(10/22/02 4:00am)
The shows at Colmondeley's are ordinarily so packed that the audience barely has room to sit, much less dance. But, when the Bay State Love Machine and The Baobabs - two non-Brandeis bands whose performances last Friday at Chum's were not publicized much - took the stage, that the crowd was relatively small proved to be an advantage. The area in front of the stage normally reserved for cramped audience members became a makeshift dance floor.Despite an inauspicious beginning plagued with technical difficulties (and an audible buzzing noise that persisted through most of the band's set), the Boston-based Bay State Love Machine delivered an excellent performance. An eclectic seven-member band that bills itself as a "groovy blend of funky reggae pleasure mixed with a jazz feel," Love Machine incorporates the flute and saxophone into more conventional guitar, drums and keyboard sounds. The result sounds like a reggae and jazz-infused Dave Matthews Band, whose lead singer occasionally seemed to be channeling Bob Marley. The band's music was impressively seamless, their diverse array of instruments blending together nicely to create a unique sound. The instrumentation was so flawless, in fact, that the band's vocals sometimes seemed superfluous in the face of the background jamming - demonstrated when the lead singer occasionally sat down on stage, held conferences with his bandmates, or sometimes left the stage altogether during the long musical interludes between vocals. The audience seemed at first a little wary of the band's cross-genre sound and tendency to jam for such long periods without vocals, but quickly warmed up to the feel-good set of songs, most of which seemed to be about the uplifting power of music. "You got to love but don't think about the pain / You got to dance like no one else is watching / The music will never die," Love Machine sings in a song written for Dionysus, the God of Wine. When one lyric sang that "We're standing still - we should be dancing!" the floor in front of the stage rapidly filled with people bouncing to the beat. After having successfully dragged everyone off the couches, Love Machine then tried to integrate the audience into the show itself, asking the crowd to shout out concepts that the band would then turn into a "musical creation." Suggestions from the audience led the band to an on-the-spot jam about a Brandeis plumber forced to fight a cream cheese monster using salmon as a weapon. Despite the absurd concept behind the lyrics, the song itself was musically pleasing and demonstrated the band's ability to work together. The band called upon the audience again during their last number - an amusing and energetic song about a "funky shower" - for a repeat call-and-answer sound. As the music and the audience members dancing to it became faster and more frenetic, it was clear why the Bay State Love Machine was eliciting such a huge response from the small crowd.Downtime between sets allowed the audience to recoup after Love Machine's satisfying performance, but the crowd was still warmed up as the New York-based Baobabs took the stage. Billed as "fun, light, psychedelic pop," the five-member Baobabs began their set with solid, upbeat pop songs. Strong and sophisticated backing vocals and cool keyboard effects gave the Baobabs' shorter songs a more polished feel than the Bay State Love Machine's long jams, and the Baobabs' lead singer Dan Romer had a less rough voice that adapted well to each song. But, The Baobabs' slightly repetitive lyrics ("I dream of faces" was repeated endlessly, but effectively in an echo effect at the end of one song) and quicker tempo rendered them less compelling than Love Machine. Toward the end of their set - promising to "play until we get a complaint (from the police)" - The Baobabs' music took on a harder, nearly heavy-metal edge, and their blisteringly loud and driving rhythm left everyone's ears ringing.Though the Bay State Love Machine - which confessed to having never played at a college before - seemed to have the final advantage, both bands were well-rehearsed and solidly entertaining. It was a pleasant surprise to unearth such first-rate and little-known musicianship right here at Brandeis.
(10/15/02 4:00am)
It's the Sunday of Family Weekend and the weather is wet and dreary. What better to do than to stay on campus and listen to some sultry jazz? I am certain these were the thoughts going through people's minds as they folded up their umbrellas and piled into Levin Ballroom for the Jazzfest. People waited patiently at candlelit dinner tables to share this monumental performance.Ken Davis '66, the sponsor of this event, gave an introductory speech explaining the history behind Jazzfest. His father had organized Louis Armstrong concerts to collect donations for the Brandeis Jazz Ensemble and the Brandeis Music Department. Two years ago, his mother, in her last words, asked Ken to organize one more concert in memory of his father and for the love of jazz.The Brandeis Jazz Ensemble then showcased their best pieces in appreciation of Mr. Davis's contributions. Professor Robert Nieske (MUS) commended each of his protgs as they came to the stage. With Professor Nieske on the bass and Jon Searles '04 on the drums, three students took turns demonstrating their outstanding skills on the piano. Doug Van Hollen '04 performed a seasonal song, "Autumn Leaves" by Miles Davis. Eric Holland '06 followed with "Dolphin Dance" by Herbie Hancock. Phil Selesnick '05 did an original number titled "Samba de Raina." The music alone transformed Levin Ballroom into an intimate and romantic venue.The Dick Hyman Trio, (Dick Hyman, Howard Alden and Jay Leonhart) then took the stage. Many of the adults in the audience, who knew of Dick Hyman when he performed with renowned jazz artists such as Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson, sat on the edge of their seats and started clapping the minute he appeared onstage. Others were more familiar with this trio from the soundtrack of the Woody Allen film, "Sweet and Lowdown."The three unique musicians were able to come together seamlessly while complimenting each other's solo specialties. Dick Hyman's experienced hands moved dexterously over the piano keys, stunning in their vitality. Bassist Jay Leonhart charmed with his humorous rhymes, and scatted while tapping his bass like a bongo. Howard Alden, on the 7-string guitar, proved why he is recpgnized as one of the best contemporary jazz guitarists today. The setlist included Cole Porter's "Love," Nat King Cole's "Just You, Just Me" and Ruth Etting's "Mean To Me." They also experimented with the music, mixing jazz with sounds like bossa nova and Brazilian samba or combining the traditional style with the more modern. No matter what new sound they invented, the audience tapped their feet and nodded their heads in approval.There was no real climactic point of the night; it was simply good jazz from beginning to end. Everyone silently indulged in this luxurious atmosphere until the last song ended, and then got up to give a standing ovation. There is no doubt many of these adults were celebrating the survival of this "high art" genre in a world that, to them, must seem culturally unrefined. The Jazzfest served as a wonderful epilogue to Fallfest 2002.
(10/15/02 4:00am)
The Spingold auditorium was filled Friday night with alumni, parents and students coming to see Brandeis talent in action. After a welcome by Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer the hosts for the night, Joshua Segal '03 and Aziz Nekoukar '03, took the stage. Throughout the program, they kept up the high level of energy between acts. It seemed as if they were trying too hard, however, and their jokes did not provoke much laughter from the crowd.The Lion Dance Troupe, a traditional Lion and Dragon dance group, performed first. The y carried a long dragon puppet, manipulating it to simulate dancing to the beat of a drum, while the dancers performed their own choreographed martial arts moves.The Late Night Players class of 2002 alumni were the next attraction to take the stage. One of the most clever skits was a parody of Abbot and Costello's famous "Who's on First" dialogue, centered around the '80s Nickelodeon TV show "You Can't Do That on Television." It succeeded in tying together generation gaps, using jokes in a context familiar to parents in the crowd while being a subject known to students.The popular all-male a cappella group, Voicemale wowed the audience and kept them laughing with their barbershop-style "Dream Lover," which finished with the group kneeling on the edge of the stage, serenading the front row. The most impressive song was "Walking in Memphis," which could almost be mistaken for the original version. False Advertising provided some interesting comedy games including a segment they called "Last Action Joke," in which they came up with corny sayings in the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The crowd suggested items for the performers to use as their inspiration, like "gourd," from the dcor of the stage. One comedian threw the gourd like a grenade and exclaimed, "Look at all the blood and gourd!" The funniest moments of their performance was when one of the actors would blank out and just start laughing at their sudden lack of comedy. Brandeis' dance company, Adagio, performed next. They began with ballet-style choreography to orchestral classical music, and it gradually changed tempo to a more upbeat jazz played by a piano. The cast of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" performed the first scene of their play, scheduled to open Nov. 8. The song was very complex, and it was surprising that the group had worked it out in time for Talent Fest, after only about a month of prior preparation. It will clearly be an impressive show by opening night. The second a cappella group to perform that night was Brandeis' only R&B ensemble, Voices of Soul. The 11-person group harmonized to songs such as Lauryn Hill's "That Thing." The percussion was very precise and the group overflowed with energy. The lead singers of each song had extremely strong, smooth voices.Hold Thy Peace, the Shakespeare club, performed a scene from "Taming of the Shrew" with a twist; it was set in the Wild West. Their acting was very expressive, allowing the audience to get the full effect of the scene, which was short and sweet. Although there were times when the actors spoke a bit too fast or too quietly, their creative setting and costumes demonstrated the versatility of Shakespeare's writing.The Late Night Players closed the show with several witty segments, including a hilarious scene with a dramatic paleontologist who envisioned dinosaurs to have worn clothes. The over-exaggerated expressions made the idea funny, and the audience roared with laughter. Talent Fest 2002 allowed the diverse abilities of Brandeis University's students to shine brightly that night. In the words of the Late Night Players, "At Brandeis, not only can your kids become lawyers and doctors but they can also be suffering comedians." Or singers, or dancers, or actors, or .
(10/15/02 4:00am)
Club recognitionsCampus band Sex Drugs Rock 'n' Roll (SDR) was recognized as a campus organization. SDR says they hope to be the hardest rocking band to hit Brandeis since Leonard Bernstein.Allocations requestsThe Senate voted to pass SMR #11 to allocate $250 to the Castle Quad Halloween Party. After heavy debate, the Senate reduced the original requested amount of $350 to $250.Students for Environmental Action (SEA) requested $400 in SMR 13 to plant blueberry bushes around the campus wetland to protect it by creating a buffer zone. This will prevent the edge of the wetland from decreasing.The basketball team's request for funding for a Stein Night was withdrawn because they were able to secure funds elsewhere. The Senate agreed that they should only fund non-varsity athletics.BTV requested $2,000 to purchase a new iMac computer to assist with editing graphics and burning their movies on DVD's.$100 was requested for the Rosenthal Quad vs. East Quad Powderpuff Game to be played on November 3. The purpose of the game is to promote friendly competition between the two sophomore quads.CommunicationsThe representatives to the Board of Trustees reported on the recent meeting of the board. The board discussed the possibility of Brandeis pulling its funding from NPR and the current financial status of the University.The elections for the new treasurer will be held on Tuesday. -- Igor Pedan
(10/08/02 4:00am)
This past week, the Brandeis University varsity men's tennis team was dropped UAA rival NYU and was shut out by Amherst College, dropping its fall record to 1-2. On Sunday, against NYU, Brandeis lost two of the three doubles matches, but won three through six singles to beat the Violets 4-3. Chris Hersel '06 won the tie-breaking match at sixth singles.Brandeis co-captain Dave Block '03 extended his flight two singles match to three sets, before losing 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 to first-year Josh Rilla of Amherst.Yehuda Hausman '02 lost 6-3, 6-2 at the number four singles position. "I played a very good player. He was more tenacious and very patient and I was just outplayed," he said. In his flight three doubles match, Hausman paired with Robert Friedman '06 and lost 8-4. "It was our first regular season match together and we showed a lot of promise as a doubles team by finishing a lot of points and serving well," Hausman said. "Robert has displayed a lot of versatility in his game. He is a lefty, which makes his serves very effective. Also I think we are both really into it mentally, we don't have a huge power game, but we like thinking our way through the match, and in that way, I think we complement each other really well. We just have to smooth out some rough edges and get used to each other's strengths and weaknesses, but overall, we showed a lot of potential."The Judges managed to capture a victory at the number two doubles spot. Block '03 and first-year teammate Aaron Rifkind won in a thrilling 8-7 (1) match. "I think we have a lot of talent in our lineup. We have experienced leadership and the four new freshmen who have made it into the lineup have showed great promise," Hausman said. "We have a very positive outlook for the season and if we can just practice hard and stay focused, we will eventually evolve into a very sophisticated and dangerous team." The Judges have a couple of matches lined up for the following week, including a make-up match against Bentley, the Bates tournament and a final showdown at 11 a.m. on Sunday against UAA rival NYU.
(10/08/02 4:00am)
The Shapiro family, students, faculty, administrators, trustees, and other guests gathered in the Shapiro Campus Center, Thursday evening, to celebrate its official opening. Initial mingling was followed by the official ribbon-cutting, done by Carl Shapiro, as well as remarks by University President Jehuda Reinharz, Waltham Mayor, David F. Gately and Student Union President Ben Brandzel '03. Student volunteers gave tours of the building and caterers served food to the crowd. Attendants heard an a cappella presentation and watched a tribute video to the Shapiros in the center's new state-of-the-art theater. "Can you believe what you are looking at?" Reinharz remarked in his speech. "Two years ago we stood, looked at a hole, a boulder, 150 to 250 cars and a building that was crumbling - and look at what we have now.""Carl and Ruth, I don't think we can thank you enough for everything you have done," Reinharz said.Gately spoke of the important relationship between Brandeis University and the city of Waltham."This is a very historic occasion both for Brandeis and the City of Waltham." Gately said. "Brandeis and Waltham continue to have an important community relationship . the classrooms and buildings in Brandeis house the future leaders." Attendees ate an array of appetizers, including potato pancakes, cheeses, spreads, and crackers. After the speeches, the crowd was ushered into the new Carl J. Shapiro Theater. A performance was given by members of various campus a cappella groups, including Spur of the Moment, Starving Artists, Manginah, University Choir, and Voicemale.A brief video in tribute to the Shapiros was then viewed. The Shapiro family, distinguished guests, and administrators then adjourned to a dinner, while students left, many to change into semi-formal dress for the Shapiro Soire, which began at 10 p.m. that evening. The event, planned by the Campus Center Transition Team, had a masquerade theme."This is an exciting moment," Dean of Student Life, Rick Sawyer said. "I'm thinking a lot about many of the students who had an influence three and four years ago over what ought to be in this building, even though they may have graduated and are not here, as well as the people on my staff who may have worked with us." "We're all very proud of the building," Project Manager Ed Berry said. "There has been a lot pulled together at the last minute. It's very gratifying to see it all come together, but what is most gratifying is to see students in it." "It was so thrilling to see students' reactions as they walked into the library for the first time. We heard things like 'oh my God, oh my Lord, oh this is awesome.' That's the best part," Berry added. Rhonda Zinner, daughter of Carl and Ruth Shapiro, and a member of the Board of Trustees, spoke to the Justice for the Shapiro family."We're thrilled about it; its been a long time in the planning and the construction, and to see it open and all the students really enjoying it is just great," she said."My family has had a long history with Brandeis University," Zinner explained. "It goes back to my grandfather ... and over the years, my folks came to know the different people, and continued their involvement."The building, a $25 million gift from the Shapiros, was created by architect Charles Rose."(The campus center) has a very large footprint on campus," Jean Eddy, Director of Students and Enrollment said regarding the architecture, "it has to blend with everything around it, and I think its done that. And I for one like the color.""Its functional, its elegant, one of the nice things about it is that many of the rooms have full daylight all day long, I think it feels very comfortable. I love the color," Reinharz told the Justice. "It's different, it's eye catching, its something everybody talks about- not everybody might like it, but that's what architecture should be about. Architecture is about aesthetics, and when you start paying attention, you understand the functionality of the building. So I love it," he said."I happen to like it, I like modern architecture," Stephen Kay, president of the Board of Trustees, said. "Brandeis has always had modern architecture, and has always been cutting-edge. A lot of these buildings, when they first were up, looked a little avant-garde, but I think, particularly after the copper tones down a little bit, it's just going to fade right into the campus. It is very good space, in the center, convenient to everything else. It all came together," Kay, said."I think that's what we needed most, what else would we build - we're not going to build a hockey rink at Brandeis. This was the number one project. Number two was the dormitories, that's going up now also . near the main parking lot. Those two things we felt would make student life better, and would make people want to stay here," he said."It gives students, for the first time, wonderful space with which to work, and play and do whatever they want to do," Reinharz added. "I felt it was very important that students have a real campus center - we didn't have a real campus center to speak of, it was a priority to me. The University is for students, and a campus center is a necessity, not a luxury.""I think this will become the heart of the whole place," Kay said. "I think it's wonderful. It's something we could not have done without the Shapiro family - we simply could not have afforded a building like this unless they came and said specifically we want to do it and we want to do it first class and we'll pay for it. I think it's a great building. I hope it gets well used by students, and becomes the center of student life on campus." "What ought to be in this building is a lot of students. This is here for our student body. There's very few administrators in here. Its meant to be a facility for our students. Every amenity we could think of is in here," Sawyer said.
(09/24/02 4:00am)
After "Spy Kids," Antonio Banderas is back as an agent, only this time he's not the one being rescued. He plays former FBI agent, Ecks who has become a melancholic has-been since the supposed death of his wife. He is coaxed back into the business when he is told a rogue Defense Intelligence Agent, Sever (played by Lucy Liu of "Charlie's Angels"), might hold the key to his wife's whereabouts. Meanwhile, Sever has taken hostage the son of her malicious former boss, Robert Gant (Gregg Henry of "Payback,") who has secretly been developing microbes which can kill at the push of a button. Although they start off as rival agents, Ecks and Sever realize they must join together in order to accomplish their objectives. Liu is cool and tough-looking as usual in her slim, black clothes and Jackie Chan-style fight scenes. Her one-sided persona, however, makes it hard to sympathize with her when she tries to add an emotional dimension to her rough-edged, trained assassin character. In contrast, Banderas is a little too emotional, constantly looking as if his cat had just been run over by a truck. While it has a good soundtrack of techno and rock infused tracks, appropriately complementing the fast paced fight scenes, and a few good comedic lines (one of the FBI agents tells his daughter that Ecks looks sad because he was just "beaten up by a girl [Sever]"), the film contains too many clichs to set it above other action movies. The special effects mainly consist of flashy explosions and "Matrix" style shoot-outs, with Liu's fight scenes reminiscent of those in "Charlie's Angels." The plot is predictable in the end regardless of some surprising twists. The ending was somewhat disconcerting because although it was an inevitable conclusion, the tone (especially the background music) didn't quite fit with the rest of the film. Also, the subplot concerning the killer microbe should have been developed more, especially since it was one of the more original ideas in the movie. The villains were among the movie's redeeming qualities. They were played by Gregg Henry and Ray Parks (Darth Maul of "Star Wars.") Henry ruthlessly plays the part of Gant, whose goal to create the perfect assassin outweighs any priority he has for his family or employees. His goal is evident in a scene where Gant coaxes one of his henchman to commit suicide after he fails a mission. Parks is equally ruthless as Gant's sidekick, Ross, who aids Gant in his attempts to outwit Sever. Both Henry's and Park's relentlessly evil performances made the film more interesting to watch. In general, "Ballistic" makes a weak attempt at pushing the limits of the action genre. It reuses the secret agent plot lines of movies like the James Bond series while desperately trying to add emotional baggage to both Liu and Banderas' characters as motivation for their actions. Furthermore, the fight scenes involving explosives and machine guns are relatively mundane and repetitive, with the most exciting one being a hand to hand combat between Liu and Parks towards the end of the movie. If anything, this movie is worth waiting for … the video rental.
(09/24/02 4:00am)
I have to admit, before viewing "Trapped," I just assumed it would be like any other action movie advertised - one of those clichd, testosterone-filled, badly written, horrendously acted staples of American culture. "Trapped" proved to be different. The film, directed by Luis Mandoki ("Angel Eyes"), is based on "24 hours," a novel by Greg Iles. In the film, a threesome of ignominious kidnappers, Cheryl (Courtney Love), Joe (Kevin Bacon) and Marv (Pruitt Taylor Vince of "Nurse Betty") devise the "perfect kidnapping." After four successful kidnappings and a short hiatus, the trio decide to strike once again, this time targeting a prominent anesthesiologist, William Jennings (Stuart Townsend of "Queen of the Damned"), his wife, Karen (Charlize Theron) and their daughter, Abby (Dakota Fanning of "I Am Sam.")Not soon after Will leaves for a medical conference in Seattle, Joe and his accomplices go to work. Abby is abducted and taken to a cabin deep in the woods, where Marv, Joe's cousin, looks after her. Joe stays with Karen to explain the rules of the abduction, assuring her that nothing will happen to her daughter if she follows the rules. He informs her that Abby's life is in her hands. As long as she cooperates and he is able to make calls to Marv every 30 minutes, she will be returned at the end of 24 hours unharmed. Meanwhile, Joe's wife Cheryl eagerly awaits Will in Seattle, to inform him of the disparaging news and what his role will be in saving his little girl's life. The plan involves Karen wiring the hefty sum of $250,000 to Will. Then, he will hand Cheryl the money, and she will report back to Joe. Afterwards, Abby will be released within eyesight of her mother. The plan is being executed without a hitch, but Joe fails to notice one crucial detail about the young girl: Abby has severe asthma. Karen informs Joe that any sudden excitement, physical strain or even exposure to dust particles could turn fatal if the girl does not receive her medication on time. "Trapped" was a very entertaining movie. I found myself completely captivated by the film, seeing the actors on screen not as characters but as actual people. Theron plays a very convincing mother, with whom the audience is all too willing to sympathize. Bacon also does his part in stirring up some strong emotions in audience members. Perhaps it's just me, but every time his character came on screen, I wished the worst for him. This film does not lack suspense. I often found myself holding on tightly to the arm of the chair, or my neighbor ... whichever was closer. A couple of scenes were especially intense. Once such scene was when Joe tells Karen that she has to sleep with him, and do whatever he says, if she wants to see her daughter alive again. You feel not only the fear and worry that Karen is experiencing for her family, but also the anxiety and distress of a woman who is on the verge of being raped. I won't give much away about this scene; what makes the movie so suspenseful is that the viewer is not let in on all the secrets too soon. As the movie continues, more information is divulged, and it becomes clear what these criminals have in mind and why they have menaced the lives of innocent families.Mixed with edge-of-your-seat thrills and heart-wrenching family moments, "Trapped" is well worth the nine dollar admission price. Although it is not an Oscar caliber film, it does its job of keeping the viewer attentive and entertained. After watching the film, I believe that anyone who sees it will leave with feelings of excitement, and perhaps apprehension, but most definitely satisfaction.
(09/03/02 4:00am)
After a disappointing season that left the men's soccer team below .500 for only the second time in 30 years, early expectations point to a need for improvement as the official start to the 2002 season is less than one week away. Despite last year's unsuccessful campaign, the team expects to capitalize on its hard work over the off-season. "The guys really came back with great attitudes and in excellent shape this year," Coach Mike Coven said. Having lost only one starter from last year's team, the Judges are expecting a mix of experienced players with a group of solid newcomers will lead the team back to the success it has had before last year's atypical fallout."We've got a great returning core of players, likely the best group of talent we've has at Brandeis," Domenic Martignetti '04 said. "As long as we can click as a team, we'll be unstoppable."Brandeis returns Martignetti, who according to Coven, "has worked extremely hard and come back with a great attitude." Dave Nugent '04, who came on strong towards the end of last season and is expected to continue to improveme throughout this season. In addition, Coven said he expects that Neel Bungaroo '04, who missed last year with a knee injury, will step up as well. "Neel looks great so far this year. It's great to have him back," Coven said. But, while work ethic and the right attitude may propel this year's team to stardom, the addition of numerous first-years to the already fundamentally sound cast of players will only add to the team's success."We've brought in some great athletes this year who I expect to help us right away and see some prime minutes," Coven said. One of those newcomers, Shelton Stewart '06, comes to Brandeis from Jamaica, where he was a member of the Jamaican National team. "Shelton is very special," Coven said. "I expect him to do quite well and score some goals for us this season."Coven also sees his three new goalies, Brian Kochisarli '06, Patrick Makridakis '06 and Matt Kaplan '06, as well as other first-years Elliott Rector '06, Oren Nhaissi '06 and Charlie Goodhue '06 to see a lot of playing time as they compliment the team's upper-class talent. "We have a great core of first-year players ready to step in and make an impact," Martignetti said. "With the proper leadership, we can really have great season."The expanded team roster (which now carries 28 team members), and increased player abilities, will undoubtedly help the Judges in their trek to get back over .500, and into post-season action. Such success will not be handed to Brandeis, however, as the addition of Worcester and Westfield State Colleges to the Judges schedule will test just how far the team has come from last season."We play a much more difficult schedule this year," Coven said. "Worcester and Westfield are two of the best teams in the state, and will give us some great competition."But, even with new, perhaps tougher competition staring Brandeis in the face, Coven says he believes since his players are stronger and more prepared than last season, they will be able to play at a higher level. The Judges competitive edge will be tested onSunday as they open at home against a strong Babson College team. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
(09/03/02 4:00am)
If you're into swooning over attractive male guitarists who reminisce about lost loves, in-between eliciting laughs like stand up acts and cursing like sailors, then the patio of Usdan on Wednesday night was the place to be. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that Stephen Kellogg was opening the evening of music, since I had enjoyed seeing him this past summer at the Gathering of the Vibes. This performance was much mellower, as he displayed his songwriting talents while still maintaining his personable, smile-inducing edge.Kellogg's mini-set consisted mainly of "story 'bout a girl" songs that exhibited enjoyable chord progressions, plus an added bonus of a little harmonica in the first song. His songs had messages along the lines of "you have the choice to change, but it's a difficult process." For instance, the lines "She's got a sun kissed smile that the winter won't go near," and "She takes my heart away," showed Kellogg's ability to bring out universal emotions in his lyrics. He peaked in his penultimate song where he would send his voice rocketing falsetto as he added an extra syllable to "beautiful." Kellogg capped his performance with a ballad style cover of the Spin Doctors' "Two Princes" that included an audience sing-a-long of the chorus while he crooned reworked lyrics that meshed wonderfully. At setbreak it dawned on me that this is the most packed acoustic caf I had ever attended. The patio was crammed as far as the eye could see, and there were even a bunch of crafty ones who had made their way up to the second floor patio for the showcase, Matt Nathanson. Nathanson, even more than Kellogg, knew how to work the ladies. And, he was not afraid to show it, to the point where I think he just liked to hear himself talk. The way he made out with the microphone and was continually deep-thrusting (from his toes all the way to his eyes) complemented his self-proclaimed theme of the evening, which was music as a sexual journey.Nathanson possessed a set of full, slightly raspy, very sexy vocals. He put them to use right away, and added intricate chord progression and eye-opening lyrics to create "Pretty The World." On "More Than This" Nathanson played brilliantly, as though he were playing two guitars simultaneously in harmony. This same style would follow, but even more melodically, later on with "Wings." Then came, according to Nathanson, the "nipple hardening part of the evening," which he introduced with a pretty enjoyable, albeit mocking, impersonation of BBMak. After a couple more woe-is-me, why-can't-she-be-mine, can't-get-her-out-of-my-head type songs, Nathanson orchestrated a fun sing-a-long to Prince's "Starfish and Coffee." As he did all night long, Nathanson stopped midsong to make a wisecrack; this one was directed at a pretty girl not joining in the singing who shall remain nameless. "Chickentastick" allowed for some isolated, hard strumming and "Continue Dreaming" was the vehicle for some higher than normal vocals by Nathanson. It was at this point of the show that I felt it dragging on a little too much. Maybe he was spurred on by the hordes of females in the audience to keep playing slow ballads or maybe that's all he has in his repertoire, but either way the set was in need of a boost of some sort at this point. Nathanson picked up on this vibe three or four songs later than I would have liked, and then got just plain silly. He did a very raw version of Journey's "Faithfully" and stood on an amp in his crowning glory. Kellogg joined him on the amp stage left and the rest of the song played out more as a comedy routine than a musical performance, considering Kellogg's fear of heights and their lack of the necessary soloing to fit the song. Regardless, it was good entertainment. A farcical Bon Jovi medley of "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" followed, and they even added a Guns N' Roses "Paradise City" tease. Back to the real music. "Answering Machine" again showed how the audience can actively help to create touching music, as Nathanson wove his flowing lyrics through the crowd's chorus. He closed the set with a whisperingly warm first verse of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Boxer" that segued into his largely requested "Little Victories." The night ended on a soft smiling note that represented well the two plus hours of sweet melodies and reflective lyrics that filled the cool, end of summer, New England night air.
(08/27/02 4:00am)
Anne Fadiman, author of "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," spoke at Spingold Theater Center. First-year students, Orientation leaders, and Brandeis staff and faculty filled the auditorium to capacity for her address and then ask questions about the book which they were given by Brandeis to read during the summer. Fadiman message was to bridge cultural barriers."After the meetings with the families we would have what we would call 'in the car,' and in the car was my cultural debriefing and education. I would ask my translator to explain all of the things that she had translated word for word but that were still utterly puzzling," Fadiman said.Fadiman emphasized the importance of recognizing that there are cultural differences between people such as the one that she said existed in her book between the Lee family and the Hospital staff that were treating their daughter, Lia, for epilepsy. Fadiman emphasized finding common ground with people who are different. She described a Venn-diagram as an example of two different cultures. She said that unless people are willing to venture out the edge of their own circle they will never get to the part where the two circles intercept. "In our nation, people who wear turbans, have Eastern last names, or worship in a Mosque are being attacked. And, it is because we are retreating to the center of our culture and are too scared to be at the edge. And whether it is relationships with people who practice another religion or relationships with people whom we wish to be friends with, but who simply seem different from us and we can't venture out to the edge we will never find common ground.""I got a more complimentary understanding of the relationship of the book and the author," Wayne Mak '06 said after the Fadiman's speech.Students were allowed to ask Fadiman questions afterward. "This book chose me and I did not chose it," she told the audience.Fadiman described the eight-year process of her writing the book. It started as a late addition proposal for an article for the New Yorker Magazine. It was the only topic on her proposed list that she didn't know anything about and much to her surprise it was the only one accepted by the editors. She decided to quit her job at Life Magazine and pursue the story full time. After submitting her first of three segments to the New Yorker, the editor who originally approved the article was fired and her article was rejected. Not wanting the story to get lost, Fadiman pursued it further and eventually published the book.Fadiman's appearance at the annual New Student Forum, which brings a new writer to Brandeis each year, was sponsored by the endowment from Helen and Philip Brecher Fund.
(08/27/02 4:00am)
After a disappointing season that left the men's soccer team below .500 for only the second time in 30 years, early expectations point to a need for improvement as the official start to the 2002 season is less than one week away. Despite last year's unsuccessful campaign, the team expects to capitalize on its hard work over the off-season. "The guys really came back with great attitudes and in excellent shape this year," Coach Mike Coven said. Having lost only one starter from last year's team, the Judges are expecting a mix of experienced players with a group of solid newcomers will lead the team back to the success it has had before last year's atypical fallout."We've got a great returning core of players, likely the best group of talent we've has at Brandeis," Domenic Martignetti '04 said. "As long as we can click as a team, we'll be unstoppable."Brandeis returns Martignetti, who according to Coven, "has worked extremely hard and come back with a great attitude." Dave Nugent '04, who came on strong towards the end of last season and is expected to continue to improveme throughout this season. In addition, Coven said he expects that Neel Bungaroo '04, who missed last year with a knee injury, will step up as well. "Neel looks great so far this year. It's great to have him back," Coven said. But, while work ethic and the right attitude may propel this year's team to stardom, the addition of numerous first-years to the already fundamentally sound cast of players will only add to the team's success."We've brought in some great athletes this year who I expect to help us right away and see some prime minutes," Coven said. One of those newcomers, Shelton Stewart '06, comes to Brandeis from Jamaica, where he was a member of the Jamaican National team. "Shelton is very special," Coven said. "I expect him to do quite well and score some goals for us this season."Coven also sees his three new goalies, Brian Kochisarli '06, Patrick Makridakis '06 and Matt Kaplan '06, as well as other first-years Elliott Rector '06, Oren Nhaissi '06 and Charlie Goodhue '06 to see a lot of playing time as they compliment the team's upper-class talent. "We have a great core of first-year players ready to step in and make an impact," Martignetti said. "With the proper leadership, we can really have great season."The expanded team roster (which now carries 28 team members), and increased player abilities, will undoubtedly help the Judges in their trek to get back over .500, and into post-season action. Such success will not be handed to Brandeis, however, as the addition of Worcester and Westfield State Colleges to the Judges schedule will test just how far the team has come from last season."We play a much more difficult schedule this year," Coven said. "Worcester and Westfield are two of the best teams in the state, and will give us some great competition."But, even with new, perhaps tougher competition staring Brandeis in the face, Coven says he believes since his players are stronger and more prepared than last season, they will be able to play at a higher level. The Judges competitive edge will be tested onSunday as they open at home against a strong Babson College team. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
(08/27/02 4:00am)
Indian Lookout Country Club, a tremendous biker owned valley in rural Upstate N.Y., was the site of overwhelming generosity, kindness, smiles . and some of the best music that made up Gathering of the Vibes. With bikers as security and (more or less) hippies as the attendees, a Woodstock atmosphere pervaded, without the Altamont results.The officially coined "Celebration of Independence" commenced (appropriately) July 4. The central field had a single professional stage at the end and the sides were lined with food vendors and other organizations such as Organ Donors. Surrounding the main field were about seven fields for camping that were filled to capacity. And now for the music. The Zen Tricksters, a Grateful Dead tribute band nearly as old as the Dead themselves, were my first highlight of the weekend. Following a 10 minute shower (the only precipitation of the weekend) the Tricksters played the blissful gem "Here Comes Sunshine," at which point the clouds began to disintegrate. "Going Down The Road Feeling Bad" got everyone up, dancing and smiling. Although raw, "Summertime Blues" was especially nice, as it was played in memory of the recently departed Who bassist John Entwistle.Bananaheads (and there were many) were in for a treat as Deep Banana Blackout played a jam-packed performance of new songs and classics. I must say it was even better than their 'Deis performance, which says a lot. They are really broadening their styles, as was evident during their freestyling. The first night came to a close with a spectacular performance by the Steve Kimock Band. Their sound is unlike any other, combining traditional guitar improvisation, outstanding percussion (supported by Kimock's son on the Timbale) and a progressive mellowing groove. They blew the crowd away with their electronic tour de force, "Sabertooth." I can see why they were privileged to headline the first night; they are a promising sign of the new and exciting direction in which jamband music is headed. On Friday Fuzz and Stephen Kellogg formed All Stripped Down. This acoustic duo was a treat, providing intense guitar play, hilarious antics and a fine view of their boxers. Most memorable was their dedication to all the ladies. I'll call it their "Plump Rump Medley." It consisted of Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom," Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girl" and that Frank Zappa tune with the line "The bigger the cushion / the better the pushin'."Strangefolk (sans founder Reid Genauer) combined rock, folk, bluegrass and at times electronica to impressively and consistently hit ecstatic peaks. Les Claypool and his Flying Frog Brigade came onstage next in garb straight out of a Tim Burton film, with the saxophonist sporting a full red devil costume. The music was unique and Claypool showed why he is one of the most talented bassists, but it was a little too herky jerky for my palate.Warren Haynes then came onstage for a solo acoustic guitar set. The crowd was sparse at this point because most were back at their sites eating dinner. I chose to remain, and it was worthwhile. His voice resonated through the early evening sky as he did memorable versions of "Soulshine" and a beautiful rendition of U2's "One."When Phil and Friends appeared Friday night, it was the first time the field was packed to capacity. Phil and Friends were really tight and had a setlist to die for: "Crazy Fingers," "I Know You Rider," "St. Stephen," "Dark Star," "The Other One," "Sugaree" and "Keep Rockin in the Free World" (by Neil Young) were all fantastic. It was mostly a wandering night, however; I never really settled into the full groove.The following day I missed the Brandeis friendly Aaron Katz Band, but I was able to catch the end of some tight rockin' by Lake Trout and Max Creek went on around 3:30 p.m. I highly suggest seeing this Massachusetts-based jamming institution that has been around since the early '70s. Their play is Dead in nature with less psychedelic space and a tighter country feel. They capped their enrapturing performance with a powerful version of The Who's "Eminence Front."Next was an acoustic guitar set by ex-Strangefolk founder Reid Genauer. For the life of me I couldn't tell you a single song he played, but at points it seemed like he must have had four or five hands going wildly on that guitar. I emerged from a musical haze to see a couple guys joining Reid on stage, who turned out to be the other members of Strangefolk. This was the first time the founding members were playing together since Reid's departure several years back.The Strangeheads in attendance were literally begging for more, but the big intimidating dudes screaming "MULE!" had their way in the end. And that wasn't a bad thing by any means. Gov't Mule consisted of staples Warren Hayneson on guitar and Matt Abst on drums, and Andy Hess, Danny Louis, Audley Freed of the Black Crows and Rob Baracco of Phil and Friends. This all-star line up was mind blowing in both their hard rocking and psychedelic styles. The sun began to set and the Vibe was at its peak. It was time for Phil to shower us with beauty. The first set brought forth a newly interpreted "Uncle John's Band" with a little edge. They continued the previous night's "China-Rider" with "China Cat Sunflower" and ended "Scarlet Fire" with "Fire On The Mountain." Set break provided a surprise professional fireworks display directly behind the stage. The second set was one of the best of Dead music I've ever experienced: "Jam" into "Shakedown Street" into "Leave Me Out Of This" into "Terrapin Station" into "Not Fade Away" into "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" into "Not Fade Away" into "Friend of the Devil," "Golden Road" into "Unlimited Devotion," "E: The Wheel" into "Unbroken Chain." The music speaks for itself.Later, at around 1 a.m. the Merry Pranksters were on hand to memorialize their once and future king, Ken Kesey. Each theatrically recited words to their dearly departed friend. Then, a recording of Ken Kesey's children's story "Little Tricker The Squirrel Meets Big Double The Bear," featuring the voices of Kesey and Wavy Gravy played. The official entertainment ended with a "Grateful Dead Dance Party, which was really a video of about five of their songs from a late '70s show. The following day was sunny and perfect; making it that much harder to leave. Running on little sleep, I partook in the outstanding tension release jazz that is Soulive. Between working with beautiful young people, being on both ends of generosity and hearing soul peaking music, the Gathering of the Vibes left me with an ideal outlook on life and the universe. And now, with an open heart and a smile, I extend this Vibe to you.
(05/28/02 4:00am)
Mighty Mighty Bosstones'A Jackknife To A Swan'SideOneDummy RecordsGrade: A-The pride of Boston, and a favorite on the punk rock scene, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have released their seventh studio album, although with all the EPs and other releases it seems like this could be their 20th release. One can officially say that the Bosstones are veterans of punk rock, with their trademark suits on stage and Dicky Barrett's rough voice. The fans of the Bosstones are the most dedicated that I have ever seen in the punk scene, and it is understandable. The Bosstones have been around since 1985, but only hit the mainstream in 1997 with their now emblematic single, "The Impression that I get," much to the dismay of their fans. It is no big surprise that the Bosstones eventually had some mainstream success; they blend punk and ska expertly, to the point where there are arguments over which label is appropriate. Their instrumentation is very typically ska, including a trombone and two saxophones, but many of their songs just focus on the guitars and bass, with a three chord progression typical of punk. This album is no exception; each song varies in instrumentation and style. For example, the first song on the album, "A Jackknife to a Swan," is a very typical mix of punk and ska during the chorus. The third song, "You gotta go," reminds me most of the Bosstones' earlier work, with a punkier edge, but forever the Bosstones. You can't help at least tapping your foot to these songs; they are fun and easy to listen to. The fourth song, "Everybody Better," explores the reggae roots of the Bosstones, with its carefree nature, and dub style beat, imploring that "To be king you don't need a castle." This is a great summer album, for those gearing up for the Warped Tour, which the Bosstones are sure to attend. This album is mature and explorative for the Bosstones, who just like to have fun, but are able to musically examine themselves and innovate new styles. Despite their popularity, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are still punk in every way; fans of the Bosstones, and for those who enjoy good, fun, happy music, check out this album.
(05/28/02 4:00am)
You know those ads that Fabio used to do? The ones where he would look all foreign and masculine and chiseled? And, he would explain, in an awestruck (read: heavily accented) tone how he simply was amazed at the facts he was presented with? And, he would state, loudly and definitively, in a way that you thought he probably understood most of the words he was saying: I can't believe it's not butter!I remember that, too, and I think that now more than ever I can really sympathize with the astonishment Fabio was enduring way back then. I understand his inability to comprehend that the situation he was faced with was, indeed, real. I can't believe we're not freshman! Sorry, we don't say "freshman" in these parts, we say "first-year." But I can't believe we're not first-years, either! Ah, the old freshman/first-year distinction. That triggers more nostalgia than a Tony Danza clip show. I remember my first year I wrote a column explaining how I thought we should be labeled "freshmen" and not "first-years" because the connotation associated with "freshman" more accurately reflected our naivete. "During Orientation '98, the green-shirted volunteers were instructed to refer to my Class of '02 as first-year students at all times, and never to drop that dreaded f-bomb," I wrote. I described registering for my first semester from home, thinking: "'Hey, I can go to a 9-o'clock class! That means I could sleep in until EIGHT!' This is not the misguided thought-process of a first-year student. Only freshmen take 9-o'clock classes because they start so late." It was cute, sort of -- kind of like the Olsen twins. But, some then-senior (Joanna Stromberg '99) wrote a letter to the editor, all in what psychologists call "a huff," saying this, "Perhaps the problem with 'freshman' that Friedman can't figure out is that it accurately describes only half of the entering class." She thought, of course, that I was an idiot for not recognizing that "freshman" as a label heaps massive insult and injury upon scores of "freshwomen." In my published reply, I apologized wholeheartedly to Stromberg and the Brandeis community at large, saying, "I would ask that, in the future, Stromberg and others refer to me using a nonsexist, ultra-PC version of my name: 'Lex Friedperson.'" But, that trip down memory lane must come to a close, because I'm using up words in my last-ever Justice column; it's my last chance to fill this space and I can't spend all of it quoting from past columns. I considered titling this grand-finale column "The Lex Final" or "The Last File," and for a while I thought about titling it "Sex, Jehuda, and Carrie Fisher," just to try to boost my readership. But in the end, I've decided that it's nice and appropriate to keep my title "The Lex Files," even though the show whose name I parodied is now off the air. Just as "The X Files" will live on in syndication, so too do I hope that my "Lex Files" will live on after I'm gone, kindling the fireplaces, protecting the glassware, and lining the bird cages of tomorrow. But now, after approximately 600 words of drivel (which would have been another decent title for my column these last four years), I have to make a sharp segue into the advice/mushiness/reflection part of this column before it's too late. Search your MP3 playlist for the latest emotional ballad from Celine Dion and join me at the next paragraph. It seems like just eight semesters ago we seniors began our Brandeis careers. We went through Orientation together and we began forming a tight bond right there, huddled together in a protective mass as we feared for our lives with the hundreds of screaming "volunteers" all around us in Spingold. We stuck together through four years, as Ford Hall fell and Shapiro Center rose ... Or started to, anyway. We watched the SAT average of our accepted students go up while our US News & World Report ranking went down -- as did Monica Lewinsky and Al Gore, although in different ways. We saw WBRS go from being a purveyor of crappy music to, in the end ... a purveyor of crappy music. While the real world got ever-more frightening -- both in terms of sadder and sadder news and in terms of the fact that we were getting closer and closer to the realities of post-college life -- Brandeis remained largely unchanged. The bureaucracy and politics were there, but so were the good times. As a whole, our class represented a shift from the once-omnipresent Brandeis student stance that there was nothing fun to do here. I believe that the Class of 2002 recognized that if we wanted our time here to be fun, we had to make it fun, and we did just that. And, of course, we went to classes sometimes and did pretty well there, too. But now, we bid farewell to Brandeis ... and bid hello (if there is such a thing) to the next stage of our lives, the stage I like to call, "After Brandeis." (Although its official name is "Harold"). Whether your next stop is grad school or employment or a year off, this is an amazingly important time of our lives. Never before have we stood so close to the edge of the real world, tiptoeing out of our youths as we prepare to test the waters of our future . and gingerly step out of our extended metaphors. And, don't worry about it! Seriously, I think we're ready! Me, I'm geared up to face rejection after rejection, but some day my parents will love me. No, I mean, I think we all realize that not everything in life will be easy, but we're also young enough and eager enough that we won't get bogged down in our failures. If we learn from our mistakes, then I'm ready to become a genius. As any of you who know me realize, I make mistakes as often as sitcom stars make babies. But, if we're able to let our missteps in life shape our futures ... If we're able to brush off the stains from the lemons life may deal us and make Lemon-Flavored PowerAde ... Well, then I think we'll do just fine. I can't promise we'll all be successful. (Note: By "we," I mean, "you.") But, I am confident that our Brandeis experience has helped us master the art of taking what comes and not letting it bring us down. I wish all of us the best of luck -- though I don't think we'll need it. Because even if we're ready to deal with rejection, I think we succeeded at Brandeis. As a whole, we have accomplished what we set out to do here. And, in this case, by "we," I mean "me." And, by "what we set out to do here," I mean, "finally finished my last damn Justice column."-- Lex Friedman '02 submits a column to the Justice
(05/07/02 4:00am)
Clinic'Walking With Thee'DominoGrade: AEveryone, at some point in their life, has the nightmarish dream of briskly walking through a succession of sterile, dimly lit, maze-like hallways - utterly hopeless and trapped. The constant reminder of something, possibly reptilian, lurking in the background doesn't provide much hope, and the unending labyrinth of corridors is ruthless. At some point we wake up, usually right before some tragedy . or being devoured. I've had that dream a number of times, and, until recently, always wondered what a soundtrack to these harrowing scenes would sound like. Then, I discovered Clinic. On their recent album "Walking with Thee," Liverpool's Clinic successfully captures the degree of urgency and hauntingly, dark images associated with nightmares. On the very first track, "Harmony," an ominous electric piano and entrancing bass line create the perfect backdrop for Ade Blackburn's eerie vocal delivery. The robotic, synth-driven drum beat, nasal vocals and swooning guitar riffs all add to the immediacy of escape. Blackburn, ironically, anticipates this effect, and the refrain of "Fill yourself with dreams" croons over and over again in the background.The title track further advances the eerie theme, albeit in a rock-anthem oriented fashion. The song relies heavily on hypnotic keyboards, but opts for more traditional drumbeats, guitar parts and bass lines. Blackburn's vocals provide a specter-like quality, swooning amid the bass and drums, and eventually breaking into the refrain "No, No."Clinic's delicate approach, and ultimate respect for the medium, is also present on "Walking with Thee." Their intent isn't merely to toy with our heads. On "Mr. Moonlight," the dizzying keyboard and bass parts are replaced with more austere, mood enhancing measures. Blackburn's range is clearly heard as his nasal vocals delicately waver between whispers and hisses. If only his lyrics made any sense: "The elephants came out / Now you can dismount / With the family warmths that bind your house." Clinic, unquestionably, have their own unique sound. "Internal Wrangler," their previous album (brilliant in its own right), contains very memorable songs, but its approach is more direct and raw - and less spooky. "The Second Line," off "Internal Wrangler," juxtaposes two vocal tracks, driving guitar riffs and a solid foundation of electronic beats and hypnotic bass lines. The song is so catchy it will play itself over and over again in your head, weeks after you've heard it. On "Walking with Thee," Clinic have developed their sound, successfully incorporating a plethora of electronic influences from past years. Think Can and Faust from the '70s. Cabaret Voltaire and Kraftwerk from the '80s. And, more recently, Hovercraft. But, Clinic does not merely mimic the sound of past influences, they pulverize it, and proceed to spew it out in a series of definitive, sonic landscapes.To add to their already perplexing image, Clinic adorns itself with surgical masks and hospital scrubs (splattered with blood) during their performances. After only three albums, they have amassed a dedicated following, received - much warranted - critical acclaim and toured with Radiohead. Although they seem poised for success, their cutting-edge style seems too good to be true. After each successive album they seem to be breaking new ground. Could this be real, or is it all a dream?
(05/07/02 4:00am)
K's Choice 'Almost Happy'Red InkGrade: B+Best known in the mainstream for their anti-drug single, "Not an addict," K's Choice has kept a low profile until recently, when they released this two CD set. Originally released only in Europe two years ago, the album contains one CD of new songs, and one CD of live songs from their many tours. I was surprised to learn that they were on the Lilith Fair tour, but after listening to their powerful female lead singer, I understood. "Almost Happy" is their fifth full length album. K's Choice consists of - after going through many changes in line up over the years - brother and sister Gert and Sarah Bettens, born and raised in Belgium, drummer Koen Leickens, and Eric Grossman on bass. The live CD is a special bonus, considering their reputation for having an amazing, energetic concert experience. I was taken aback at my first listen, jaded by my previous impressions: They are a softer band, as opposed to the harder edge that is expressed in "Not an addict." There is some diversity among the tracks, because they vary between ballads and the rock-ier songs with a hard edge. Lyrically, they are quite introspective. The lyrics, despite being deeply personal, can be felt by everyone who listens. Their songs are realistic, about true life, and the honesty is quite appealing. For example, the song "I smoke a lot" is an anti-cigarette song that speaks about the amount of money spent on buying cigarettes and how it is not worth it. The song "Tired" proclaims, "I am not that complicated / I just need some time/ because it doesn't feel right." The topic of love comes up often; my favorite example of honesty when dealing with love is in the song "My Heart," in which Sarah Bettens sings, "Break my face, my back, my arms, my legs / but please don't break my heart." Instrumentally, there is a typical arrangement of bass, guitar, keyboard and drums. What is great about K's Choice is their universal appeal They have a harder alternative edge, their songs are socially conscious, but they also have ballads that remind some of the Indigo Girls and other female folkish-rockers. Similar to Amy Ray's vocal style, Sarah Bettens has a deeper voice that has the power to stir your soul. For those looking to get into good alternative female music, and for those hesitant fans of K's Choice, this double CD is a perfect place to start.
(05/07/02 4:00am)
Mighty Mighty Bosstones'A Jackknife To A Swan'SideOneDummy RecordsGrade: A-The pride of Boston, and a favorite on the punk rock scene, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have released their seventh studio album, although with all the EPs and other releases it seems like this could be their 20th release. One can officially say that the Bosstones are veterans of punk rock, with their trademark suits on stage and Dicky Barrett's rough voice. The fans of the Bosstones are the most dedicated that I have ever seen in the punk scene, and it is understandable. The Bosstones have been around since 1985, but only hit the mainstream in 1997 with their now emblematic single, "The Impression that I get," much to the dismay of their fans. It is no big surprise that the Bosstones eventually had some mainstream success; they blend punk and ska expertly, to the point where there are arguments over which label is appropriate. Their instrumentation is very typically ska, including a trombone and two saxophones, but many of their songs just focus on the guitars and bass, with a three chord progression typical of punk. This album is no exception; each song varies in instrumentation and style. For example, the first song on the album, "A Jackknife to a Swan," is a very typical mix of punk and ska during the chorus. The third song, "You gotta go," reminds me most of the Bosstones' earlier work, with a punkier edge, but forever the Bosstones. You can't help at least tapping your foot to these songs; they are fun and easy to listen to. The fourth song, "Everybody Better," explores the reggae roots of the Bosstones, with its carefree nature, and dub style beat, imploring that "To be king you don't need a castle." This is a great summer album, for those gearing up for the Warped Tour, which the Bosstones are sure to attend. This album is mature and explorative for the Bosstones, who just like to have fun, but are able to musically examine themselves and innovate new styles. Despite their popularity, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are still punk in every way; fans of the Bosstones, and for those who enjoy good, fun, happy music, check out this album.
(05/07/02 4:00am)
Professor Jyl Lynn Felman (WMNS) was told that her contract will not be renewed for the following academic year after eight years of teaching at Brandeis. Last year, her contract was also not renewed. After student protests, vigils, sit-ins and administration meetings —including a campus wide referendum saying that the students want to keep Felman here — her contract was renewed for one more year. Now that the year is up, she is not being rehired to continue teaching at Brandeis."At that time, and since then, absolutely no reason for my contract being terminated was given to me directly, and has not been given since," said Felman. Current Women's Studies Chair Professor Susan Lanser, who was part of an executive committee made up of six faculty members that recommended to Dean of Arts and Sciences Jessie Ann Owens to not renew Professor Felman's contract, would not comment on the reasons as to why Felman's contract was not recommended for renewal. She cited confidentiality in personal matters, but said that the committee considers many factors including curricular needs for the upcoming year.Owens did not answer the Justice's request for comment. Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Elaine Wong and Provost Mel Bernstein have both said that they know little about the decision.Felman believes she has not been rehired because of a lack of understanding of her teaching. "I am disappointed that Brandeis does not have a place for me, and that my teaching is so thoroughly misunderstood. Clearly, I have outgrown Brandeis. My vision of what Women's Studies ought to be and what it is in the process of becoming have very little in common," she said.Felman said she thinks she was misunderstood, in her use of texts, in class assignments and personal experiences in class. "I teach from a place of connection rather than disconnection with my students; that I use performance to teach theory; my students actively mentor each other," she said.In her own defense, Felman cited reviews from students. "I was voted by the senior class of 1999 the second most important person at Brandeis out of over 350 faculty," she said."All of my classes at one time or another were voted in the top 15, sometimes 10 best classes at Brandeis. I have never in eight years of teaching received less than a 4.72, and often my classes receive a 4.9 or 5.00. This is not to say that every student who has taken a class with me, liked my classes or my teaching approach; there were and will always be criticisms of me and style because I am not a quiet, blend-in, don't-make-waves, traditionally academic person, and my teaching style is extremely nontraditional, controversial and does not work for everyone, nor should it," she said.Lanser said that Felman's reviews by the students were considered when making the decision not to renew her contract. "The committee took student evaluationsseriously into account along with many other factors; we look at the teaching and curricular context as a whole. In relation to how we see the curriculum developing in relationship" she said. "We are in the process of expanding our undergraduate curriculum in a way that addresses international, multicultural, and theoretical questions," Lanser said."We can't always offer the same courses every year. Part of our personnel decisions involve this planning," Lanser said."We are exploring the possibility of creating a gender and writing course and Professor Felman would be eligible to apply for such a course," Lanser said.Felman said the current curriculum in Women's Studies is severely lacking."Cutting edge courses on all aspects gender, sexuality, race and class are absent from the curriculum, or when taught, are taught from a single perspective and/or discipline, not combining material from a variety of disciplines," Felman said."This was a difficult decision which emerged from a carefully developed process," Lanser said."I know the decision is disappointing to some students," Lanser said."What I will miss most about Brandeis is the students. I have been fortunate to work with a diverse student population, as my classes attract students from different ethnic, class, and sexual orientations. Many of my students speak several languages, of which English is not their birth language. My students come prepared to class to engage the material and each other. It was exhilarating to teach at Brandeis. I learned an enormous amount from my students," said Felman."I have a deep hole in my stomach when thinking about leaving Brandeis and the way I was terminated. That is, with absolutely not a single thank you from the administration or from the Women's Studies Program in general. Although the students continue to appreciate me, my work, and my many contributions to Brandeis, I have never formally been appreciated or thanked," said Felman.
(04/30/02 4:00am)
"I'm Ted Koppel, and this is Brandeis."This is indeed Brandeis, and that was indeed Ted Koppel's face on the cover of last week's Justice, as the man who will help the seniors segue from college students to college graduates. In truth, I have dozens of questions for Ted Koppel:How did you get such a great job on television? Can you get me one?How did you earn such a respected face and name as a trusted American source of information?How can you tell yourself from Tom Brokaw? Do your wives get confused? Aren't your initials pretty similar, what with the "T" and all?Did you ever see that "Saturday Night Live" sketch in which you were supposedly wanting to take a long vacation, so producers were making you record lots of potential headlines in case a big story broke while you were away, like "Gerald Ford dead today at the age of 84, and I'm gay," in case you came out on the same day that the former president died, but were on break at the time?And, I'm super lucky, because it looks like I will have the chance to meet Brokaw -- I mean, Koppel -- and ask him my questions, since I have been selected as senior speaker at commencement. WHOOPS! Sorry, I was living in Lex Fantasy Land, where not only am I senior speaker, but I'm also the president of the University, and a supermodel. In truth, Nakisha Evans '02 is our capable and eloquent speaker, though I did place somewhere in the top five.To be honest, though, I'm still wondering why I didn't win. I wonder what was wrong with my speech?"Members of the class of 2002, let's all get jiggy with it. Word. Stealing is bad, unless you get away with it. Keep it real homies!"I'm pretty much over the sense of defeat and self-hate, because I figure Ted Koppel's speech will pretty much hit on the same basic themes as mine would have. Koppel, or TK-Dog, as I call him, is popular on the college-campus circuit. We college students love staying up late and watching TV, and since there are no funny, world-famous talk-show personalities on at 11:30 each weeknight, we all tend to tune into our generation's biggest icon: Tom/Ted Koppel.Okay, the AOL Instant Messenger icon is bigger than Ted Koppel to us college students. But, neither Jay nor Dave could offer the insight (Read: Lack of humor) that Koppel's speech will likely bring. My only hope is that Koppel will give his speech some hook, some clever edge. For example, he could present his address in haiku-form:"Ladies, gentlemenOf the 2002 Class:Save your syllables."Or maybe TK-Dog will surprise us all and present his commencement speech in rap:"I'm the Nightline HOST who's got the MOSTAnd I ain't here to brag or BOAST, foolSo conGRATULATIONS on your GRADUATIONSTo all the seniors, I raise this TOAST."And, I must admit that even I am maintaining the slightest hope that Ted's speech will take on the form of both haiku and rap -- at the same time:"FelicitationsOn graduation! SeniorsIn the house say, 'Woo.'"But, I'm ready to welcome Brokoppel with open arms and an open mind. I have no fears about his speech, because I know that if he bores me, I can always steal off to Lex Land, where the speeches are exciting, the grass is purple, and everybody knows my name.--Lex Friedman '02 submits a column to the Justice
