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(05/30/14 5:53pm)
The IU Health Center offers many services for IU students who need medical assistance, such as full service appointments, a walk-in clinic, a pharmacy, lab tests and x-rays, physical examinations and allergy shots.
(06/07/13 8:43pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Health Center offers many services for IUBloomington students who need medical assistance. The Health Center offers full-service appointments, a walk-in medical clinic, a pharmacy, lab tests and x-rays, physical examinations, allergy shots and many more services for students.Here is a list of some of the services that could be beneficial to you.FULL SERVICE APPOINTMENT OR WALK-IN CLINICThe medical clinic is staffed with physicians and nurses, and scheduled appointments or walk-ins are available.Appointment services encompass the full range of family practice medical care, including physical examinations. Appointments can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance.Students are asked to cancel appointments no later than two hours prior.The walk-in clinic is available for students with urgent medical needs such as fevers, sore throats, coughs and injuries. Students are seen in order of arrival or based on the severity of the problem.GET TESTEDThe IU Health Center Laboratory is the only local location where counseling and HIV testing are performed on-site. Results for the HIV test are available the same day. It also offers testing for common STIs such as chlamydia, which is often asymptomatic and can go undetected. To get tested for Chlamydia or other STIs, set up an appointment by calling 812-855-7688.PHARMACYThe IU Pharmacy is located within the Health Center. It accepts many different prescription cards. The pharmacy also has three full-time pharmacists available to answer questions.As well as giving discounts to students for some services, the pharmacy also stocks many over-the-counter medications like cough drops, cold medicine and eye drops.IMMUNIZATION/ALLERGYThe Health Center offers a variety of different vaccines at reasonable prices.Flu shots are made available prior to flu season. The Health Center wants all students to get flu shots and prices them as low as possible.Allergy shots are also available. The Center will give out allergy shots based on the student and follow the instructions given by the student’s allergist.PHYSICAL THERAPYPhysical Therapy is the evaluation and treatment of a musculoskeletal injury with the goal of resolving pain and restoring function so the student can return to his or her highest function in school or any other kind of physical activity.Therapeutic exercise programs are tailored to each individual’s needs and might include exercises to correct faulty posture and biomechanics to improve flexibility, strength, balance and endurance.COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES (CAPS)CAPS is a professionally staffed counseling service that offers individual, group and couples counseling. Any kind of concern can be discussed in confidence with one of the counselors.Depression, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, sexual issues, substance abuse and academic problems are some of the concerns students often address through counseling.CAPS is located on the fourth floor of the Health Center.IU HEALTH CENTER600 N. Jordan Ave.Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The Health Center is also open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. select Saturdays during the fall and spring semesters.An after-hours telephone service is also available 5 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
(06/07/12 7:10pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Health Center offers many services for IU-Bloomington students who need medical assistance. The Health Center offers full service appointments or a walk-in medical clinic, a pharmacy, lab tests and x-rays, physical examinations, allergy shots and many more services for students.Here is a list of some of the services that could be beneficial to you.FULL SERVICE APPOINTMENT OR WALK-IN CLINICThe medical clinic is staffed with physicians and nurses, and scheduled appointments or walk-ins are available.Appointment services encompass the full range of family practice medical care, including physicl examinations. Appointments can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance.Students are asked to cancel appointments no later than two hours prior.The walk-in clinic is available for students with emergency medical needs. Typical needs include fevers, sore throats, coughs and injuries. Students will be seen in order of arrival or based on the severity of the problem.GET TESTEDThe IU Health Center Laboratory is the only local location where counseling and HIV testing are performed on-site. Results for the HIV test are available the same day. It also offers testing for common STIs such as Chlamydia, which is often asymptomatic and can go undetected. The test used in the lab is very sensitive and can detect infection very early. If you want to be test for Chlamydia or other STIs, set up an appointment by calling 812-855-7688.PHARMACYThe IU Pharmacy is located within the Health Center. It accepts many different prescription cards. The pharmacy also has three full-time pharmacists who are always available to answer questions.As well as giving discounts to students for some services, the pharmacy also stocks many over-the-counter medications like cough drops, cold medicine and eye drops.IMMUNIZATION/ALLERGYThe Health Center offers a variety of different vaccines at reasonable prices.Flu shots are made available prior to flu season. The Health Center wants all students to get flu shots so it prices them as low as possible.Allergy shots are also available. The Center will give out allergy shots based on the student and follow the instructions given by the student’s allergist.PHYSICAL THERAPYIt is the evaluation and treatment of a musculoskeletal injury with the goal of resolving pain and restoring function so the student can return to his or her highest function in school or any other kind of physical activity.Therapeutic exercise programs are tailored to each individual’s needs and might include exercises to correct faulty posture and biomechanics to improve flexibility, strength, balance and endurance.COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES (CAPS)CAPS is a professionally staffed counseling service that offers individual, group and couples counseling. Any kind of concern can be discussed in confidence with one of the counselors.Depression, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, sexual issues, substance abuse and problems of academic functioning are some of the concerns students often address through counseling.CAPS is located on the fourth floor of the Health Center.The IU Health Center is located at 600 N. Jordan Ave.Hours of operation are Monday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Health Center is also open on some select Saturdays during the fall and spring semesters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.An after-hours telephone service is also available Monday through Friday 5-11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
(06/02/11 5:10pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Health Center offers many services for IU-Bloomington students who need medical assistance. The Health Center offers full service appointments or a walk-in medical clinic, a pharmacy, lab tests and x-rays, physical examinations, allergy shots and many more services for students. Here is a list of some of the services that could be beneficial to you.Full service appointment or walk-in clinicThe medical clinic is staffed with physicians and nurses, and scheduled appointments or walk-ins are available. Appointment services encompass the full range of family practice medical care, including physical examinations. Appointments can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance. Students are asked to cancel appointments no later than two hours prior.The walk-in clinic is available for students with emergency medical needs. Typical needs for the Walk In Clinic include fevers, sore throats, coughs and injuries. Students will be seen in order of arrival or based on the severity of the problem.Get testedThe IU Health Center Laboratory is the only local location where counseling and HIV testing are performed on-site. Results for the HIV test are available the same day. It also offers testing for common STIs such as Chlamydia, which is often asymptomatic and can go undetected. The test used in the lab is very sensitive and can detect infection very early. If you want to be tested for Chlamydia or other STIs, set up an appointment by calling 812-855-7688. PharmacyThe IU Pharmacy is located within the Health Center. It accepts many different prescription cards. The pharmacy also has three full-time pharmacists who are always available to answer questions. As well as giving discounts to students for some services, the pharmacy also stocks many over-the-counter medications like cough drops, cold medicine and eye drops.Immunization/allergyThe Health Center offers a variety of different vaccines at reasonable prices. Flu shots are made available prior to flu season. The Health Center wants all students to get flu shots so it prices them as low as possible.Allergy shots are also available. The Center will give out allergy shots based on the student and follow the instructions given by the student’s allergist. Physical therapyIt is the evaluation and treatment of a musculoskeletal injury with the goal of resolving pain and restoring function so the student can return to his or her highest function in school or any other kind of physical activity. Therapeutic exercise programs are tailored to each individual’s needs and might include exercises to correct faulty posture and biomechanics to improve flexibility, strength, balance and endurance.Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)CAPS is a professionally staffed counseling service that offers individual, group and couples counseling. Any kind of concern can be discussed in confidence with one of the counselors. Depression, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, sexual issues, substance abuse and problems of academic functioning are some of the concerns students often address through counseling.CAPS is located on the fourth floor of the Health Center.The IU Health Center is located at 600 N. Jordan Ave. near the Herman B Wells library. Hours of operation are Monday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Health Center is also open on some select Saturdays during the fall and spring semesters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.There is also an after hour’s telephone service Monday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. This is only during the fall and spring semesters. However, the IU Health Center does say that if a student is experiencing a life threatening emergency to call 911 or the Bloomington Hospital directly. *Source- IU Health Center website http://healthcenter.indiana.edu/index2.html
(05/11/11 11:31pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While preparing a course, faculty member Henry Kerre Wakhungu said he asked himself, “How do I make a statistics class more interesting for my students?” Now, he has been awarded for his innovative teaching methods.Seventeen IU faculty members have been selected as members of the class of 2011 Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching, FACET. Three of those 17 are from IU-Bloomington., bringing the total to 554 members.Membership is awarded to those who have demonstrated their exceptional commitment to teaching and learning through areas of self-evaluation, course preparation, research, instructional skills and student impact, according to a press release issued by IU.The three Bloomington faculty joining FACET are Vicky Meretsky, associate professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs; Lisa Thommeson, senior lecturer in psychological and brain science; and Wakhungu, senior lecturer, SPEA. Faculty are first nominated and then go through a rigorous application process in order to be selected as a member, Wakhungu said.“It takes time,” he said. “It is a rigorous nomination process because you have to ask yourself why you think you deserve the nomination and what about your teaching style stands out.”Wakhungu said he tries to teach his SPEA statistics class so his students will be more interested.“I split the class up and had them start working in groups,” he said. “That way the students get to know each other and trust each other.”Wakhungu said he wants his students to apply what they learn to real-life examples.“I don’t want them to just memorize formulas. I want them to be able to take the data they learned to answer the question.”Meretsky takes a hands-on approach when teaching her students.“I take my conservation biology class on field trips as often as I can,” she said.Meretsky said the class will go and help other organizations around the community. “I want the students to learn about conservation,” she said. “That way they understand the goals and priorities of the organization. It makes conservation more real.”
(07/29/10 2:46pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On her seventh studio album, “100 Miles from Memphis,” Sheryl Crow
develops her version of the reinvented 1960s sound to appeal to today’s
post-hip-hop generation. While this album features mainly a southern
sound, it definitely has a R&B vibe that is clearly Crow’s own.
The album’s title track shows distance from her hometown in Missouri. This retro-soul song has a lot to offer. “Summer Day” is the perfect summer song, with its fast-paced sounds and hard-hitting vocals. In
“Sideways,” Crow slows it down with a hint of sound reminiscent of Al
Green and a little country. “Long Road Home” also illustrates the
distance aspect from the title and has a soul sound.
Besides a lack of diversity, this album’s intense soul sound gives the album depth and renders it a must-listen.
(07/15/10 6:56pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Though Bloomington crime activity has remained relatively stable, campus crime has decreased significantly during the summer months.“The population in Bloomington is down, so crime has decreased,” IUPD Lt. Craig Munroe said. “It is slower when it comes to activity in the summer as far as illegal consumption, vandalism and thefts are concerned. We do still have other activities that have to do with special events so we do stay busy.”And the same is true for the Bloomington Police Department.“A quick look would indicate that actual calls for service do not seem to show any significant drop-off when students are not in town,” said Capt. Joe Qualters from the BPD in an e-mail. “Some offenses may show a decrease, such as noise violations or other nuisance-type calls, but officers are still kept busy responding to some type of call even in the absence of the student population.”And Bloomington is no stranger to hate crimes. Vandalism hate crimes, which include hateful writings on walls and buildings, occur frequently, said Barbara McKinney, director of the Bloomington Human Rights Commission.Racial hate crimes occur most often, and sexual hate crimes are a close second, McKinney said.However, McKinney said that these statistics are based on what is given to them by police and individual accounts. She also said that these statistics might not be completely accurate because some incidents are never reported.Vandalism and verbal assaults are the two most frequent hate incidents that occur in Bloomington, McKinney said. She also said that hate incidents might not be illegal, but they are still disconcerting.McKinney said the worst period for hate crimes took place from July 2005 to June 2006, when 33 hate incidents, including both illegal and legal acts, occurred.The time period with the fewest hate crimes occurred from July 2000 to June 2001. During that time, only four hate incidents took place.“Hate crimes can be scary and intimidating,” McKinney said. “They vary from year to year, and they are hard to predict. The last hate crime murder happened about 10 years ago.”
(07/08/10 12:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>What are students going to learn in the classes they take? Did the students learn what they needed to learn? How do we know?These are a few of the important questions assessors of undergraduate education are asking, said Sonya Stephens, IU’s vice provost for undergraduate education.“As faculty, we all do assessment, but we just don’t make it clear to our students and colleagues,” she said. “There is a lot of evidence that students learn more effectively if they are told about course objectives up-front.”In an effort to implement an overall student learning assessment, beginning Summer Session I in 2011 every school across the IU-Bloomington campus will have the same general education requirements, which are now posted on the IU website. General education will no longer be individualized by major, school or department but will be the same for all IU students.“The first part of the general education requirements is the common ground, where there will be about 800 classes that students can choose from,” said Stephens, who is overseeing the project. “Every student will take one English class and one math class as well as a world languages and cultures, which includes foreign languages.”Through the general education initiative, Stephens said students will have a clear idea of what is expected of them in each course because concrete objectives will be identified and emphasized in the syllabus and throughout the semester.“At the beginning of the syllabus for a class, there are the course objectives,” said Jean Robinson, professor of political science and associate dean for faculty and academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. “We want to track the course objectives though the syllabus. When a student takes a test, we want them to be able to relate what they learned back to the objectives, and we want it to be explicit.”Every course, not just general education courses, will now be required to have pre-stated student learning outcomes. Faculty members will also have to choose one assignment for a class and make sure it follows the outcome guidelines set by the department, Stephens said.“We are trying to assess what every student is learning in every course,” Stephens said. “If we discover things aren’t going very well in a particular class and students aren’t getting the skills, then we will try a new tactic. We will keep looking until we get it right, and the faculty will do something to change the course.”This campus-wide effort hopes to gather information about a course’s effectiveness. However, Stephens said professors will provide the learning outcomes for their classes individually.“There are 60 different departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, and they are all working autonomously,” Robinson said. “The college as a whole is suggesting and leading the different departments, but the faculty is in charge of the curriculum.”The History Learning Project, developed by four IU history professors, looks at the knowledge and skills students get out of the classes they are taking.Other departments are looking at this assessment as well to see how the required and elective classes fit in with courses’ outcomes. In the senior seminars, the political science department wants the students to be able to bring together the outcomes and build on their analytical skills, Robinson said.“We want students to get a clear sense of the skills they have, which can be useful in helping them get jobs or get into graduate school,” Robinson said. “Students are developing analytical, quantitative and qualitative skills, and we want this to be more transparent to the students. They can see how all of these skills work together.”In addition to the general requirement changes, the project will also include a new course approval system, not just for general education but for all other classes, too. The electronic system, which will replace the old paper system, will include learning objectives and how to assess them, Stephens said.“When a new course is proposed, a specification of learning outcomes is proposed for that class,” said Karen Hanson, provost and executive vice president at IU. “But a lot of courses are older and have not been assessed that way.”The paper-based system included the textbook and prerequisite requirements. Now, newer class requests need to include a specification of learning outcomes, Hanson said.“We want to make the learning outcomes and programs clear,” Stephens said. “The faculty needs to see that the students are meeting learning expectations. Things can’t be measured that haven’t been stated in advance.”There are other factors that help assess learning outcomes, such as placement test data, Stephens said.“We want students to gain the content and tools it takes to help them move forward,” Robinson said. “We want students to understand what is meaningful about their major. It goes beyond grades. Students get the knowledge they need in their majors to move forward in their lives.”
(06/30/10 11:48pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Since her debut album, Macy Gray’s work hasn’t been consistent. It has been great, disappointing and sometimes too eager to please. After three years of silence, Gray makes a comeback with “The Sellout,” a clear attempt to return to the soul artistry that launched her career and the raspy voice her fans are so familiar with.Some of the songs do just what she wants. The title track is a soulful groove built around an upbeat clap-and-blues melody, while “That Man” is a fun, carefree song sure to get the attention of fans. Gray is really trying to connect with the listener in this album, and “Help Me” hits some of that truthful emotion.However, some of the songs don’t show off the recognizable soft blues vocals we’re used to. “The Comeback” sounds a little too depressing, in stark contrast with the rest of the album, and “Still Hurts” has that same vibe without the earthiness of some of the other songs.Gray’s comeback album definitely connects with her audience, but some songs just try too hard. Fortunately, any seasoned listener will still find something to feel in this album.
(06/09/10 10:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Student activists from all over the Midwest are flocking to IU at the end of the week to participate in the fight against coal for the first-ever Sierra Student Coalition Coal Conference. Students attending the conference are a part of the Beyond Coal campaigns at their universities, a program started by the Sierra Club. Participants of the campaign work to move beyond coal as an energy source because of its negative effects on the environment. The conference, which will take place alongside the Sierra Club Coal Activist Conference, will take place June 10-12 on the IU-Bloomington campus. SSC activists from across the Midwest will attend, said Parker Laubach, member of the Beyond Coal campaign at the University of Illinois. “The Sierra Club conference is a Midwest conference that is trying to stop proposed and shut down current coal-fired power plants,” Laubach said. On the first day of the conference, students will organize themselves into workshops. The group workshops will focus on media, messaging, recruitment, coalition-building and campaign structure. “In the workshops, we will talk about what each school is doing in regards to the coal campaign,” Laubach said. There will also be an opportunity to attend Sierra Club workshops and talks on the national coal campaign, coal ash, climate change and Congress. “On the first day, we will meet in our student workshops. On the second and third days, we will meet with activists,” Laubach said. “We do not know exactly how it is going to work yet. We will decide the day before on how we are going to collaborate with the activists when all the student groups get there.”Different student groups attending the conference are working toward different goals. Students from universities such as IU and the University of Illinois are working to reduce the use of coal on their respective campuses.“At University of Illinois, we are working to shut down the use of coal as energy at the coal-fired power plants at our school,” Laubach said. “We don’t want to shut down the power plant, just shut down the use of coal. We want these plants to switch over to thermal energy, biofuel or another form of clean energy.” So far the University of Illinois has succeeded. At IU, the Beyond Coal campaign is called Coal Free IU. The student-run program wanted to brand themselves away from Beyond Coal while still remaining part of the campaign, sophomore and Coal Free IU member Lauren Kastner said. “IU has a dependency on coal, and we are trying to pull away from that,” Kastner said. “IU is a huge research institution, and we have the ability to take the lead in clean energy.”Kastner also spoke about the effect of coal on the state of Indiana. “The state of Indiana is 96 percent dependent on coal,” she said. “Removing coal is a huge step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” Laubach said schools such as Washington University in St. Louis that have very small student populations have been fighting for different goals regarding coal.“Wash U gets a lot of money from coal companies,” Laubach said. “The students do not like that clean coal is being associated with their university, and they are trying to change that. They have gotten a lot of press because of their campaign.”The Sierra Student Coalition Coal Conference is an opportunity for students to see how the coal campaign works on a national level. “The conference is an amazing opportunity to network with student activists, share ideas, help fight coal and have a good time,” Laubach said.
(05/19/10 11:30pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jackson Browne and David Lindley document their 2006 Spanish tour with their new album, “Love is Strange.” The album contains many songs from the two artist’s careers as well as some Spanish intros and commentaries. Even though the latter are indeed a little strange, this album really contains some of the best songs of their careers. Lindley is brilliant in shaping the surfaces of his songs as well as highlighting the subtle melodic tones in them. He plays a fiddle on “Take It Easy” that really adds a great element to the song. As a lighthearted ballad, it adds life to the album. The new creation has become a funky blues album with a new sense of style. Songs like “Call It a Loan” and “Running on Empty,” even though they sound very much alike, capture that slow-moving blues quality that gives the album character.This experiment could have failed miserably because of the nostalgic conception, but it succeeded in many ways.
(05/19/10 10:48pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While sitting in the Indiana Memorial Union, senior Allison Baker studies for a psychology test. She is taking two classes in the first summer session and one in the second. “I want to get more credits done to graduate on time, and I am paying for my apartment, so I want to live in it,” Baker said. “I am not paying $600 for a storage unit.” According to the Office of the Registrar, in 2009 the total number of students that took summer classes was 10,034, which is lower than in previous years.Nevertheless, summer classes are generally known as being more laid-back than those of other semesters, and some students like to take advantage of that. “I heard summer school is fun, and I wanted to experience that,” senior Ellie Chamlin said. “I also want an easier semester in the fall, and I just changed my major, so I need the credits.”Some students are just looking for something to do in the summer.“I like to be busy,” senior Ashland Denison said. “I am actually on the right track with the credits I need to graduate.”IU offers two summer sessions, and students can choose to take classes in either or both. In 2009, more undergraduate students were taking classes the first session than the second, with 6,061 in the first session and 3,973 in the second, according to the Office of the Registrar.“I am taking classes in both summer sessions because — why not?” Baker said. “Some classes are just easier to take in the summer.”Chamlin has a job that is affecting her ability to take classes both sessions.“I am not taking classes all summer because I have a job in Wisconsin,” she said. “It is hard to be in Bloomington all summer when a lot of my close friends aren’t here, too.” Denison is not taking second-session classes for different reasons.“I was signed up for classes in the second summer session, but I decided I didn’t want to spend the money,” he said. “I also thought I would have a job.”Summer school can affect other aspects of summer, such as leisure time and employment. “I won’t be home all summer because of school and my job,” Chamlin said. “Also, I do have a lot of homework to do that keeps me very busy.”Denison is glad to be in summer classes because he doesn’t have to be around his family, but it has affected other areas of his life. “I haven’t had to deal with my mother,” he said, “but I don’t get as much sleep as I usually get in the summer.”Alternatively, summer school hasn’t affected Baker at all.“It hasn’t really affected my job or my summer activities,” she said. “It is basically like the school year. I make time for leisure activities in the school year, too.”
(05/19/10 9:58pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“The Powerless Rise,” As I Lay Dying’s new album, is probably the band’s most accomplished release. The album’s songs are littered with thrashing guitar riffs and powerful vocal performances. The group perfects their most polished album to date with these killer vocals and harsh melodies.“Without Conclusion” is one of the heavier songs on the album, featuring the most imaginative guitar solos and vocal intensity. “Parallels,” which is probably the most captivating track, will leave fans of the group wanting more. “Upside Down Kingdom” has some of the most imaginative melodies that catch you right from the get-go. Even though these head-banger songs have some of the most imaginative musicianship, some lack originality. “The Blinding of False Light” and “Condemned” sound almost identical, and I found myself getting lost in “Anger and Apathy.” But mostly, this album kills, and heavy metal fans from all over will get into the inventive melodies.
(04/21/10 7:31pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Creativity soars through Straight No Chaser’s new album, “With a Twist.” This album sees the IU alumni taking on the likes of Coldplay’s “Fix You,” Oasis’ “Wonderwall” and Barry Manilow’s “One Voice,” featuring guest vocals from Manilow himself. Straight meshes the lyrics of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” with the “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” melody in the background. It changes the entire dynamic in Coldplay’s “Fix You” to create a new song to call its own. Barry Manilow’s “One Voice” has a one-word explanation: amazing. “Tainted Love” is an almost karaoke’d version of the original, which hurts the a capella group’s momentum a little, as does Straight’s take on Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World,” which is a very upbeat song that the group, unfortunately, didn’t keep that way. For the most part, Straight No Chaser gives each track on this album its own little, creative twist.
(04/14/10 6:54pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This April marks the release of “Bang! Pow! Boom! Nuclear Edition,” Insane Clown Posse’s latest effort. This three-disc set contains original tracks from their 2009 album, plus a few hidden songs, never released efforts and, to top it all off, a DVD featuring a handful of music videos. Typically, the songs on the album tell a story that plays into a larger concept of the mythical dark carnival. ICP has managed to build an impressively huge fan base for these odd concepts. In some ways, they have even managed to rival some fantasy novels in their elaborate labyrinth of songs.However, the gimmick dries up on some of these newer efforts. Even though carnival magic is something that few groups even touch on, it is certainly growing a little stale. Their video “Miracles” depicts many worldly places as miracles, including the sky, space and the birth of a new baby. The colors and the scenes were insane, and of course, the face paint didn’t fit in — kind of like everything ICP does.
(04/07/10 4:51pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For its first album recorded without co-founding member Steven Page, Barenaked Ladies really needed to step it up if they wanted to recapture the comedic vocal harmonies that made the band great in the late ’90s. Unfortunately, “All in Good Time” does not bring the same stylings the band used to. Fun harmonies still flow through the music but they are attached to depressing lyrics, which is a little confusing.“Another Heartbreak” has an upbeat musical tone but the lyrics are, well, about a heartbreak. I’m not sure whether the musical styling is supposed to be a joke or serious.Another track, “You Run Away,” is so depressing that it will make you more than a little nostalgic for “One Week.”However, there is a glimmer of the old Ladies on “Good Time,” and “Every Subway Car” and “Summertime” do feature the upbeat harmonies the band is known for and are powered by equally upbeat lyrics. Thankfully, the whole album isn’t a miss. But without Steven Page, the Barenaked Ladies just are not the same.
(03/10/10 7:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Even with the lead singer Jason Wade’s strong vocals, Lifehouse’s new album “Smoke and Mirrors” does not measure up to the band’s past efforts. There are a lot of songs on this album that really needed some more work. “Nerve Damage” just sounds like it is trying too hard to be relevant, like Lifehouse is worried that it is falling out of the spotlight. The album’s title track and “Wrecking Ball” also do not compare to the group’s old songs. But thankfully, there are a few songs here that are just as excellent as some of the band’s older songs. “All In” and “Had Enough” incorporate some of the older vocal stylings and musical riffs that have made its songs great. The first single “Halfway Gone” has reached popularity among the masses and has a lot of the same style as the older efforts. Though most of the album sees Lifehouse trying too hard to be modern and radio-baiting, a few of its songs still hold some of the same heartfelt emotion that made people fall in love with the group in the first place.
(02/24/10 5:37pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the new album “Evolution of Chaos,” Heathen presents a sound featuring more diversity than many other metal bands that try to mimic the classics. Powered by a slew of energetic ballads and bursts of emotion, it also has more heart than many others. “A Hero’s Welcome” has a patriotic sound and spoken word by various musicians. This effort, along with “Red Tears of Disgrace,” include more emotion and depth than the other songs, as they show real passion to destroy evil. The rest of the album lacks such passion. Even though certain tracks have something to offer, “Chaos” features a lot that other metal albums get criticized for: Repetitive cord changes and too many lyrics and dynamics squeezed into one song. Even though Heathen’s latest has some great songs, they still have some evolving to do.
(02/03/10 6:35pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Songwriter Patty Griffin’s new album “Downtown Church” is just what her
fans expect: poetic lyricism and melodic guitar that’s easy to fall in
love with. With her wistful sounds, Patty Griffin is one of
America’s great songwriters. And her songs actually have substance.
Griffin’s well-crafted songs are much different than most pop artists
of this age. “Never Grow Old” and “Waiting for My Child” are
bittersweet ballads that will touch your heart. She is known
for her gutsy voice but sounds a bit too nasally in some of the songs.
In “House of Gold” and “Little Fire” Griffin sounds like she is trying
too hard. She also sings the old religious song, “Wade in the Water.”
But she sings it in a different style that is ultimately disappointing.However
overall, “Downtown Church” is still the same Patty Griffin that all her
fans love, full of her lyricism and bittersweet melodies.
(01/20/10 7:05pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Former B2K lead vocalist Omarion does not impress with his new solo album “Ollusion.” Not surprisingly, the album lacks any of the creativity it needs to help Omarion become a great R&B artist like Usher or Ne-Yo. Omarion rarely takes control on “Ollusion.” He might have written and co-produced most of the album, but he isn’t a dominant presence amid all the additional sounds and overproduction. For the third album in a row he has failed to create a distinct sound that could separate him from the pack, as so few of the songs here are strong enough to be memorable whatsoever. However, some creativity is present in a handful of songs. Terrible title aside, “I Think My Girl Is Bi” features beats and lyrics that make it stand out. The techno beats in “Wet” and the sultry quality of “Sweet Hangover” will give the listeners something to hold onto. All in all, the album needed more work in order to be great. And by extension, so does Omarion.