All Entries in the "Entertainment & Culture" Category
Art of the Steal
A gripping movie, Art of the Steal showed extraordinary talent in bringing to life the passion and debate that has raged for nearly a full century on how art should be used, who, really, is the “public”, and what is the best role for art?
Make the Rewarding Choice: Eat Healthy, Not Easy
Drexel University’s Main Building casts a shadow that conceals the row of food trucks that line the tiny walkway. Students, grasping their hoagies and gulping their sodas, weave in and out of bikes, trucks and benches. The smell of greasy pizza infiltrates the city air. This isn’t exactly the picture of health but it is a good representation of a typical college student’s diet.
The Toys Are Back: Preview of Toy Story 3
I remember going to see Toy Story on its opening weekend in 1995. Now, fifteen years later, the third and final film is to about to be released. The film does not pick up where the last one left off. Instead, the creators of Toy Story allowed the characters to grow and adjusted for the long break between films. Andy is going to college and has to make a huge decision: What does he do with his toys?
Soon in Theaters: Splice (6/4/2010)
Vincenzo Natali’s science-fiction monster movie Splice, featuring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley, comes to theaters on June 4th, 2010. Last week, Drexelist writer Nick Rizzuto was given a sneak peak of the movie and the chance to interview director Vincenzo Natali.
Dr. Dog @ The Electric Factory, 5/13/10
Sarah Glorioso writes of her sixth live experience with Philly’s own Dr. Dog and her third of her freshmen year at Drexel!
Drexel FUSE!
A Single Man follows Falconer’s journey through loneliness and depression all in the course of one day in 1962. George helps those around him and begins to see people differently, knowing it will be the last time he ever talks to them.
Airbourne, w/ High Council, @ North Star Bar 5/1/10
With the crowd’s rock-o-meter (which normally goes from 0 to 11) running on empty, Airbourne took the stage just in time to overflow the tank. Whereas the first two bands were local acts, Airbourne recently released their second album, “No Guts, No Glory”, on Roadrunner Records and are becoming better known by the day. They have gained popularity in recent years by having their music featured on the soundtracks to various video games including Madden NFL 08, NHL 08, and Rock Band, with such tracks as “Stand Up For Rock and Roll” and “Runnin’ Wild”. Airbourne hit the stage like a wrecking ball and by the end of the night left the North Star Bar in shambles. With guitars blaring, drums pounding, and soaring vocals, Airbourne delivered the rock. The band has an old school, raw, driving sound reminiscent of Jet, Philly’s own Silvertide, or a young AC/DC that can be heard in the music and the lyrics. Singer Joel O’Keefe’s shrieking vocals could easily pass for Brian Johnson.
For much of the night, Airbourne seemed to be taking care of the crowd’s needs. Too hot? No problem – bassist Justin Street and rhythm guitarist David Roads poured entire water bottles on their heads and persisted to head bang, soaking the crowd in the process. Maybe you are thirsty, lead singer/guitarist Joel O’Keefe would take a sip of a beer and then pass it off into the crowd between songs. Now that is what I call a band of the people!
The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
Jack White’s The Dead Weather releases their second album in under a year. Read the full story to see whether or not Jack and his supergroup buddies managed to deliver the second time around.
Yeasayer, w/ Sleigh Bells, @ The Troc, 5/5/10
Now that you have some background, let me try to explain Sleigh Bells sound to you. It’s not the easiest thing in the world to do. Okay… so start with all of your conceptions of pop music. Alright. Now throw them out the window. Shatter the window. Now you’re one step closer to understanding Sleigh Bells. Go over to their Myspace and listen to “Infinity Guitars” or “Crown on the Ground” to see what I mean because I couldn’t find an mp3 to stream.
What you’re hearing is a production style in the same ballpark as the lo-fi movement that has been going on for a couple years now in indie music. M.I.A. exhibits this tendency but essentially what it comprises of is pushing down the overall mix of the vocals to the point where they seem to be drowning in the rest of the song. Instead of emphasizing the vocals the production works to emphasize the guitar, synths, and drums – something that is usually the first no-no you learn as a producer. Yet, despite sounding wrong and unorthodox, there is some undeniable beauty to this sound. And, no one does it better than Sleigh Bells.
Trend Alert! – Color of the Season
Paining your nails is not just a fashion statement that accessorizes or plays on an outfit; it’s a reflection of the times we live in, and the choice to be individually unique and creative.
