Region

Singing prowess not about lung power

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

I wish I could sing. If there was a musical genie out there who would give me one musical wish, it would be to sing. After all, it seems to be the most natural musical talent. Either you can sing or you can't. The recent ascension of Lucifer to the throne of singing, a.k.a. "American Idol's" Kelly Clarkson -- and by throne, I mean the dumper -- shows, though, that our standards for singing in pop music are completely out of whack. What was so funny about "American Idol" (besides judge Simon Cowell's scandalous, in-your-face rebukes) was the earnestness and self-delusional behavior of the contestants. We have officially become a society without much of a clue.

On the 17th Floor

By Natalie A. Trout · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

Four times now in the last three months, you could drive by the Bluebird, see a line down the street and hear fabulous hip-hop and R&B beats blaring out the front door. It isn't 15-cent draft night, and it isn't the radio playing. The 17th Floor has made a quick impact on IU students and packs the house every time it plays. "We saw the line down the block last time we were here and wondered if they were giving out free beer or something," jokes Greg Thompson, the band's bass player, keyboardist and background vocalist.

Forget any other scary movies

By Brian Haney · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

Forget any of the other scary movies of the year -- grotesque Internet sites, dastardly murderers, ghosts on boats and wicked videotapes aren't half as scary as a good old horror film about monsters that live under the bed -- or in the closet -- and terrorize children at night. Some of the children in "They" get taken away when they're young, but some aren't taken until they're older and more ripe for the plucking. The opening scene sets the mood for the entire film, when a little boy screams to his mom during a thunderstorm. His mom calmly reassures him that there's nothing to be afraid of and the monsters are all in his head, then leaves him and walks downstairs. But they're not in his head, they're under his bed. Nineteen years after the chilling opening scene, the audience follows Julia (Laura Regan), a graduate student with a promising career and a devoted boyfriend. Julia transforms from a distant and unemotional student to a raging lunatic suffering from "night terrors." Of course, no one believes they're real, not her idiot boyfriend, her less-than-apathetic psychologist, and, eventually, not even herself. The death/suicide of her childhood friend introduces her to the only two people who believe her because they have the terrors too. Well, let's just say they aren't friends for long.

Audioslave CD some real rock

By Jessica Halverson and Jesscia Halverson · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

When Zach de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine, I was depressed. The band singlehandedly saved me in high school, gave me hope that there was something beyond alt-rock and that someone cared about what was going on in the world. Tom Morello blew me away (still does) with his crazy technique. Together, De la Rocha, Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford were tight and inspired me to keep at least getting on with life and high school when I hated it. Then I got to college and Zach left the band. So you can imagine my hesitation when I heard Chris Cornell was to front the new Rage. Nothing against Soundgarden or anything, but grunge rock is just not "Take the Power Back" or "Killing in the Name Of" or Battle of Los Angeles.

'Scarlet's Walk' an easy journey

By Elizabeth R. Ross and Elizabeth Ross · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

Scarlet's Walk is a simple, pleasant stroll on a paved path through smooth rolling hills. Amos' journey lacks the distinct changes in landscape that have defined her creative signature, which she established in 1992 with Little Earthquakes. That album's sectional compositions are characterized by abrupt shifts in sound and mood. Generally, Amos maintained creativity in her following albums, though the first disc of 1999's To Venus And Back ends with the radio-friendly ballad "1,000 Oceans."

Great Beatle still shines today

By Seth Forster · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

It would be easy with all the commercialism and Beatle propaganda spewed by the media throughout my life to dismiss a new album of live material as nothing more than an attempt by Paul McCartney to feel important again. After all, the idea of the Beatles is so large that it almost dehumanizes as much as it deifies them, even the one who was responsible for Wings (not a horrible band, but in comparison to the Beatles...). Back in the U. S. isn't just McCartney reminding us that he was one of the most important rockers and songwriters of all time as much as the fact that he still is that important. It's a two-disc set that spans his entire career by including a number of his and John Lennon's Beatles songs, a handful from Wings and much of his solo career. The disc flows seamlessly from one song to the next, thanks to McCartney's performances. The band is prime and never comes off as a cover band or carbon copy. Even for late-blooming Beatle/McCartney fans who came around about 25 years after the fact, there is a sense of nostalgia due to the energy of these performances and an outstanding set list. If saying this about his music seems too obvious to anyone, then I suspect they've been fans longer than I've been alive or haven't ever listened to much else.

English folkster disappoints fans

By -Alec Toombs · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

David Gray, a longtime musical mainstay in the United Kingdom, maintained relative obscurity among United States fans. That is, until the release of his 1999 album White Ladder, an instant classic that justifiably went double-platinum stateside. White Ladder is that rare breed of rock album that is predominantly entertaining from start to finish, propelled by the lovely balladry of "Please Forgive Me," "Babylon" (immensely overplayed, but nonetheless very good), "My Oh My," "This Years Love," "Sail Away" and "Say Hello Wave Goodbye."

Teter's Thursday Fun (beside porn)

By By Jonathan Sanders and Jonathan Sanders · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

This semester, Thursday nights are known for more than just professional wrestling and Must See TV. Thanks to a free EA Sports promotion, students have been flocking to the Teter Informal Lounge to take part in video game tournaments. Contestants compete not only for prizes, which include free games, T-shirts and ultimately, a Playstation 2, but also bragging rights. "This is the group EA is hoping to market to," says Brent Coyle, IU's EA Sports representative. "They're all college students, most of them own Playstations already and they have the money to spend on games like this." While the event is primarily an advertisement for EA's line of sports games, which include football, hockey and baseball, among others, the participants don't seem to mind. The tournament has allowed gamers to compete against a variety of contestants. Donald Eldridge, a freshman, has attended the tournament every week since it began earlier this semester.

Harrison shines on his last album

By K James Sward · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

The quiet one. The shy one. The spiritual one. These were some of the monikers that came with Beatle George Harrison. When I heard about Harrison succumbing to cancer last November, I remembered listening to Beatles songs on various Chicago oldies stations and loving them all. As I grew older, my taste in music changed. What happened to my appreciation for good ol' rock and roll? Harrison's posthumous Brainwashed brings about a resurgence in my love for rock and roll. This album contains strength, vulnerability, rich emotions and a strong sense of spirituality. In essence, it brings out Harrison's personality.

'Empire' squanders serious potential

By by Isaac Edwards and Isaac Edwards · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

Arenas Entertainment is the new Universal production company that is aimed primarily at a Latino audience. I don't have a Latin bone in my white-boy body, but even I feel a little offended when the first film from Arenas is such a ham-handed morality tale that smacks of cliché and stereotypes that squander serious potential for an excellent film. "Empire," the new film from Arenas, is little less than a crumbling kingdom that is defeated by its own vices and devices. John Leguizamo plays self-ascribed "street pharmacist" Vic Rosa, a Latino drug dealer working in the South Bronx. Vic is a self-made man, one who sees himself as the street-wise Rockefeller or Bill Gates. When introduced to young Wall-Street guru Jack (Peter Sarsgaard), Vic decides it's time to go legit, laundering his money through the Market in hopes of coming out clean and starting over. If you've ever once, in your entire life, seen a movie where a man tries to simply run away from his past and start all over, you should know exactly where this film is going. Franc. (notice the trendy twist with the period!) Reyes both wrote and directed 'Empire.' My advice to Franc. should he have to pick between the two: go for directing. Visually and stylistically, 'Empire' is rich in color and fluid camera shots. Granted, a lot of the time the film feels like the love-child of Santana and Snoop-Dogg, but it fits the world in which it comes from. What should have fit that world, but instead becomes biting self-parody, is the ridiculously brassy Latino score from Reuben Blades. Blades's soundtrack manages to turn the tired stereotype of Latin passion into nothing short of sheer laughable melodrama, more than once sinking 'Empire' like a soggy soap-opera.

Surprise! Schneider plays a loser

By -Paul Straw · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

Rob Schneider plays a loser. Always, in all of his movies, Schneider is a loser, and "The Hot Chick" is no exception. Only differing in each movie is what kind of loser he is. In "The Hot Chick," Schneider plays Jessica Spencer, whose body, due to magical earrings, was switched with a lowly street criminal. Now the one-time prom queen candidate/head cheerleader is getting a lesson in humility by looking like an ugly man. In order to get her body back, Jessica must now apologize and befriend those people she has hurt over the years. Jessica must also help her parents get back together, win the cheerleading competition and help her friends with boy troubles.

The third time is golden

By Jake Bilinski · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

Riiiiiight. Mike Myers is back as Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard and his newest incarnation: Goldmember (who's equally entertaining and weird). This third installment of the sex-driven spy is a pseudo-memorable mixed bag of goodies, though it sports some of the funniest moments in the Austin Powers franchise. Austin's father, Nigel (Michael Caine in a very funny role), is missing, so Austin travels back to 1975 to rescue him from a nefarious Dutch villain, Goldmember (aptly named for his golden … well, you get it). Joining is Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyoncé Knowles in a blaxploitation-esque performance). The returning cast is still great, and the ongoing cameos give you your money's worth, but the real fun is watching Myers playing off himself. Eddie Murphy does this well. Myers does it better, with a quirky creativity that clearly influences the whole picture for the better. With "Goldmember" being an Infinifilm DVD, one has the option to watch the movie with extras popping up for you to click on and view intermittently. I watched "Goldmember" this way, and it's kind of neat (provided you have time to kill).

Izzard kills in stand-up show

By Gabe Colman · Thursday, Dec. 12,2002 12 a.m.

"Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill" is a DVD for the open-minded. The fact that Eddie Izzard dresses up in high-heel sandals, vinyl pants and a kimono top and shellacs on a ton of makeup has little to do with his stand-up comedy. He touches on transvestism briefly, then deftly moves on to movies, the Queen of England, religion and sheep. His routine is like one long conversation with an interesting foreigner, and you find yourself focusing more on his British accent and less on what he's wearing. Izzard himself is chock full of European style and charm that envelopes you as his stand-up takes you through two different languages and numerous countries.

Classic construction

By Alyson Brodsy and Patrice L. Worthy · Wednesday, Dec. 11,2002 11:59 p.m.

Ballerinas dancing about are the inspiration in R320, a highly complex costume construction class in the Costume Construction Technology Program (CCT). The class is one of a series where students learn behind-the-scenes techniques and costuming for operas and the stage. In this particular class, the students are constructing ballerina tutus. Making tutus is a time-consuming skill that not many people learn in school and fewer people perfect.

Cinergy-PSI plans to increase rates before 2003

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Dec. 11,2002 11:56 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Cinergy-PSI plans to ask state regulators before the end of the year for permission to increase its electric rates, a spokeswoman for the utility said.

PCBs may have surfaced near plant

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Dec. 11,2002 11:55 p.m.

BEDFORD -- Heavy rains last spring in south-central Indiana may have pushed oil contaminated with PCBs to the surface of land near the GM Powertrain plant, company officials said.

Food banks in need of holiday help

By Alyson Brodsy and Beth Rosenberg · Wednesday, Dec. 11,2002 11:55 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- In the 83,000-square-foot Gleaners Food Bank warehouse, thousands of cans of fruits and vegetables, hundreds of boxes of cereal and cases of water and orange juice fill cavernous rooms.

And the beat goes on...

By Jamieson Hawkins · Wednesday, Dec. 11,2002 11:54 p.m.

There is rhythm in everything we do. With day-to-day walking, talking, traffic, noise, sound and music, rhythms surround us whether we notice them or not. But there are some people around campus who are always aware of these beats and use them to their advantage. Drummers of local bands internalize the natural sounds of Bloomington to inspire their art, the music. Drummers are responsible for setting the pace and rounding out the sounds of songs their bands are working to create. Producing original music and generating the respect of music fans and students alike are the goals of Dan Hirons (Blue Moon Revue), Rory Sandhage (Laborious Clef) and Justin Shaw and Ben Handel (the drummer and percussionist team of Run of the Mill). Hirons, Sandhage, Handel and Shaw were drawn to the drums for different reasons, yet their passions for the music are similar. Hirons began his career with the drums when his father gave him a snare drum six years ago. It was then that he knew he was a drummer and wanted to develop as a musician. Sandhage also began playing on the drums when his dad purchased a drum set for him to play, beginning Sandhage's self-described obsession with the drums. Handel got an early start on the drums as well, when in the third grade he and his brother started the Toxic Twinkies.

US seizes, then releases missile shipment from North Korea to Yemen

By Alyson Brodsy and Pauline Jelinek · Wednesday, Dec. 11,2002 11:52 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Ending an embarrassing faceoff with Yemen, Bush administration officials said Wednesday they secured an agreement from the Arab nation to no longer buy Scud missiles from North Korea. But the understanding was not reached until after the United States was forced to release to Yemen a vessel containing North Korean-made missiles.

Chile and US agree on accord

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Dec. 11,2002 11:50 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Chile and the United States reached an agreement Wednesday for a free trade accord that will allow more than 85 percent of Chilean goods into the country tariff-free in the first year.