Volume 2.
Issue 10.
The Falcon
A Keen Eye For News
IN THIS
thefalconat.tumblr.com
Monday, April 1st, 2013
April Fool’s Day! This isn’t a joke.
News Noted speaker visits UM to speak on bullying page 2
Arts & Culture What went on at Jingle Records this past week page 4
ISSUE CROSS Anonymous #Operation Rohingya commences
CAMPUS
Chamber Singers & Early Music Ensemble April 2, 7:30pm – 8:30pm LeBaron Recital Hall Lunch & Learn Canvas Basic April 3, 11:30am – 1:30pm Wills 200
Devin Burton, Senior Recital April 4, 7:30pm – 8:30pm LeBaron Recital Hall The Big Event April 6, 8:00am–12:30pm Baseball Stadium Karla Dixon, Natalie Marrero Joint Senior Recital April 6, 3:30pm – 4:30pm LeBaron Recital Hall Nidia Riley Senior Recital April 6, 7pm – 8pm LeBaron Recital Hall
Submit announcements facebook.com/ thefalconmontevallo
ANDREW MECHUM
Associate Editor | @amechum
The Internet hacking collective Anonymous is at it again. Only this time they aren’t sifting through celebrity cell phones or posting Michelle Obama’s personal information. In a statement released on their website the group is calling for action for the Rohingya people of Myanmar Burma. The Rohingya, a Muslim group in the country, are said to be under attack by the government and acts of genocide are believed to be ongoing. According to Human Rights Watch, “The Burmese government is systematically restricting humanitarian aid and imposing discriminatory policies on Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State.” Arakan State
is in the northwestern, coastal part of Burma on the Bay of Bengal. Anonymous cites “the media to be complicit in concealing” the plight of the Rohingya along with the United States government who, despite touting a track record of fighting for human rights, is apparently doing nothing about it. Human Rights Watch estimates 125,000 Rohingya and Kaman have been displaced since violence erupted in June 2012. Government forces are also believed to be involved in the violence against the Rohingya. The Rohingya are being forced to live in rice paddies and low lying areas in camps similar to refugee camps but are also being denied humanitarian aid. These low level areas are prone to flooding during the May rainy season. The Burmese government has made no effort to move the people to higher ground saying the camps are temporary. Anonymous is
calling out to everyone on the Internet to make the dire conditions of the Rohingya people go viral in the hopes
that increased aware- read the article about ness will bring this trag- the Rohingya on Human edy to an end. You can Rights Watch’s website. watch the video from Anonymous here, and
Nelson Mandela remains in hospital recovering KYLE JONES
Editor-In-Chief | @TheUMFalcon
Anti-apartheid leader and civil rights hero Nelson Mandela,94, was hospitalized last thursday for the third time in four months. Mandela was admitted for pneumonia and doctors are exercising extreme caution due to the former president’s health and advanced age. Mandela has received treatment in the past few months for lung related illness as well as stomach problems, it is believed that his lungs were damaged while working in a prison quarry. There have been no details on how much longer Mandela will stay in the hospital, days ago it was reported that
Mandela was in good condition and recovering, the latest states that there has been "no significant change in his condition". After serving over thirty years in prison due to a corrupt apartheid system, Mandela became the first black president of South Africa in 1994 and served until 1999. He spent his term dismantling apartheid's legacy, cutting racism and battling poverty and inequality. Mandela is an internationally beloved figure and has garnered incredible support and prayers worldwide in he and his families time of strife. Get well soon Madiba.
The Falcon
news
Monday, April 1st, 2013
News from the edge KYLE JONES
Editor-In-Chief | @TheUMFalcon
VICE magazine, founded by Canadians Shane Smith and Suroosh Alvi, have seen their publication come from a government funded community project called Voice of Montreal to an amalgamation of Playboy, Rolling Stone and National Geographic with a Hunter Thompson sized dash of drugs thrown in for good measure. Over the past two years the media company has garnered a tremendous following due to their youtube presence and unprecedented immersive journalism. After a
lackluster VICE Guide to Everything which appeared on MTV in 2010, Smith and company are back, but this time with HBO to present the simply named VICE, which premieres April 5th. HBO is advertising its upcoming program as “news from the edge” and from what we’ve seen in recent years from VICE’s youtube channel, it will be nothing short. Based on what we can gather from the extended trailer for VICE and HBO’s new show, we will be
given an inside look into the most prominent and unknown international hotbeds of violence, controversy and all around weirdness. Founder Alvi says the show is,“VICE doing 60 Minutes” with Smith adding “The basic premise is the absurdity of the modern condition, how crazy s–t is.” Tune into HBO this Friday at 10 p.m. central to catch the first episode of the series. Until then you can view the trailer here.
The Best Korea Report:
Don’t take any guff from those swine KYLE JONES
Editor-In-Chief | @TheUMFalcon
The Hermit Kingdom is in a “state of war” and South Korea isn’t taking any guff. Today South Korean President Park Geun-hye spoke up and said “If there is any provocation against South Korea and its people, there should be a strong response in initial combat without any political considerations.” The South Koreans even went so far as to change the rules for engagement in the event of any North Korean hostility, if a dispute kicks off local units are now allowed to respond immediately rather than waiting for permission. Meanwhile, north of the border in “Best” Korea the country has engaged in some political shuffling. Former Prime Minister Pak Pong Ju has been appointed the country’s
new Premier, this move shows that the Glorious Leader Kim Jong Un is finally attempting to do something about his starving country of 24 million people, two-thirds of whom face regular food shortages. John Delury, a professor and North Korea analyst at Seoul’s Yonsei University says that the new Premier is a face of economic reform, or at least by North Korean standards. This is an interesting move considering that at a recent meeting Un said North Korea's "nuclear armed forces" are more their bread and butter and represent his "nation's life." The U.S. continues to support South Korea and has been running training exercises as well as sticking to its sanctions on North Korea. Is this a smart move on our part, let us know via twitter @TheUMFalcon.
Established 2012 An Independant Student Newspaper EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kyle Jones ASSOCIATE EDITOR Andrew Mechum ARTS&CULTURE EDITOR Reed Strength STAFF WRITERS Neal Embry Mandy Steadman Jake Smith Teddie Taylor Matthew Lord Clarke Stackhouse CONTACT US AT: thefalconeditor@gmail.com
Page Two “As of today, I’ve officially decided to never party again.” -Andrew W.K.
Removing the bullseye from our schools
REED STRENGTH Arts&Culture Editor | @ReedStrength
College students often hope to find a respite from the classic schoolyard bully. The older, more mature learning environment of a university tends to attract those students that wish to focus on academics and personal development rather than prey on their weaker, smaller peers. However, as two back to back events held on March 27th and 28th showcased, bullying is still very much an issue in the school yards that we have graduated from. The first event, held on March 27th in Comer auditorium, was a public forum to discuss and debate solutions to the bullying problem still prevalent in schools. The event was lead by The David Mathews Center for Civic Life, a non profit organization committed to better civic engagement in our society. Chris McCauley, who at times moonlights as the lead singer in local band Holy Youth, serves as the Executive Director of the program and moderator during the Forum discussion. Attendees were passed small booklets containing statistics on the effects of bullying in schools. Its primary use was for reference, as it contained three broad solutions to end grade school tormenting.
The first was titled “Get Tough on Bullying”. This method consisted of ideas to harshly punish bullies and attempted to convey a “zero tolerance” policy in learning environments. Criticism was abundant when this plan was considered, as some noted the heightened responsibilities of teachers to report bullying as unfair while others noted the potential criminalization of young, aggressive boys under strict policies. Proposed next was an awareness program. Instead of authority figures cracking down on personal issues, a school wide education on just what constituted as harassment and the effects it had on people would be implemented. Again, room wide criticism sharply noted the apathy of some officials to implement such a program and the still wide open chance of kids getting assaulted. The most peaceful and community oriented approach was saved for last. It called for parents and the community to educate children instead of putting all responsibility on schools. The forum picked this plan apart, with the sometimes absence and differing values of parents shutting the final proposal down. For conclusive purposes, Mcauley asked the Forum about the common solution types discussed. Everyone agreed upon at least one common element: not enough was being done to make a dent in the issue. The next day, the film “Bullied” was
shown. The documentary tells the personal and legal struggle of Jamie Nabozny, now a National Bullying Advocate. Nabozny was tormented in middle and high school for being gay, at one point attempting suicide because of the constant teasing. After a severe beating, the young Nabozny ran away to Minneapolis in an attempt to escape his tormentors. Nabozny, with the encouragement of his parents, decided to legally pursue his school officials for failing to protect him from harm. While his case was at first dismissed, a federal appeals court decision created a nationwide law recognizing anti-gay behavior as inadmissible within schools and forced the school system to pay the young boy just under $1 million in damages. After his film, Nabozny held a brief Q & A and elaborated on his opinion concerning the current state of harassment in schools. He believes a warped form of sexism, specifically gender role requirements, as the main cause of negativity towards LGBT youth. Both events highlighted the ineffectiveness and wasted support of “bystanders”, those that witness these events happening but never make an effort to stop them. What are your personal experiences with bullying? Did you go to either of the events? If so, what did you learn from them? Let us know on the Falcon Facebook page or our Twitter page @theUMFalcon.
J
The Falcon
Page Three
Monday, April 1st, 2013
campus
Four plays, four directors, one night MANDY STEADMAN Staff Writer
Have you ever witnessed a dolphin, a control freak, a scared actor and a depressed doctor all in one night? The University of Montevallo Theatre Department presented all of this and more in the 2013 Spring Theatre Festival. During this festival four students in the Directing Three class each directed a one act play. The festival was performed on March 28-30th in the Chichester Black Box Theatre. The evening opened with the show, “Let me Hear you Whisper,” directed by Michael Tallon. This play was written by Paul Zindel and was about a custodian named Helen, played by Zoyla Pinacho, who is working in an animal testing and training facility. She befriends a dolphin who learns how to speak, but she soon learns the company is using the dolphins for military operations. Tallon opened the show with singer, Chelsea Orr, chaining the dolphin, played by Jonathan Evans, and singing
Evan Brock and Alix Black in Control Freaks him a jazzy song. It was later explained that Orr is a record player that plays slow-tempoed music to soothe the dolphin and help him learn human words. The next show was a huge contrast from the first. “Control Freaks,” directed by Jenna McCown, was filled with plot twists and psychological drama. The playwright, Beth Henley, cleverly and correctly explored a person who had Dissociative Identity Disorder. This play was mainly about the struggle of Sister who is struggling to live in a house that is run primarily by
her brother, Carl, played by Evan Brock. Carl is an aggressive and controlling character who uses charm and fear to get what he wants. The play ends with murder plots between Carl and his wife being foiled and Sister learning the truth of how Carl hurt her many times. The third play of the night had a lot of truth behind it’s hilarity. It was called “Actor’s Nightmare” and was directed by Frank Deming. The play was written by Christopher Durang and took place at the Palace Theatre in New York City. This show was
Melissa Lawler, Billy Chapata and Anna Beth Shelton in Actor’s Nightmare about a man named George, who is having a dream that he is an actor, but he does not know who he is, what his lines are, and which play he is acting in. Dazed and confused, George, played by Billy Chapata, finds himself facing his greatest fears and confronting his past discrepancies through the chaotic and bustling world of the stage. The last show of the night was called, “Night Visits.” This
play was directed by Marietta Lunceford and written by Simon Fill. The storyline followed a doctor, Tom, who is still in mourning over the passing of his fiance, who died a year ago in a car accident. Tom, played by Michael Cleary, has been awake for 36 hours and is asked to see one more patient and to play counselor for this patient so she can choose to go home. The patient is Emily, played by Kayln
Chiglo, and she ends up helping Tom with his own inner battles with himself and his loss. The night was filled with laughter, tears and silence as these four Directing Three students shared their skills with their audience. If you would like to learn more about the University of Montevallo Theatre Department and it’s next performances feel free to visit the department’s website.
Things are about to get awk...ward. MANDY STEADMAN Staff Writer
A new production company is forming on the small campus of Montevallo. Korey Wilson, A junior, is the father to Awk Production Company. Awk is a student-run production company that will serve as an outlet for students to broaden their creative minds and work together on common projects. “I have had the idea of collaboration ever since I came here. Awk Production Company came to me, I would say, the second week in March. I was preparing to go to SETC, and I asked myself what I want to leave behind on this campus,” said Wilson. Wilson began by brainstorming with fellow students, Sam Phillips, Ahmad Jackson and Brandon Ca-
ruthers. “Then I started searching for a name... and Awk productions was born,” said Wilson. The name Awk comes from the word “awkward.” Wilson said he got the idea from the Huffington Post, who named the University of Montevallo one of the best colleges for socially awkward students in one of their articles. The first meeting was held on Wednesday, March 13th in Commer Hall. In this meeting, Wilson said he and interested students discussed whether Awk should become a recognized organization. “I have turned in the paper work and we have our Campus Life Advisor Council meeting on [April] 12th. We are going to incorporate and become a recognized organization,” said Wilson. Currently, Wil-
son is working on having interest meetings for specific productions Awk will produce. Wilson said this meeting is for interested dancers to put together new dance material for films, theatre and more. This particular meeting will be April 3, 2013 in Bibb Graves Hall at 5:00 p.m. Wilson has in mind, however, even bigger ideas for Awk and for Montevallo. “One of the things that I would like to do is a web series based on people’s experience here. We actually created a short film. It’s 10 minutes long and it is just a lampoon of campus life on Montevallo’s campus. So that will be one of my pet projects,” said Wilson. Events and exhibitions are also in the works for Awk. Wilson said he would like to have a faculty appre-
ciation gala or dinner hosted by Awk, hopefully by Spring of 2014. Another idea is to have play readings and, eventually, stagings and found space productions of these shows. “So we are going to start looking in the public domain for good plays we could stage ourselves with limited resources. So those are just a few things we have coming down the pike for this next year,” said Wilson. The structure of Awk Production Company will be made up of an Executive Board of Directors and the body of members who make up Awk as a whole. The members of Awk will have a chance to nominate their favorites to fill the positions in the Board of Directors. Wilson said the Executive Board of Directors will include
a President of Operations, V.P. of Operations, V.P. of Business Affairs, Secretary, V.P. of Planning and Events, V.P. of Public Relations and V.P. of Legacy. Awk Production Company is ready to collaborate and work with any organizations that have ideas to create and better the campus. Wilson said, “I am not going to turn down a chance for collaboration,ever. We will collaborate with whomever and whenever.” If you are interested in learning more about Awk and want to become a member or collaborator, feel free to come to the next Awk Production interest meeting on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 4:45 p.m. The location is still to be determined. The first short film created by Awk can be found on here.
a w k .
Page Three
Monday, April 1st, 2013
The Falcon
lifestyle
Ballin’ on a budget: 10 Tips to save your $$$ MEGAN ROBERTS Contributing Writer
We’ve all been in line behind that coupon queen in the grocery store, but what if you were the coupon queen? You can be with a little know-how! All it takes is some time and patience, and you’ll be on your way to saving like pro.
Clip
What’s the most important part of couponing? Gathering coupons of course. Many newspapers offer coupon inserts for their customers. Take advantage of this and any other opportunities to gather coupons. There are also several magazines that like to throw in a few coupons for their readers such as All You. This magazine pays for itself, and then some.
With today’s world, everything is going electronic. This is also true for coupons. You can find millions of coupons online simply by searching for them. Smart Source offers several coupons online. Although there is usually a limit when it comes to printing coupons, it’s still a great thing to take advantage of.
Organize
Now that you have collected all these coupons it’s time to organize them. This is a very important step to cou-
poning. A great way to do this is by purchasing a binder or photo album to put them in for quick and easy access. You can create categories such as food, cleaning products and pet supplies to make it easier to find what you’re looking for. If you have a lot of coupons you may want to break it down further by having a place for canned foods, frozen foods, and breakfast foods to simplify it even more. The better your organization, the more likely you will use your coupons, and be successful at couponing.
Sales
Keep an eye out for good sales. Pairing coupons with sales can help you save a lot of money. Many stores run specials on the same items that have coupons on them as well. This is a great way to take full advantage of a coupon and its savings.
Bundle
Lot’s of stores are catching on to the hype over coupons and want to be a part of it as well. Therefore, you will be able to find many store coupons in their sale circulars. Most stores allow you to use a manufacture coupon and a store coupon on the same item. This allows you maximum savings!
Know the Policy
Each store has its own set of rules for using coupons. It’s very important before you begin couponing to ask the store about their policy. This will make couponing easier, and will help avoid any problems later on. Most stores have a copy that is readily available for their customer’s convenience.
Double Deals
As if using a coupon isn’t good enough, some stores allow you to double your coupon. That’s right! You can double your savings by shopping at participating stores. This
information can also be found in the stores coupon policy. Some stores double only one day out of the week, where others double all week long, up to a certain amount.
Rewards
Lots of stores are realizing that by rewarding their customers they get more business. Therefore, many stores offer reward cards that allow additional savings. The best part about this is that you can still use your coupons for even more savings. Several websites such as www.iheartwags.com or www.iheartcvs.com help you pair up coupons with store rewards
for even better deals!
Sort
At least once a week you need to sort through your coupons and weed out the expired ones. This doesn’t take very long, but it will save you time in the long run. Keep your coupons neat and sorted in order to optimize your shopping experience. Also, you will need to take the time to add new coupons to your collection in order to continue successful couponing.
Swap
There is no way that you will use every coupon that you find. A great way to find coupons that you will
use and to get rid of the ones that you won’t use is by swapping. Maybe you have some friends that enjoy couponing so you get together for a coupon swap. Another great idea is a coupon train such as www. stockpilingmoms.com/ coupons/coupon-train/. This is a wonderful way to swap with people from other places. By following these simple steps you will be on your way to becoming an expert at couponing. The time you invest into couponing really pays off when you get to the register! Be the coupon queen and save money!
Outsmart the pump MEGAN ROBERTS Contributing Writer
With gas prices averaging around $3.65 in the United States, it is difficult for many to see an end in sight. The high gas prices are affecting everyone from student commuters to the everyday workforce. People are trying to cut back any way they possibly can. Many people are turning to alternate methods to save a little money at the pump. With these helpful tips anyone can outsmart gas prices. Carpooling is something that has been around for a very long time. It’s a wonderful way to not only help you out, but others as well. A great way to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity is to visit www.commutesmart. org. Here, commuters can find local people who are going the
same direction so that they can share a ride. Also, most communities have a bus or van to pick residents up and take them where they need to go for a small price. Check with your local transportation department to find out more information about public transportation in your community. I n t e r e s t i n g l y, the best time to get gas is in the morning and mid week because it is cheaper. Although they are constantly changing the price of gas, the best deal is during this time frame. Unfortunately, the weekend is the time when gas prices are at their peak due to the increase in travelers. Next, a simple way to save on gas is by limiting the amount of unnecessary trips taken each week. Try to get everything, such as groceries, in one visit to the store. Mak-
ing a list of everything than you should. Most away. No longer look you will need helps out people don’t have ex- at gas prices and shudas well. Try to keep tra money to throw der in fear. Try out at this in mind the next time you go shopping. Finally, when it comes to buying anything it is always important to shop around before you settle on the first thing you see. This is very true when it comes to gas as well. Try to find the best price that you can. You can visit www. fuelmeup.com to compare the gas prices in your area. There is no need to pay more when you can get it for less somewhere else. The great thing about this is you don’t have to ride around burning extra gas trying to find where the cheapest gas is! Complaining about high gas prices won’t change them, but there are plenty of things that you can do to prevent yourself from paying more
least one of these helpful tips and see if you can outsmart gas prices!
Page Four
Monday, April 1st, 2013
The Falcon
Rocking on the Woozy Plains REED STRENGTH Arts & Culture Editor| @ReedStrength
Performances at Jingle Records are normally intimate, packed affairs. While owners Mary and Cody clear space by removing a few record racks, both the band and the audience are walled into tight pockets. The space during Plains set was full of familiar faces. If you’ve been to any of Jingle or Eclipse’s shows, a certain group of people is often there. Travis Swinford, the “show booker” at Eclipse and bassist of Holy Youth, leads Plains as singer and guitarist. Bandmate and fellow Eclipse employee Stuart Norman plays rhythm as well. Virginia Phillips, normally thudding the bass for Mobilians 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea lent her hand to Plains. Head of local label Happenin’ Records and drummer extraordinaire for several Montevallo bands John Paul Foster rounded out this small town supergroup. Luckily, there was no clash of styles between the members. The band’s sound was typical of the type played around here: a
mix of bleary garage and punk with vocals buried by the clang of guitars and stomps of drums. Swinford was quirky as a frontman often taking his time between songs to announce strange nonsequitur thoughts. Despite the perceived looseness, Plains was actually a tight band. Swinford is a decent guitar player, often turning from the crowd to do what sounded like fleshed out solos. Phillips and Norman didn’t add much to the clamor, fulfilling their much needed roles as musical backbones as they do in their main bands. Foster is a hell of a drummer. As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, his enthusiasm in his playing carries over to what the audience hears. The man tumbles out of fills only to meet his snare to bang out the main rhythm with controlled confidence. His eyes were often locked onto Swinford, his leader in this ruckus. At their best, Plains sounded like Guided By Voices, their loose rock n’ roll playing like a perfect storm. At their worst, the band at-
So Long and Goodnight TEDDIE TAYLOR Staff Writer
Alternative-rock band My Chemical Romance seems to have lost its chemistry. Consisting of Gerard and Mikey Way, Frank Iero and Ray Toro, MCR announced they were breaking up on March 22. Formed one week after the 9/11 attacks, the band released four studio albums and received numerous Kerrang! and MTV awards. Throughout their career lead singer Gerard Way professed his struggles with depression and alcohol; the band always encouraged fans to seek help and resist self harm. Three years following their inception the band released songs such as “The Ghost of You,” “Helena (So Long and Goodnight)” and “I’m Not Okay (I Promise” on their second album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Those who frequently watched MTV and Fuse will remember the funeral video for
“Helena” being played multiple times a day. The Black Parade is possibly the finest production by My Chemical Romance. A certified platinum record in the United States, this third album, a rock opera focusing on a man dying of cancer, was a modern alternative homage to the epic classic rock albums of Pink Floyd and David Bowie. Though the band’s last album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys was less of a commercial success than its predecessor, it reached the top spot on the U.S. Alternative and Rock charts. Gerard Way announced that a comic book series, The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, will release its first issue on June 16, 2013. Even with the band’s breakup, Way seems intent on continuing with the project. The band kept their breakup relatively quiet, leaving
New this week Bleached Ride Your Heart Dead Oceans Records POP/ROCK Imagine Dragons It’s Time Interscope / Polydor POP/ROCK Alkaline Trio My Shame Is True POP/ROCK
tempted too many shifts into whimsical indie pop territory. Because of Swinford’s obscured and rough vocals, it could become grating. The band’s final flourish was the best moment of the entire show. The loudest song of the group’s short set, Swinford released himself from all constraints and just rocked out on his guitar, his body contorted and his head banging with intensity. Woozy, as the name implies, wasn’t quite as intense. The band hails from jubilant New Orleans, though you would never guess it from listening or looking at them. The burly frontman John St. Cyr possessed a tiny and thin voice reminiscent of
only this short statement on their website: “Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We've gotten to go places we never knew we would. We've been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We've shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.” The Way brothers and Iero have been active on Twitter and seem amicable with no negativity toward one another. A twelve year career and four albums behind them, the future is unclear for the members. With Gerard’s comic book extension of Killjoys the sole future MCR related project, it is apparent that the band’s reactions are now most unromantic.
his namechecked influence The Microphones. Guitarist Kara Stafford looked the part of typical record store clerk, a scowl seemingly permanent on her face. Lambchopped drummer Ian Pain looked the part of a young Jack White, his lamp shade of black hair parted to reveal a constantly serious face. The band attempted to reach the lofty indie/prog sound of ‘90’s royalty bands like Modest Mouse and Built to Spill at the peak of their powers. Stafford and St. Cyr finger picked rather than strummed. With no bassist, one would often play at a lower register than the other to attempt some form of grounding.
The real grounding was done by Pain. A drummer of tremendous skill who was criminally underused, the curtain haired player gave attention to his entire kit. Pain’s true skill was shown early in the set after a frenetic solo. Sadly, he was often relegated to playing small rhythmic patters that the rest of his band’s overblown and over-pretentious music called for. While long, multi movement indie rock can be interesting, it requires an extremely tight band to pull off. Often, Woozy’s attempts were sloppy and out of tune. St. Cyr and Stafford traded vocal duties, their soft voices attempting to reach an emotional lev-
A Hawk and a Hacksaw
You Have Already Gone to the Other World
POP/ROCK
Rilo Kiley Rkives POP/ROCK Tyler, the Creator WOLF RAP
el. Their voices were poor and scratchy, perhaps from being on the road for so long. Ambition is fine if it can be achieved. However, sometimes good, sloppy rock n’ roll is far better than planned and constructed musical ideas.
Album Review: The Black AngelsREED STRENGTH ”Indigo Meadow” Arts & Culture Editor| @ReedStrength
Austin psychrockers The Black Angels (named after the famed Velvet Underground song) have always favored the droning, bad trip side of psychedelic music. On “Indigo Meadow” (out April 2), the band furthers the straighter rock direction they were heading in with 2010’s excellent “Phosphene Dream”. Lead single “Don’t Play With
Guns” marries stories of revolver toting temptresses with chugging guitar riffs. However, tracks like the melodramatic “Holland” and boring “The Day” hint that the band has shaken off whatever substances they were on before. While hazy cuts like the riff bursting “Twisted Light” and “I Hear Colors (Chromasesthesia)” are worthy additions to the band’s catalogue, they are rare respites of
druggy creativity compared to the other eleven tracks. Unfortunately on this album, lead singer Alex Maas focuses more on trippy descriptions of love rather than the dark hallucinations and war torn lyrics that made his band’s past albums so interesting and seductive. As noted in “Always Maybe”, “Indigo Meadow” fails to “do anything for your mind”. 5/10
The Falcon
Our two cents
Monday, April 1st, 2013
DAVID BOWIE The Next Day
THE FALCON STAFF “Music Journalist”
YOUNG DREAMS Between Places
I’ve spent a lot of time in Scandinavia as a whole, the people and the music they create makes me feel like when I’m not there the whole region is a magical place where nothing bad happens and everyone rides majestic animals to their 1 hour workday. A frozen secluded wonderland where fairy tales still exist and smiles are currency. The worst part is I don’t think they even know how cool they are.
SAXON Sacrifice
Page Five
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE The 20/20 Experience
I feel like I just listened to a one man band of a “Backstreet Boys” song. It repeated the same phrase and it had the usual overdone boy-band rhythm and feel to it. What is weird though, is the end of the album sort of switches genres from boy-band to hip-hop. I do admit that the album is catchy and the last bit is now stuck in my head so I guess the song is fulfilling its purpose.
Fellow aging rockers The Who have the benefit of saying that half of their band is dead as an excuse for the poor quality of their recent work. Bowie is a solo act and has no such out. Poor guy. It’s been twelve years since his last album, and he just wanted to make another classic. Here’s to twelve more years of silence.
TYLER, THE CREATOR WOLF
JUSTIN BIEBER Believe-Acoustic You ever get the idea of starting a band or recording an album by yourself for only you and your friends, but you’re untalented of course and life distracts you? Yeah me either...
I fell asleep about halfway through and dreamt of dragons and shipbuilders. I woke up wearing acid wash jeans, a black Judas Priest wife-beater and had a cold Budweiser clutched in my hand. Before long I found myself weeping for the death of falsetto rock, El Caminos and mullets in pop culture. But most importantly, it’s still a better lovestory than Twilight.
HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS Welcome Oblivion
Justin Bieber’s new acoustic version of his album believe is, well, pretty unbearable. The fact that without auto tuning he sounds even more like a prepubescent child is almost amusing for a few moments. The lyrics are horribly cheesy and pure bubblegum pop. They remind me of something that a thirteen year old would write to his first crush in his note book. A few tracks into the album I considered playing in traffic, or just poking out my eardrums. Every single song is a love song, each as crappy as the last. I have no idea how the hell he has fans above the age of twelve.
TEAM SPIRIT Team Spirit EP Imagine Nine Inch Nails with a female vocalist. The group’s sound is signature Reznor, but with a more modern electronic feel than the industrial grit of Nine Inch Nails. With Maandig performing vocals on all tracks, “Ice Age” is an especially clear and fresh addition to Reznor’s repertoire.
HADOUKEN! Every Weekend
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS I’m With You
As with I’m With You the tracks all feature new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer who replaced John Frusciante in 2010. The new lineup is distinctly Peppers however, as with their latest album, they seem to echo their 2002 album By The Way in that they focus on clean vocals and melody rather than the funk rap they are so well known for. Perhaps what is missing is the distinct Hendrix-esque guitar of John Frusciante...
I don’t think Tunechi even knows what he’s doing anymore, and I’m pretty sure he’s just repeating himself now but none of us have caught on. I think what I’m more angry about is the fact that he’s a better skateboarder than I am now, it’s personal, I’m starting my rap career and coming for the “Greatest Rapper Alive”, I’ll trade heelflips for hooks, look I’m already on my way.
ICEAGE You’re Nothing When people say “endless summer” it makes me want to vomit, summer’s hot and sticky and generally feels like we’re going nowhere, but then the appeal of car rides with the windows down, a cooler full of beer and months of bad decisions creeps its way in. Yeah this EP is a lot like that, but with more fist fights, love stories and running on foot from danger.
CHVRCHES Recover EP I’m honestly not sure how I found this album. It starts with weird dubstep mixes, followed quickly by a strange British rap/pop singer talking about being sucked into a vortex. Weird...but kind of cool. I then started my workout as I continued listening. The sound of the single “Levitate” makes me feel as if I’m playing Pokemon for some reason, which makes a workout more... interesting. The teenage-ish anthem sounds like a prototypical radio hit. The next few songs ran together, and the vocals receded as the dubstep took over. This album gets a C for effort.
LIL’ WAYNE I am Not A Human Being II
Have you ever had the urge to slather ricotta cheese all over your body, roll around in bread crumbs and run down the street humming Uptown Girl by Billy Joel? Rest assured this album will not dissuade you from embarking on that adventure. But it will make you tap your foot for no damn reason.
Just off the top of my head, the words crap, uninspired, indulgent and painful come to mind. It speaks volumes that, even though the album is less than half an hour long, it feels like one of the longest releases of the year so far. Mumbly, incoherent vocals are spewed over power chords that sound like they’re being played through a Fisher Price amp. Add to that an asinine set of lyrics, even by punk rock’s standards, and you have what easily makes up one of the worst records of the year so far. Remarkably, this album is getting rave reviews. Let it be known that at least one writer disagrees.
ONE REPUBLIC Native
KVELERTAK Meir
I got to see this band at a Norwegian extreme sports festival I was night-guarding at. When I asked what the name meant a friend simply put his hands around his neck and said “Like this.” Unlike their counterparts Young Dreams, this band goes theVarg Vikernes route, but less church burning and more I’m gonna kick your ass in a dumb t-shirt.
Who listens to OneRepublic? I think my mom used to have one of their CDs, is this music for moms who thought they were hip in the 80s and are trying so desperately to connect with their kids in the twenty-teens? If you know the answer please hit me up on myspace. Mood: confused.
KAVINSKY OutRun
What happens when a nerdy kid who loves video games gets gifted an old macbook pro... Kavinsky. A man whose alter-ego is a letterman jacket rocking zombie who drives a Ferrari Testarossa. When Disney inevitably gets around to making TRON 3.0 or whatever I hope this is the man they call first, anythings better than listening to our fallen electronic Jesus’ Daft Punk try.
The Falcon
Page Seven
Monday, April 1st, 2013
Breaking back into the spotlight
JAKE SMITH Staff Writer
“Spring Breakers”, the latest film from cult favorite director Harmony Korine, defies description. It is simultaneously a hedonistic romp, social commentary, art house film and crime drama but ends up not truly being any of the four. This is, of course, not necessarily a bad thing as “Spring Breakers” carves for itself a new territory within the realm of film that fits snuggly somewhere between the work of David Lynch and Judd Apatow, if that’s possible. In the end it might have been disturbing and bizarre, but it has also been quite the compelling experience. The film centers around four collegeaged girls played by Rachel Korine, Ashley Benson, and former Disney teen stars Van-
essa Hudgens and Selena Gomez who are now taking their first proper leap into adult cinema. The movie documents their rather insane journey to go on the fabled spring break trip of legend and its subsequent devolution into something entirely different. That something I will not spoil for you, but it revolves around the introduction of the egomaniacal rapper Alien who is played by James Franco in what just might be the best performance of his career so far. Reportedly based on the real-life rapper Dangeruss but also drawing many comparisons to the well-known meme rapper RiFF RAFF, Franco is simply entrancing as he lures the four into his underworld with varying levels of success. Even greater than Franco’s performance, though, is the film’s attention to detail in the editing room. For example, scene changes are regularly triggered by the sound of a handgun being cocked, and as the situation gets more out of hand, those cuts
become more frequent highlighting the suicidal nature of these four party girls gone wrong. Additionally, the film liberally cuts back to shots of anonymous college-aged spring breakers living it up on the beaches of St. Petersburg in all of their hedonistic (or more appropriately nihilistic) glory which serves as a strong point of comparison between “the dream” and the reality of the girl’s experience in this brave new environment. The film does stumble on its own ambition occasionally as Gucci Mane’s drug lord character is poorly scripted in an attempt to make him seem more threatening. As it happens, this character tends to be jarring and takes the viewer out of the otherwise transfixing experience. The social commentary aspect of the film seems to be a strong focus at the beginning of the film as the viewer observes a youth culture rampant with an overabundance of freedom. However, this commentary is drowned out later
in the film by the more personal story it tells once Franco’s character is properly introduced. Both are valid tales to tell, but it seems like a waste to squander such a good satire for the sake of add-
ing personal intrigue. Nonetheless, the film remains an utterly transporting example of fine, left-field filmmaking. While it may not be the film many expect it to be or desire for it to be, “Spring
Breakers” is a mighty intriguing piece of work for any and all willing to stare into the depths of this bleak yarn. The Falcon gives “Spring Breakers” a 7 out of 10.
states that the Pharisees “value the law above all else,” and that Jesus came to “show a new way.” This is partly true, but dangerously misleading. Jesus came to fulfill the law, so that we can be counted righteous in Him. The Old Testament believers had faith that God would send someone to keep the old covenant on their behalf, and Jesus is that someone, and in Him, our relationship with God is through Jesus, not the law. However, the law still matters for us, not as a means of salvation, but as a way of honoring God and living our lives. The show gave the impression that Jesus doesn’t care about the law, when in fact He does. The problem
with the Pharisees is not their strict observance of the law, for that is what kept them in right relationship with God, but their extra-biblical additions to the law that burdened people and led them away from God. I have a problem with Satan being physically present in Jesus’ last hours. This happened in Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ, but I don’t understand why it’s being done. There is no biblical evidence (to my knowledge) of Satan being physically present at that time. Evil was most certainly there, and demonic forces were definitely at work, but I don’t buy the evil cloaked figure lurking about in the crowd. Also, why did Jesus straight up force
feed Judas at the Last Supper? Judas wanted to betray Jesus, and he dipped the bread in accordance with the Scriptures. I don’t know why they changed that, and it makes no sense. The rest of the series after the resurrection was good, and showed important stories from Acts and wrapped up with John on Patmos, writing Revelation. Obviously, acting out Paul’s letters to churches might have been difficult, so I think they handled it well. In the end, the show does an adequate job of representing God’s Word and a picture of the gospel. For those who have never heard the good news, I believe Mark Burnett,
the producer, does a fantastic job of nailing the basics, as much as possible in a TV show, and honors the Lord with what he does. My hope is that people see the show and want to read the book. It’s better, trust me. My advice for anyone that watched the series is this: Check the Bible and make sure the show lines up with what Scripture said. The Scripture is the original, infallible (according to our faith) text. I’ll give the series a seven out of ten. If you watched “The Bible” series, what were your thoughts on it? What questions did or did not get answered for you from the series? Let us know on Twitter @ TheUMFalcon or check us out on Facebook.
The Bible-A look at the TV phenomenon NEAL EMBRY
Staff Writer | @nealembry
The History Channel’s series “The Bible” did a lot of great things, though covering the entire Bible obviously presents its challenges. From my perspective, the show met expectations, and is a great way for Christians to use their talents for God. However, there were many inconsistencies, and it could have been much better. The show started with Noah in the ark, who recounts the creation story and the story of man’s fall to his family. It continues to go through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The first episode did a pretty good job of sticking to Scripture, with the exception of Moses’ appearance, which changed drastically from his Egyptian upbringing into his role as leader of the Israelites. His Hebrew heritage would have been noticeable on his face, but again, I didn’t find this to be that big of a deal. I wish they would have done the story of Joseph, as it shows God’s faithfulness to those who are humble and wait on Him. One of the major concerns I had early on was the way David
was anointed as king. In the TV series, Samuel finds David by the creek and simply pours the anointing oil on his head. In the true biblical account, David is selected after God tells Samuel to pass over his brothers. There’s a lesson not learned when we miss that: Man looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. Moving on, the episode with Samson was well done, but I still wonder why so much time was given to Samson, biblically. I understand the appeal from a cinematic standpoint. Samson was the strongest man in history, and he ravaged the Philistine ranks for years. Pretty sweet action film, but in paying so much attention to Samson, they lost their ability to focus on other things. When we get to the story of Jesus, we start to see some inconsistencies. First, the wise men weren’t at Jesus’ birth, contrary to popular belief. It would have taken them two years to get to Him, and the Bible tells us that they visited when Jesus was a boy, not a newborn. One of my biggest concerns was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The narrator
The Falcon
Page Eight
Monday, April 1st, 2013
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