Community Arts

Something to hold you over

By Fryburg 84 · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:37 p.m.

Meet Tommy, the most stereotypical and borderline offensive video game character since Mario. He's a Cherokee who lives on a reservation, hates the old ways of his ancestors and spends his day at a bar playing video poker. But one night his routine of getting hammered and blowing his paycheck gets interrupted when aliens abduct him, his girlfriend and apparently half of Texas. This puts Tommy on a course save the world and rediscover his heritage while kicking approximately 32 different kinds of alien ass (at least I think these things have asses).

Sign O' The Times

By Alyson Brodsy and Warner Sills · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:36 p.m.

What crazy times we live in. 'Tis a time of accidental, "whoops, my bad," international wars, soccer superstars head butting opponents (then again in the game of fútbol hands shall not be used), sniper assholes shooting up pick-up trucks and (if you believe Mr. Gore) a planet that is dying as fast as kooky Tom Cruise's reputation. With politics and the globe aside, the world of entertainment and pop culture is also important to pay attention to. With that said I thought it would be fitting to give you the current state of pop as we venture into the latter half of the '00s.

Powell and Pressburger's pilgrimage

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:33 p.m.

For too long I've only seen Powell and Pressburger's Technicolor epics such as "The Red Shoes" and "The Tales of Hoffmann" and while they are fun to watch, ultimately they come off very dated and awkward in places. I had begun to think all of the Brit directing duo's films were like this, but then "A Canterbury Tale" came my way. Taking Chaucer's story and adapting it for the then modern times of England, Powell and Pressburger place three journeyers -- an American soldier, a British officer and village girl -- on a quest from Kent to Canterbury during World War II. When they reach Kent though, the chances of them making it to the fabled destination seems grim as they're hopelessly caught up in a series of village crimes that, while not murders, are far from normal criminal activity.

An evolutionary documentary

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:29 p.m.

By the end of Barbet Schroeder's brief 1978 documentary on Koko, a female gorilla being taught sign language and other aspects of human communication on the campus of Stanford University from her birth in 1971 to this very day, I had fallen in love with the noble beast. Filmed in secret as to avoid legal troubles with the San Francisco Zoo (which technically owned Koko at the time of filming), Schroeder's chronicle asks many tough questions, such as if a gorilla being raised in a humanistic environment has any significant rights, or if raising a creature in such a way is ethical.

Chappelle gets the last laugh

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:23 p.m.

Dave Chappelle is an idiot. No, his comedy isn't stupid; in fact it's quite intelligent. But, $50 million?!? Come on man, how do you pass that up? On the other hand Comedy Central is quite smart for releasing "Chappelle's Show: The Lost Episodes" and milking the Chappelle teat for all it's worth. It seems production on the show's third season didn't get very far before Dave took off, so the disc only contains three episodes. And they're measly at that. Without commercials there's about only an hour's worth of footage, but what's there is damn funny. Chappelle has said that one of the main reasons he bailed was the pressure (yeah $50 mil is a lot of pressure) to maintain the show's quality. And while these episodes don't quite measure up to the first two seasons, if they had aired with a full season, viewers probably wouldn't be outraged in disappointment. Several times throughout the first episode Chappelle references his situation and the giant amount of money (and jokes about getting his own cereal and attempting to turn the L'il Jon sketch into a full length movie), so at least the audience is aware that he realizes what rests on his shoulders.

Expert novices help define indie rock

By Alyson Brodsy and Josh Millrod · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:22 p.m.

Think back to the worst band in your high school. The one with that awful singer, that dude who could barely play guitar and that drummer who couldn't keep a steady beat. In their best moments, they were still barely holding it together. Then imagine them sticking it out for twelve years and becoming one of the most influential indie rock bands in history. In fact, they basically invented the genre. This is the story of Beat Happening. By their last album You Turn Me On, Beat Happening had toured the world, received critical acclaim in major music magazines and founded K Records which would become indie rock's most prosperous record label. They still couldn't play their instruments that well and their singer's rumbling bass singing still wasn't quite in tune.

They ain't no joke

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:20 p.m.

Old school rap took a giant leap towards rolling with the new when Eric B. and Rakim's Paid in Full began vibrating dorm room walls and Brooklyn sidewalks in the fall of 1987. Showcasing both DJ Eric Barrier's genre-defining turntable skills and production and William Griffin's nearly unmatched rhyming prowess, the New York City duo's debut hit big upon it's initial release, and was recently named the greatest hip hop album of all time by MTV. Greatest hip hop album of all time is stretching it a little, but Paid in Full certainly belongs in the top 20. Unlike most groundbreaking rap albums of the early-to-mid 80's, it's just as aesthetically pleasing as it is exponentially influential. Countless rappers and hip hop beatmakers owe Eric B. and Rakim for a large portion of their sound. Rakim's vocal style and multi-syllabic rhymes gave birth to everyone from Eminem and Black Thought of the Roots to Tupac and Mos Def. Eric B's soundscapes sketched the blueprint for post-Paul's Boutique Beastie Boys and occasionally seemed to encapsulate what would eventually become rap-rock. Nearly all 10 tracks on the record are primed to blow your speakers (and your mind if you'll let them). "I Ain't No Joke," "My Melody" and "I Know You Got Soul" were the hits, but "As the Rhyme Goes On" and the title track are Barrier and Griffin at their best.

Exceptions to the rule

By Alyson Brodsy and Ty Schrock · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:17 p.m.

The 80s sucked. Greed was supposedly good, Reagan was in the White House and bands known more for their hairstyles than their music ruled the airwaves. So, in a time when Duran Duran and A Flock of Seagulls were the big thing, it was a little far fetched that an unassuming folk-rock quartet from Athens, Georgia would be able to become America's premier rock band. But that's exactly what did happen. That band, of course, was R.E.M. Owing equally to the Byrds, Patti Smith and Wire, R.E.M. was a mishmash of musical ideas and personalities featuring a guitar player (Peter Buck) who favored arpeggio-style chording over soloing, a drummer (Bill Berry) who knew restraint, and a multi-talented, McCartney-esque bassman (Mike Mills) who was the glue that held it all together. Add to this an incomparable and wonderfully weird frontman in Michael Stipe, and you have the unlikely, but winning formula.

The ambassadors of musical perfection

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:15 p.m.

During their zenith Steely Dan was a pioneer of highly polished and perfected music that somehow managed to dodge one specific genre. While some might liken the unique group to fellow rock bands like The Doobie Brothers or Chicago, Steely Dan stands out as innovators of a sound and style that can only be described by listening to its music. It's not quite rock, not quite jazz. It's riddled with subtle laid-back R&B and soul flavors, but only below the surface. Dan is poppy when it wants to be but gives straight pop a twist. Above all, the band has always relied on the best musicians around to create the slickest of the slick.

Country meets rock and roll

By Alyson Brodsy and Ryan McLaughlin · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:12 p.m.

I was 11 years-old when my uncle gave me a copy of Last of the Red Hot Burrito Brothers by The Flying Burrito Brothers. My uncle was cool (he liked Gordon Lightfoot and had a banjo) but at the time I was probably more into listening to Creed and acquiring grass stains. However, my brother and I liked the name and the unfamiliar sound, so we would often sing along with the Burritos in our best adolescent country twang. For a young kid the Burritos were cool because, in my eyes, they were so uncool. But as my music tastes matured with age (I assure you, Creed is no longer on the top of my playlist) I started to enjoy the Burrito's music for more than just pure nostalgia and grew to realize that Gram Parsons and company's pioneering synthesis of traditional country music and rock 'n' roll was not only extremely ground-breaking but indeed cool.

It's never to early to start drinking

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Green · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:11 p.m.

Well, it's kind of difficult to review live albums. Personally, I'm not really a fan of live albums. I would much rather go to the show personally and experience the band firsthand. But I realize that this isn't always possibly, especially with bands that aren't around anymore (like the Clash). Anyway, I'm rambling. I haven't even told you what's being reviewed yet. Flogging Molly have been on the top of their game for several years now, and they don't plan on stopping anytime soon. The band has followed up their brilliant 2004 release Within A Mile Of Home with a new album entitled Whiskey on a Sunday. Four acoustic tracks, five live tracks, and a brand spanking new studio track.

J5's 4th a good time, but not their best

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Green · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:09 p.m.

Jurassic 5 is a stunning array of talent. Take five MC's (each with their own distinct sound) and two DJ's putting out honest, raw and catchy hip-hop reminiscent of the old-school days of NWA and the Wu-Tang Clan (when ODB was still alive and not in jail). This is the boys' 4th release, entitled Feedback. Party people, get ready for some old-school party rap here. Unfortunately, this release is a bit disappointing for a J5 fan. First off, the production is weak. This can be explained by the departure of DJ Cut Chemist, who is pursuing a solo career. Gone are the goofy samples and speedy cutting and crossing that Chemist brought to the distinct J5 sound.

Not mind-blowing

By Alyson Brodsy and Sam Nissen · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:08 p.m.

I guess maybe I expect too much from Pharrell. His new album, In My Mind, is full of good beats, great raps and electrifying falsetto singing. Too often, though, these highlights do not occur at the same time. In my mind, Pharrell is the fashionista of our time -- like Madonna, except not annoying -- which might be why In My Mind seems tepid sometimes. Fans should expect every song to be as well crafted as the $200 Ice Cream shoes or $100 Billionaire Boys Club hoodies he crafts when not tending to rap.

The perfect murder. The perfect movie.

By Alyson Brodsky and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:06 p.m.

Woody Allen seems to have finally gotten things right with last year's "Match Point", and now "Scoop." It looks like he might be making a comeback after all. Its one thing for me to get into the movie and really like it; that's my personal taste, but you could tell that the entire audience (a semi-full theatre) felt the same way. "Scoop," a fast paced murder-mystery, has a little bit of Woody's "Manhattan Murder Mystery" and "Match Point" mixed together. Scarlett Johansson (who starred in Allen's "Match Point") stars as Sondra, a young American journalist who has a habit of sleeping with the people she interviews without ever getting the scoop. While in London she feels compelled to solve the mystery of the "Tarot Card Killer."

One 'Bully' you wouldn't mind knowing

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 3:03 p.m.

With "The Ant Bully," "Monster House" and "Barnyard" all in theaters, how's an 8-year-old supposed to choose what movie to beg their parents into submission to take them to see. Well, uh, if you were an 8-year-old, "The Ant Bully" would be a decent choice. Sick of being picked on by the neighborhood bully, nerdy Lucas takes his anger out on the helpless ant colony in his lawn. Fed up with the destruction to his society that Lucas causes, Zoc (Nicolas Cage,) the wizard ant (yes, a wizard ant, sounds dumb, but the plot needs to start somehow) creates a potion that shrinks Lucas to ant size. Put on trial for his crimes, the Ant Queen (an underused Meryl Streep, how do you underuse Meryl?!?) orders Lucas to work amongst the ants to learn and appreciate their ways.

Another teen flick to add to the collection

By Alyson Brodsky and Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 2:56 p.m.

I know what you're thinking, we don't need anymore teen flicks. But the future generations need one for their time and "John Tucker Must Die" is it. Although it is the first teen flick for writer Jeff Lowell ("Just Shoot Me!"), it is, for the most part, a success. Now whether that is because of the actual movie itself or the cast, I don't know. The whole movie is a cliché. Kate (Brittany Snow) is the new girl at school, and being quite the wallflower, she finds it hard to get herself noticed. Kate takes on a job as a waitress at a local restaurant and that is where she first meets Mr. Popular, John Tucker ("Desperate Housewive's" Jesse Metcalfe).

Crockett and Tubbs return

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Wednesday, Aug. 2,2006 2:52 p.m.

"Miami Vice," created long ago by Michael Mann when pastel shirts were in and it was cool to wear your sunglasses at night, has now received a complete update that makes it seem like the 1980s never even happened. "Vice" is now dark, gritty and lacking any sort of humor -- it isn't your normal police procedural in the least. Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Tubbs (Jamie Foxx -- whose performance in Mann's "Collateral" guaranteed they'd work together again) get in over their heads with a South American drug cartel and as they get deeper, the risks become greater. To make matters worse, Crockett is falling in love with his boss's girlfriend, Isabella (Gong Li, "Memoirs of a Geisha").

Man discovered masturbating in IMU mail room

By Trevor brown · Tuesday, Aug. 1,2006 3:35 p.m.

The IU Police Department has advised Indiana Memorial Union staff members to be on the look out for a subject after a worker discovered a man believed to have been masturbating in the basement mail room of the IMU Monday afternoon.

With toll road, daily drive may be more taxing

By David A. Nosko · Tuesday, Aug. 1,2006 3:35 p.m.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is seeking an I-69 toll road that extends from Evansville to Indianapolis, but some Southern Indiana Hoosiers like Thomas Tokarski have drawn a line in the limestone sand, saying I-69 is "beginning to look more and more absurd."

CIA not just looking for 'secret spies'

By Patrick Commiskey · Monday, July 31,2006 12:12 a.m.

Four men in suits - Henry, Jamal, Greg and Joe - giving only their first names because of the sensitive nature of their positions, flipped through slides and weaved in and out of the playful mystery of what their jobs entailed in front of a captivated crowd in the IU Career Development Center.