12 REVIEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2009
CROSSROADS KC
417 E 18th St HCMO AT GRINDERS
VERIZON WIRELESS CONCERT SERIES
THU JUL 23
RATT
w/ EXTREME
FRI III.24
FRI JUL 24
Pitch BLOCK PARTY featuring
REV HORTON HEAT
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Split Lip Rayfield,
Nekromanfix, & more
SAT IIII.25
KEVIN COSTNER
& MODERN WEST
SUN JUL. 26
THE WAILERS
+ TOOITS & THE MAYTALS
FRI JUL 31
COWBOY
MOUTH
TUE AUG 4 GEORGE THOROGOOD & JONNYLANG
SUNDAY AUGUST 9 REELBIGFISH w/The English Beat
SAT AUG 15
AVETT BROTHERS w/Railroad Earth
TUE AUG 18
BLONDIE
FRI SEP 4
GRETCHEN WILSON
FRI SEP 26
ROBERT
RANDOLPH
& THE FAMILY BAND
TUE SEP 29
CITIZEN COPE
GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY
FRI OCT 16
Album: Uplifter by 311
Super cheese. The best two words to describe 311's new album, "Uplifter".Sure, 311 stuck somewhat to its formula: heavy guitar riffs, S.A. Martinez busting out flows, and Nick Hexum singing about love — but with aging the band has lost its edge.
There's nothing surprising about this new album. It sounds like a combination of all the bad things from the band's three latest studio albums "From Chaos,""Evolver" and "Don't Tread On Me." These bad things include cliché lyrics, guitar licks that sound as if they're featured on a Sega Genesis video game and chord progressions you swear you've heard before on previous albums.
If you've followed 311 from its start you can hear with the album "Evolver," a shift towards a lighter,
more mature sound that doesn't do what 311 used to to, which was rock. It's disappointing, but one can assume it's expected from now on. As much as I enjoy classic 311, I have to say don't waste your money on this album. The "classic" 311 albums far surpass this one.
— Ross Stewart
Book: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The feelings of failure, sorrow and loss are often associated with the Great Depression.
However, in "Water for Elephants",
author Sara Gruen displays a colorful aspect of the period by introducing the audience to an unknown world of the depression-era circus.
The novel is narrated by an elderly protagonist, who tells his tale of a personal tragedy and an accidental fall into a life-altering circus world. The experience reveals a backstage appearance of the "greatest show on earth." That is, behind all the glitz and glamour lies a world dedicated to sex, robbery and debauchery.
Through extensive historical
research, Gruen is able to bring the reader into an unthinkable world. The world of the depression-era circus is rough, erotic and full of people who lack any sense of morality. It makes for a fantastic read, one that not only elightens but also entertains.
— Hannah DeClerk
Album: Chemical Warfare by The Alchemist
For those curious about what's been going on in the hip-hop scene, both mainstream and underground, beatsmith The Alchemist's latest release "Chemical Warfare" gives hip-hop heads a reason to rejoice.
Born in Beverly Hills and taken under the wing of DJ Muggs, DJ/ producer for Cypress Hill and Soul Assassins, The Alchemist is best known for producing beats on both sides of the coast, notably for underground hip-hop crew Dilated Peoples, Mobb Deep, Nas and Fat Joe.
On what can be considered the signature lazy summer track "Smile," guest MC Twista steals the show with his impossibly fast flows. On "Keep the Heels On;" The Alchemist creeps back into some stilted-eerie synth beats while Prodigy of Mobb Deep brings that his gritty rhymes that recall
the group's early hardcore roots. Underground heavyweight Talib Kwell, Kid Cudi and Evidence stop by on "Therapy" to break The Alchemist's minimal guitar rhythm open with stream-of-consciousness flows. This album altogether is a highlight for hip-hop followers wanting proof that their favorite rappers haven't faded away.
Movie: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
— Derek Zarda
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", the sixth installment of the series, broke a midnight-screening record of $20 million last Wednesday. The movie was dark and thrilling, yet more prevalent was the coupling romances among teenagers. Between Ron and Lavender's "snogging" scenes and Hermione's jealousies, the movie focused less on Harry's problems and more on hormonal angst. Harry seemed to run solo with most of his problems, but with Dumbledore's help, Harry continued on his mission against Voldemort — I mean, HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED. The sixth part of the series proved the complexities and depth of the seven series saga, and may have been too confusing for Harry Potter virgins, but crazed fans could appreciate the smaller humors dispersed throughout.
The transition from book to screen demonstrated director David Yates' talented ability to turn a 652-page book into a 2 1/2 hour movie. The surprising ending left everyone wanting more and a chance to look forward to the last segment of the Harry Potter story.
— Kristen Liszewski