CD Review
Untitled,
Blink 182
Rating:
4 out of 5
As in many
interviews it stated, Blink182 said they recorded their newest release like their first album.
They were wrong. This album, in my opinion, is much better than
the first. They were smart enough to take their time on this project, and it
shows. The lead single, “Feeling This,” is hardly an indicator for
where the album heads. (Although, the relationship theme is in many of the songs.)
Another song on the album, “Always,” has an eighties vibe, but don’t worry it’s not strong enough
to make you want to dig through your parents or older siblings leg warmers and Poison records from the decade. However, “All Of This” featuring Robert Smith of The Cure might. Overall the album is a great listen, so pick it up. But remember
kids: get the edited version!
Film Recommendations from a Teacher
At this point
in the school year, most kids should know who Ms. Fried-Kasofsky is. She works
with the SGA, NJHS, is an English teacher and is team captain for 8B. Before
in this section of the newspaper, you might’ve read what other students think about the movies and music around. But what do the teachers you see almost every Monday through Friday like?
Q: Which
style of movie do you most prefer?
A: Classic.
Q: Which
movie is your favorite? Was there a character you identified with?
A: “Breakfast
at Tiffany’s,” the character would be Holly Golightly. She was so
full of life and so creative in how she ventured for a new life for herself. “Breakfast
at Tiffany’s” makes you feel you can take on the world…makes you believe in love.
New Releases of This Year (and Things to Think About)
Beastie Boys
(Are they too grown up to make their famous party anthems?)
Beyoncé Knowles (Is there another collaboration with a famous hip-hop star? Will she bring along the girls from Destiny’s
Child?)
Coldplay
(What whiny, incomprehensible music will they come up with now?)
Good Charlotte
(Will they have songs that deal with fame, or something that would surprise us?)
Dr. Dre (Will
he show his protégés why he’s a legend of hip-hop/rap?)
Nine Inch
Nails (Does anyone actually remember them?)
50 Cent (Can
he follow up his debut success?)
Avril Lavigne
(same question as with 50 Cent, and will the many Avril-haters get to the rest of the world and make sure it doesn’t
sell?)
Gwen Stefani
(Weren’t all of the No Doubt albums basically showcasing her talent anyway?)
Eminem (Has
he put too much creative energy into D12 and 50 Cent’s albums to make one of his own?)
Evanescence
(Will anyone care that Ben Moody is gone? The band didn’t seem to care, so why should we?)
CD Review
Start
Something, Lostprophets
Rating:
3 out of 5
Lostprophets
have made a small radio and MTV hit out of their song “Last Train Home,” with a very catchy chorus that’s
a great scream-a-long. When you first put in the CD and play the first
track (“We Still Kill the Old Way”), you might think it will fall along the lines of the single – soft melodic
verses and a screeching chorus, it’s different. There’s a semi-melodic
chorus with a hammering bass line that literally begs you to bang your head.
The lyrics on the whole may not be too revolutionary or mind-altering, but the album is definitely worth the
trip to your nearest ‘Best Buy’ or nearby record store for the album sleeve that says “Love and kisses go
out to all these bands and their crews…” which lists metal greats Metallica with other bands that you would never
expect to see mentioned in the same magazine issue, let alone same ‘Shout-out.’
In my opinion this album gets the gold star for effort and one rock hand up (and just for “Make a Move”
with a chorus of “Wake up, wake up.”).
Japan
Is So In Right Now: Musicians and Random Facts
If you haven’t
been outdoors or in school lately, you might be the only human being that doesn’t know the extremely close relationship
between American and Japanese culture. In Japan, American movie stars are idolized,
almost like American fanfare over Godzilla. At the malls there are Pandora’s
Cube stores filled with Yu-gi-oh and TV channels that have anime on constantly. But
what other Japanese export should people keep their eyes peeled for? Or should
it be your ears kept alert? Check out these artists and you decide.
Kagrra: A
group with traditional Japanese style in their music and clothing –
can you say
kimonos?
Dir En Grey:
Visual Kei band – dress-up like scary hard rockers.
Psycho Le
Cenu: Techno band with a sense of humor – in their videos they dress like anime characters.
Metronome:
Happy-go-lucky and claim to be from the future – need I say more?
Miyavi: He
makes electric music, breaks things, plays guitar, has a versatile range and is about six feet tall.
Ayumi Hamasaki:
She has a high voice, different style, own TV show, does commercials and has had the top female vocals in Japan for more than
a year.
