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MUSIC REVIEW // OBITS - 'MOODY, STANDARD AND POOR' (SUB POP | 2011) > KJHK's weekly guide to sonic consumption
Sophomore
Brooklyn'sObitsarebackwithstraightforward, ass-kicking rock and roll on their sophomore follow-up to 2009's / Blame You. The group features members from a variety of projects, most notably Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes and Pitchfork (late '80s post-hardcore band — not the trendy website).
The album's opener, "You Gotta Lose," is balls-to-the-wall indie punk. Angular guitars and a to-the-point rhythm section keep the sound sharp and tight. Guitarist and lead singer Rick Froberg shouts recklessly in desperation, but there's a certain swagger and cockiness to his howls. A formula appears as the album progresses, but every great band/songwriter develops a style and runs with it. It's not overly predictable here.
The tenth track, "Standards," must have guitarist Sohrab Habibion singing lead, because the vocals just don't stab as forcefully as Froberg's. Habibion lacks the wild high-end.
At times Moody, Standard and Poor is sparse and post-punkey — nearly psychedelic with its off-kilter drone rhythms. But when Froberg
blasts into the mix it takes on a more early '90s hardcore tone. The final track, "I Blame Myself," surpasses all of these pigeonholes with straight wah-guitar psychedelia. It oozes an aggressive melancholy that builds to an angry peak before falling into restrained, plucked precision. It all crescendos again, and Froberg's voice never graces the mix. It's a fabulous instrumental closer.
Obits might be the gateway you're looking for if "hardcore" music is too much for your delicate ears.
★ ★ // ALEX TRETBAR
What is it with Matthew McConaughey and lawyers? With the exception of the underrated Frailty and his hilarious turn in Tropic Thunder, McConaughey seems unable to deliver a decent performance without resorting to some variation of the high-powered attorney he has played in everything from A Time To Kill to Amistad. His newest legal thriller, The Lincoln Lawyer, is an above-average potboiler blessed with a first-rate cast and a refreshingly retro soundtrack that harkens back to the heyday of 1970s police procedurals.
MOVIE REVIEW // THE LINCOLN LAWYER
> Hollywood hits, indie flicks and everything in between.
The film, based on Michael Connelly's bestseller, centers on Mick Holler (McConaughey), a silver-tongued criminal defender who operates out of the backseat of his vintage Lincoln Town Car. His client roster mainly consists of call-girls, biker gangs and other less saintly denizens of the City of Angels. The plot kicks in when Mick is employed by Louis Roulet (Ryan Philippe), a Beverly Hills playboy charged with brutally assaulting a hooker. Intrigued by his high-
class client's claims of innocence, Mick delves deeper into the case and quickly finds himself embroiled in a devious conspiracy.
Ta
Since modern audiences are well versed in every plot twist a story like this can offer, films like The Lincoln Lawyer tend to live or die by their casting savvy alone. Thankfully, Brad Furman has populated his film with a rich bevy of character actors to liven things up.
William H. Macy provides the laughs as a closeted gunshoe while Marisa Tomei smolders as a local prosecutor who doubles as Mick's ex-wife with benefits. Even the great Bryan Cranston makes the most of his all-too-brill appearance as a perpetually peeved homicide detective. And McConaughey, with his drawing magnetism, proves himself a capable leading man when freed from the shackles of his dismal romantic comedies. Is a restraining order too much to hope for?
// LANDON MCDONALD
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MUSIC REVIEW // PONYTAIL - 'DO WHATEVER YOU WANT ALL THE TIME' (WE ARE FREE! 2011)
> KJHK's weekly guide to sonic consumption
Hailing from Baltimore, Ponytail play a spastic style of art-punk. Fronted by the fanciful Molly Siegel, the four-piece defy boundaries with a kind of music that I might reluctantly describe as "cute." But it's not kittens or cookies — this is aggressive and occasionally abrasive. But it's the way Siegel belts (usually) indistinguishable jargon across jangled guitar licks. There's no bass — just drums, two guitars and Siegel's shouts. Tension and release seem to be themes on the group's third full-length, Do Whatever You Want All The Time.
On the album's second track, "Flabbermouse," you can make out a bit of the lyrics: "Why? I don't know why!" She repeats this and sometimes it sounds like other words, while syncopated guitars and drums push hard in the forefront. It's a bit like Deerhoof's stream-of-consciousness style of mathematical pop. "Honey Touches" recalls the approach of new-to-the-scene noise-pop duo Sleigh Bells: rough and raw around the edges, but a sweeter, calmer eye in the
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middle of the storm. Siegel's tone shifts from inquisitive to celebratory, then from desperate to matter-of-fact. And you can rarely tell what she's saying.
Fans of Battles, Zach Hill (Hella) or Marnie Stern would feel at home with Do Whatever, but there are some wacky electronics à la High Places or Gang Gang Dance that set the group apart. It's certainly on the popper side of the burgeoning noise scene, but this is no Justin Bieber. It might take repeated listens before Ponytail fully sinks in.
// ALEX TRETBAR
Playing
"We walked in here today like it was a Big 12 championship with Texas," coach Ritch Price said.
league ballpark couldn't distract sophomore pitcher Thomas Taylor from taking care of business in his second career start at Kauffman Stadium.
In six innings on the mound, Taylor gave up one hit for one run, while striking out a career-best of nine batters. Taylor got the start on the mound last season as well, allowing two hits and no runs in 5.2 innings. The Overland Park native has thrown 11.2 innings at
game when I was two, taylor said. "I've always wanted to pitch here."
The young hurler led the Jayhawks in their 7-1 win over Missouri in the home of the Royals. The bats for Kansas gave Taylor plenty of cushion, exploding for seven runs off of nine hits in the Jayhawks' best offensive performance in 13 games when Kansas lit up Eastern Michigan, scoring eight runs off of 14 hits.
Taylor's start, though, wasn't quite as strong as his finish. He gave up a leadoff single to open
out, walk, strikeout closing the inning.
"I was pretty erratic at the beginning." Taylor said.
He continued struggling with his control in the second. The 6'4 right-handed pitcher walked Missouri's leadoff batter, Eric Garcia, who stole two bases to get on third. A deep fly to center field enabled Garcia to score, but Taylor responded well and never looked back.
"I tried to stop overthrowing and tried to pound the zone more, and everything went well
through the top nail ater only 14 pitches. Only one Missouri batter got on base in Taylor's final three innings.
"He struggled at first, and then all of the sudden he kicked it in and really shoved it to them once we got the lead," senior outfitier Jimmy Waters said. "We needed someone to not let somebody back in the ball game, and he did that for us tonight."
Taylor matched his career high of eight strikeouts after fanning the first batter in the fourth inning, and he didn't have to wait
innings. President pitcher Frank Duncan and junior closer Colton Murray combined for three innings on the mound without giving up a hit or a run to close the game.
Although it was a team effort at the big league stadium Wednesday, Taylor took over the game and never allowed Missouri to sniff any momentum at the plate. The lights were bright, the stage appeared to be bigger than ever, and Taylor came through.
Edited by Erin Wilbert
PHILANTHROPY
Former KU star uses basketball to help families
BY SARA KRUGER
skruger@kansan.com
Wayne Simien and Joe Reitz represent two successful outreach programs for underprivileged children and their families in Lawrence. Through their hard work, families who find themselves in devastating situations can find hope through Family Promise,
and discouraged children can gain confidence through Call to Greatness. Both organizations are nonprofit and, with this fund
Simien
raiser, are bringing hope to families in need.
The first annual Wayne Simien Free Throw Challenge will take place this Sunday, with a preliminary round on Saturday. All ages beginning at fourth grade and up are welcome to participate in a fundraiser for Family Promise of Lawrence and Wayne Simien's ministry, Call to Greatness, which consists of camps for children in junior high and below.
Campers are allowed to spe
"He is a young man of incredible character, the real deal. He is very humble, has a real heart for kids and helping people and he's given his life to the Lord," said partner Joe Reitz on Simien.
cialize in basketball, baseball, football or soccer. Simien focuses on encouragement and positive reinforcement through athletics, ensuring that each child knows giving his or her life to Jesus Christ ensures greatness.
Rietz, a former KU employee, is now devoted to helping homeless children and their families through service and he started Family Promise in Lawrence.
"I've always been interested in trying to do things the right way, but Family Promise is the best thing I have ever been involved in," he said.
"We provide food and shelter but our objective is to get them past whatever problems they have and to get back in a permanent house with a job and sufficient resources" Reitz said.
Opened in November of 2008. Family Promise uses faith congregations to house and feed homeless families 365 days a year.
Lawrence, being a college town,
is a fragile economy for people
who are "on the margin," Reitz said.
"A University is a great thing, but students drive up the cost of housing so some people who have never been homeless find themselves in desperation that Family Promise can help." Reitz said.
Completely nonprofit, both programs run off of private donations, company sponsorships, and fundraising.
"We thought this would be a fun way to get our name out there and because KU students love basketball, and get so frustrated at their team when they miss free throws, I thought this would be a perfect time for them to get a shot at it." Reitz said.
Saturday is the opening round and there are five different places to try out. The Community Building in downtown Lawrence, 115 W 11th St., Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2104 Bob Billings Pkwy., Clinton Parkway Assembly of God, 3200 Clinton Pkwy., and Bishop Seabury Academy, 4120 Clinton Pkwy. There are a number of time slots so people will not have to wait in long lines to try out. There will be a referee, and Wayne Simien will visit all of the sites.
The finals will be held on
WAYNE SIMIEN FREE THROW CHALLENGE
Individual competitors and five-person teams will be
placed in one of six age groups:
4th and 5th graders
Middle schoolers
High schoolers
College and young adult (under 30)
The grand champion will receive an autographed Kansas basketball and reserved seat tickets to a Kansas men's Big 12 game next season.
Adult (under 35)
Senior (55+)
Individual Entry Fee: $10
Team fee: $15
Senior (55+)
Team fee: $15
Sunday in Allen Fieldhouse where Wayne Simien and other players will be present for a fun competition with many prizes.
"Companies around Lawrence have been very generous to us," Reitz said, and any KU student who makes the finals and makes more free throws than Reitz will be in a drawing for a unique prize.
The entry fee for individuals is $10. To compete on a team of
Edited by Brittany Nelson
five, while also being eligible to compete individually, the fee is $15. There will be teams made up of ROTC members, the Lawrence Fire Department, sororities and fraternities and family and friends. To enter go to iamctg.org or lawrencefamilypromise.org.The deadline is Friday at noon.
might have been further along. He might have been out of the game, too. It's impossible to say.
The only thing to know for certain is that Elgie isn't now considered the prospect that he once was. He'll probably get drafted this season. If he puts up numbers better than his current .283 batting average, .353 on-base percentage and .435 slugging percentage, maybe he'll get a quality look from a team somewhere around the 20th round, but it will probably be later than that. He'll probably get drafted next year, too, and if he continues his progression, it could be closer to the 10th round.
Elgie still might get to the big leagues someday. He is, after all, one of the few Jayhawks that has managed to hit with any consistency or anything resembling power this season. And part of the infinite beauty of the game of baseball is that players with far worse odds than Elgie have become stars.
On Wednesday night, you could see the ability that got Elgie drafted in 2008. He roped a double in his first at-bat, scoring Jimmy Waters and spotting the Jayhawks to a one-run lead with two outs in the first inning. In his second at-bat, he laid down a bunt single and scored the Jayhawks' fifth run of the game in the third inning.
"If you can't get up to play in this park," he said, "you're probably playing the wrong sport."
He played like he belonged under those lights by the hundreds, in that ballpark with the freshly-cut grass and the even more freshly-tamped dirt, in that grand stadium with the fountains in the outfield and seating for 37,000 fans.
He looked like a big leaguer. And for one right, in a major-league park, with his big country smile projected even bigger on the mammoth jumbotron in center field, that was a dream come true.
Edited by Jacque Weber
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