Entertainment

REVIEWS: KANYE WEST - GRADUATION

5 STARFISH

By Ariela Zuniga

The profit from Kanye West’s newest album, Graduation, is sure to skyrocket faster than his pockets can handle.

At first, listeners will find themselves skipping through the first 15 seconds of every track, but West promises an album they will love.

Graduation is a well-produced compilation of songs. Conveniently titled “Good Morning” and “Good Night,” West was sure to touch every base in every track with this most recent album.

Proudly showing off his musical growth, West delivers clean and well compiled beats, with “Stronger” being the only heavy track; its’ computerized flow, however, does Daft Punk the justice they deserve. West’s quickness on “Champion” gives the single the complimentary voice it needs to match the hidden reggae undertone in the chorus and definitely makes it the feel-good song of the album.

Guest artists like Lil’ Wayne make a quick appearance in “Barry Bonds,” yet it is the most overlooked song on the album, and the only track that does not compare to the rest.

Kanye West had already proven that his beats are among the best in the business; now he shows that he can go toe to toe with lyrical beasts of today. Captivating listeners with his stubbornness on “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” Kanye sings “I had a dream / I could buy my way to heaven / when I awoke / I spent that on a necklace.” It’s not a bad way to keep fans captivated in the first eight seconds.

Kanye West outdoes himself track after track with little exception. His personality shines through, even more than on The College Dropout or Late Registration, and that may be why this album has been the most successful.

Hopefully 2008 will bring him the Grammy he’s been whining for.

CHURCHILL'S SHOW CATERS TO LOCAL STUDENTS

By Joselyn Martinez

Miami Beach bands Seed and The Bends recently played a concert at Churchill’s Pub in Little Haiti as part of a Battle of the Bands organized by Gorilla Productions.  While the self proclaimed “cradle of indie music” is usually half filled with drunken old men, on October 14 the pub was packed with local teens.

“I believe we all communicate so well as a band because we are all the best of friends and have the same interests in music,” said Seed’s new guitarist, Senior Sean Wouters.  The band was started last year by drummer Nicolas Espinosa, Senior, bassist and vocalist Jesus Vio, Senior, and guitarist Luis Yzusqui, Senior.  Seed’s style of music is a mix of rock, psychedelic, blues and indie.

“It’s hard to say what our generation is about since the music scenes are so vast,” said Vio.  “The one thing we always try to do through our music is teach society not to be ignorant.”

“I think they are a wonderful group of talented musicians and are going to go very far with their music,” said friend of the band, Senior Dominic Narvaez.    The group has upcoming shows booked at Azulee, Hard Rock Hotel, Murphy’s Downtown, Ps14, Studio A, Solid Sounds Studios, and Tobacco Road.

The Bends drummer Lautaro Gardella, Senior, described their group’s genre as, “psychedelic mayhem bone crunching sex funk.”  Bassist Taylor Vega, Senior, said that the band recently played for record label Death Jam, and guitarist Phillip Agres, Senior, mentioned past shows at Studio A, The Scrap Bar, Casa Blanca and The Office. 

Fans at the Churchill’s show had the option of purchasing eight dollar advance tickets from a band or paying ten dollars at the door.  The set list was made according to which band sold the most tickets. 

Other bands on the bill included Naughty Nautique, Sinharvest, We Shot the Sheriff, Intoxicated, Beneath the Hands of War, Methods of Doubt, Death by the Masses, and Deceiver.

Show promoters expected around 60 or 70 people, but only around 50 showed up.

REVIEWS: DAN IN REAL LIFE

3 STARFISH

By Amanda Epstein

A light and fun romantic comedy, Dan in Real Life might not be Oscar-worthy, but it will fill a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Steve Carell plays a hopeless 40 year old in search for love. Shocker!  He is, ironically, a family-oriented advice columnist, whose daughters hate him. When his wife dies, he has a tough time getting back on his feet, until he falls in love…with his brother’s girlfriend.

Although funny at times, the dialogue is a bit overdone and the plot is at once predictable and unbelievable.  In real life, when your brother falls in love with your girlfriend and takes her away from you, everything will NOT be okay in less than 4 minutes.

In the last scene, the cast dances to a sappy love song at a wedding full of soul mates. Déjà vu anyone? Isn’t that how The 40 Year Old Virgin ends?

Don’t expect to be swept away by Dane Cook, Emily Blunt and Steve Carell, but it isn’t painful to watch.

JACOB'S LADDER PLAY TO HOMETOWN CROWD

By Julia Carfagno

Local band Jacob’s Ladder paid a visit to their alma mater last week before setting off on their fourth tour of the East Coast.  The band, which has been on the Miami Beach music scene since 2001, played their original mix of rock and reggae for Music teacher Clark Burris’ class on October 10. 

“It’s surreal, it’s definitely surreal to come back to Beach High,” said lead singer and guitarist Oren Maisner.  Maisner and drummer Brian Hernandez graduated from Beach High in 2003.  Bassist Sammy Gonzalez graduated in 2004.

“I’ve seen them before,” said Senior Matthew Freedman, who acted a sound engineer.  “They know what they’re doing.

When Jacob’s Ladder started their band at the age of 15, Burris was a huge influence. According to Gonzalez, Burris taught them each how to play their instruments. “It feels good to come back to Beach High,” said Gonzalez.  “This is where we grew up playing music.  We’re here to give it all back, and show Beach High just how we have progressed.”

Jacobs Ladder kicked off the Rock Against Hunger Tour on October 18th at The Office, located on 27th Street and Collins Ave.  The band is collecting canned goods at every show.

In addition to Burris, the band looks up to groups such as Incubus, 311, Jimmy Eat World and Pennywise.