december 2006
the stentorian | ncssm
By Kathleen
Hebert
The Killers have
struck again with
their distinctive Las
Vegas style in the
new album “Sam’s
Town,” released on
Oct. 3.
Causing less of a
stir than the group’s
debut “Hot Fuss,” this album is worth listening to
if you have an itch for the good old days of British
pop rock. “Sam’s Town” fuses the style of legendary
Brits, such as Queen and Bowie, with that of Bruce
Springsteen, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to
produce such songs as “When You Were Young” and,
of course, “Sam’s Town.”
Listeners will hear definite changes in the overall
sound of the band, which is leaving behind the pop
boy band style of “Hot Fuss” and sliding into the
smoother sounds of alternative rock.
Their Las Vegas background gives a unique twist
to the old cliche of popular rock music, a development
startlingly refreshing after the past few years of
endless boy bands whining about lost love.
The group has gained a slightly more adult sound,
moving away from the subject of teen angst, but
keyboard and guitar still support lead singer Brandon
Flowers as he wails and croons. However, when
Flowers sings far beyond his vocal range, in songs
such as “Bling (Confessions of a KingV’ it leaves
listeners cringing.
Overall, the album is divided into two types of
songs- those that hit right on the spot, sending shivers
of delight down the spine or those that create the
impulse to scream, “What were they thinking?”
Faulty songs and all, this new album is still worthy
of a listen or two. So check out “Sam’s Town” not
only for the same old Killers style, but also for a new
wave of musical delights.
iSoyereignl
By Laura Chao
“Public Warning,”
is not only Lady
Sovereign’s debut
album, but is also her
message to society.
fM Lovingly recognized
as “SOV” to her
fans worldwide, this
petite, outspoken
U.K. rapper’s big
mouth threatens and creates controversy like Eminem, yet
spins rhymes in the style of Missy Elliot. Lady Sovereign
has been hitting it big with American listeners.
Her colorful combination of enrapturing beats, pop
appeal and meaningful lyrics has made this debut album
quite the stunner. Influences from various genres of
music, such as new wave, make this album a delightful
treat for any music lover.
“Love me or Hate Me” >vas all over the Verizon
Wireless commercials and helped to propel Lady
Sovereign to American fame. Without the pomp found
in most rappers, this 5-foot-1-inch artist endearingly
declares, “I’m the biggest midget in the fame.”
In addition to this song, there are many other instant
hits, such as “9 to 5” in which “SOV” complains about
her workday: “I’m no early birdy. I’m lazy that’s all
that I can say.” A good bass track and wicked rhymes
characterize her style, and the hit track “Gatheration”
has all that and more. “Hoodie” has beats that anyone
can dance to.
This album is full of witty and self-belittling humor.
Listeners laugh out loud upon hearing the snotty yet
comical challenges asserted within her lyrics. Lady
Sovereign throws in twists and turns to catch her listeners
by surprise.
The energy in this album is perfect for a debut: feisty,
sparking, with a furious and mad in-your-face type of
flow along with some glamour.
With techno-oriented, electro-hip-hop beats. Lady
Sovereign’s future is anything but small.
h&t
sh&ts
By Laura Chao
The North Face fleece and winter coat trend is
sweeping across the nation and it is evident along the
entire East Coast.
These jackets appear to be the preference of most
high school students, including NCSSM students
all around campus, during the colder
times of the year. So popular, in fact, that
the term “Northface” has become a very
well-known noun used to describe these
fleeces.
“I like Northfaces because they are warm and
comfortable,” junior Caitlin Crowgey said. “They’re
not that expensive for what you’re getting.”
With a price ranging anywhere from the lower
$60 kid’s Denali fleece to the upper $400 ski and
snow jacket, it is not peculiar to see fellow students
sporting their North Face pride around the school
By Cody Hughes
Forabandcoming
out of Los Angeles,
the Cold War Kids
seem to carry a
more Southern blues
feel on their new
album “Robbers and
Cowards.”
Channeling the
same New Wave
sound that the Killers have ridden in on, this foursome:
singer Nate Willett, guitarist Jonathan Russell, bassist
Matt Maust and drummer Matt Aveiro, is receiving
a lot of hype from the online music community.
However, unlike the Killers, Cold War Kids have
a more stripped down sound, a mix between the
Walkmen’s slurred guitars and Jack White’s homespun
blues with an old-time piano to lay down a beat.
The name Cold War Kids was created by Maust
when he visited Budapest and saw kids climbing on
communist statues. Since the band, members were
children themselves during the Cold War era, the name
fit well. The band was recently signed by Downtown
Records, which also represents Art Brut and Gnarls
Barkley, for their catchy tunes after gaining popularity
from the blog buzz.
The album, “Robbers and Cowards,” offers songs
of condemnation with twisted lyrics. In the first
single, “Hospital Beds,” lead singer Nathan Willett
tells about two old men at the hospital, who make
the best of the situation by becoming friends while
waiting to die. “Saint John,” which sounds like a
loose White Stripes song, talks about a man on death
row who tries to push back his sentence as far as
possible.
These dark lyrics, combined with an interesting
choice of acoustic instrumentation, combine to make
a compelling third album. The sound of Cold War
Kids may be scuffed and a little rough aroimd the
edges, but none of the soul is lost in the process.
days get shorter and colder, individuals feel the need
to invest.
“I am not surprised that so many people prefer
Northfaces, because they are comfortable and there
is a variety of styles and colors,” Crowgey said.
With so many style options. North Face is
definitely the top pick for winter apparel, ousting
■ Columbia and other popular brands off the
sales pedestal and to the sidelines. However,
the urge to own a North Face jacket could be
due to individual choice or just the necessity
to follow the general, mainstream opinion.
“I wear them as a personal preference, but I am
not surprised that Northfaces are popular. People
always want to have what other people have so they
can follow the trend,” senior Scott Ouzts said.
This winter season, whether it is the need to be
in-style and trendy or just the want to stay warm and
snug, many people will be heading to the nearest
grounds. As the winter months approach and the retailer that has North Face jackets in stock.
Caleb Lee buries his hands in the pockets of his navy
fleece North Face jacket while outside in the cold.