FEATURES
No new 'life' in latest album
By Staff Writer | Mar. 3, 2010You're likely to find more experimentation and original thought in a fourth grade science fair project than Lifehouse's latest album "Smoke & Mirrors." For all intents and purposes, the album is simply an older Lifehouse album with a new title. There are no new tricks, no sense of innovation and nothing that can really excite the listener and make them actually want to listen to the songs.
Experimental musician takes leaps
By Staff Writer | Mar. 3, 2010The rise of predominantly instrumental music during the new millennium was a pleasant but unexpected change. Wordless music, which often entails seven-plus minute songs with much musical repetition, droning and rapid changes in dynamics, isn't exactly easy listening material. However, there is something very visceral and emotionally compelling about this music that makes it appealing to large audiences: its lack of lyrics allows listeners to build their own narrative to the sounds, rather than have a story imposed on them, and the music's guitars and keyboards often elicit universal reactions of melancholic nostalgia.
Game on
By Staff Writer | Feb. 24, 2010The video game industry has enjoyed a surge of excellent video game sequels for many of their smash hits. The recent release of "Bioshock 2" proves that great games can have a sequel that improves upon the original. Out of all the games, though, there are five that really stand out as the best video game sequels of all time: "Resident Evil 4," "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2," "Mario Kart Wii," "God of War II" and "Super Mario Bros." for the Nintendo DS.
DiCaprio, Scorsese take no prisoners in "Shutter Island"
By Staff Writer | Feb. 24, 2010Despite his almost 20-year career, Leonardo DiCaprio scored his best ever box office debut with the psycho-thriller "Shutter Island," which opened with over $41 million during the weekend of Feb. 19.
Not a smooth takeoff for The Rocket Summer's latest
By Staff Writer | Feb. 24, 2010Bryce Avary of The Rocket Summer has colossal talent. Not only does he have a top-notch voice but he also plays the various core instruments that are found in his albums.
New Alkaline Trio not so addictive
By Staff Writer | Feb. 24, 2010Alkaline Trio has made and remade punky pop records over their 14-year career, only recently expanding their sound to newer levels. The band's seventh studio release, "This Addiction," goes back to basics, returning to the low production and endearing punk that is entrenched in the band's roots. The formula brings a group of successful songs, though overall it proves that the band has not survived the test of time, sounding like a group nostalgic for the past rather than optimistic for the future.
There's something about "Much Ado About Nothing"
By Staff Writer | Feb. 17, 2010The Department of Communications is presenting the play, "Much Ado About Nothing," opening on Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.
Not feeling the love for HIM's new album
By Staff Writer | Feb. 17, 2010The Finnish, goth-emo five-piece, HIM, have probably made a living less on the merits of their music and more on the symbols that define their music: mounds of eyeliner, a wardrobe straight out of Hot Topic and that dangerously jagged heart-meets-triangle necklace, which is referred to as a "heartagram." Knowing this, the band's newest album, "Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice," seems destined to adhere to the stereotypes associated with goth-emo music: insipid instrumentation and painfully obvious lyrics about self-loathing and suffering.
New album, but the same old story
By Staff Writer | Feb. 17, 2010In their latest album, "The Constant," Story of the Year, the hard rock band from St. Louis, mixes different sounds in their music ranging from punk-rock, punk-pop, hard rock and screamo.
Cupid's arrow misses in star-studded rom-com
By Staff Writer | Feb. 17, 2010"Valentine's Day," as implied, takes on the look of humorizing one of the most contentiously debated holiday of all time.
You want your MTV?
By Staff Writer | Feb. 17, 2010Remember when MTV used to play music? Apparently they don't.
Kick off the fight against cancer
By Staff Writer | Feb. 10, 2010Seton Hall will be hosting a Relay for Life kickoff party in the Living Room at 8:30 p.m on Feb. 16.
The year of the wolf
By Staff Writer | Feb. 10, 2010Look up at the big screen or at your TV this year and you're going to spot a full moon.
All the single ladies (and guys)
By Staff Writer | Feb. 10, 2010Valentine's Day is the one day of the year much awaited by those in love but dreaded by singles. But singles must keep in mind that Valentine's Day is not just to be celebrated by couples. The day is meant to express love to anyone we are close to. If you don't have a significant other this year, grab a friend or family member and try these fun ideas.
"Dear John" brings on the tears but not the acting chops
By Staff Writer | Feb. 10, 2010The latest tearjerker from author Nicolas Sparks is full of mushy romance, despite the unconvincing acting by the young lead stars. "Dear John" was adapted and directed by Oscar-nominated Swedish filmmaker Lasse Hallström, whose previous works include "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "The Cider House Rules" and "Chocolat." Although minor differences emerge from the novel to the big screen, the same love story develops and will capture audiences' hearts.
Diverse music all-stars are feeling the love in new soundtrack
By Staff Writer | Feb. 10, 2010The "Valentine's Day" movie soundtrack unapologetically screams mushy chick flick with over an hour of great love story anthems. The music selection is a series of almost twenty heart-throbbing love tunes designed to evoke the romance in every listener's heart from this highly anticipated celebrity-filled date-comedy.
Let the naysayers become Yeasayers
By Staff Writer | Feb. 10, 2010Brooklyn's indie-rock trio Yeasayer has garnered media attention ever since their critically lauded debut, "All Hour Cymbals," caught attention in 2007. Following their debut, the band almost immediately transcended small indie circles and reached worldwide audiences. Even a clip of them practicing was aired on MTV (during the commercials, of course, when MTV pretends to still care about music).After a painstaking wait, Yeasayer's second album, "Odd Blood," seems to cater more to such expansive audiences, honing the subtle pop influences heard on their previous album. Their tremendously catchy single, "Ambling Alp," exemplifies this dramatic change of style; this does not sound like the same band that was booming portentous waves of sound on the Black Sabbath-esque "Waiting for the Wintertime."
