Reviews

From Crossville, Tennessee’s, Stone Memorial High School softball diamond to the art-student life at Middle Tennessee State University, alternative R&B/hip-hop singer-songwriter-rapper Marlena Minneci localizes the style of America’s “billion-play” streaming solo female artists (Grande, Minaj, O-Rod) with a grounded lyricism on her debut EP, Just Vibez, written through the modern emotional observations of a young Middle Tennessean taking stock of her life. B.B.O. Records released Just Vibez in 2021, with Marlena Minneci composing the music and lyrics, Shamira Hawkins engineering, Trent Waters mixing and beats by Born Hero, Denz Beats and Young Socrates.

Minneci presents herself as a triple threat for Just Vibez, in similar fashion to Mary J. Blige’s 1992 debut What’s the 411?, covering a vocal range and intensity level from a crisp, high, songbird register to the lower, smokier deliveries heard in Billie Eilish’s throaty young jazz singer style. Of course, the third threat factor being Minneci’s tight and neat pen-tap rap, matching Born Hero’s drum machine tempo, showing off Minneci’s variety of these vocal styling combinations.

Minneci softly croons a reminder to live in the moment on “The Last Time,” as life is ephemeral. She recounts memories of friends and family left behind while losing herself in growing up. A drowsy, three-string-picked descending bass line guides Minneci’s croon as the drum machine speeds into uptempo, allowing Minneci to lay down quick-spit punch rhymes about starting over, lost and uncertain. There’s a possibility she’s just sitting on the couch, waiting for someone, though. I can’t see through the door . . . I wonder if you’ll come home.

The vocalist emphasizes the “soul” part of her chosen blend of hip-hop/soul/ alternative/R&B in “Better by Myself,” but lyrically the track stands as the EP’s “My man is ‘a demon, a monster’” kind of song (a given topic for all hip-hop/soul/ alternative/R&B artists) composed with down-tempo, picked major chords, drum machine accompaniment and out-front vocals. It’s safe to say whomever was supposed to be coming home that night didn’t show.

Minneci’s observations continue in “Subconsciously,” proclaiming being over this whole EP, until Minecci fl ips it with the lines Nobody cares, they just want the fame, and music’s not the same as it was before. That slyly creates the context that turns Minneci’s musical disinterest during an obligatory school project into an astute social commentary, as well as validates the conversation she’s recorded having with her father as the song’s intro, saying, “It’s about how music, I think, is really shallow today and everybody just cares about cash versus the art.” Colton Tincher supplies the lone, deftly strummed palm-muted acoustic guitar for this one—no drum machine, as Minneci’s in her Eilish jazz voice on this pop-folk track.

Minneci’s father makes another appearance in the bonus track at the end of the EP, a personal, 15-minute recording of Marlena talking about life, her music, her schooling, and new autonomy with her hero: her Dad. He’s out there on the porch with her, sharing paternal guidance, understanding and, as all great fathers do, his ears.

And, if “The Waitress Rap” doesn’t make it into at least a short fi lm produced at MTSU by some of Minneci’s peers, this whole EP’s brilliance—be it simply fi nding one’s self growing with new experiences— is a waste; Minneci goes to town fl owing about a waitress job she works, becoming a waitresses’ waitress the way people refer to Dylan as “a songwriter’s songwriter,” but in a jovial, Digital Underground Humpty rap run. It’s streaming on her Bandcamp page right now; go listen.

Find links to Marlena Minneci’s Just Vibez record on other streaming platforms at linktr.ee/marlenaminneci. — BRYCE HARMON

DIRECTORS Siân Heder STARRING Emilia Jones,

RATED PG-13

A remake of a French fi lm, CODA was given the award for Best Picture at the 2022 Academy Awards, surely the only memorable thing to happen during the ceremony. Jabs aside, the word “coda” can refer to the ending or fi nal segment of a piece of music. It can also be an acronym for “child of deaf adults,” which makes CODA the perfect title for this heartwarming, feel-good and formulaic fi lm about the only hearing daughter in a deaf family who discovers a love of singing.

The Rossis are a deaf fi shing family made up of Frank and Jackie (Kotsur and Matlin) and their son Leo (Daniel Durant). The youngest is their 17-year-old-daughter Ruby (Jones), the only member of the family born with hearing. The fi lm opens with Frank, Leo and Ruby on their fi shing boat early in the morning, with Ruby singing along to Etta James’ “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.” At the docks, Ruby acts as interpreter for her father and brother to sell their catch at a fair price. Then, stinking of fi sh, Ruby goes to school where she is made fun of for her smell and for having deaf parents. When she sees the boy she likes signing up for choir, she impulsively signs up too, even though she’s never sung in front of other hearing people before.

The story is beat-for-beat coming-ofage boilerplate, made only slightly new in that it revolves around a deaf family, an underrepresented group that gets a chance at some humanizing representation here, while also still being kept down by a narrative told for a hearing perspective.

CODA is Ruby’s story, and while it is great that her parents and brother are all played by deaf actors (Kotsur won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his endearing portrayal), the fi lm still struggles with the confl ict inherent in being a movie about deafness and a movie about singing. Because ultimately, CODA isn’t a movie for deaf people so much as a movie for hearing people to feel inspired.

For much of the movie, Ruby’s embarrassed by her family and sick of their reliance on her (a gross misrepresentation of the independence of deaf people to be sure), and the fi lm never truly confronts her feelings towards them, putting the onus of acceptance and growth on the family, not her, often treating their deafness as a burden that must be overcome. It’s drama for drama’s sake, so it rings untrue, but it’s also potentially harmful.

Does that mean I didn’t choke up a couple times during the fi lm’s coda? Of course I did, even as someone who has come to realize they hate singing movies. (Seriously, Ruby listens to Etta James, The Clash, Marvin Gaye, and The Shaggs, of all bands, yet she and everyone in the fi lm sings like Christina Aguilera performing the national anthem?) Because for all its clichés and for all it doesn’t get right about being deaf, CODA is a very well-made, well-acted and effective version of a very standard teen drama. But, Best Picture . . . ?

CODA is streaming on Apple TV+. — JAY SPIGHT

Falls STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

Just off the Natchez Trace, near its crossing of the Duck River, a beautiful area known as Jackson Falls sits in the Tennessee forest.

Here, a creek plummets in elevation, in two stages, before feeding into the Duck.

Pulling off of the Natchez Trace into the Jackson Falls parking lot, an expansive view of the valley below greets visitors. They can see the mighty Duck River looking directly below near the base of the steep hillside and a few farms far off in the distance.

To get to Jackson Falls a group must travel a good ways down this steep hillside.

The trail from the parking lot to the falls is paved, and not long at all—only a 900foot journey. It also has handrails installed most of the way.

But portions of it are quite steep.

According to alltrails.com, the trail only has an elevation change of 49 feet from top to bottom, but that is fairly signifi cant when contained within a 900-foot trail.

It really does provide a very quick trip to a wonderful waterfall, considering the time and distance some hikers must go for a waterfall excursion.

It is so brief that some serious hikers question whether this short walk down a sidewalk should even be considered a “hike.” Nevertheless, the path leads to a very beautiful natural Tennessee feature well worth visiting.

Just a few minutes after leaving the parking area, there it is: Jackson Falls.

Approaching the falls and examining it closer, a nature enthusiast notices it begins with an upper portion from which the creek fl ows downhill at a gentle, maybe 45-degree, angle for a piece. A large, fl at portion of the creek sits between the two waterfall areas, and then Jackson plunges another 15 feet or so down as a proper waterfall.

Members of a visiting party appreciate the serene, unique scene, fi nding themselves in a giant bowl carved out of rocks with the waterfall and creek fl owing through.

One could probably follow the creek all the way to the Duck River without much diffi culty if they didn’t mind getting their feet wet.

To lengthen the hike a bit, Jackson Falls sightseers can park in the Baker’s Bluff Overlook area, located just one-third of a mile up the road from the Jackson Falls parking lot. Traveling on Natchez Trace, coming in from the north, motorists will arrive at this pull-off area just before the main parking area. A trail leads from here to the paved Jackson Falls trailhead, following the upper ridgeline, offering a view of the impressive Tennessee valley before beginning the descent down to Jackson.

To further explore the area, the Historic Gordon House sits a couple of miles further to the north. This former home of a river ferry operator still stands strong and tall, a striking, large two-story brick structure. The fi elds, creek and trails around this area provide plenty more room to roam in natural Tennessee beauty.

JACKSON FALLS

Located about 30 minutes southwest of Franklin, Tennessee, near mile 405 on the historic Natchez Trace, which is 405 miles from Natchez, Mississippi, or approximately 39 miles from the 444-mile-long road’s northern terminus in Nashville, Tennessee.

BY LAURA LINDSAY

THE FIRST DOG BARK at the Bark Park, hosted by local French bulldog breeder B. Cannon, is set for Saturday, April 30, from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Murfreesboro Bark Park, 1540 W. College St.

The social event will continue monthly through July, on the last Saturday of each month. It is open to all dog owners and dogs of all breeds, as well as individuals interested in French bulldogs—the event, sponsored by Cannon’s OMG Frenchie Mundo, will showcase the French bulldog.

“I am doing this to bring awareness to the Frenchie dog breed,” Cannon said. “It is an amazing dog that we are raising, and if people are interested then they can get on the waiting list to purchase dogs.”

The French bulldog can not usually breed on its own due to its short legs, compact body and narrow hips; and it takes 60 days for a puppy to come into the world, so the popular dogs are often already sold before they are born, Cannon said.

“They are unique in how they are bred because they have to be artifi cially inseminated, and the female dogs have to have C-sections to bring the puppies into the world,” he said. “They are high-demand dogs. We want to push the culture forward with the dogs here in Middle Tennessee, and I believe we have some of the best temperament and best dogs.”

The French bulldog is a French breed of a companion dog or toy dog that appeared in Paris in the mid-19th century. Parisians knew and loved the French bulldog, a breed which “became a staple of city life in Paris,” according to caninejournal.com.

The Frenchie’s temperament is bright, playful, easygoing, affectionate, sociable, lively, keen, alert, athletic and patient. They generally have a lifespan of 10–14 years and the average weight is 16–28 pounds.

“The French bulldogs are very caring and sensitive,” Cannon said.

The breed was offi cially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1898. The club notes “it is one of the world’s most popular small-dog breeds, especially among city dwellers.”

“The bright, affectionate Frenchie is a charmer,” according to akc.org. “Dogs of few words, Frenchies don’t bark much, but their alertness makes them excellent watchdogs. They happily adapt to life with singles, couples or families, and do not require a lot of outdoor exercise. They get on well with other animals and enjoy making new friends of the human variety.”

Frenchies do require some exercise to stay in shape, like a short walk or outdoor play session, owners report. They also enjoy training and sports that require obedience and agility. Owners should know that, because they are a fl at-faced dog breed, they are prone to breathing diffi culties and “should never be allowed to exert themselves in hot or humid weather.” Most Frenchies also cannot swim, and should never be left unattended near tubs, pools or bodies of water.

Cannon says the dogs adapt well to whomever the homeowner is.

“If you are someone that is energetic, expect your dog to become energetic,” he said. “If you are someone who is more mild, laid-back and relaxed, that’s how your dog is going to be. They are really tailor-made to the owner’s personality.”

Manny the Frenchie is becoming “quite the modern-day social media celebrity,” Catherine Clifford wrote for cnbc.com. This French bulldog, spreading the popularity of the breed, has over 1 million followers on Instagram and 1.8 million on Facebook.

“He’s something of a media darling—he’s been featured in Buzzfeed and appeared on the Steve Harvey Show,” Clifford wrote.

Frenchies have become so highdemand that some have been targeted by dognappers.

In 2021, someone stole Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs, Koji and Gustav. She put out a $500,000 reward to retrieve her dogs and the dogs were found safe.

For more information about French bulldog ownership and details about the Dog Bark at the Bark Park event, contact Cannon at 629-238-8491 or omgfrenchiemundo@gmail.com.

BY BAILEY FINN

IT’S PATIO SEASON here in Murfreesboro. Patio sitting and sipping has freesboro. Patio sitting and sipping has long been a love language in the South. long been a love language in the South. And one thing for dog owners that tops And one thing for dog owners that tops the blissful feeling of sharing a meal—and the blissful feeling of sharing a meal—and maybe a beer or three—in the open air maybe a beer or three—in the open air with the people you love, is sharing it with your pup, too!

Champy’s Famous Fried Chicken enthusiastically welcomes canine customers.

“We want everyone to come sit, stay and have a good time with their pups on our back porch all summer long,” says Rachael Goonan, owner of Champy’s.

Kirsten Wojo, a waitress at Champy’s, says that “When I get to serve a table that has their dog, it makes my entire shift 10 times better!”

Here’s a list of local dog-friendly patios (for well-behaved pups, of course) 

219 Mixed Cuisine Ahart’s Pizza The Alley on Main Applebee’s Bar-B-Cutie Bar Louie Blaze Pizza Blue Coast Burrito BoomBazz Craft Pizza & Taphouse The Boro Bar & Grill Boro Bowls The Boulevard Burger Republic Buster’s Place Champy’s Famous Fried Chicken Cinco de Mayo Culver’s (provides pup cups) Dairy Queen (pup cups in drive-thru only) Firehouse Subs First Watch Five Guys Float Alchemy Kombucha Taproom The Goat Hattie Jane’s Creamery The Hangout Nutrition & Energy (provides pup cups) Hop Springs (dog park and walking trails onsite) Jason’s Deli Jefferson’s Jim N’ Nick’s BBQ Jonathan’s Grille Karin’s Kustard & Hamburgers Liquid Smoke (welcome inside; ask the server for a dog water bowl!) Maple Street Biscuit Company Mayday Brewery McAllister’s Miller’s Ale House Mimi’s Cafe Mission BBQ Moe’s Nacho’s Mexican Restaurant Newk’s Party Fowl Puckett’s Red Bicycle Salvo’s Pizza Sam’s Sports Grill Simply Pure Sweets Slick Pig BBQ Slim Chickens All Sonic locations Starbucks locations with outdoor seating (pup cups available) Spooky’s Pizza & Grill Uncle Maddio’s Pizza