Region

Punk band operates like a 'Machine'

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:37 p.m.

The Suicide Machines made one of the great sellout records with their 2000 self-titled punk-pop classic. On that album they backed off their strident political rhetoric and started singing about girls and other general confusion. Of course, "great" and "sell-out record" are an oxymoron, and the record flopped. Their 2001 follow-up Steal This Record was almost as good and got even less recognition.

Chick rappers: The stigma times three

By Michael Tapscott · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:36 p.m.

The trio of white, female, liberal arts students from Long Island known as Northern State (Hesta Prynn, Guinea Love and DJ Sprout) are attempting to shoot past a novelty label. A series of frenzied articles brought attention to the group, which is innovative because of who it is made up of, not because of what it does. The Beastie Boys are an obvious connection to Northern State, the girls are brash and absurd in a similar manner, but the stupidity may not be a rhetorical act in the case of Northern State.

The best, um, only Emo-Prog record of the year

By Seth Forster · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:35 p.m.

Daily life seems to be a made up of extremes for The Mars Volta. There are no in-betweens, no subtle shades of gray for this band. Everything is done with such an intensity here that the lyrics could be an epic about washing the dishes and you'd still feel charged at the end of it.

Tinsley makes even Young sound bad

By Jessica Halverson · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:34 p.m.

This bastard actually wrote a song with the lines "What a time for love/love makes it alright." Hurrah, hooray, the man with such an impressive background (has played/is playing with BOTH Hootie and the Blowfish and the Dave Matthews Band) has made a solo album.

Beyoncé 'Dangerously' on her own

By Michelle Ruth · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:33 p.m.

The solo debut of Beyoncé, formerly known as Beyoncé Knowles, is a long time coming -- primarily because she was always showcased as the main vocalist for Destiny's Child, and the transition to a solo artist seemed natural. Her new album, Dangerously in Love, demonstrates Beyoncé's broad range of vocal talent, from seductively low to commandingly strong, and the ability to compile melodic harmonies as co-producer of this album.

Michelle Branch doesn't make me happy now

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:32 p.m.

In the CD booklet of her new Hotel Paper, there are 24 photographs of Michelle Branch. I know, only 24. There's the longing gaze, the knowing gaze and the introspective gaze. Unfortunately, there is no I-just-made-a-good-record gaze. That might be a pose she's incapable of making.

Peas dumb it down

By Michael Tapscott · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:31 p.m.

The Black Eyed Peas once presented themselves as an alternative to the West Coast gangsta rap scene. Unfortunately, Elephunk, the group's third album, finds them needlessly pandering to the current, radio hip-pop fare. The Peas have created an album full of feel-good, meaningless tracks that claims diversity, but ends up sounding like a Neptunes' production.

Phair alienates the hipsters

By Michael Tapscott · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:29 p.m.

Liz Phair's self-titled, fourth album is guaranteed to be one of the most disputed releases of 2003. The debate, unfortunately, will not be about how good Liz Phair is, or whether or not it is a return to form, it will be about just how bad this new album is. The flurry of press so far has been scathing, calling Phair everything from a slut to a sell-out. These critics seem to forget that her last two albums weren't very good either.

Con man goes to Cambodia, mystery ensues

By -Paul Straw · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:28 p.m.

Matt Dillon makes his writing and directorial debut with "City of Ghosts." Dillon, who also stars, has found his niche by playing humorously offbeat characters, often in dark comedies. Here, he plays a similar character, but with the humor absent for most of the film, leaving one to wonder what Dillon had in mind when creating "Ghosts."

Zombie flick lacks zombies, but still decent

By Jake Bilinski · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:27 p.m.

Post-apocalyptic, zombie, survival, horror movies -- you gotta love em. "28 Days Later" has acquired a fair share of hype, and thus opened Friday to a pack of hungry, immature film-goers who unanimously declared their audible disagreement with seeing the protagonist's dong (really people, grow up). The question becomes: does this long-awaited flick live up to said praise? Yes, and sadly, no.

'Full Throttle' running on fumes

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:26 p.m.

Admittedly, I found the first "Charlie's Angels" flick to be a superficially entertaining guilty pleasure. Its sequel, "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" is not. Sure, each film boasts overly wire-assisted fight sequences, scantily clad leading ladies parading about in fetishistic slut gear and a thorough catalogue of '80s cheese metal.

Township jive

By Jessica Halverson · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:25 p.m.

So, Bush is pledging for money to aid Africa. For now, he's promising $100 million in the next 15 months to counter terrorism, later $15 billion over five years to fight HIV/AIDS (despite all the moral baggage that the money comes with, read the news). Though it's been a very long time (in deaths and orphans, not months) after HIV/AIDS researchers and activists asked the most powerful and affluent nation in the world to give enough money put a dent in the fight against AIDS in Africa.

The Von Lee and AT: One helluva team

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:23 p.m.

For those of you not in the know, Kerasotes is Bloomington's sole theatrical film chain. Sure, it, like any other corporation has its strong suits. Hell, Kerasotes hooks your film-reviewing buddy, "Tenacious A," up with free passes when at the theaters on "business." And Showplace 12 does boast some of the comfiest movie theater chairs I've ever plunked my lazy butt onto. So, perhaps I should stop being a whiny, little pud and avoid biting the hand that feeds me? No, screw that, I'm in the right this time.

The few, the proud, the independently owned

By Robert Mixner · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:23 p.m.

Fireworks and books. They don't seem to have much in common: fireworks are a loud spectacle best appreciated with others; books, on the other hand, are enjoyed quietly, and alone. One produces sparks, the other is highly combustible. Yet they have closer ties to each other than it might seem. This Friday, fireworks will commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence; books fed the spirits and inspired the minds of many of those signers.

The power of 'The Hours'

By Jessica Smith · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:21 p.m.

"The Hours" is a deliberately jarring and masterful examination of the lives of three women on the edge of one of the most extreme cliffs one can face in life: the choice to live or die. Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore, along with an incredible supporting cast including the talented Ed Harris, string this intricately woven plot along with acting so intense that even a mere glance expresses more emotion than "hours" of dialogue. All three women are alive during different time periods and live eerily parallel lives brought together by Virginia Wolfe's book, "Mrs. Dalloway."

'Love' shines as movie, fails as DVD

By Abhi Kumar · Wednesday, July 2,2003 10:20 p.m.

"Punch-Drunk Love" is about a man, his harmonium, his emotions and his search for that thing that's missing from everyone's life. The music, cinematography, direction and acting come together in a quirky and unconventional harmony to form this emotional rollercoaster of a movie.

Purdue plans degree expansion

Wednesday, July 2,2003 9:58 p.m.

SOUTH BEND -- Purdue University plans to expand its degree programs at two northern Indiana sites to include as many as 500 students annually over the next five years. Administrators also plan to add undergraduate degree programs in the next two to three years, with eventual plans of adding master's degree program, said David W. Frantz, interim director of the Purdue University School of Technology at South Bend/Elkhart.

IUPD Blotter

Wednesday, July 2,2003 9:58 p.m.

The IU Police Department reported the following activity: June 25 • A female student residing on campus reported an indecent exposure by an unknown male at the intersection of Jordan and Jones avenues. The investigation is pending.

FBI warns of hacker attacks

By Ted Bridis · Wednesday, July 2,2003 9:57 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The government and private technology experts warned Wednesday that hackers plan to attack thousands of Web sites Sunday in a loosely coordinated "contest " that could disrupt Internet traffic. Organizers established a Web site, defacers-challenge.com, which was shut down early Wednesday evening.

DePaul librarian gets court position Court post

By Megan Reichgott · Wednesday, July 2,2003 9:56 p.m.

CHICAGO -- When a lawyer argues in front of the Supreme Court, he or she must stand up in front of some of the most intimidating legal minds on the planet. Imagine having to face some of the same people for a job interview. Judith Gaskell did, evidently impressing Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist introduced her last week as the 10th librarian in the history of the Supreme Court.