IUPD

RPS to comply with EPA standards

By Audrie Garrison · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12:25 a.m.

IU is putting together a formal asbestos management plan, said Mike Jenson, associate director of the Office of Environmental, Health and Safety Management.

How can this be music?

By -Nate Bethea and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Let me tell you something about the Fiery Furnaces: they're really creative and have the potential to write genre-inventing, era-defining music if they would just slow the hell down. Their hooks are phenomenal; their ear for instrumentation (and the wide variety of instruments they use effectively) is impressive. They just don't seem to have enough confidence in their melodies, because they abandon them just about every 30 seconds.

Send this 'bird' away

By Alyson Brodsy and Mark Perlman-Price · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

1965 was known as "the year of folk rock." Bands and artists like The Byrds, The Mamas and the Papas and Bob Dylan defined the year. But this era wasn't crowned complete until December of 1965, with the release of The Beatles' Rubber Soul. A couple months short of 40 years later, we get This Bird Has Flown, a tribute album featuring artists such as The Donnas, Dar Williams, Ben Harper, Sufjan Stevens, Ben Kweller, Ben Lee, the Cowboy Junkies and others.

Trading metal for melody

By Alyson Brodsy and Josh Kastrinsky · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Sometimes, less is more. It may not be appropriate, though, when being loud is your thing. Following the surprising success of 2003's The Artist in the Ambulance, Thrice returns with Vheissu, their fifth full-length release, a far cry from their previous outputs. The band's post-hardcore throttle is only evident on about half of the album's 11 tracks, the others yielding to a softer, more melodic side.

'Drifting' into a difficult listen

By Alyson Brodsy and Ryan McLaughlin · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Watersphere is the debut major label release from Pilotdrift, an eclectic band hailing from Texarkana, a city on the East Texas border with Arkansas. Pilotdrift is the musical creation of five friends: Kelly Carr (lead vocals, piano, acoustic guitar), Jay Budzilowski (bass), Ben Rice (drums), Eric Russell (electronics, guitar) and John David Blagg (electric guitar). Pilotdrift's sound is an interesting array of styles ranging from electronica to rock to jazz fusion to orchestra inspired instrumentals.

Adrift between folk, pop and drugs

By -Nate Bethea and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

I'll be the first to admit that, despite the hype, I couldn't warm up to Animal Collective's 2004 critical slam-dunk and breakout record Sung Tongs. As off-time and smirking as other 2004 darlings (i.e. the Fiery Furnaces) it was over-caffeinated, overly quirky and obnoxious. Still, just as it was a personal concession for me to admit that the 2004 Fiery Furnaces EP was pretty damn good, I have no choice but to admit the positives of Feels. It's a solid recording, albeit extremely off-kilter.

Courtesy photo
Joe Mamlin examins a patient at an HIV Clinic in Mosoriot, Kenya.

Darkshadows

By Kathleen Quilligan and Kathleen Quilligen · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Bobtown, Ind.-- The night clung to the group assembled in front of the metal farm gate, draping across their shoulders and sneaking up under their coats, making them feel the need to whisper.

This 'wax' melted in Theaters

By Alyson Brodsy and Ash Cartwright · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

I applaud the people responsible for the "House of Wax" DVD. Many times I have criticized DVDs that include few special features but I say that in this case to be sparing is good. They could have been even less generous in what they chose to include.

Shockers for the ages

By Alyson Brodsy and John Barnett · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Halloween has passed, but it's never a bad time to take in a truly terrifying film. With Hollywood now preferring slick, poorly-scripted, startle-packed horror fare over genuine terror and cinematic craftsmanship, it's essential to mine the past for serious scares. Below are my humble picks for the 11 scariest films readily available on DVD.

'Prime' update of 'The Graduate'

By Alyson Brodsy and Doug Evans · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Writer/director Ben Younger, whose only previous credit includes the greed-inspired "Boiler Room," returns with sophomore effort "Prime," which, disregarding the brilliance of "The Graduate," could be considered its modern day rendition.

Kidman casts a 'bewitching' spell

By Alyson Brodsky and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Nora Ephron brings the television favorite "Bewitched" back to life in the theatrical debut that is just as spell-enchanted as the show. The movie, which focuses mostly on the show behind-the-scenes, stars Will Ferrell as actor Jack Wyatt and Nicole Kidman as Isabel Bigelow.

A 'road' worth traveling down

By Alyson Brodsy and Bryan Lufkin · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

What do you get when you mix elements of '90s British pop, influence from Madness and The Doors and a lead singer named Gaz? Road to Rouen, the latest CD from the British group Supergrass, proves to be an album that would satisfy fans of any of the above, if not at least pique the interest of fans of genres across the board. The songs are diverse, ranging from the almost ethereal acoustic strumming in the first track, "Tales of Endurance," to the catchy and upbeat (yet still wonderfully mellow) "Low C," to the final track that begins with sounds remarkably similar to American R&B.

'Saw' sharpens up for more

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

"Oh yes, there will be blood." These few words, spoken by John, aka The Jig Saw Killer (Tobin Bell), pretty much sums up what the "Saw" films are all about. "Saw II" follows in the footsteps of tons of similar crime/horror films of the past, as being a vehicle for gruesome scenes of blood and gore. However, unlike so many horror movies that focus merely on shock value, "Saw II" also features a fairly clever plot, which in many ways is equal yet different to its predecessor.

Despite PG rating,still exciting

By Alyson Brodsy and Sean Abbott · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Sometimes overdue sequels fail to capture the magic of the original films. Sometimes kids in action movies ruin the experience. Sometimes movies advertised as "family adventures" only inspire the adventure of leaving the theater disappointed.

Martin's little-movie-that-could

By Alyson Brodsy and Rob O'Connor · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

I believe I might be one of 12 people in the state who have actually read Steve Martin's little-book-that-could, "Shopgirl." It was great, it was funny, it was touching, it was basically impossible to visualize as a film. Still, when I heard Martin was going to write the screenplay himself, I was hopeful. Then when I heard Jimmy Fallon was going to play one of the main characters, things looked dim. Thank goodness he left the project to go make that self-indulgent tripe about how great his favorite baseball team is, "Fever Pitch."

Special features more interesting than film

By Alyson Brodsy and Evan Ross · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

It was nearly 40 years ago that director George A. Romero changed the face of cinematic horror with his film "Night of the Living Dead." That film, seen as a milestone in zombie-film history, spawned two sequels, a remake and numerous imitators. The latest sequel, "Land of the Dead," shambled its way into theaters this summer. Was it a return to form for an old director or a sign that a long dead franchise should have stayed dead? It's the latter.

A storm on the rise

By Alyson Brodsy and Matt McMullan · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Dave Spritz is a Chicagoland news weather guy. He's got a nice apartment, a nice car and an unbelievably easy job. For better or for worse, he's got local fame. And a national morning news program (and its substantial pay increase) is looking for a new Willard Scott, and they think it might be him. They've seen his work, and they're impressed.

Hello Oscar season!

By Alyson Brodsy and Chris Wisner · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

November is right around the corner and with it comes the slew of movies all vying for that little golden statue called Oscar. While 2005 has already seen potential candidates in the form of Ron Howard's brilliant boxing biopic "Cinderella Man," Fernando Meirelles' political thriller "The Constant Gardener" and John Madden's mathematically poignant "Proof," most studios hold off on releasing the cream of the crop until the end of the year.

'Mad Hot' luke warm at best

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Mellini · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Have you ever found yourself flipping through channels late at night and settling for reruns of "Kids Say the Darndest Things?" Do you then laugh hysterically at the kids on screen? If so, then "Mad Hot Ballroom" is the movie for you. However, just laughing at the kids' random comments may cause you to miss the point of the film. "Mad Hot Ballroom" is a documentary about a group of underprivileged New York City fifth graders who compete in an annual ballroom dancing competition. The mandatory program is used to keep children safe and off the streets.

Healthy Baby

By Larry Walters · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 12 a.m.

Hailing out of Chicago, the band Healthy White Baby will be playing at Second Story Nov. 4. The three-member band boasts sounds of alternative rock, and the name comes from a line in the Cohen brothers' "Raising Arizona." Lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Danny Black pulls lead vocal duty and the other two members, Laurie Stirratt and Ryan Juravic, provide instrumentals and backup vocals. Black took time out of HWB's touring schedule to chat with us about the band, their influences and their eponymous album.