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(01/26/11 4:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Backstage, Lauren Vogel is obsessing about her hair. The IU Kelley School of Business senior is playing the role of pop star for her first big show at the Bluebird Nightclub, called “Bass, Booze & Skittles.” More than 300 people are attending the event, according to Facebook. It’s the largest crowd she’s performed for as a solo artist. The growing crowd outside is enjoying the Wednesday night special of 15-cent beer and tonight exclusively, $1 Skittles shots. All Lauren can think about is her hair. It is long and brown, often worn down in loose curls off to the side. She scrunches up her face in the backstage oval mirror, which is mounted on graffiti-covered walls with faded band stickers.“Should I wear it up or down?” she asks the room of men. They’re all friends. Seniors Brice Fox and Danny “DJ O” Olson sit on a Sharpied bench across from Lauren. They are performing a few songs with her and don’t seem to be nearly as worried.“Guys like girls with their hair down, but you’re the artist,” Brice says. He pauses for a second to observe her. “You look cute.”“Ugh, no, I don’t,” Lauren says.She darts out the room for the 15th time and returns to open a bottle of Bud Light from the tub of free beers brought in earlier by the club owner. “When I was in Ladies First (IU’s female a cappella group) we used to drink champagne as a toast before going on, so I got used to that, sort of,” Lauren says with a laugh. Lauren’s appearance seems opposite of her actual state. She’s dressed casually in a black leather jacket, a red top and black jeans. Lauren rifles through her makeup bag and decides to apply the Lancome lipstick her mother gave her.The color: visionary.***Lauren’s upbringing in St. Louis provided her the ideal formula for future pop stardom. She practiced singing on a karaoke machine for performances in church, and her parents enrolled her in private voice and dance lessons. Lauren appeared on the local TV station’s version of American Idol for kids and even had a brief stint as an ad model for Kohler, the plumbing fixture company where her dad worked.“I wanted to be like Britney Spears, but brunette,” Lauren says. Lauren learned early on that she had to believe in herself if she wanted to be successful. Her grandmother, a freewheeling woman who was “natural and spiritual,” as Lauren calls her, was a huge influence. Lauren’s grandmother would tell people she’d been to Venus in one of her past lives while had been Native American in another. Apparently, she was even doing splits in the hospital as one of Lauren’s younger sisters was being born.“She was crazy to everyone else, but I thought she was brilliant just because of her mental and spiritual state,” Lauren says. Lauren says her grandmother also believed people could fix things themselves, and as a result, never visited a doctor. Lauren’s grandmother taught her that there was always a way to make things happen, and before she died, she gave Lauren a cross necklace. “‘You’re gonna be a peacemaker,’ she told me. It really stuck with me because she really believed in me.”Lauren’s parents divorced when she was 10 years old, and her father was subsequently diagnosed with kidney cancer. “He had a hard time,” she says. “It’s not my mom’s fault.”Lauren’s aunt lives out in Arizona. Her mother took her daughters (Lauren has two younger sisters, now ages 17 and 20.) there for a few months. Lauren admits to being blind to what was going on. Lauren’s voice hardens, and her bright blue eyes grow coolly reflective. “It was the first time in my life,” she says, “that I had to learn to be strong.” Though Lauren’s father is now cancer-free, it was during this time that she gained strength through music. Her favorite song to sing as a kid was Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and the pink wallpaper in her room decorated with ballet slippers gave Lauren comfort in dancing by herself. “I discovered during that time that I’ll be happy no matter what,” Lauren says. “If I’m all alone in an apartment at age 60, I’ll be OK.” Lauren pauses a second, picks at her red nail polish and smiles sheepishly.“It’s like music is my boyfriend.” ***The recording studio is Lauren’s “favorite time.” Next to the stage, it is the place where she forgets her fears.Most of all, being in the studio has helped Lauren realize her dream. In high school, Lauren spent long hours in and out of a jazz ensemble and a dance team. In her free time, which was any spare moment, she was writing about the things that inspired her, including every teenage girl’s first moment of angst: having your heart broken by a guy that “turns out to be a huge dick.” Her first song featured lyrics like, “I might not be strong enough, I admit, but everything you gave me could be worth it.” And now, she’s recording a song about a recent heartbreak. Danny, who produces most of her music, is twiddling with knobs and a keyboard that spans the length of a flatscreen television in his bedroom studio. Brice sits on the bed across from Danny and Lauren. Lauren hums the melody to a song tentatively called “Lonely Heart.” The lyrics: “I talked you up / Put you on a throne” were written in Lauren’s messy bedroom. “Does ‘You-know-who’ know this is about him?” Brice asks as Danny pounds out melancholy chords in G major. “It has to be triumphant sounding, though, too,” Danny says, focused on the keyboard. “We don’t want this to be sad.”Lauren stops singing for a moment to ponder Brice’s question. She smiles coyly. “Actually, no. I don’t care,” she says. “I hope he hears it, and it’s like a slap in the face.” The trio switches gears to another track.Lauren seems to be experiencing some writer’s block. She’s throwing around ideas with Brice and Danny, to a club-friendly beat with synths that sound like race cars. Brice begins to howl in a falsetto a la pop band 3OH!3. Danny mentions it reminds him of wolves. The three friends somehow talk about wolves, S & M and malnourished children. As crazy as the conversation is, Lauren seems to be enjoying it. She is smiling, doodling away in the corner of a piece of notebook paper. First a circle, then petals. ***A few odd months ago, a friend of a friend sent Lauren’s tracks to Jack Minihan, an up-and-coming concert promoter, who was working on pop-rap artist Mike Posner’s Midwest tour. Jack contacted Lauren and asked her if she wanted to go to the concert in Indianapolis for free. Lauren didn’t have time to go shopping, so she ran from the business school and grabbed a few of her girlfriends. She borrowed a black dress — “You can never go wrong,” one of her friends advised — and dashed to Indy. After the show, Lauren and her friends were invited backstage to meet Mike Posner. “The keyboardist in his band was Gaga’s or something,” Lauren shrugs. It was one of those moments where Lauren had very little time to think about nerves or the rush of being backstage, getting the VIP treatment. Jack, having heard Lauren’s tracks, asked her to sing for him. Lauren belted Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools.”Jack asked Lauren on the spot if she wanted him to be her manager. Though Lauren didn’t make a hasty decision, the experience was an eye-opener and the best night of her life. “People are hearing me,” Lauren says of her thoughts at the time. “And I’m hearing, ‘You can do it’ from people in the industry who have much more say than I do. That has to count for something. I just can’t wait for the day that I get to work with the people I most admire.”***Lauren is freaking out. Minutes before she is set to go on with Brice, Danny and local artists Lin Z and Broderick Thompson, she asks everyone to leave. Lauren’s still nursing her beer and just had an impromptu prayer circle and a celebratory Skyy Vodka shot with friends who hugged her and took lots of pictures. One of Lauren’s closer friends, Rachel, grabs her by the wrists and says, “You are so beautiful, and you are going to be so very amazing.” Lauren hugs her and leaves the room for one last bathroom break. “Let’s not fuck this up,” Lauren says to herself before she walks on stage. The huge crowd is screaming. The Bluebird hasn’t been this packed in a while. Lauren nervously approaches the stage. The orange-and-blue lighting creates the atmosphere of a hazy basement rave.The beat to “Body Work,” an original song about spotting that lucky boy across the room while dancing, starts to play. It is synth-heavy and, as Lauren would say, “fist-pumping.” Lauren looks out at the crowd. Some have never heard her music. She sees strangers, and she sees her friends. The crowd begins to sway. Lauren runs up to the mic.
(01/13/11 12:36am)
"Hold it Against Me" and "H.A.M." are this week's hit singles.
(12/09/10 1:04am)
Our editors' and writers' picks
(11/16/10 2:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The dark green Nissan Pathfinder slows as I walk down Indiana Avenue. The man at the wheel revs the engine as though he’s challenging me to a drag race.Inside the SUV are three other young men. Out of the corner of my eye, I see them high-fiving. My stomach churns. All I can think about is that home is so close. “Faggot!”“You think you’re so cool, don’t you, faggot!”“Nigger, give my sister her pants back!”I’ve just wrapped up my Tuesday morning classes and am headed back to my house to make lunch. The Pathfinder creeps beside me, spewing insults.I feel like I’m about to burst into flames.Ignore them, I tell myself. ***Joyriding is what I call it. All my life, strangers have had fun yelling at me from cars.They catch me off-guard, call me names, try to dissolve me into nothing. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been told that I’m too much. The first thing people see is the color of my skin. I’m African-American, so I can’t master English.I’m gay, so I’m a freak of nature. Even worse, I’m not afraid of who I am. I don’t mope down the street. I strut. A palm reader once warned me that if I didn’t avoid extremes I would perish. That was her word: “perish.” Another time, a friend’s mother urged me to stop being gay in front of her husband and sons.“Can you turn off the sexuality?” she said. “Because it offends the boys.”Her suggestion was bewildering. It wasn’t as if I was prancing around in a tutu.I didn’t buy that attitude then, and I don’t buy it now. Why should I have to hide so other people feel comfortable? It took me forever to get to where I am today. I’m learning how to be myself with all I’ve got.That Tuesday morning, before the jeering from the men in the Pathfinder, I’d been jolted from sleep by Lady Gaga’s voice booming from my phone.My grandmother had taught me to start my mornings with a prayer. So that’s what I did. I thanked God for another day and asked for peace and strength. I made my bed — another piece of my grandmother’s advice. I headed for my closet and debated what look to pull off. Sometimes I’m Lady Gaga’s twin with movie star sunglasses. Or I drape myself in black, like a French fashion designer. I have my Western days, with flannel shirts and cowboy boots, and my Sid Vicious days, with torn T-shirts and high-top sneakers.That morning I chose a sleeveless Sgt. Pepper Beatles shirt, cut-off denim shorts and a worn pair of black boots. The final touch was my eyeliner. I leaned close to my bathroom mirror and held my breath as I traced the dark pencil beneath my eyes. When I was done, I exhaled. Taped to the mirror was a message. Four words formed by letters I’d cut out from Vogue.Show your true colors.***“Faggot’s got a sweet ass in those jeans!” The joyriders have been following me for almost half a block. The Pathfinder stops at a red light. I wait for the signal to turn green so I can cross onto 10th Street. I can’t seem to tune out the taunts.One of my classes that morning was Y100, American Political Controversies. The course focuses on conflicting viewpoints about the death penalty, health care and gay marriage. The point is to understand perspectives you don’t agree with.Waiting for the light to change, I try to apply what I’ve learned. I wonder what it would be like to be one of the guys in the SUV. If I were them, would I do this to me? Would I see someone like me as a threat?The revving of the engine and the jeers are obviously designed to scare me. Does belittling me make them feel bigger? The tension is almost sexual. Are they getting off on this?“Faggot!”I want to play it cool and be above these guys. But I’m starting to panic. My breathing quickens. My jaw tightens.What will happen if I lash out? I’m in public. If I lose it, I’ll look like a lunatic.Suddenly I don’t care anymore. I want to push the Pathfinder over.“Get out of the fucking car, every last one of you,” I roar, “so I can beat your fucking asses!” In the back row of the SUV, one of the men laughs so hard he slaps his leg. I’m still standing there, red-faced and huffing, when the light finally turns green. The Pathfinder screeches off, blanketing me in a cloud of exhaust.Tears sting my face as I head home. I can’t believe I allowed myself to lose control. ***The next morning, I listen to my grandmother. I say another prayer of thanks, make my bed, get dressed. Once again, I gaze at my reflection in the mirror and apply eyeliner. A different shade this time. Mint blue.
(11/11/10 12:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>N.E.R.D., an ongoing funk-punk side project of producers the Neptunes, is finally a band with some substance.From uneven skate park sentiments to intergalactic come-ons, N.E.R.D has experienced a rocky, decade-long career plagued with music lacking the maturity and genius of its predecessors (2004’s “Fly or Die” album, with its socio-political themes, is a minor exception). “Nothing,” N.E.R.D’s fourth album, recalls some of those oddities. This time around, the band utilizes the musical smarts Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo were born with.It’s a hypnotic concoction of doo-wop, malt-shop and theater-pop that’s equal parts Queen and the Temptations. “Victory” stirs up the pot with stadium music: “Victory, I can smell it in the air/ Only a champion would qualify.”The Nelly Furtado-assisted single “Hot-N’-Fun” and “Hypnotize U” are album wild cards, backed by smooth funk grooves and seductive lyrics that actually don’t make you wince in pre-pubescent pain.“Nothing” works because it shows that while N.E.R.D may still be skate park kings, at least they’ll don tuxedos when showing off new tricks.
(10/20/10 11:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Apparently we are experiencing a resurgence of female teens and young adults with brilliant minds and prodigal musicianship. Since Madonna and the arguably sometimes transgendered glam of David Bowie got old and less bold, the mainstream has been flooded with Gaga-esque phenoms who seem to understand what’s been done before and how to make it their own. The twist involves being ironic as hell. Enter Zola Jesus, the moniker of 21-year-old chamber pop songbird Nika Rosa Danilova. With a string of successful albums and EPs, she has shown much promise with a stellar voice that fills even the most hollow caves and lyrics as creepy as an illuminati dream. Her latest EP, the 4-track “Valusia,” takes what worked from the dark beauty of the “Stridulum” EPs and gives it a beat. Songs like “Sea Talk” and “Poor Animal” swoon in tides of cine-dramatic electronic waves. The rest of the EP inspires cerebral head bobs and hand claps. My only worry: If PJ Harvey’s “White Chalk” album and Bat For Lashes had a baby, “Valusia” would be one haunted, yet wicked smart offspring.
(10/20/10 11:53pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>You may have never heard of Brooke Fraser unless you live near kangaroos. But I’m telling you, it’s time you get familiar. The New Zealand artist is a hybrid of acoustic folk pop, jazz and Christian undertones.Fraser’s songs are carried by her soaring voice, drawing Sarah McLachlan comparisons minus the high cheese factor. Fraser’s spirituality complements her tunes without overpowering them — a rarity in a Christian genre that seems hellbent on warning others of damnation. Her songs are about life and all its gray matter.What has plagued Fraser, however, is her tendency to talk about life in a way that is so introspective and cryptic; she veers into dark territory.“Flags,” Fraser’s third LP, takes the singer to Los Angeles, where she decided to throw some of her rules for songcraft out the window.“Something in the Water” suggests Fraser is at least having some fun as she reminisces about wine nights with friends sung over a beat with an addictive neo-country stomp. Songs such as “Jack Kerouac” and “Coachella” are also sonically intriguing, with the former showing some Rasta-love to a man who inspired her own trip to LA.The album’s closing track, “Flags,” is the thoughtful torch song, as Fraser contemplates why “innocents fall” and “monsters stand.” Underneath the album’s variety in theme and sound stands a woman who doesn’t seem afraid to wave her flags of justice, peace and reflection in a pure spirit of truth and love. That’s far more powerful than anyone who ever preaches on the platform of hate. Consider this album a collection of songs for a renewed world.
(10/20/10 11:24pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It seems as though Antony Hegarty of the New York band Antony and the Johnsons is finally charting his course home.Hegarty is known for penning lyrics about the depths of misery and human suffering, and his voice is of such surreal power that it’s almost cartoonish. On the band’s fourth album, “Swanlights,” the sad singer demonstrates a sense of hope that he alluded to on the closing track to 2008’s brittle “The Crying Light”.“I need another world/This one’s nearly gone,” Hegarty ruminated.These songs focus on the power of love rather than the destructiveness of self-hatred. The single, “Thank You For Your Love,” is the strongest advocate for this message. For the first time in a while, if ever, Antony sounds as if he’s smiling when he’s singing, among a cacophony of horns and free-jazz vocals.The stunning “Fletta,” a standout collaboration (the most eccentric this year) featuring Bjork, has a spacious and emotionally consistent approach, giving Bjork’s big, warm voice room to shine.We should all purchase “Swanlights” and thank Hegarty for learning to love himself and the world around him.
(10/13/10 10:05pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Is it me, or is the general consensus of KT Tunstall that she is a cheesy singer and multi-instrumentalist with a penchant for nonsense?Whether that’s true or not, her third studio album, “Tiger Suit,” is a mesh of the success of innovative alt-rock stompers such as “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and the floptastic 2007 album “Drastic Fantastic.”The result is a delightful mixture that dabbles in more textured sounds, with Tunstall sinking her claws into music that is equally as light as it is dark (see “Push That Knot Away”). The sound is also a bit more progressive, similar to a lovechild by M.I.A.’s latest venture and anything by Florence + the Machine.In recent interviews, Tunstall talked, with little confidence, about finding a new sound when recording “Tiger Suit” called “nature techno,” which blends electronics, noise and organic instrumentation.“Difficulty” is a strong representation of this new sound, featuring self-effacing couplets such as: “Twisting myself into shapes/ To stop you crying/ What’ll I do if I lose you/ What’ll I do if I lose.”There’s some power in Tunstall’s tiger roar after all.
(10/06/10 9:38pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From the sound of things, one can tell British DJ-producer Mark Ronson seriously channels his current influences through the records he listened to as a kid.With the moniker Mark Ronson & the Business Int’l, “Record Collection” reaches out to some of those influences. Legendary music heavyweights like Boy George, Q-Tip and D’Angelo play a hand in creating an excellent batch of original songs that manage to shine the spotlight on Ronson’s production abilities.Ronson’s 2007 covers album, “Version,” found him doo-wopping out pop gems like Britney’s “Toxic” to fine effect. Amy Winehouse even recreated The Zutons’ “Valerie” so masterfully that the album got a Brit Award the following year. Win.On this album, Ronson takes that soulful ability and multiplies it by awesome — as in synthier drum loops, punchy ’80s electronics and sweetly-laid harmonies. He even busts out a mic and sings backup on the sparkling “Somebody to Love Me.”Joints like Spank Rock assisted “The Bike Song” cruise on a parade of tricked-out fixies via fresh hip-hop breakbeats. The theme here for Ronson and crew is to have fun and revisit the past. Consider your record collection enhanced.
(09/30/10 12:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a morning tennis workout and a shower with Justin Bieber cooing in the background, Erika Hall decided it was time to get dressed for the day.A lot went into selecting the black Banana Republic skinny dress pants and white sleeveless blouse from The Limited the IU junior chose to wear. For Hall, it’s the right combination of femininity and confidence. (Bonus: The sleeveless blouse allows Hall to show off her guns from working out this past summer.)Part of it is because she wants to go to law school. Another part is because it was the day of her Cox Scholarship ceremony. And another part is due to her position as lectures director for Union Board. Hall said she takes all three very seriously.But more than anything, Hall’s style of dress is the product of her southern upbringing. As a native of Fort Mill, S.C., there was no such thing as leaving the house without a Polo and Sperrys.“You just didn’t look bad where I’m from,” Hall said. “There was no question that you’d be seen when you left the house each day, so you were expected to look your best.”At IU, the culture lends one to believe that girls are to wear leggings and American Apparel.After some dirty looks for her preppy, conservative appearance, Hall tried on an overpriced, oversized T-shirt freshman year.“It just wasn’t me,” she said while conditioning her hair. “I found that being myself is enough. I don’t have to respond to how people judge me for the way I dress.”And while brands such as J.Crew and Banana Republic neatly line her closet, Hall said it isn’t all about the branding. She said she thought it was important to wear whatever makes you feel good.“I love to bargain shop for the looks I enjoy most,” Hall said. “There’s no point in paying $300 for a sundress if you don’t have to.”Margaret Fette, a visiting lecturer in the Department of Apparel Merchandising, has a different point of view. Call her old school, but the grunge of the youth these days is none too appealing to her, mainly because of extremes in fashion. There’s chic and couture, and there’s hipster and hot mess, but there’s seemingly no innovative way to merge the two in a way that makes sense. In terms of dressing to impress, especially for interviews in jobs or internships, a key piece of her advice is this: The person sitting across the desk from you with the fountain pen and paper is more than likely older than you. Translation — your version of what’s casual isn’t always appropriate, Fette said.Fette runs a local business specializing in custom alterations called The Tailored Fit. You wouldn’t believe the lack of fashion utility that walks through my doors, Fette laughed.Aside from potential employees occasionally blurting out personal business in an interview, fashion faux pas really shock her. “All I’m going to say is that deep plunging necklines and short skirts are not flattering on everyone,” she said. “Unless you are a six-pound mannequin, it’s not flattering to most people.”
(09/22/10 10:05pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Brandon Flowers’ solo strike-out, “Flamingo,” takes the ’80s-flavored, dirty disco rampage that has worked with his band The Killers and writes an autobiography. Sort of.Unfortunately for fans of The Killers, Flowers’ lyrics and delivery don’t paint a very interesting picture.The lyrics throughout the album vaguely hint at the euphemisms of The Killers’ 2006 hit, “When You Were Young.” Spoke-sung references to “slipping through time” and “biting off more than you can chew” are juxtaposed with pseudo-zen musical accompaniment. The problem here is no one is sure, in Flowers’ 10-year career as a professional musician, how to decipher what he’s learned from his early days on the Vegas strip. Songs such as “Crossfire” and “Playing with Fire” are burdened with well-intended epithets that somehow fall flat.It’s too bad, really. Flowers — a sexy, stylish Mormon who has been at the center of controversy with statements criticizing Green Day and Panic! At the Disco — actually has a lot to say. This album is an example of what can happen when a lead singer of a hit band breaks out and bites his tongue. At least the album remains true to its title — flamingos are cursed with wings that can’t take flight.
(09/15/10 11:42pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the fact that last Saturday marked nine years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The music I’ve been listening to this past week has somehow led up to my reflection of this. We are reminded with events in the present-day of just how important it is to never forget that tragedy. The Florida pastor who maniacally planned to burn the Quran comes to mind, as does the nationwide reconsideration of who should always make the no-fly list at airports, regardless of whether or not they’ve committed any crimes. I’ve found it necessary to tune out this hatred with messages of love. For that reason, Antony and the Johnson’s latest EP, “Thank You for Your Love,” is currently resonant with me. For those who don’t know, Antony Hegarty, the lead singer of the dark cabaret, chamber pop collective, has a voice that is other wordly. His message and his lyrics, though often enough to send someone into a wine-fueled tailspin of depression and suicidal thoughts, is ultimately positive. The new EP is a slight departure from what I just mentioned and has a more upbeat quality to it.The title track of the EP is a fine example of this — mixing horn blasts and a flurry of scatted, heartfelt “thank yous.”“You Are the Treasure” is another gem, a pile of affections laid on thick: “You are the treasure/you are the dream/ you are my friend/ you are a river of milk to me,” Hegarty sings.“My Lord My Love” talks about the beauty of having never-failing protection, of always being watched over, with a piano driven melody that sounds similar to a melancholy Christmas.The EP’s tone evokes images of fireplaces, of robust family dinners, of cobblestone streets being covered in leaves of every color. It reminds me of what happens to all of us when the seasons change — we all change in some way and are inspired to dig deeper. As fall approaches, layers of clothing will shield our inner selves, readying us for the iciness of winter. Our moods become stale, as they are fixed on extreme highs and lows. Or, at least that’s what happens to me. So, as I get ready for another change in season and temperament, I will realize that I’m not alone. The growth I experience in this time is a lot like Hegarty’s growth as a person. His earlier songs encapsulated the depths of human suffering — the loneliness, the hopelessness, the romanticism of it all. Nowadays, he seems to be on a track of understanding that in times like these, love, not hate, will be what sets us free. Oh, and saying “thank you.”
(09/15/10 11:30pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I know what you’re thinking — is The Pretty Reckless’ debut “Light Me Up” the product of “Gossip Girl” troublemaker Taylor Momsen, aka Little J? If so, you probably hate it already.The image of a sulking teen temptress/raccoon who just got kicked out of a bar upon being caught with a fake ID is too appealing.However, the music is actually not bad. Whether it authentically comes from Momsen’s wretched 17-year-old soul or not is up for debate. Even if Momsen is vamping it up a la poseur, I believe her like she’s Courtney Love’s messed-up little sister.Her voice shrieks, howls and sometimes gets vulnerable over vaguely familiar rock riffs to songs called “Make Me Wanna Die” and the opener, “My Medicine.”The standout track is the band’s current single, “Miss Nothing,” with its churn of hollow bells and road-trippin’ guitar licks. It seems to be about the death of a beauty queen, or “Miss Everything.”Whatever that means is up to you, the listener. But like everything scandalous Ms. Momsen does, take it with a grain of salt.
(09/01/10 11:50pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It is likely that season three American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino is going through the strangest public relations campaign ever for her third album, “Back to Me.”Just weeks ago, Fantasia allegedly attempted suicide after being caught in an affair with a married man. This comes after recent negative press for Fantasia’s weight gain and lackluster live performances.But the third time is definitely a charm.Fantasia seems unfazed by all the negativity, and not only is she still promoting her album with strong daytime television performances, but it is also being used as the best fuel for her fire.This album cruises by on an interesting crop of meaty songs inflected with Motown melodies and gospel turns of phrase. The standout is “The Thrill Is Gone,” a soul banger duet performed with Cee-Lo Green. Her vocals here show more confidence than her previous two efforts combined.“Back to Me” may suggest self-indulgence on Fantasia’s part; however, she selflessly — and effortlessly — returns the favor.
(09/01/10 10:22pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If you’ve got a sweet-tooth for pop gems filled with diabetic hooks, Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” is sure to suck(er) you in. High fructose puns aside, it is a sure frontrunner for one of the top albums of the summer.“California Gurls,” the album’s lead single, kicks things off to a glittery start. YouTube videos mashing it up with Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok” have pointed out the similarities between the two monster jams. But what Ke$ha’s breakout single lacked in pomp, “California Gurls” makes up for in circumstance. Her girls are the hottest ones on the beach, “in the sand in their stilettos” makin’ the “boys break their necks to creep a little sneak peek.” What’s not to love? Perry plays the melancholy Lolita to fine effect by giving and taking away her treats.In Perry’s kitchen, she serves hefty doses of sauce with bleacher stompers like “Peacock.” Without saying a whole lot, we can understand exactly what a “peacock” is. And as much of an irresistible party as “Teenage Dream” is, it broods and gets deep on occasion as well.“Circle the Drain” laments the loss of a flame to prescription medication, (Travie McCoy, anyone?). As if that’s not enough, she spits venom with the stinger, “You fall asleep during foreplay.”“Who Am I Living For?” contemplates spiritual warfare in a world of doom and gloom, a well-crafted response to critics of her Christian upbringing.This schizophrenia represents the kind of tension that turns pop stars from rock salt to hard candy. Growth has always been measured by struggle — just ask Britney — and Perry chooses to do this in a way that makes us feel our own teenage angst while floating on cloud nine because that longtime crush finally asked us to the prom.
(09/01/10 3:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A mild-mannered tech guy and a feminist fashionista may seem like an odd couple in business, but the pair may be well on their way to striking fashion gold. Styleta.org, a student run nonprofit sample sales website, was the brainchild of IU senior Le Wang and recent Harvard graduate Yifan Zhang. The site offers discounted high-end designer wear from Armani, Chanel and others.The twosome first met at Carmel High School. Wang, as Zhang explained it, said he was looking for a new project where he could apply his technology skills. Zhang said she was looking for a new business partner.Out of their collaboration, Styleta was born. “I noticed that there are a lot of affluent women around me who didn’t have a place to donate their clothing,” Zhang said. Goodwill and the Salvation Army weren’t the best market for high-end clothes, and Zhang said she loves shopping for thrifty designer duds. “The thing is, a lot of these women are really busy,” she said. “Styleta is a way to make it easy for them to donate their clothes and easy for people like me, who love to shop for pricey clothes at affordable prices.”Styleta’s proceeds support charities, such as Dress For Success, which gives women interview attire for their first jobs to support their families. Proceeds also benefit the Indiana branch of Volunteers for America. Wang, who built Styleta.org from the ground up once the concept was hatched last December, said he admittedly was not a fashion guy. But this summer he said he acquired a taste for trends and threads when he and Zhang went to New York City to throw their idea around to major retailers and boutiques. He said he even got to meet fashion designer Vera Wang.Though Le Wang said he is interested in promoting women’s fashion, he is making sure Styleta turns a profit.Styleta recently had a competition for aspiring student designers under the theme “reuse.” From the 150 entries from the around the world, six winners were chosen. The winners won the opportunity to sell their clothes on the website, as well as exclusive features in hercampus.com, collegefashionista.com and ecocouture.com. Wang acts as the chief operations officer, and Zhang is the founder. With that clout, it was still challenging to present Styleta to designers in New York. “The idea is new, it’s rare for there to be a nonprofit in fashion,” Zhang said. “But people love an innovative idea, so I think the fact that we were students is appealing to people.”
(08/26/10 4:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Minivans, station wagons and pickup trucks were filled with Target blankets, Nesquik chocolate milk cartons and Healthy Choice Soup in bulk. Dollies were for heavier items – microwaves and mini-fridges. Everything cluttered the circular driveways and parking lots of Briscoe, McNutt and Foster Quads, which were in the Northwest neighborhood of IU residence halls.Parents embraced their children, who are ready to grow up and be adults at an age when most are unaware of their own life ambitions.But you knew this already.This is the scene that happens once the teary-eyed parents drive away from the dorms.Picture this: Three freshmen males were excited about the prospects of the high girl-to-guy ratios in their neighborhood.Max Smock just moved in to McNutt, and his buddies Jake Kovalsky and Jimmy Webb moved into Briscoe and Foster, respectively.They were clad in red, white and grey basketball shorts, respectively.As the largest dorm on campus, McNutt is known for its ‘nice rooms’ and crazy parties. In Foster, there are many girls who eventually join sororities. In “Briscoe Disco”, the women are casually referred to as “Brischoes,” whether the label fits or not. It doesn’t help that a flock of blonde and brunette girls were spread throughout the neighborhood wearing short-shorts to promote B-Town Menus, a website where students can order discounted food. The girls were handing out white plastic cups and neon pink and green T-shirts.A particularly perky brunette, trailed by a less perky blonde walked up to a concrete bench outside McNutt where Smock, Kovalsky and Webb were seated. The guys dragged on Marlboro Lights.“Are you hungry?” the brunette asked.The men murmured something incoherent and smiled at her. She offered them plastic cups.“There’s cheap food online,” she said. The men all watched in unison as she and her companion walked away. When she was out of earshot, Jimmy spoke first.“She’s got a small hickey on her neck,” he said. “Did you guys see that?"
(07/14/10 9:50pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The title of Kelis’s latest record since 2006’s “Kelis Was Here” might invoke disco and ballet slippers.But “Flesh Tone” literally describes the overall color of the record.The disc finds our typically funky Space&B diva chilled out for some dance floor tracks that ponder the meaning of life. Think Madonna’s coming-of-new-age opus “Ray of Light.”The mantra is stated best on “Scream”: “Been runnin’ in place for a long time / Stuck in a race in the wrong line.”That’s one theme.Another contrasting theme presented in that song is established with the lyrics: “It’s not enough to live so just dream / It’s not enough to sing, so just scream.”Kelis is meditating on the freedom that comes with realizing one’s life is in need of a change (see “Emancipate/Segue 5”). Following the birth of her son and divorce from rapper Nas, the change here is evident.While old fans may miss the screaming wild-haired I-hate-you-so-much chick, “Flesh Tone” invites them to taste Kelis’ new milkshake.It might not bring all the boys to the yard, but it will certainly bring them to her heart.
(06/02/10 8:45pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Leela James is the latest in the crop of artists (see Corinne Bailey Rae and Norah Jones) to release a soul-baring album with a revealing title. Unfortunately, people sleep on such wonderful talent.Since she hit the scene in 2005 with her debut, “A Change Is Gonna Come,” James has received critical acclaim for her sultry vocals and emotive lyrics, reminiscent of soul legends like Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner.Her third and current album, “My Soul,” finds James turning out her most diverse crop of tunes yet, of course to represent the diversity of the depths of her inner self.Her confidence as a vocalist comes through on tracks with contemporary R&B flourishes, such as “So Cold.” She radiates when she sings “I want you in the worst way.”Other tracks follow the tradition of classic soul, such as “Tell Me You Love Me,” which is the most elegant and understated track on the album. “I unpacked my chest for you / Do everything you want me to,” James coos. It sounds like butter.Listen to James’ “My Soul” not just because it’s familiar in the vein of soul music, but because her voice is so refreshing throughout that you might enter a very happy, feel-good place when you do.