Volume 2.
Issue 14.
The Falcon
A Keen Eye For News
IN THIS
thefalconat.tumblr.com
Monday, April 29th, 2013
Good luck on Finals UM!
Arts & Culture
News What will happen to CISPA?
Birds of a Feather, Album reviews and the defense of Snoop page 4
ISSUE CROSS The Syrian civil war rages on page 2
CAMPUS
Finals Stress Buster Hands and Paw April 30, 11am – 12pm Montevallo Chorale April 30, 7:30pm – 8:30pm LeBaron Recital Hall Trumpet Studio Recital May 1, 7:30pm – 8:30pm LeBaron Recital Hall
CSM Honors Recital May 2, 7pm – 8pm LeBaron Recital Hall
Board of Trustees Mtg. May 3, 1:45pm – 1:45pm Merrill Rm.
UM Commencement May 4, 9am – 11am Flower Hill
Submit announcements facebook.com/ thefalconmontevallo
JAKE SMITH Staff Writer|
Sectarian violence in the Syrian Civil War, now raging for almost two years, is now threatening not only Syria but also its neighboring nation of Lebanon. The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah is becoming more involved in Syria’s war as it has openly begun to fund the nation’s armed forces and declared outward support for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. Their active military support has also become even more accentuated in the past week according to an inside source as well as the Syrian rebels fighting them off. The immediate effect on Syria has, thus far, been an increase in the number of firefights as well as an increase in their intensity. However, the
A brutal civil war rages between Assad and Syrian rebels. primary concern in the region is with the nation of Lebanon itself. The nation officially declared neutrality in the conflict when it broke out in 2011, but sectarian alliances across the nation, as well as a near fifty-percent split between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in the nation, threaten to destroy that neutrality and send the nation into a
civil war of its own. This is already starting to begin as Hezbollah’s Sunni opponents in Lebanon have begun to declare their opposition to al-Assad’s Syria. Additionally, the Sunnis have been moving their own troops into Syria little by little to support the predominantly Sunni Syrian rebels. The Sunnis have referred to this move-
ment as a call to jihad as hundreds have already joined the war. Lebanese analyst and Shiite Muslim, Mohammed Obeid has now referred to the official neutrality of Lebanon as being null and void. Speaking of said neutrality, he said “Everyone has violated it, so it’s not only Hezbollah. Everyone is now acting on a sectarian basis to-
ward the Syrian crisis.” Whether the Sunni and Shiite violence leaves Syria and pours into Lebanon remains to be seen, but Obeid’s statement does point out the noticeable increase in foreign involvement in the nation’s civil war. The Falcon will continue to follow the Syrian Civil War as it develops further.
Obama wavers on Syrian threat ANDREW MECHUM
Associate Editor | @amechum
Yet again we see a shining example of how politics does more to harm this world than help it. Last week President Obama was faced with the challenge of making good on his promise to intervene in Syria should President Bashar Assad’s regime use chemical weapons. What have been labeled as unconfirmed reports of small-scale chemical weapons used against rebel forces by the Syrian government threat-
en to draw the United States into another conflict in the Middle East. Obama had previously said the use of chemical weapons was a “red-line” that, if crossed, would lead to some form of military involvement, at the moment U.S. lawmakers and administration officials are divided on how to best proceed. Many on the right are urging immediate and swift reaction on our part while those on the left, especially within the president’s administration, are backing away from strong rhetoric and advising we get all the facts before we jump headlong into the two year old civil war. There exist numerous obstacles and challenges to attack-
ing Syria following the news of their use of chemical weapons thought to be sarin gas. All of the obstacles are political however. Some fear angering the Russians who support Assad and his regime, others worry about getting involved in another country’s civil war and reports of rebel ties with Al Qaeda lead many to believe there isn’t a “good guy” in the fight to get behind. The answer is simple, but because it is politically incorrect it will never be given serious consideration. A promise was made to act following the use of chemical weapons. Failure to act only diminishes the esteem of the United States in the eyes of the inter-
Should the U.S. intervene to stop this? national community. This, and no other reason, should be enough to act quickly on this. Moreover, civilians are dying. Our nations reluctance to once again get bogged down in that part of the world is understandable, but what message does it send if the U.S. were to stand by while innocents suffer unnecessarily.
The United States hands out billions of dollars in aid to nations around the world annually. We supply economic, humanitarian and military support to nations that openly defy our ideals (Egypt under Mohammed Morsi comes to mind). And all of this is done out of the goodness of our hearts. Yet, when it
comes time to bring the hammer down on those that would defy us, we show how weak we truly are by suggesting we turn to outside sources like NATO or the UN. If we are to indeed act as the world’s police force, imparting western justice to the far-flung corcontinued page 2
The Falcon
news
Page Two
Monday, April 29th, 2013
Senate Refuses to Vote on CISPA, Leaves Controversial Cyber Bill Dead for Now
“We never had to play by the rules, because we made them up as we went” -Kyle Jones
Good Evening, First World! An editorial
CONNOR BUCY Staff Writer|
When CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month, privacy and civil rights activists grew quite vocal about the concerns with the bill, and for good reason. While CISPA's purpose is to allow the U.S. government and private companies to share information regarding cyber attacks, the scope of information that is sharable and the limits on whom that information can be shared with are a bit sketchy, sketchy meaning entirely undefined. Fortunately, the Senate has decided not to vote on the bill at all, leaving it dead in the water. At least for now. The Senate's po-
sition on the bill echos that of the Obama administration, who already threatened to veto the bill after it was passed by the House. While CISPA's authors, Reps. Mike Rogers (RMich.) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) made several changes to the bill to sooth privacy and civil liberty concerns, it wasn't enough. Both the Senate and the Obama administration cited “insufficient” privacy protections, an argument that mirrors the one made by digital activists who believe the bill violated civil liberties. Although the Senate is refusing to consider CISPA, the Senate Intelligence Committee is working on a new information-
SYRIA
continued
ners of mankind, we should not be so cowardly as to say something and not mean it. Obama said the use of chemical weapons was a line that should not be crossed or military action would be taken. The first news we received should have been the successful bombing of all military facilities associated with the manufacture, storage and distribution of those weapons. In 1986 President Reagan ordered the bombing of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s house after his country was
linked to an attack in a Berlin nightclub. Gaddafi was quiet for over 20 years after that. We should make Assad equally as quiet. Before anyone gets up in arms about us interfering in another nation’s civil war, you must look to our own history. We too had to fight against an oppressive government in the hopes of securing our independence, and we too sought help from other nations to reach that goal. In fact, had it not been for the aid provided by the French (better late than never), our victory over the Brit-
sharing bill. These developments closely mimic last year's, when the House passed CISPA despite White House concerns. The Senate failed to pass a cyber bill of its own due to Republican opposition. While CISPA may not be a desirable answer to the problem of cybersecurity, many experts have warned Congress about the increasing vulnerability of the nation's most vital computer systems. Concerns have only intensified after multiple highprofile attacks linked to China and various hacking groups. Top intelligence officials now say that cyber attacks pose a greater threat to national security than terrorists.
JAKE SMITH Staff Writer|
Hello America! I sincerely hope you’re enjoying that microwave dinner from the comfort of your office chair in front of your computer screen. I just have a few things that I need to tell you before you go back to spying on the social lives of your neighbors. The entire nation of Syria is in a ferocious civil war. Women and children are being taken out of their homes, raped and executed while their former neighbors burn down their homes. Share that photo some time. A significant portion of the African continent is dying of AIDS, and they’ve been condemned by much of the Western world leaving the likes of aging Irish rock star Bono and George Clooney
ish may not have come when it did, or at all. Our choice to be involved in Syria shouldn’t center around maintaining relationships with foreign powers like Russia and Iran but should instead be focused on bringing a nation, a people, out of the quagmire of civil war and into a bright future of democracy. The United States may never get directly involved in the Syrian civil war out of fear of hurting its image. Chances are history will judge us in that NEAL EMBRY Staff Writer| same harsh light if we Suarez don’t act, and quickly. Luis may have a little vampire in him. He’s bitten yet another player. The Liverpool striker bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during the second Established 2012 half of the two clubs’ An Independant Student Newspaper match Sunday, April 21. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The two playKyle Jones ers were in the penASSOCIATE EDITOR alty area when the Andrew Mechum incident occurred. ARTS&CULTURE EDITOR Suarez has Reed Strength since called and apolSTAFF WRITERS ogized to Ivanovic. Neal Embry “I’ve spoken to Mandy Steadman Ivanovic on the phone Jake Smith and I could apologize Teddie Taylor directly to him. Thanks Matthew Lord for accepting,” Suarez Clarke Stackhouse said during an interview. Connor Bucy However, the CONTACT US AT: Professional Football Association wasn’t thefalconeditor@gmail.com satisfied with an apology. In addition to a
to speak up for them. Tell your friends in 160 characters or less. There’s a country called North Korea that’s living a deluded and psycho-sheltered existence at the hands of a single insane dictator and his oppressive party. Oh yeah, and they’re also making ill-formed but dangerous plans against pretty much the entire world even as we speak. Can you “like” a nuclear holocaust? Your own nation’s soldiers have been away from their friends and families sleeping in cramped barracks and defending you against those who would seek to blow you away for years on end in a nation called Afghanistan. That nation has been under Soviet and then Taliban rule for the last four decades.
Their culture has been stamped out, and their cities have burned to the ground under martial law for years. Last year, the worst thing that happened to you was an ill timed auto repair. You did not get stoned to death. Is that hashtag trending? #IDidNotGetExecutedLastYear The Israeli and Palestinian people have been killing each other over a piece of desert for over half a century. The Western world is more interested in visiting that desert’s pretty buildings than bringing about peace. Why don’t you “follow” that movement? And that’s about it! Enjoy that coca-cola! Also, don’t forget to set your TiVo for “The Bachelor”. I think it’s coming on soon. Good evening, first world.
Suarez’ teeth offsides yet again
Luis Suarez Liverpool FC fine by Liverpool, the PFA has suspended Suarez, widely considered one of the best soccer players in the world, for 10 games. Suarez will not appeal the ban, and will seek anger management instead. While Suarez’s foot may win him awards, his teeth have now cost him 15 games total in his career. When he played with Ajax in the Netherlands, he served a seven-game suspension for biting a player. Mike Tyson, perpetrator of the most infamous biting incident in sports history, followed Suarez on Twitter after the inci-
dent. Tyson was disqualified from his boxing match with Evander Holyfield after he bit off part of Holyfield’s ear. Fans and former players around the world have condemned Suarez’s actions. His manager, Brendan Rodgers, called the bite “unacceptable.” While no one is calling for Liverpool to dump Suarez, it’s clear that he needs to learn to keep his mouth shut. Literally. What did you think of the bite? Was the 10--game suspension enough? Let us know on Facebook or on Twitter @TheUMFalcon.
Monday, April 29th, 2013
The Falcon
Page Three
UM Theatre brings ASSASSINS to the Chi-Box
MANDY STEADMAN Staff Writer |
It’s an explosive night of gunfire in the black and bloody walls of the Chichester Black Box Theatre (Chi-Box). On April 26-28th the University of Montevallo Theatre Dept. presented a Stephen Sondheim musical called, “Assassins.” Through the direction of Dr. David Callaghan, this creative cast of characters were able to tell their stories and engross their audience in the confining space of the Chi-Box Theatre. Students were so excited to see this
musical it sold out within the first four hours of the reservation list being out on Monday. “Assassins” is about telling the story of the people in history who have attempted and succeeded to assassinate the presidents of the United States. These assassins include Charles Guiteau, John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinckley, Guiseppe Zangara, Samuel Bick, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme and Sara Jane Moore. . The music of this show was extremely catchy and helped with the transition of each scene and each assassin’s story. There were rows of lights around each door of the Chi-Box which lit up and a bell rang each time a presi-
dent was assassinated. The script is structured, though, with every assassin interacting with each other with a Proprietor, played by Brandon Caruthers, who sells the weapons to the assassins and a Balladeer, played by Taylor Lamm, who tells each story through song and does not encourage the assassins’ to kill for what they want. Caruthers really brought an interesting character to life in the Chi-Box. They way he carried himself and interacted with the other actors was astounding. He truly became the Proprietor for these assassins who believed in their cause. The most astounding performance, however, was given by Joseph We-
solowski, who played Charles Guiteau. Guiteau felt responsible for getting President Garfield elected and felt he deserved to be rewarded by becoming Ambassador to France. Garfield, however, never gave him this honor. Guiteau assassinates him and recites his poem, “I am going to the Lordy,” as he walks to the gallows. Wesolowski really did well portraying this “terrifying and opposing figure.” It was hard not to stare at him as he fondled his gun and spoke of staying positive in tough situations. Guiteau was a truly insane character and Wesolowski portrayed him perfectly. The most entertaining scene, however, was when Ly-
nette Fromme and Sara Jane Moore, played by Sydney fant and Katie Raulerson, were practicing using their guns with a KFC box as their target. Both giggled and jumped around as they hit Colonel Sanders’ head and talked of their love for their men. And how were the most famous assassins Oswald and Booth portrayed? Hunter Brown, who played Oswald, was the assassin who would bring new light to each past and future assassin. Oswald changed the world with just one gun. Brendan Young, who played Booth, served almost as the ringleader for the assassins. He spoke with confidence and believed in his cause for a “better” America. His voice,
however, sounded very hoarse on Saturday night and he cracked a few times during the middle of the show. The glue of his mustache could also be seen by the audience and it took away from the illusion of Young as Booth. Overall, “Assassins” was one of the best musicals ever performed at the University of Montevallo. It was thrilling, engaging and entertaining, to say the least. Congrats to Callaghan on an amazing show. From the third to last scene of the show: “I didn’t come here to kill the President,” said Oswald. “He didn’t come here to get shot,” said Booth The Falcon gives this musical a 9.5/10.
The Assassins Ensemble Joe Wesolowski as Charles Guitaeu
Monday, April 29th, 2013
The Falcon
Page Four
Birds of a Feather: Stuck in the garage, REED STRENGTH Arts&Culture Editor | @ReedStrength
In the late ‘60’s, as rock n’ roll was still morphing away from its blues roots, a variety of “nastier” bands were emerging that greatly differed from the still charming and clean sound of acts like the Byrds and the mega-star Beatles. British invasion staples The Kinks were perhaps the most recognizable of this brood, frying the blues that inspired them in a special type of amp sound dubbed distortion. The band achieved this by guitarist Dave Davies “cutting the speaker of his amp with a razor blade and poking pins into it.” This effect made their songs nastier and dirtier, the swagger of tracks like “You Really Got Me” and “All Day and All of the Night” coming through the crunch of Davies’ guitar. However, perhaps best documented through Rhino Records’ influential “Nuggets” compilations, other obscure acts extended this roughed up rock n’ roll in a psychedellic underground scene. From the one hit wonders of The Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Kingsmen to the more obscure Amboy Dukes, the songs featured on the compilations were major influences on the 70’s proto punk acts like Iggy & the Stooges and the MC5. Tracing this history further would include the birth of punk and its many sub genres, and an obvious influence on the ‘90s Alter-
native rock movement. However, a new collective of acts have emerged the past few years that directly reference the simple yet fierce attack of those early ‘60s acts. Instead of recording with a big budget in notable studios, these bands favor the crunch of lo-fi recording equipment. Because of their favoritism toward cheap recording techniques, acts are often seen releasing an album or two every year. While the early 2000’s saw a “garage rock revival” with the emergence of The Strokes and The White Stripes as the freshly un-nu face of rock, their commercially successful careers don’t quite mirror the blossoming but quintessentially underground careers of these bands. The small San Francisco label CasteFace, and its Detroit umbrella label Drag City, host perhaps the biggest players in this direct revival. Perhaps the longest running band in this genre, Atlanta’s The Black Lips, have made their name on their sloppy yet meticulous recording techniques and vulgar stage antics. Moving from San Francisco's “In The Red” records, the band has released its last three record on the music label of controversial news publication Vice. From the murderous musings of early songs like “I’ve Got A Knife” and Germs indebted “Crazy Girl”, the Lips have stuck to their guns while exploring the corners of the globe
New this and loving every minute week The Airborne Toxic Event Such Hot Blood Indie rock Island Records Kenny Chesney Life on a Rock Country Columbia Rittz The Life and Times of Johnny Valiant Hip Hop Strange Music
where most bands fear to tread. 2011’s “Arabia Mountain” might’ve had top tier production from Mark Ronson (Christina Aguilera & Amy Winehouse), but the Ramones stylings of “Raw Meat” and Cramps’ worthy “Family Tree” still ring true to their roots. Veteran guitar wrangler John Dwyer has played in a variety of bands since 1997, the Coachwhips and Pink & Brown providing the largest of his early followings. He now co-owns Castle-Face and fronts garage punk band Thee Oh Sees. Favoring the guitar stylings of influential duck walker Chuck Berry, Dwyer’s band grew from a solo project to a poly-rhythmic, soft harmonized cartoon band of destruction. While backup singer Brigid Dawson’s soft keys and softer voice alleviates the band’s ferociously noisy sound, their impressively consistent string of releases and wild live shows (someone once fell out of a
window to their death during a performance) have cultivated a strong following and gracious critical opinion. Labelmate White Fence crafts a more psychedelic sound from his 60’s referencing work. The project is fronted by one Tim Presley, a shaggy haired and wide eyed San Franciscan that looks like he’d be the “sketchy” fellow at the local pawn with a cigarette between his fingers. His first album, while moderately lo-fi, utilizes its grimy production to craft a sense of druggy buzz throughout its 16 tracks. His latest release, “Cyclops Reap”, might feature more ambitious songwriting, but sticks to its low budget guns. Listen to the guitar on lead single “Pink Gorilla” for evidence. White Fence arguably broke into the greater musical conscious because of an act he was associated with last year. Presley collaborated with the fellow garager for his record “Hair”, a baked collec-
The Big Wedding is NOT Worth it
MANDY STEADMAN Staff Writer |
What do you get when you have Eric Foreman from “That 70s Show,” Janette from “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and Jack Byrnes from “Meet the Parents” all in one movie? The answer is a chaotic mesh of lies, love and family. The new romantic-comedy, “The Big Wedding,”
only topped box offices at number four this past weekend on movietickets.com, selling $7.5 million in tickets. You would think that a movie with so many celebrities would be more popular with audiences, but this is just another Sunday-afternoon movie that people would rather watch out of boredom rather than getting chores done. The thing is this movie has so many plot twists it is hard to summarize it in just one or two sentences. It is basically about a family surviving the weekend with
each other as the adopted son gets ready to marry the love of his life. The acting is not the issue for this film because it is filled with a lot of amazing actors. This includes Katherine Heigl, Amanda Seyfried, Diane Keaton, Topher Grace, Ben Barnes, Robin Williams, Robert De Niro and Susan Sarandon. The main issue with this movie it is not exactly a unique plot line. It basically adopted the same premise of the movie, “The Birdcage,” and molded it into a more modern
and bigger platform. Boy introduces his biological mother to his adopted family and next thing you know lies are told, someone comes out of the closet, and three affairs within the parents of the groom and bride are revealed. It is a decent movie and it serves its purpose as entertainment, but it is not worth the $10 it costs for a ticket. Do not waste your time and money on a film you can see via Redbox or T.V. in a few months. The Falcon gives this film a 6/10.
tion of 70’s rock songs that ebbed and flowed between breezy musings and screwed power chords. This solo hero, mind you, released three albums in 2012. All were prime examples of garage rock flavorings. This blonde haired, newsworthy “Nuggets” provacateur is none other than Ty Segall. Like contemporary and best bud John Dwyer, Segall has played band merry go round in his scene, most notably as a part of Sic Alps. His solo career beginnings in 2008 showcased what was to come. The snarl of “Pretty Baby (You’re So Ugly)” and “Don’t Do It” would crash to a greater extent with 2012’s band assissted LP “Slaughterhouse”. Segall has a softer side, perhaps best shown longform on 2009’s “Goodbye Bread” and “Gold on the Shore” from his latest album “Twins”. Segall’s spirit has made him the poster child of this scene. His workhorse ethic last year
Streetlight Manifesto The Hands That Thieve Ska punk Victory The Stooges Ready to Die Garage rock Fat Possum
allowed him a spot on “Conan”, and perhaps even more famously, on this local Chicago news broadcast. In 2012, Castle Face Records released a commemorative tribute album for the 45th anniversary of “The Velvet Underground & Nico”. While that record’s reach influenced a great deal of music, the garage scene had outlasted its biggest claim to fame by the time the Factory band was formed. To hear Segall, Thee Oh Sees and White Fence cover these songs almost seems as though a reverse history has happened, where Warhol becomes a denim jacket wearing record store clerk on a steady diet of warm soda and cheeseburgers.
The Falcon
Album Reviews
REED STRENGTH Arts&Culture Editor | @ReedStrength
Atlanta psychband Deerhunter have paved the way toward greater commercial acceptance with each release. The strange, fever induced shoegaze soundscapes of 2007’s “Cryptograms” were mediated a year later with 2008’s double album “Microcastle/ Weird Era Cont.” The psych-pop of “Microcastle” was balanced with the distinctly disjointed song sketches of “Weird Era..” in a perfect halving of the band’s sounds.
MATT SANDERLIN
Contributing Former a&C Editor|
The third time is most definitely a charm. I will even admit that I initially did not want to like this album. While I did enjoy Volumes 1 and 2, I am not a New Girl fan, and I have gradually fallen out of love with She
NEAL EMBRY Staff Writer|
Every artist has one album that defines their career. For Christian rapper Andy Mineo, formerly known as C-Lite, the recently released “Heroes for Sale” may be that album. The album, which marks Mineo’s
Finally in 2010, the group released its breakthrough album “Halcyon Digest”. The beautiful and desperate ruminations of lead single “Helicopter” showcased a new sense of frailty in mastermind frontman Bradford Cox. With late night television appearances and a brief showing on the Billboard charts, it was expected that Deerhunter’s new album would place the band at the success of contemporaries like Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective. However, around the 2011 release
& Him's female component, actress Zooey Deschanel. However, Volume 3 is simply too well-crafted and satiable to ignore, and I was instantly re-converted after only the first track. M. Ward and Zooey start this album off a little differently than their two previous
first full album under his birth name, covers a wide range of topics, from struggles with sin to the mission field to relationships. The first track, “Superhuman,” begins with an eerie sounding female choir singing an old hymn that draws the listener in.
Page Five
Monday, April 29th, 2013 of Bradford Cox’s “Parallax”, the frontman seemed to buck against his growing success. A performance in Minneapolis ended with Cox conducting his solo band in an impromptu freak cover performance of The Knack’s “My Sharona” per the request of a dimwitted audience member. Cox stuck by his rash actions fiercely, remarking that Deerhunter shows were known for delving into the same “controlled” chaos. In an interview with Pitchfork, Cox at one point remarked: “I hate indie culture. I am not an indie rock musician-- I don't even know what the f*** that means.” Cox asserted that he plays rock n’ roll”, not an exclusive and elitist subgenre. All of these events boil down to the music contained within the soon to be released “Monomania”, the newest album by Deerhunter. A lineup change within the band coupled with Cox’s new stage persona as
the black wigged and bloody “Connie Lungpin” indicate a grittier and nastier reinvention. Where “Halcyon Digest” had the band’s highest production detail to date, “Monomania” coats the new songs in a thick layer of fuzz and distortion. While their hyper melodic sensibilities have not been sacrificed, songs like “Leather Jacket II” and the title track screech with a sonic force that “Weird Era..” hinted at without ever expanding on. He’s not all bite though. Songs like the loopy “Pensacola” and delta blues referencing “Dream Captain” showcase a sillier, funnier side of Deerhunter than anyone could’ve predicted Cox to show on a proper album. This can make the effort seem a bit tossed off and goofy, the once ridiculously tight locked grooves of drummer Moses Archuleta and former bassist Josh Fauver (see: “Nothing Ever Happened”) replaced for looser jams
that fit the less serious mood of the album. What holds these songs together is Cox’s talent for melody. While the frontman’s voice isn’t extraordinary, his penchant for fitting just enough of a hummable hook into a tune saves the sometimes lackluster instrumentation found here. Songs like “Sleepwalking” and the closer “Punk (La Vie Antérieure) ” are kept afloat and interesting by Cox’s enticing croon. When both elements click, however, the band are at their most powerful. The title track packs surging psych guitar with snarling vocals to create a song that dares to be as threatening as that now infamous “My Sharona” performance was. “Come on God/ you’re my savior!/If you can/send me an angel/if you can’t send me an angel/send me something else instead” Cox half pleads, half mocks in a verse. Its when the songs blistering and chaotic ending forms that Cox’s revision of
his band produces the same impressive and astounding results he hinted at on the more wide eyed ruminations of “Halcyon Digest”. Those fans that paid close attention to the lyrics of “Parallax” know that Cox is a lonely and sad fellow at heart, a man so haunted by his obsession with his musical identity that he titles his latest effort by that obsession’s medical name. Its when the toothy grins and clouds of distortion are blocked out briefly in the quieter passages of acoustic ballad “Nitebike” that Cox partially lets the mask slip. The frontman takes a deep breath to both ask and admit what drives him to cover his pain with a tough rock n’ roll record: “Have you ever been here/or someplace else you could relate to/out of fear/out of trials and help?/I was no longer mine/I had pantomimed/I had fell for lines/I crawled to find/I had no place in mind/ when I began to drive/ no destination.” 8/10
Volumes - Instead of a mid-tempo, melancholy introductory track like "Thieves" or "Sentimental Heart," the two burst into an upbeat charge with swirling Brian Wilson-esque harmonies and racing percussion ("I've Got Your Number, Son"). "What's a man without all the attention? / Well, he's just a man," Deschanel teases, her newfound depth in voice and overall confidence almost overwhelming on first contact. She sounds older, more mature, and her polished vocal control is noticeable immediately. She later completes the surprisingly aggressive anthem with the stunning refrain "You can tell everyone that I've got your number, son / 'Cause I can
shine my light on / I can shine my light on, too." It becomes clear very quickly that the lyrical material in Volume 3 probably stems from Zooey's recent divorce from Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie. Little glimpses into dissolved romantic relationships like the bittersweet "Never Wanted Your Love" and the wistful "I Could've Been Your Girl" depict a rocky relationship, and its eventual demise - hinting at Zooey's personal experiences. In the latter, she recounts, "It doesn't matter / If I were willing / It doesn't matter that the lights are turned down low / I know you have to go / It doesn't matter about my heart / It's broke and shattered into a million
and one." Too see this slightly more cynical side of Zooey is actually really relatable, and drives her voice to new levels of passion and heartfelt delivery. The most personal moment of the album arrives near its end - With the gorgeously heartbreaking "Shadow of Love." Zooey lays out her story, with a shockingly open sense of nonfiction. "You and I / We told a story of love from our hearts / But it never came true," she sings with an almost numbing level of sadness. "There's no tomorrow for me and you," she adds ruefully. The music itself is by far the duo's best and most complex work to date. Arrangements are big and warm - Bold
brass and sweet strings play off of each other beautifully in the swingfolk rocker "Together," and again in the wintry trot "Snow Queen." Even the three covers on the album are well-executed (save for Zooey's kind of horrible attempt at singing in French in the last half of Blondie's "Sunday Girl"), and fit well within the context of the whole album. Overall, She & Him are no longer a superduo - They are simply two very established musicians who have continued to build a solid musical catalogue through their love of classic influences. I'm going to go ahead and put Volume 3 in the "Best of 2013" category, because it's really that good. Vinyl is recommended.
Mineo drops in and begins to spit rhymes: “Why is it every time I step up on a train/I see a pretty dame and I wonder what her name is/Fore I even get there, the question on my brain is/Do you love the Lord? Do you love to make Him famous?” Personally, “Superhuman” is my favorite song from the album. It’s Mineo’s brutally honest portrait of his struggles with sin as he continues to follow Jesus. Perhaps the most complete summation of the track is the line, “I’m just a product of grace that’s still in the process, and I don’t gotta be great, because my God is.” The album continues with “Ex Nihilo,” a picture of God’s cre-
ation, which He created out of nothing, hence “ex nihilo.” Mineo ties in God’s identity as Creator to his role in transforming Christian’s lives from death to life. The single released before the album debut, “Ayo!”, is a fun song that, while not my favorite, showcases Mineo’s rapping skills. Songs in the middle of the release include “Bitter,” “Shallow” and the partrock-part-rap hit “Wild Things.” The first two reveal Mineo’s struggle and stance on bitterness and shallowness in relationships with family and friends. In “Wild Things,” Mineo shares his desire to live among the “wild things,” unreached parts of the
world, so as to share the gospel and bring people to Christ. He calls out Christians that support him when he talks like Jesus but are quick to desert him when he begins to walk like him: “I talk like Jesus, all the Christians love me/I walk like Jesus now they wanna judge me/Ain’t it funny?” Other features of the album include a track with Lecrae, the most popular and wellknown Christian rapper. The track, “Uno Uno Seis,” is a Spanish twist on the group formed by Lecrae, 116 Clique, in reference to Romans 1:16, which states that the gospel is the power of God for salvation, to anyone who will believe. Mineo boasts
in Christ, even as he struggles in his walk, and reveals this in songs like “Superhuman,” “Caught Dreaming” and “Tug of War,” connecting him with scores of Christians. The album ends with “Death has Died,” written after Mineo’s aunt died in 2012. The song focuses on Christ’s victory over death, and subsequently, the Christian’s victory in Him. He reminds every believer that even amidst the struggle, the price has been paid and the victory has been won, encouraging Christians to take heart and keep the faith. Check out Andy Mineo’s new album, “Heroes for Sale,” on Spotify or buy it on iTunes.
The Falcon
Our two cents
Monday, April 29th, 2013
Page Five
THE FALCON STAFF “Music Journalist”
PHOENIX Bankrupt!
DISCLAIMERS: 1. Despite what the cover might convey, there is no guaranteed vitamin enrichment from listening to this album. 2. Our writers are fairly certain that the band is not in fact, “bankrupt” to an excited degree, like the sneaky addition of the exclamation point would imply. 3. The Falcon has an especially staunch equal and balanced opinion contract when reviewing music: under no circumstances was this album favored or panned based on its artists’ avian originated name.
ROB ZOMBIE Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor
1. If you’ve never listened to a White Zombie or Rob Zombie album before you are less fortunate for it. Get out there and listen to some Rob Zombie before your ear drums atrophy from the abuse you pour into them with all the autotuned drivel dominating the airwaves these days. 2. If you’ve heard any or all of Rob Zombie’s previous work, you’re in for more of the same with this one. It’s nothing special, unless of course you consider someone who writes their own music and doesn’t rely on computers to make them sound good as special.
DEREK WEBB #Unblokme
Temperamental, controversial and brutally honest Christian songsmith Derek Webb has now managed to piss off ?uestlove so much that said Roots drummer has blocked Webb’s Twitter account. This is Webb’s enormously catchy idea of an olive branch.
Daft Punks' strategy at capturing our Random Access Memories
REED STRENGTH Arts&Culture Editor | @ReedStrength
French house duo Daft Punk have cultivated a sense of mystery on their musical project since its late ‘90’s inception. While the identities of GuyManuel de HomemChristo and Thomas Bangalterb have been revealed as Daft Punk, they prefer to nonetheless disguise themselves in the style of futuristic robots. To further the illusion of the duo’s importance and otherworldly sense of craftsmanship, two of their albums have had fictional backstories to coincide with their release. New album “Random Access Memories” has so far instead had an extensive media campaign pending its May 17 release. It all started in the early months of 2012 when ‘70’s funk guitarist Nile Rodgers announced collaboration with “the robots”. Italian disco producer Giorgio Moroder was the next to announce work with the duo on new material. The veteran detailed the recording of a spoken word “rap” in which he detailed the events of his musical life. Within the recording booth was a myriad of different mics from various decades, their use dependent on what era of life he spoke about. Details of the album went dormant after Moroder’s announcement. Rodgers again surfaced to say that a new album would arrive in 2013. The band signed with Columbia records in February of this year. Upon the settlement of the announcement, the group released a photo
of their distinctive helmets halved together above the the logo of Columbia. The image later aired during an episode of SNL. A glittering “Daft Punk” logo was swallowed by the masks as a snippet of new music played in the background. Sony Music, which owns Columbia, than registered twelve new Daft Punk songs, viewable through music licensing organization PPL. While only the track lengths were shown, fansite The Daft Club thought it clear evidence that a new album was on the way. Their suspicions were confirmed when another ad appeared on SNL. The phrase “Random Access Memories” was swallowed by the masks with a new passage of the same music played during the last ad. The album, titled “Random Access Memories”, then appeared on iTunes for pre-order. A video series produced by The Creators Project and Vice debuted with Moroder discussing his role in the album’s creation. Rodgers, singer Pharrell, and Animal Collective member Panda Bear have also had videos detailing their contributions to “The Robots’” new songs. The album’s prducer, Todd Phillips, also speaks on his work in the album. Pharrell and Rodgers’ contribution has been revealed as the album’s first single “Get Lucky”. The song features Rodgers on guitar with Pharrell singing. The song was revealed via a video clip played during California music and arts festival Coachella. A glitter clad band
made up of the collaborators and the Robots played a fraction of “Get Lucky”. A full list of collaborators followed the taped performance, which includes Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas and frequent Daft Punk collaborator DJ Falcon. A similar ad appeared on SNL. Just as the tracklist of the album was revealed through Twitter app Vine, a leaked, user spliced version of “Get Lucky” hit the internet. The leak was created by fusing together the 90 seconds of the song featured on the ads released. To combat the leaks’ poor quality, Daft Punk released the official version of “Get Lucky” for download on iTunes and Spotify on April 18. As May 17 approaches, the Robots will inevitably release more material and information about their new project via the continuation of the Creator’s Project videos and their penchant for random mystery ads. Those attending the Annual Wee Waa show in the “cotton capital” of Wee Waa, Austrailia, will have the perhaps unexpected chance to attend the duo’s official album launch party. An outfitted stage will allow listeners to dance as the full album is played out of speakers. According to the show’s official Facebook page (as its too small to have its own website) there will also be “fireworks, a pet show, woodchop and cross-cut saw competition.” Daft Punk reportedly chose the rural location not for its farm fest, as much as the giant CSIRO Australia Telescope that matches their futuristic aesthetic.
also used. The featurIn defense of Snoop Lion ing artist range from KYLE JONES
Editor-In-Chief | @TheUMFalcon
As a long time fan of not only reggae music but all the various genres of Jamaican music and culture, when I first heard that Snoop Dogg was to be making a reggae album and it would be produced by none other than the man who compromises half of Major Lazer, the super producer Diplo, I was beyond ecstatic. So excited in fact, that every friend I encountered would be subjected to listening to “La, La, La”, which was the first taste of Snoop Lion we were blessed with. As soon as the track started my ears perked up, what I heard surprised and excited me, Snoop D O double G was singing over a Ken Boothe sample. For those of you not in the know, Ken Boothe is a legendary reggae artist, why this is exciting is at that moment I knew Diplo and Snoop were going to get this project right. My friends, and the world in general were still not convinced. It didn’t help that Snoop gave us this
fantastic quotable, "I have always said I was Bob Marley reincarnated.” What he meant to express was that he felt a close connection with the artist and his rastafarian beliefs. For months, all I heard from friends was “I can’t believe he’s doing this...it doesn’t make sense...it’s gonna suck...why is he calling himself Snoop Lion.” Through all this I defended and defended the artist formerly known as Dogg, but eventually had to succumb to those who would not stay open minded and simply say “Just wait...” At last, on April 23 Reincarnated dropped, though running the risk of sounding pretentious, I had it a week before. The album is the twelfth studio album for Calvin Broadus but the first under the moniker Snoop Lion. The deluxe edition includes 16 tracks spanning many genres of Jamaican music, that could be classified as reggae, dancehall, rocksteady, fusion, as well as elements of dub. If you can find it the famous “sleng teng riddim” is
stateside superstars such as Busta Rhymes and Miley Cyrus to dancehall bosses Mavado and Popcaan, who have monumentally been brought together on “Lighters Up” in an effort to end their beef. Though I am extremely biased when it comes to this genre of music, I silently worried the entire time that maybe, just maybe, this would be the most Jah awful travesty for not only Snoop as an artist but for Jamaican style music in general. After listening to the album an uncountable amount of times, I assure you this is farthest from the case. I understand that my excitement and assurance is in no way going to convince you. I would propose letting Snoop Lion speak for himself. Along with the album a documentary bearing the same name of the album was released by VICE films. The sincerity of Snoop in this film will undoubtedly convert any and all naysayers. “Here comes the King”, and hopefully he is here to stay.
The Falcon
presents
our goodbyes
Page Six
for now...
KYLE JONES
Editor-In-Chief | @TheUMFalcon
It’s been almost exactly a year since this idea crept into my head. Being able to look back and see how far we’ve come is amazing to me. When I look at the library of issues it absolutely astounds me we managed to do it, but please do not look at the first few issues of our little independent paper though, it will make you shudder, and for me, its nightmare fuel. As I said in my letter before we took a break for the holidays, I rejoiced in the fact that so many said we
would fail and we were still chugging along 15 weeks later. Looking at it now, its a bit bittersweet. Week after week my Monday nights were entirely dedicated to sitting at my desk scrambling to publish this online newspaper at a reasonable hour. Sometimes cursing my writers or the layout program but generally sitting smug with a feeling of overall satisfaction and pride. As I type this now, everything is set in place and ready to be exported. For the last time,
for me atleast. My baby, no...my mistress, will be placed in the hands of my Associate Editor and right hand man, who none of this would have been possible without, Andrew Mechum, but lets not forget the stellar staff behind him as well. Though the feeling is bittersweet I am confident and proud to be handing off my project to more than capable hands, and trust me, they’ve got big things planned for the future. This mistress, took countless hours away from me and no
doubt had an effect on my personal relationships, but the sense of pride and accomplishment outweighs the negatives ten fold. All that I hope is that the sense of enjoyment and admiration mirrors the amount of effort we’ve put into this. I’ve always looked at this publication not as some type of gift and I never viewed myself as some type of hero or someone deserving of praise, for me it’s always just been an outlet, for myself and the others who’ve worked
on it. The greatest reward is that my idea has come to fruition and its legacy will be carried on. All I have left to say is thank you. Thank you to the readers for your loyalty and patience and most of all thank you to staff members past and present who made this dream a reality. I have full faith that you will leave The Falcon better than you found it. Here at the end I find myself struggling to say something meaningful, enduring or lasting, which is infuriating
because it is very seldom that I find myself in this situation, so this is it, this the end, I’m going now, and I leave you with a quote that has motivated me throughout this process and my life. “That was always the difference between Muhammad Ali and the rest of us. He came, he saw, and if he didn't entirely conquer - he came as close as anybody we are likely to see in the lifetime of this doomed generation.”Hunter S. Thompson
Letters to the Chief Kyle, Thanks for starting up The Falcon this year. It’s been such a great experience. I hadn’t been on an actual staff since high school, and being able to be on one again was fantastic. I’m grateful for your leadership and your talent that you pour into this paper. Thanks so much for letting me write about faith, sports and other random things this year. I’ve really enjoyed the whole process. Best of luck to you in the future, and we’ll be sure to get official next year, for you. Thanks again, -Neal Embry Kyle, I want to thank you so much for the immense opportunity you gave me. When I stepped onto this campus, I knew I wanted to have a crack at journalism but had no prior experience with it. All I had was a small blog devoted to weird ramblings on shuffled songs and other strange but musically relevant things I could come up with. Somewhere in that mess, you saw something and decided to give me a chance. The way I see it, I owe my entire body of work from this year to your Facebook message inviting me to join this staff. It’s been awesome to watch you tweak this thing. It’s legacy is forever indebted to you, and I hope you flip through and smile big at the great work we’ll do in Vol. 3. Thank you for giving me a shot man, seriously. With it, I’ll run to achieve the best I can in this field. Here’s to hoping you don’t get swallowed in that tornado with your punk heroes and we one day work together on the essay that goes into the Hives’ “Veni Vidi Vicious” reissue. -Reed Strength, a rookie “Chart Toppin’ [expletives removed] Kyle, What can be said here that hasn’t been said over cold beers? Probably a lot, just with fewer expletives. You had a vision that so many, including myself, latched onto in the hopes of being part of something new and special. Thanks to your vision the department is on the cusp of having another publication to call its own. Thanks to you a handful of students have gained the experience they couldn’t have gotten elsewhere. And thanks to you I have a huge amount of work to do next semester. So yeah, thanks man. And to the rest of The Falcon staff and our devoted readers, all policies and procedures remain in effect following Mr. Jones’ departure, but be on the lookout for a bigger, better Falcon next year! -Andrew Mechum Kyle, Thank you so much for starting The Falcon and for not letting it dissipate like other organizations have on campus. If it wasn’t for you I would probably be lost as to what to do for gaining experience with journalism. It has been a huge learning experience and I really look forward to seeing where The Falcon will go. It is all thanks to you for creating such a creative and unique outlook for students to collaborate and work together. Also, thank you and Andrew for making me a better writer. I really do appreciate the work and notes. We will miss you, Editor in Chief! Go do even more awesome things! -Mandy, a woman among men Kyle, I can't tell you what an immense privilege it has been to work on this paper with you over the past year. Your passion and determination is contagious and limitless, and it inspires all of us on a daily basis. When you asked me to be a part of this project, I could very easily see that this was far more than just a side project for you. And to see the Falcon grow and evolve as a creative entity has been nothing short of a great honor for me. Keep us up to date on all of your future endeavors - We already know they'll be worth following. Best wishes, -Matt Kyle, It’s been fantastic writing here at The Falcon for its very first year, and I’m happy to say that this is something I can look back on and be proud of when I remember my time at school. Thanks for being the “nice” editor and for even starting this thing in the first place. Best wishes as you go out and write out in the world! Oh, and don’t forget: If you see anything explode, remember me. -Jake Smith
The Falcon
Page Seven
Monday, April 29th, 2013
Established 2012 An Independant Student Newspaper
next issue is TBA
Things on my Reed
NEAL EMBRY
Staff Writer |
It’s Finals Week!! That means lots of ramen, and for our favorite freshmen staffer, Reed Strength, he likes ramen so much he keeps a spare box on his head. Mmm....chicken. After writing all of his Falcon stories last minute, Reed loves to eat some chicken flavored ramen with a lukewarm Diet Coke, because that’s just the kind of guy he is. If I had more
See ya sometime in August 2013
money Reed, I’d buy you some more ramen for when you stay up til 3 a.m. studying for those freshmen level finals that will pale in comparison to the horrors you’ll face as a junior and senior. Alas, I don’t have that money. But, for the second week in a row, the world gets to see the face of Reed Strength with a random item on his
Web www.facebook.com/thefalconmontevallo @theumfalcon www.thefalconat.tumblr.com
is accepting articles and applications for staff positions contact us at thefalconeditor@gmail.com
head. I think that’s good enough, right? Check back with us next semester for more “Things on my Reed!” What should we put on Reed’s head over the summer? While we may not take pictures, we may or may not just throw stuff on him just to mess with him. Let us know via Facebook or on Twitter @TheUMFalcon.