Inside Beat 2011-02-03

INSIDEBEAT FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • VOL. 28, NO. 26

THE WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE OF THE DAILY TARGUM

Television Newbies It may be cold out, but these new shows are heating things up

Page 2 • Inside Beat

February 3, 2011

Column

RANT

Wintertime s e u l B

BY AMANDA LITCHKOWSKI ART EDITOR

TV is great, but winter TV is even better. When there’s about 17 feet of colossal snow outside and changing out of pajamas seems like the world’s most daunting task, winter TV is there to help. There’s nothing quite like becoming a couch zombie on a cold winter’s day.

On that note, let’s discuss all the winter things that are not winter TV and therefore suck.

The first grudge I bear against winter is snow. I’m sure that skiing and snowboarding and doing all other sor ts of adventurous wintr y activities are awesome.

Even so I’m also sure that they’re really cold and that being cold is not fun. So, check minus for playing in the snow.

In addition, that wintry white powdery stuff doesn’t stay white and powdery for long. After about two minutes of beauty, snow becomes a slushy brown-gray mess of disgustingness that is nearly impossible to love. Then it gets everywhere — in your shoes (if you aren’t equipped with boots made to fight the forces of Mother Nature), in your house (if you aren’t an effective foot-stomper)

and all over your car (if driving conditions aren’t that bad, and lately they’ve been that bad).

Driving leads to my second grudge against winter: cold cars.

Getting in a freezing cold vehicle on a January morning is like jumping into the cold Atlantic and sitting in it. It’s painful. Then I shiver in my four-door icebox, waiting for the stupid machine to warm up.

Minutes later, I realize that the heat only gets hot after the car has been moving. Every morning goes like this and every morning I get mad at my car.

The third thing about winter that isn’t so hot is winter break.

Don’t get me wrong, having nearly a month off from school is incredible and who can find anything wrong with winter holidays?

But when you’re on a budget and can’t escape to a nice tropical paradise during your weeks of freedom, winter break turns into day after day of doing nothing and eating everything. This pattern conveniently leads back to winter TV, both the enabler and the addiction of wintertime laziness. Is it, however, worth it to complain?

Not really. The snow may not be melting, but at least you can wrap yourself in. blankets and melt into the couch

EDITORIAL BOARD S TACY D OUEK ................................................. EDITOR ROSANNA VOLIS..............................................ASSISTANT EDITOR ARIBA ALVI..........................................................................TV EDITOR EMILY GABRIELE...........................................................MUSIC EDITOR ROSANNA VOLIS..........................................................FASHION EDITOR AMANDA LITCHKOWSKI.....................................................ART EDITOR NANCY SANTUCCI..............................................................COPY EDITOR RAMON DOMPOR...............................................................PHOTO EDITOR KATHERINE CHANG.........................................................FILM EDITOR NIDHI SARAIYA..............................................................BOOKS EDITOR ASHLEY PARK................................................................ONLINE EDITOR

INSIDEBEAT THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS INSIDE BEAT :

TO

Mike Bither, Samantha Bonizzi, Inayah Bristol, Ciara Copell, Vivian Chiu, Rose Flahive, Tiffany Gonzalez, Alex Holland, Freddie Morgan, Jason Pearl, Charlie Rawcliffe, Olivia Slutsky, Ryan Surujnath, Zoe Szathmary Cover Photo Courtesy of MTV

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February 3, 2011

Art • Books • Fashion

STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STYLE.COM

Borrowing from the boys has become extremely popular for female fashionistas — boyfriend jackets and blazers are widely considered staple items. This season, men get their chance to use and adapt women’s wear in a neutral palette. The result? Some very odd androgyny that would make David Bowie proud.

Nicole Snooki Polizzi | C-

BY ZOË SZATHMARY

A Shore Thing

DUDE LOOKS LIKE A LADY

Inside Beat • Page 3

BY SAMANTHA BONIZZI STAFF WRITER

CROP TOP

ROMPER

The hallmark of ’90s it-girls is now being marketed to the boys. Calvin Klein, has tweaked the crop top and turned it into a sleek, sexy nod to athletic wear. However, its pairing with matching hot pants remains dubious.

After being a summer staple for women in 2010, the juvenile, possibly creepy romper has made its way to men’s runways. Dolce & Gabbana’s striped version harkened back to 1900s swimming costumes.

The Jersey Shore epidemic has now transformed into a novel written by none other than the ultimate guidette herself, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi. Snooki, who is making quite the name for herself on Jersey Shore, is branching off and pursuing new endeavors. Her new book, A Shore Thing, is the reality star’s attempt at writing.

A Shore Thing tells the stor y of character Giovanna “Gia” Spumanti’s summer in Seaside Heights with her cousin Isabella “Bella” Rizzoli. The girls gallivant around the Jersey shore getting into mayhem that’s intertwined with cocktails and the search for the perfect guy to take home. Gia, the 5-foot tall, fuzzy-slipper-wearing, pickle-eating character is a perfect portrayal of Snooki herself.

A Shore Thing is a written version of Jersey Shore. It is seasoned with fights, booze and characters who will do anything for sex.

Snooki’s accident-prone antics are present throughout the entire novel, as well as her own crazy language. It’s a Snooki dictionary with her creations such as “pouf,” “kookah” and the three D’s: drinking, dancing and “duh” making appearances in the book.

If you pick this book up you’re in for an interesting read. The writing style is far from sophisticated — the scenarios presented may be for an older audience, but the writing style is more suitable for children. And while the book can be amusing at times, certain situations that are prevalent in the show are not translated to written word very well. Snooki fans and fans of Jersey Shore may enjoy this book, but for everyone else, pick this up at your own discretion.

Seriously...

MONOKINI

Lace was one of the top trends at Fashion Week. The fabric, usually reserved for the ladies has made it onto the mens scene as well. Givenchy used a lace Tshirt as a layering piece paired with this daring white skort. A perfect outfit for tennis, perhaps?

Emporio Armani led the monokini trend this season, with pieces looking like they came from Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” video. While geometric cutouts can be visually appealing, this look seems better suited for Borat.

New Books in February

BY INAYAH BRISTOL STAFF WRITER

True You by Janet Jackson Janet Jackson has had quite the life. She is arguably one of the best female entertainers in the business and is from a family that is loved by millions all over the world. But she’s also had to deal with a lot in her life. With a little help from author David Ritz, Jackson opens up about everything she’s had to go through in her new book, True You. From her struggles with her weight, to the self-esteem issues that plagued her, Jackson addresses a lot of things in this book. Followers of Jackson’s career will definitely enjoy True You.

Afterlives of the Rich and Famous by Sylvia Browne Over the years, Sylvia Browne has garnered a lot of attention for her outlandish psychic claims that have landed her in trouble with both the media and the law. Despite her troubles, Browne, who is now 74 years old and a bestselling author, claims that she’s had posthumous contact with some very famous people. In her book, Afterlives of the Rich and Famous, Browne lets readers know what some of their favorite celebrities have been up to in the afterlife. With a large list of big names such as Elvis Presley and Heath Ledger appearing, this book looks like it will make quite an impression.

Paris Was Ours by Penelope Rowlands Paris, also known as the City of Light, is considered one of the loveliest cities in the world.

Penelope Rowlands, a journalist and critic, offers readers an insight into Paris in her new book, Paris Was Ours. The book is a compilation of 32 essays by writers who have traveled from various locations all over the globe to Paris. The list of contributors in this book includes famous writers such as Judith Thurman, Joe Queenan and more. For those who have been to Paris or want to learn more about it, this will be both entertaining and informative.

What were they thinking?

BY AMANDA LITCHKOWSKI ART EDITOR

The unbelievable: beards, beards and more beards The culprit: mostly the World Beard and Mustache Contest but also photographer Dave Mead The down-low: In this case the photographer’s subjects are stranger than the photographs themselves. Every few years the World Beard and Mustache Contest attracts hairy men from around the world. Such men gathered in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2009 where photographer Dave Mead captured their photogenic facial hair in creepy and slightly feminine shots. Most subjects assume alter egos for this renowned competition — some look like Moses while others are a little more Victorian. His series, Magnificent Specimens, proves that even outrageous beards can look dainty in a proper portrait.

The unnecessary fun facts: Mead spent about 11 straight hours taking 130 different pictures. He only took one bathroom break and ate a single slice of pizza. Unlike his subjects, Mead’s face is squeaky clean and devoid of any beard or mustache.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVE MEAD

LACE

Getting Very Hairy

Skins is a brilliantly twisted show about the cheeky lives of a group of teenagers. But that’s the original English version. MTV’s remake of the British original is paltry at best.

What was supposed to be a racy and thought-provoking commentary on the sex, drugs, alcohol and the who-gives-a-crap attitude of today’s teens has turned out to be just another show about teens in America.

The show centers on Tony (James Newman) the smart aleck ringleader of a group of slightly dysfunctional kids. Tony is quintessentially bored with his own existence so he decides to meddle in the life of his best friend Stanley (Daniel Flaherty) and is trying to get a girl to take his virginity. We soon learn that Stanley is in love with Tony’s girlfriend Michelle (Rachel Thevenard), who joins in on Tony’s twisted quest.

The rest of the cast is equally interesting, like Abbud (Ron Mustafaa), a highly atypical Muslim boy who would rather be drinking than reading his prayers, or Cadie (Britne Oldford) who enjoys popping pills and has a history of being hospitalized — plus she’s super creepy. Each character has a sorrowful center, but they are not driven by their sorrow, instead they are driven by their insistence on enjoying their youth.

COURTESY OF NBC

S

The best thing about Skins — which should lead you to watch the original — is the idea that life is not like an episode of 7th Heaven where ever ything and ever yone has a moral center. Skins explores the idea that teenagers have sex, drink and do drugs simply because they want to and not for any other reason. There are not always consequences to their actions nor do they always get caught, although in some cases they do. In some respects it is the most honest por trayal of teens in American society since the original Beverly Hills: 90210.

The only truly racy aspect of the show is the por trayal of nudity. American audiences balk at the blatant nudity that Europeans commonly depict. But for audiences across the pond, it’s been the portrayal of child nudity that has grasped the attention of parents groups.

MTV’s version of Skins is slowly finding its voice, but is by no means anywhere near as good as the original, so if you find yourself fascinated by what you see, find it on Netflix.

As absurd, amusing, controversial and unconventional the stories of these teens are, it certainly could be told much better.

Having finished Heroes’ final season, NBC is heading back to a cartoonish world of injustice. In the fictional Californian metropolis of Palm City, only one man can put villains to rest. And The Cape looks cool doing it.

Palm City Police Detective Vince Faraday (David Lyons, ER) is a good cop-turnedcrime fighter after being framed for a murder. His city folds to corruption and evil under the clutches of foe Chess (James Frain, The Tudors). As the CEO of a private law enforcement company, ARK, Peter Fleming (Chess’s alter ego) has both the authority and threat to leave the citizens of the city kneeling in fear.

The Cape is one superhero series that seems to have been plucked from its comic book onto primetime television, but the comic book doesn’t really exist. Vince must fall to the wayside after being set up, leaving his family to believe that he is dead. He adapts an alias, The Cape, from a comic book he read with his son Trip. He hopes that one day Trip will discover the cloaked figure around town is his father.

With a flick of the hem on his cape, Vince can snag people, objects or anything in his path. He makes a formidable opponent when he disappears beneath his wrap, leaving only puffs of smoke in his wake. Along with his chief ally Orwell (Summer Glau, Firefly) and cast of unusual friends, The Cape is sure to be unstoppable.

Steeped in comic book lore, the melodrama and campiness of the script is practically buried beneath its sincerity, action and plot line. The Cape has a lot of promise — it will prevail with cultish charm. Soon, kids everywhere will be begging for ultra-elastic capes.

MTV at

The

NBC at

Honorable Fairly Legal

Lights Out

USA, Thursdays at 10 p.m.

FX, Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

The pilot of Fairly Legal aired on Jan. 20. A law show with a twist introduces us to Kate Reed (Sarah Shahi, The L Word). She has recently quit her job as an attorney to become a mediator after dealing with the recent passing of her father.

Kate struggles with messy relationships with her ex, Justin (Michael Trucco, Battlestar Gal actica), and her stepmother, Lauren. However, Kate must put aside her hectic lifestyle and tr y not to show up late to work — something that Kate has proven is impossible to do.

This show has a lot of personality and Kate marches to her own chaotic beat. However, the pilot is drawn out and becomes fairly boring and similar to other law shows. The characters are unique but the plot is nonetheless lacking.

COURTESY OF USA NETWORK

FX’s new drama Lights Out is a drama a happens when Rocky gets old. Patrick “Ligh (Holt McCallany, CSI: Miami) is an aging he boxing champion who has retired from Plagued by financial troubles, Leary is going midlife crisis and is having trouble supportin and three daughters.

Leary has a choice: He can either contin merciless debt collector or he can step bac ring. You see the struggle between what he duty to his family, as well as the duty to hi calm exterior gives way and the fighting start Leary jumps in and begins an explosive serie

COURTESY OF MTV

Midseason Midseason Midseason Midseason TV Rookies In the winter it seems that each day is drearier than the next. We long to abandon our mittens and earmuffs and store away our puffy coats for the winter. Here at Inside Beat, we know just the thing to keep you happy until springtime. So pack up your winter clothes early, pop on a pair of shorts, crank up the heat and veg on your sofa — you won’t need to leave your TV after checking out these awesome new shows.

By Ariba Alvi, TV Editor, and Freddie Morgan and Olivia Slutsky, Staff Writers.

kins

V, Mondays 10PM | C

TV veterans David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik never tire of taking jabs at the industry, humor we’ve all but exhausted. However, three good lead performances and sharp writing give Episodes a comedic bite that makes up for the stuff you’ve seen before.

The series follows married writing team Sean and Beverly Lincoln (Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig, Green Wing). After winning a BAFTA award for their successful British television series, the duo is approached by American television executive Merc Lapidus (Mad About You). He gushes about the show, then baits the couple, dangling in front of them the prospect of overseas success with his vision of an unchanged American adaptation “done right.” Beverly is content with her life in London, but Sean falls for the pitch. Starry-eyed and naïve, they pack their belongings and head for Los Angeles Sean and Beverly are deflated to learn that in show business, nothing is truly as it seems. They soon realize that Merc told them simply what they wanted to hear. Not only has he never seen their show, (a comedy called “Lymen’s Boys” about a head-

e Cape

master of a boarding school), but he also intends to strip it of everything that makes it “good.” The production team is comprised of unfunny idiots who are only interested in Americanizing the series. The production team then drops a bomb on Sean and Beverly. After nixing the British lead, Merc and his flunkies suggest that Matt LeBlanc (Friends) play the star of the show.

Mouths agape and speechless, Sean and Beverly exchange looks of horror and disgust. Greig’s expression practically cries, “Isn’t he that washed-up actor from Friends?”

Though the show stereotypically depicts the Brits as stiff and the Americans as very Hollywood, the different cultures provide two brands of humor. Sean and Beverly never crack a joke, but their actions can invoke a smile. Conversely, LeBlanc plays an over-the-top version of himself, a man with delusions of entitlement, acting as a symbol of Hollywood bigwigs. The repartee is sure to be engaging and will give the show a Curb Your Enthusiasm feel. With some tuning and more focus on what works, Episodes could make for some funny entertainment.

COURTESY OF SHOWTIME

Episodes Showtime, Sundays at 9:30 p.m. | B

COURTESY OF SHOWTIME

C, Mondays 9 p.m. | B

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COURTESY OF FX

Mr. Sunshine ABC, Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.

Former Friends cast member Matthew Perr y stars as Ben Donovan, a self-consumed manager of a second-tier arena in San Diego. Ben struggles with getting older, while also tr ying to juggle the unusual demands of his job and eccentric boss (Allison Janney, The West Wing).

NBC has been spitting out some sharp comedies recently, but by the looks of it, this comedy could hold its own in a battle of wit.

With the tagline “His life is his work and it ain’t workin’,” we’re sure to have a lot of laughs at Donovan’s expense.

COURTESY OF ABC

Page 6 • Inside Beat

February 3, 2011

Film • Theater

No Strings Attached Ivan Reitman | B+

Cult Classic: Akira

COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Katsuhiro Otomo

BY CIARA COPELL STAFF WRITER

Devil), who play Adam’s and Emma’s best friends, respectively.

While No Strings Attached is easy to watch, it is too predictable.

Even with the great acting all around, it follows the formula of almost every romantic comedy of the past 30 years. The film doesn’t have any surprises, and it isn’t particularly too difficult to guess the sequence of events of the entire movie before it even starts.

Even though No Strings Attached is easy to figure out, its comedic aspects make it thoroughly entertaining. Portman and Kutcher keep the film fresh and easy to watch. The movie is great for everyone and is an especially good choice for a date night. No Strings Attached is undoubtedly worth the money to see in theaters.

Lombardi Circle in the Square | B+

COURTESY OF LOMBARDIBROADWAY.COM

A Study in Sports and Relationships

No Strings Attached is a romantic comedy done right. Starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, the film follows the love story of two friends who decide to use each other solely for sex.

Kutcher and Portman have serious on-screen chemistry and are totally believable as two friends turned friends with benefits.

Emma (Natalie Portman, Black Swan) is a young doctor who swears she doesn’t need a man.

Throughout the movie, she constantly pushes Adam (Ashton Kutcher, Valentine’s Day) away from her to avoid any emotional attachment. However, Portman does not come off as just some girl play-

ing hard to get. She is sarcastic and proves to be hilarious, something viewers may not expect from her, especially as she is currently receiving Oscar buzz for her intense role in Black Swan. Kutcher sticks to his usual role as a handsome, funny guy with a heart of gold. He remains comical, and the audience genuinely wants to see the pair end up together.

Aside from the strong leads, No Strings Attached also featured a funny ensemble, with Kevin Kline (Definitely, Maybe) playing Adam’s famous weed-smoking, sizzurpdrinking, ex-girlfriend-dating father and Ludacris (Fred Claus) as his bartending best friend. Perhaps the best additions to the film are Jake Johnson (Get Him to the Greek) and Greta Gerwig (The House of the

BY ROSE FLAHIVE STAFF WRITER

Lombardi explores more than just football. Eric Simonson’s play is based on the biography When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi. It depicts a week during the 1965 football season for the Lombardi family and the Green Bay Packers, through the eyes of the young journalist, Michael McCormick (Keith Nobbs, The Black Donnellys).

Between the talks of game plays and over whelming amounts of sports statistics rattled off by the characters, the various struggles of the Lombardis can be seen, ranging from Vince (Dan Lauria, The Wonder Years) fretting over his players, to Marie (Judith Light, One Life to Live) trying to balance her frustration with the amount of time her husband spends at work.

COURTESY OF TOHO

BY VIVIAN CHIU STAFF WRITER

Anime, a simple abbreviation for “animation” in Japanese, is a general term that is often associated with images of saucer-eyed cartoons for kids and teens. While this style has its own appeal, it should not define the anime industry as a whole. Akira, in sharp contrast, targets the adult audience. It deals with philosophical and psychological themes and paints for us a world where humans fall victim to an unconquerable science. Yes, it is overly violent with blood spraying and guts spewing everywhere. But once you overcome the meaty mess, there lies beneath a gratifying experience that, unlike most films today, consummates the marriage of narrative and technical prowess.

Akira is hands down a cult classic, an old school anime in the sci-fi genre. The film is based on the six volume manga series of the same name and is directed by the renowned Katsuhiro Otomo, who is also the original creator of the manga.

Akira takes place in Neo-Tokyo, a city built after Tokyo was destroyed by a nuclear disaster in World War III. Within the city lies a web of plotlines — each of which revolve around gutsy motorbike gang leader Kaneda, runty gang member Tetsuo Shima and the attractive revolutionary Kei. When Kaneda and Tetsuo battle rival bikers, Tetsuo gets into a bizarre accident and is taken away by military officials for further examination.

During the examination, scientists discover that Tetsuo developed unnatural powers after the accident, and they decide to conduct further experiments on him. Meanwhile, Kaneda is taken in for questioning. At the police station, he meets Kei, and later joins her resistance group. Together, they attempt to sabotage the secret government project and rescue Tetsuo.

Despite being released over two decades ago, Akira remains visually stunning to this day. The meticulous attention to detail is evident in every scene. The depiction of action, environment and machinery — especially the sexy red bike — was no doubt ahead of its time. Film critics worldwide agree that Akira set a precedent for the anime style and opened new doors for aspiring artists.

So if you are ever in the mood for an action-packed, sci-fi film that will blow your mind, Akira is a fitting selection. Just try not to eat any meat while watching the film.

Dine n’ Dash Light does a fantastic job as Marie. From one of her first lines, “We interrupt this marriage to bring you this specially scheduled football season,” to the wry comments she makes about her husband’s job, she gives insight.

Under her sarcasm, however, there is also an honest depiction of the impact the move to Green Bay has had on her life as she reminisces how homesick she was during the first few years of Lombardi’s career as head coach.

As Vince Lombardi, Lauria is full of energy that even a 5-yearold on a sugar rush would envy.

He prowls and jumps around the stage, shouting at his players as well as McCormick, to strive for their best. At points, he is so determined to have perfection surround him that it feels like he will start yelling at audience members to sit up straight. Throughout the play, Lauria exhibits the passion

Lombardi is known for — he gets the role of a crazy football coach.

Vincent Lombardi’s relationship with his wife is not the only one explored. In addition to spending time interviewing Marie, McCormick interacts with several team members, and learns about their experiences with their coach. All of the players (Bill Dawes, Dave Robinson and Chris Sullivan) do an excellent job depicting how Vince Lombardi influenced them as a team both on and off the field.

Lombardi is an engaging story with memorable characters that are portrayed beautifully. The show works very well as a sports program, and it also works as an exploration of the Lombardis’ marriage. It deserves credit just as much for exploring its characters as it does for its talk about football.

Do not go into the show only expecting talk about football — go in expecting a look at the lives that are affected by football.

BY JASON PEARL STAFF WRITER

Recently AMC Theatres has transformed a handful of its multiplexes into “Dine-In Theatres.”

After purchasing a ticket (which costs around $25), the price of which includes both the meal and the movie, time can be spent in the lobby, which features a bar, lounge area and several flat screen TVs. About half an hour before a film starts, moviegoers are let into the theater. There, waiters will take orders from a fair selection of items on the menu, and the food is ser ved at the beginning of the film.

While that all may sound nice in theory, in practice it doesn’t work out so well. The waiting area may be nice, but it becomes far too crowded during peak hours. As theaters aren’t always ready as scheduled, customers can end up

waiting in line until about 10 minutes before showtime.

Even reading the menu is difficult, with only a dim light to read by.

As for the meal itself, the speed of service could not make up for overcooked and otherwise unremarkable food. Even eating the food wasn’t easy, because while sitting back in the chair, the tray table attached to the armrest is out of reach, forcing most people in the theater to sit in strange and uncomfortable positions.

After the main meal is served, the waiters can still be summoned at anytime at the press of a button, but they didn’t seem too concerned about partially blocking people’s views, or the volume of their voices.

All in all, visiting the Dine-In was a pretty negative experience.

If you’re still interested in checking it out for yourself, don’t go for a movie you really want to see, as the myriad of distractions will likely ruin it for you.

February 3, 2011

Music

Not Yet | C-

BY ALEX HOLLAND STAFF WRITER

The three-piece garage band, Monotonix, have brought thrashing guitars, powerful drums and earnest vocals to the table in their second album, Not Yet. With a sound straight out of the ’70s, this Middle Eastern trio is trademarked for their intense live shows that have been known to shut down venues in their hometown of Tel Aviv, Israel. The question is whether they can transfer the energy of their live shows onto their recorded music.

Cold War Kids

COURTESY OF COLDWARKIDS.COM

“Give Me More,” the album’s first single, and “Before I Pass Away” pack a punch, however the rest of the album leaves a lot to be desired. Frontman Avi Shalev screams incoherent lyrics throughout the album while guitarist Yonatan Gat plays rehashed and uninspired riffs that sound straight off of your father’s vinyl collection.

Overall, Not Yet is a textbook case of an album from a band that still needs some bodywork. The track “You and Me” sounds like a long lost Stooge’s b-side that no one would care to find. The album itself is a raw and energetic rock and roll compilation that rebels against the modern popular rock music that is so popular on Rock radio today.

COURTESY OF IRONANDWINE.COM

COURTESY OF MONOTRIX.COM

Monotonix

Inside Beat • Page 7 While it is a valiant effort, Not Yet is an album that may be too raw and too underdeveloped. The track “Nasty Fancy” is a perfect example of this. It showcases the band’s spirit — however the song’s message seems unclear and perhaps unimportant, thus giving it no substance for listeners to embrace. Not Yet is an album by a band that needs to develop their sound into something with a bit more pizzazz. Right now, Monotonix is producing music of a typical hard rock and roll band. Hopefully they can produce a more worthwhile album for listeners in the near future.

But for now, it’s time for them to go back to the garage.

Iron & Wine

Mine Is Yours | C+

BY MIKE BITHER STAFF WRITER

It’s becoming increasingly common for talented artists to hide behind a veil of meticulous production values to mask a lack of creativity. Cold War Kids, known for their raw energy and pained genuine emotion, have fully embraced the safety net of the studio on their third album, Mine Is Yours. Singer Nathan Willett’s wailing vocals as expressed on earlier singles “Hospital Beds” and “Hang Me Up to Dry” sound as though they were shipped directly from the Kings of Leon warehouse (unsurprisingly, KoL

producer Jacquire King is on hand). The result is a band reaching for Springsteen-esque heights, but in the end, the record feels decidedly more hollow and unmemorable than previous efforts.

This isn’t to say that the album is devoid of any signature Cold War Kids emotion and flair, which at times is actually aided by the overproduction. The arena-ready choruses sustain throughout their lead single “Louder than Ever,” as well as “Finally Begin” and the title track “Mine is Yours,” while Willett’s soaring vocals reach a transcendent peak in the songs “Out of the Wilderness” and “Bulldozer.”

However, the majority of the record fails to truly distinguish it-

self. It’s not necessarily a failure of talent display, but it is definitely something listeners have heard before. Perhaps it’s a good thing that the band doesn’t take many risks, since the two tracks that actually stray from the prototypical formula are the weakest. The gloomy, fuzzbass stomper “Sensitive Kid” and the half-hearted blues attempt “Cold Toes on the Cold Floor” stand out for all the wrong reasons.

Mine is Yours, serves as the Cold War Kids attempt to please everyone at once, but this effort is not always for the better. Despite several solid cuts, longtime fans are likely to be disappointed, as most of the album gets lost amid the increasingly generic label of radio-friendly rock.

Kiss Each Other Clean | B+

BY CHARLIE RAWCLIFFE STAFF WRITER

Samuel Beam, now on his fourth outing as Iron & Wine, is continuing to develop as an artist in a way that can only reward his fans. Expanding and improving upon 2007’s The Shepherd’s Dog, Beam is showing us that he is far more than just another sensitive soul with an acoustic guitar; Kiss Each Other Clean is laden with saxophones, backing choirs and guitar solos.

It’s a rich tapestry of sound built around Beam’s dulcet tones, which bring to mind both Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes.

Kiss Each Other Clean’s joyous sound can be attributed not only to Beam’s skill as a songwriter and vocalist, but also to the album’s production. This is especially evi-

dent on “Rabbit Will Run,” whose five and a half minutes drift by gently and delicately without ever becoming stale, something that more than a few artists struggle with. “Me and Lazarus” finds Beam’s whispery vocals at their most refined, and this — in tandem with the background saxophone — makes the song incessantly catchy, giving it the feel of a truly radio-friendly hit.

As would be expected, Kiss Each Other Clean isn’t perfect. At times there is the nagging feeling that it lacks a harder edge that could take it to an even higher level, but overall it’s an accessible and truly rewarding record. It’s unlikely that Beam will become a household name off the back of his latest effort, but his star is continuing to rise, and the inkling that it is only a matter of time before he receives large-scale recognition keeps on growing.

Bob Marley’s Birthday Bash

BY EMILY GABRIELE MUSIC EDITOR

Reggae icon Bob Marley has a birthday just around the corner on Feb. 6, so the time is impeccable to celebrate his life and music. Today, there are many groups that have tran-

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scended from Marley’s influential music. Echo Movement and Spiritual Rez are two reggae bands that are currently performing because of Marley’s great impact. The two groups have come together to create a special event to pay homage to the icon’s life.

A two-day tribute show in honor of Bob Marley’s birthday

will be taking place at two of Jersey’s most nostalgic venues: Maxwell’s in Hoboken tonight and at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park this Friday, Feb. 4. Headlining act Echo Movement is an eight-piece reggae/rock band and has performed at various venues around the tri-state area.

They are ecstatic to pay tribute to the man who holds such a heavy influence over the reggae genre.

Supported by fellow reggae group Spiritual Rez, the two-day celebration should be nothing short of engaging.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Doors open at

7:30, so be sure to go out and celebrate Marley’s legacy. Echo Movement and Spiritual Rez are bands worth lending your ears to as they perform their own songs as well as covering some of Marley’s original works. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to honor the iconic musician.

February 3, 2011

TV • Video Games

Inside Beat • Page 8

Pretty Little Liars ABC Family, Mondays at 8 p.m. | ACOURTESY OF ABC FAMILY

BY TIFFANY GONZALEZ STAFF WRITER

Everyone is wondering what all the talk is about. Girls around the world are asking themselves, “Who is A?” Well, it’s pretty simple — what began as just another teen book led to a bestselling eight-book series called Wanted, which has now become one of the most popular shows out there since Gossip Girl. ABC Family has every girl glued to their TV screens trying to figure out the mystery in Pretty Little Liars.

The show revolves around four girls, Ali, Emily, Hanna and Aria, and the murder of their supposed best friend Alison. The girls are introduced to lies, loves, secrets and, most importantly, blackmail

by A, someone who knows all their secrets. Every episode introduces a new dilemma to the girls’ lives and a twist to make it hard to decipher the mystery of A’s identity.

Pretty Little Liars is a phenomenon on ABC Family, making it their second best show among females 12 to 34. The premiere of the show’s first episode averaged 4.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. On Aug. 15, 2010, Pretty Little Liars became #1 on the Children’s Best Seller’s chart — a reflection of the success of the book.

The last season left us wondering about Hannah’s fate after being hit by a car. Now with a new season, Pretty Little Liars is ready to take over the charts yet again.

Leaving the audience puzzled yet fascinated at the same time, the new season’s opener began with Hannah in the hospital knowing the supposed identity of A. After an intense premiere, Pretty Little Liars has left everyone wanting more. Remember, “Never trust a pretty girl with an ugly secret.”

Dead Space 2 Visceral Games | B

BY RYAN SURUJNATH STAFF WRITER

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In 2008, Dead Space was credited for bringing the survival horror genre to a futuristic, science fiction setting. In Dead Space 2, players will once again assume the role of space engineer Isaac Clarke, who is thrust into another conflict with the virus-like alien species known as necromorphs.

The game begins with Isaac waking up aboard the Sprawl, a massive city built on one of Saturn’s moons. Clarke has no recollection of the past several years. Dead Space 2 deals with Isaac’s internal struggle, as he now suffers from dementia and visions of his dead girlfriend. Isaac is tasked with finding a being known as the Maker, which controls the visions. The stor y sounds interesting, but it is slowed down due to the repetitive single player missions, almost all of which are some variation of “go to this location and do this task.”

One of the major selling points of the Dead Space games was the idea that they are supposed to create a genuinely terrifying experience. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Initially, players may find the occasional necromorph ambush surprising, but it eventually becomes routine and predictable. There seems to be a heavier focus on action than in the first game, which means that Dead Space 2 lacks the feelings of desperation and helplessness that make a game scary.

Dead Space 2 feels more like a third person action/shooter game than a survival horror one. With that in mind, the action is very fun. Combat revolves around the player using a wide array of weapons to disremember the alien necromorphs. The weapons themselves are wonderfully varied and unique. Players can further improve their arsenals through the use of upgrade benches, conveniently located across the Sprawl. In addition, Dead Space 2 offers a “New Game +” mode in which players can carry over their weapons and upgrades into a new play-through. This is a nice addition that adds a little bit of replay value.

Multiplayer is a new addition to Dead Space 2, but it is unfortunately very plain and forgettable. Games pit humans against necromorphs in objective-based scenarios. It uses a typical levelup system but is slow paced and doesn’t quite feel as detailed as the single player.

In the end, Dead Space 2 has its shor tcomings. It feels more like an action game than a sur vival horror game, but it does the action sequences well, and that is what is ultimately makes it a solid game.