Archive

Forte: Emo rebirth

This illusion of commonality emerges whenever we identify with an artist’s body of work, and often spurs an unrealistic set of expectations. As Lacey puts it: “When you do an interview or meet a fan, the only reference they have of you is an album. So it’s almost that they want or expect you to be that [way] when we were really those people for four or five months.” This idea carries over into the long-term as well—we expect artists to stay the same and feel cheated when they don’t fulfill our preconceptions (insert references to Bob Dylan, Black Flag and more).

By Daniel Cook February 28, 2008

DVD killed the video stars

Be Kind, Rewind, French director Michel Gondry’s most recent film, is average as a comedy, continuing the trend started by Gondry’s last offering, the disappointing The Science of Sleep. Despite falling far short of the visual inventiveness and splendor of the acclaimed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), though, Be Kind provides keen insight into the nature of filmmaking and the importance of community.

By Eliott Grover February 28, 2008

Beyond the chili bowl: U St.

If you’re looking for a fresh spot for dinner or drinks, leave pricey M Street behind and take a spin further down the alphabet to U Street, a neighborhood that’s up and coming so fast you want to make sure you get to it before it loses its edge.

By Naja Baldwin February 28, 2008

Critical Voices: Stephen Malkmus, Real Emotional Trash

Stephen Malkmus’ Real Emotional Trash is his first solo release that sounds as willfully sprawling as his best work with his old band. Backed once again by the Jicks, Malkmus has abandoned the clever, artsy pop of his last few releases, opting instead for a heavy jam-fest. Finally achieving the mix of hooks and guitar freakouts that fans have been awaiting through his four releases since the dissolution of Pavement, Real Emotional Trash is his best solo album to date.

By Justin Hunter Scott February 28, 2008

Critical Voices: Cadence Weapon, Afterparty Babies

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Afterparty Babies, Cadence Weapon’s second LP, is how calculated it seems. Surely, countless hours go into crafting any good hip-hop album these days, but the effort put into Afterparty Babies extends beyond time spent in the studio or obsessively rewriting lyrics. Like the best rappers, Cadence Weapon seems fully aware of his audience, goals and idiosyncrasies; unlike the best-known rappers, he’s confident rather than megalomaniacal.

By Daniel Cook February 28, 2008

Culottes for you lots: Classy classics

I thought Amy Adams looked absolutely magnificent on Oscar night. She had the whole vampy Jessica Rabbit thing going on while maintaining the poise and grace of one of Hollywood’s early leading ladies. But Kimora Lee Simmons, who was playing fashion critic for E!, disagreed.

By Katherine Norton February 28, 2008

Sex, drugs and Charlie

The idea behind Charlie Bartlett—a Ferris Bueller for the ‘00 decade!—is interesting enough, but the filmmakers wanted more. So they threw too many ideas at the wall to see which ones would stick, but most don’t. Although inventive and occasionally charming, the movie is too scattered and uneven to be satisfying.

By Shira Hecht February 28, 2008

Hoyas stop the Red Storm

Georgetown (23-4, 13-3 BE) faced an unexpected handful in the St. John’s Red Storm (10-17, 4-11 BE) last night. The Hoyas couldn’t repeat the 32-point rout they enjoyed earlier this year at Madison Square Garden, but walked out with an important 64-52 victory.

By Anthony Francavilla February 28, 2008

Attacking American Unreason

You’re dumb. It’s a message you can hardly avoid lately, unless you’re doing the very thing that’s making you dumb: not reading. Georgetown’s already told you so, in the form of a 72-page Intellectual Life Report that says you study less, drink more, and “earn” good grades more easily than your historical counterparts did. Your degree, it seems, will be a testament to an intellectual odyssey through a University in a “crisis stage.”

By Mike Stewart February 28, 2008

Roadtrip: Seeing America right

Everyone our age remembers (and maybe even occasionally watches) the 90s classic “The Sandlot.” It had all the elements of a cinematic triumph: the backdrop of 1960s America, James Earl Jones and baseball. Plus, you had to admire Squint’s cajones when he made out with va-va-voom lifeguard Wendy Peffercorn after fake-drowning. The movie brimmed with great moments, but the 4th of July scene is by far the best in the movie, a perfect pictorial encapsulation of summer-time bliss, in which the whole squad gazes in wonderment at fireworks splayed across the sky as Ray Charles’ bluesy rendition of “America the Beautiful” swells in the background. The only thing that could have made the scene more quintessentially “American summer” is if all the boys, inspired by patriotic pyrotechnics, had decided to hop in a Chevy and drive off down the highway to where the setting sun meets the waving sea of wheat.

By admin February 28, 2008

Trying to translate the US political system to German

In the month that I’ve been working in Germany before my semester begins, I’ve learned plenty: what a plus sign in a phone number means, how to say instantaneous [augenblicklich] and to buy groceries on Saturday, since everything is closed on Sunday.

By Allie Reiner February 28, 2008

A dose of reality and disillusionment

If I had to pinpoint the problem with the United States government, my answer would be simple. Me.

By Colleen Reding February 28, 2008

The Sports Sermon

With warmer weather rolling around, spring sports are gearing up for their seasons. In particular, baseball is taking advantage of the shift to green grass and sun, both off campus and on. Spring training has begun and teams are counting down to opening day.

By Liz Kuebler February 28, 2008

What Rocks

After ending the Hoyas’ eight-year medal drought in the Big East Championships and setting four Georgetown swimming records, junior Goran Bistric was surprisingly humble.

By Justin Hunter Scott February 28, 2008

Court troubles

I haven’t been able to stand watching Georgetown play basketball lately. My roommates and I frequently curse at the television, and no player has been safe from our lashings. Even JTIII has been the recipient of a few unkind words. Every time I watch the highlights of top teams like UNC, Texas, Kansas and UCLA, I can’t help but think how scared I’d be to watch Georgetown play any team in the current top seven. It’s not that Georgetown can’t beat these teams, but with the way they are playing right now the Hoyas would get smacked, straight-up. Don’t let the recent blowout of Cincy fool you. If they want to play in April, the Hoyas have some things to fix, and quick.

By Mike Kuebler February 28, 2008

Finding a future in football

For seniors who may be unsure about their plans after graduation, the question always lingers. It echoes from the tonsils of elderly family members and scarcely-seen acquaintances alike: “So what are you doing next year?”

By Phil Perry February 28, 2008

Major Barbara’s battle

The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of “Major Barbara” is an incredibly crisp, engaging example of what the greater Washington D.C. theatre scene has to offer. Director Ethan McSweeny’s interpretation stays true to George Bernard Shaw’s impeccable original text and conveys the author’s pertinent social commentary and finely-tuned wit.

By Katherine Norton February 28, 2008