to fathom its depths of feeling. She explores the milieu behind a wrongful police shooting on 鈥淕ood and Gone.鈥� In 鈥�250,000 Miles,鈥� an immigrant misses her family while painting the toes of strangers. 鈥淪hine a Different Way鈥� offers a prayer for a brighter future. Griffin uses acoustic and electric guitars, piano, mbira, and trumpet to create a liquid ambiance. The plunge is rejuvenating.
Women of influence
The newest project from director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (鈥淭he Boomer List,鈥� 鈥淭he Black List鈥�) is The Women鈥檚 List airing on PBS鈥檚 鈥淎merican Masters.鈥� The documentary looks at the talents of 15 women who are important in American culture today, such as former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, scientist Elizabeth Holmes, and screenwriter/director Shonda Rhimes. 鈥淭he Women鈥檚 List鈥� airs Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.
Everest trivia
Everest, a new movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Keira Knightley, takes a fictionalized look at a tragedy that occurred on Mt. Everest in 1996, which was the basis for Jon Krakauer鈥檚 bestseller 鈥淚nto Thin Air.鈥� How much do you really know about the mountain and its history? Test your knowledge with this BuzzFeed video about the legendary summit 鈥� both the daring and the tragic aspects. Check it out at http://bit.ly/everesthistory.聽
