Student Special: Cultural Artefacts You Must Have

ALBUMS

The Strokes - Is This It
It is incredible to realise that, for any 18-year-old starting into college life, this album was released when they were just five years of age. Hot Press cried at the thought, wondering where the halcyon days of our youth had gone. A wonder of pure, unadulterated rock, on Is This It, the peerless Julian Casablancas documents urban life, love and adventure in 11 tracks of bonafide brilliance. Sounds as fresh now as it did day one.

The National - Boxer
This was the album that catapulted The National from cult heroes to mainstream success – and looking back, it’s not hard to see why. Beautifully understated, there's a sinister edge allied to the band's impressive post-punk energy. Lyrically inscrutable, the value – as in life itself – lies in the journey of discovery: with repeated listens you uncover a true gem. If you can match that on campus, you'll be doing just fine.

Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
Hip hop has always been defined by eras. Five years ago, Kanye would have been the artist of the moment. Now, it's the turn of Kendrick Lamar. Straight outta Compton (genuinely), his much anticipated new album is due to drop before the end of the year. Meanwhile, immerse yourself in this frighteningly raw and utterly fearless record. As a student you need to understand this shit. Kendrick is the perfect guide.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus
Once, at a party, Hot Press saw someone put this album on – and nobody changed it till it finished. Now that’s a goddamn miracle. Equal parts experimental and catchy, the infectious pop slowly gives way to a complex and luxurious tapestry – a perfect expression of youthful Gallic insouciance. The album buzzes along, but Phoenix aren’t afraid to slow down and let things breathe either. It’s stunning stuff.

Beyoncé - Beyoncé
Beyoncé is a phenomenon – and this album covers just about every moment of the average student's college life. At home on your own? Bey would be proud. At a party with crowds of people? This will get it going. Spending time with that special someone? Good Lord, this album is like an aural aphrodisiac. On one point, perhaps, the Twittersphere is probably right: Beyonce is everything. Now, let's party...

FILMS

The Big Lebowski
This entire section could simply be a list of Coen Brothers’ movies. In the interest of variety, though, we’ll stick with just one – and, in the service of absolute awesomeness, it has to be The Big Lebowski. A heady blend of crime caper and slacker comedy, it's the definition of a cult classic and a must for nihilists of every shape, size and persuasion, dude. Remember: going to college you are entering a world of pain...

Donnie Darko.
An apocalyptic film featuring a giant bunny monster probably shouldn’t work; nor should the strange mix of science fiction and teen angst. An outrageous cast, including both Gyllenhaals, Drew Barrymore and the late Patrick Swayze bring this David Lynch-esque story magnificently to life, and help Donnie Darko stand alone as one of the most trippy, thrilling and downright brilliant movies of the 21st century.

High Fidelity
Last year, Hot Press confidently declared that no college education is complete without the films of John Cusack; we still believe this to be true. High Fidelity is a genuine and hilarious story of a music nut who can’t find love. As you’d expect from a movie set in a record store, the soundtrack is stunning, but it’s the performances of Cusack – and partners in crime Todd Louiso and Jack Black – that make it a triumph.

Anchorman
There are those who think it is over-rated – but Anchorman is the most quoted movie of the last decade, and if you don’t see it, there’ll be about three moments at every social event where you don’t have a clue what someone is on about. To be fair, it’s a decent movie too; Anchorman is genuinely funny, and Will Ferrell is unbelievably good in the film that confirmed his place among the Hollywood A-List. Now, get swotting...

Almost Famous
A semi-autobiographical film about sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, based on the teenage memories of director Cameron Crowe, Almost Famous is touching and hilarious in equal measure. While music is at the heart of the action, in truth it is a story of naivety, of bonding, and of finding your way in a brand new, more adult world. Sounds like pretty suitable viewing for anyone embarking on the adventure of college, right? Trust us, it is.

BOOKS

Catcher In The Rye - JD Salinger
There is a good reason why JD Salinger’s masterpiece remains one of the definitive reads for those starting out in college. Written in 1951, its themes are as relevant now as they were back then. Yes, Holden Caulfield may speak in a brilliantly abstruse vernacular, but the angst, and the feeling of alienation still ring true. We take no responsibility, though, if you find yourself incessantly using the word ‘phony’ thereafter.

On The Road - Jack Kerouac
As well as inspiring a truly awesome Hold Steady album, Jack Kerouac’s novel is a piece of generation-defining literature. Rooted in the beat and counterculture movement of the ’50s, it offers a remarkable insight into the life and loves – and the aspirations – of young men and women intent on finding themselves. It’s accessible and very readable. Oh, and one more thing: don’t even dare to watch the film instead...

Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris
Sometimes, after a day with your nose in a textbook, the only thing to keep a student sane is a good laugh. To that end, a collection of essays by the world’s wittiest writer is just the ticket. Sedaris is sardonic yet jovial, cultured yet clueless. The result is some of the most hilarious material ever commited to type. Better yet, get the audiobook: with Sedaris’ deadpan delivery, the stories become even funnier.

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
A word to the wise: the film is nothing compared to Hunter S Thompson’s magnificent pièce de résistance; the ultimate work of Gonzo journalism, Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas is a rollicking blend of fact and fiction as the central characters test out the limits of how far they can push things and survive. Thompson writes with a savagery that brings the drug-addled desert setting to life. Oh, and it is hilarious...

Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell
There’s never been a time when a novel about government surveillance has been more relevant. Orwell’s dystopian tale may have been written as a cautionary piece of science fiction, but it is worryingly close to our current reality, where everything we do – on our phones, on our laptops – is digitally recorded and stored. It's not exactly a barrel of laughs, but this is an important work, and a bloody good read. Take this book as a warning...