Longform

Aesthetically new, musically old

By Thomas Miller · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:23 p.m.

“New Junk Aesthetic” is Every Time I Die’s fifth release, and it sounds pretty similar to their first release. And their second. And their third. You get the idea.

Pete and Scarlett make breaking up look easy

By Adam Lukach · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:20 p.m.

In what would seem like an unlikely combination, Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson collaborate to make “Break Up” a duet album about, yes, the downfall of a relationship.

Thrice leaves us begging for more

By Cory Barker · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:20 p.m.

Though they were always more talented than their peers, 2005’s “Vheissu” and the subsequent four-part “Alchemy Index” helped Thrice go from great to the greatest.

Megadeth’s best in 15 years

Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:17 p.m.

Coming on the heels of 2007’s insipid “United Abominations,” any new Megadeth studio album would sound like a return to form. However, frontman Dave Mustaine wouldn’t permit himself to be satisfied with that.

Solid effort from ‘Twilight’ author’s favorite band

By Drew Anderson · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:15 p.m.

After being hailed as a major inspiration for the “Twilight” book series, Muse’s fifth studio release, “The Resistance,” serves up another round of tracks that are sure to fit in the film version of the series’ soundtrack.

Kracker’s back and ready to party

By Danielle Rindler · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:15 p.m.

While some might have forgotten about Uncle Kracker in the four years since his last album, “72 and Sunny,” his newest, “Happy Hour,” could make us glad he’s back.

No chemistry happening

By Thomas Miller · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:12 p.m.

“Love Happens” is a chemistry-free romantic comedy about a self-help guru who needs to deal with the death of his wife, apparently by hooking up with Jennifer Aniston.

Surprisingly delicious

By Brent Williamson · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:10 p.m.

Looking for something fun and filling at the theater? You won’t do much better than “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.”

Miners give loud sound the shaft

By Megan Clayton · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:07 p.m.

For their sixth album, the Early Day Miners offer up waves of guitar chords riding in a void of ambient electronic noise. Some cleaner riffs and solos dot the tracks, and there’s grittier handling on, “How to Fall,” but overall it’s clear why the Miners tag themselves “shoegaze.”

‘Jennifer’ isn’t hot

By Brian Welk · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:06 p.m.

It’s hard to imagine that Diablo Cody would ever write something as goofy and grotesque as “Jennifer’s Body.”

An unhealthy plan

Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:06 p.m.

WE SAY The Baucus health care plan has holes, but at least he stepped up to the plate.

TV Surveillance

By Cory Barker · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:03 p.m.

By this week, most of the season’s new programs will have aired at least one episode. We watched a number of them, but a pilot episode can only tell us so much. Some programs get much, much better after the pilot. Others ... not so much. Never one to avoid making premature judgments, I will go out on a limb and say the following four shows are the ones we will hear about for the rest of the year – and even further into the future.

‘Going green’ shouldn’t be blue

By Kristi Lafree · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:03 p.m.

“Going green” shouldn’t be a token phrase of the left – it should be a token phrase of all the people, regardless of political affiliation, who recognize the importance of personal responsibility.

Deceitful Damon delves deep into delusion

By Doug Evans · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9:01 p.m.

Mark Whitacre was the highest-ranking executive to become an informant against his own company. For his role as the agricultural businessman turned whistle-blower, Matt Damon gained 30 pounds, which is ironic considering the character he portrays carries twice that amount in emotional baggage.

Misaligned motives

By Jordan Jacobs · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 9 p.m.

Now, compare this to the mission statement of IU; “... to create, disseminate, preserve, and apply knowledge,” and you will see precisely what type of problem valuing sports more than school creates. It is nothing else but a near complete abandonment of educational prerogatives.

Refrain Yourself

By Kelsey McArdle · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 8:58 p.m.

If you know anything about me, you know I have a profound obsession. It’s not entirely original, and in fact, it’s one I’m forced to share with an inordinate amount of the world’s population.I absolutely love the Beatles.

Not coming to a theater near you

By Matt Straw · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 8:57 p.m.

It is patently offensive that as we enter the 21st century, a majority of Americans would not hesitate to believe in a “magic” Jesus (sorry, Sarah Silverman), yet the idea of believing the data of a scientist with facts and evidence that a group of birds over long periods of time evolve is somehow blasphemous and ridiculous.

South Africa

By Thomas Miller · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 8:56 p.m.

For BLK JKS – pronounced “black jacks” – this year’s Lotus Fest is a homecoming away from home. The band hails from Johannesburg, but when it came time to record their Secretly Canadian debut last winter, they packed up their things and headed to Russian Recording in Bloomington.

Sweden

Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 8:52 p.m.

Swedish instrumental folk trio Vasen will take the stage at Lotus Fest on Thursday, continuing what has become a tradition in Bloomington. Vasen’s fans half-jokingly proposed that a street in town be named for the band, leading them to title their newest album “Vasen Street.”

Mongolian folk comes to America

By Megan Clayton · Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009 8:50 p.m.

Before Hanggai formed in 2005, lead man Ilchi was bored with the music he was making. He’d been in a punk band for a few years, but just didn’t have the heart for that type of sound anymore.

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