Mirin?

Samuel Khokhlan

Album Review

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB

           

            Two door Cinema Club are a Northern Irish indie rock band from Bangor and Donaghadee, and County Down. The band was formed in 2007 by Alex Trimble, Sam Halliday, and Kevin Baird. The band first started to gain attention in 2008 with the release of their  EP entitled Four Words to Stand, in which many websites gave them attention. Their "Big Break" was in 2010 with the release of their album Tourist History.

            "Tourist History" was a big success for the group. It was widely accepted and had very few negative ratings. Their new age sounds, which included use of three guitars with two leads, were a nice change to the alternative rock scene. The Album gained popularity quickly and was used in several movies including "Chalet Girl" and "Soul Surfer". Hollister, Abercrombie and several other large name brand stores also feature their music in their play lists.

            Tourist History is a great album hands down. Several songs caught my attention when listening to the album. "Something good can work" is probably one of my favorite songs on the album. It’s a nice laid back tune which simply allows you to enjoy a nice mix of lyrics and melody. Although their sound is different and new, it seems at time to be overused.

            The albums song flow is not anything special in my opinion. One thing the group should have utilized, in my opinion, is this aspect of the album. No story is being told in particular. It seems as if they just made a bunch of happy sounding songs.. threw them together and called it a day. Although this isn't a horrible thing, especially because of their unique sound. Many people like to listen to music simply because of the happy feeling, or happy aura it has around it. But for many listeners who seek a deeper message through music, this was lacking.

            Overall.. I would give the album a 7.8/10. I enjoyed the music, thought it was well written. Their sound is great and the vocals are nice. Much of the music sounds very similar to itself, and there was a lack of depth in the music. If you're ever feeling down and would like a quick lift.. Definitely check out Two Door Cinema Club.. You won't regret it.

           

Album reviews

Rolling Stone: star rating

Community: star r

"I wake up/Check my phone/Jump in my whip/And off I go," Jake Bugg sings on "Kingpin." It's a song about the lush life of a drug dealer with a steelback giddyap that connects Eddie Cochran to the Smiths' "What Difference Does It Make?" And that knack for yoking today's restless energy to yesterday's jangle is what makes the 19-year-old U.K. chart-topper likable. Bugg's debut was at its best giving '62 Dylan and Buddy Holly a cocky Oasis charge, and the Bugg Man backed it up by calling fellow roots lovers Mumford & Sons "posh farmers with banjos." Dude has balls as big as Rickenbackers.

On Bugg's second album, Rick Rubin oversees an expanding sonic palette and a tougher sound; the punk-fired "What Doesn't Kill You" and grungy country rock of "All Your Reasons" push up against MacDougal Street serenades like "Pine Trees," an alienated epistle that could've been cut in a winter cabin. At times his folkier moments can be a touch too comfy. He's best when he pushes at the confines of his throwback sound: "Kitchen Table" stretches out with soul-jazz keyboard tickle and real-life post-breakup lyrics that don't try to play the London tough guy or woodsy troubadour: "I've not been seeing you for some time now and still you choose to hold my hate/But after how I handled it you're hardly to blame." It's just a 19-year-old kid, being honest.

By Mike Powell

November 18, 2013 THE WANTED - WORD OF MOUTH

The Wanted are a boy band with a man's disposition: They drink, they get into arguments, and they tend to see women as passive creatures waiting around in heels to be redeemed or get their hearts broken. They cloak their casual misogyny in trying to look sensitive, alternating rakish club pop like "Walks Like Rihanna" with post-Coldplay ballads in which everyone gets a chance to brood. In either case, the sound is big and lead-footed, using gang choruses to remind you to have fun and string sections when things stiffen and get sad. The truth? The promise that they're gonna pour their love all over you is twice as charming – and half as creepy – as the one that they're gonna keep you safe.

2/5 stars

Various Artists

New Orleans Funk 3: The Original Sound of Funk Soul Jazz

7

New Orleans music has gotten its due in recent years, thanks to everything from archival MP3 blogs (Home of the Groove is excellent) to Treme. Here, expert excavators at U.K. label Soul Jazz focus on NOLA's visionary nutters. Soul shouter Eldridge Holmes explains the "good way to make whoopee," a sitar creases Lee Dorsey's "What You Want," and although she's "in a world of trouble" with her man, Betty Harris sounds as merry as a funeral parade.

Polica

Shulamith 3/5 stars

 Joe Gross

November 18, 2013

On some level, Poliça – led by singer Channy Leaneagh and producer Ryan Olson – couldn't sound more like they were from Minneapolis. On their second album, the followup to 2012's buzzy Give You the Ghost, these kids blend distant, white-on-white melodic minimalism with early-Prince electro burp-'n-grind. Leaneagh gets into bad love on the surprisingly rock "Very Cruel" and complicated love on the thunderous "Matty," while, on "Tiff," Bon Iver main man/fellow Midwesterner/Kanye collaborator Justin Vernon shows up to backstop lines like "Have the bullet/ He has the gun." Apparently, America's Portishead can be found skinny-dipping in Lake Minnetonka.

Daughtry

Baptized

19/RCA

 Chuck Eddy

November 19, 2013

Seven years after he placed on American Idol, Chris Daughtry and his band are opening up their would-be grunge to more nuance: folk instruments and synths, smoother high notes tempering Daughtry's bellow, "boom-b'boom" vocal-bass hook lightening the gender war in "Battleships." The sound on Baptized somehow links U2 to Rascal Flatts, adding Springsteen stances in "Wild Heart." More unexpectedly, there's also a banjo shuffle where Daughtry chooses Van Halen over Van Hagar, catalogs some of his other heroes and wonders who wrote Hole's songs. "Long Live Rock & Roll," it's called – a defense, perhaps, against anybody claiming guys like him helped kill it.

The Flaming Lips

Peace Sword

Warner Bros.

By Joe Gross

November 18, 2013

This six-song EP sounds like a warm cocoon shedding itself. The title track – a very Lips-ish slice of made-of-stars melody and Wayne Coyne's voice multitracked to infinity – was written for the film version of the classic science-fiction novel Ender's Game. But since no prog act worth its stash turns down a chance to be inspired by sci-fi, the Lips secreted five more clouds – tunes "inspired by" the movie, including the vaguely martial "If They Move, Shoot 'Em" and the wonderfully titled 10-minute "Assassin Beetle – the Dream Is Ending." Also, the lyrics may have plot spoilers: In the immortal words of Public Enemy, consider yourself...warned!

News stories

News stories

                Rooster stabs man to death at a cock fight. He got stabbed by a sharp blade attached to the rooster. Jose Luis Ochoa was only 35 years old when he died. He was declared dead 2 hours after the incident. Reports KTLA "an autopsy concluded Ochoa died of an accidental 'sharp force injury' to his right calf." According to the Bakersfield Californian, Jose Luis Ochoa was fined $370 for cock fighting the year before his death.

            Man impersonates a sheriff to get a discount on doughnuts. Charles T. "Chuck" Barry was seen on surveillance video displaying his fake badge and firearm, Pasco Sheriff's Office said. When Barry was not allowed to get this discount he said “See I am a cop!” and then he held up his firearms. According to a jail official, he was released on a $5,150 bond.

            Colombian man Sergio Estevez sets world record for most coffee beans eaten in one hour. On November 6^th the Guinness World council recorded Sergio’s amazing record. He ate 14.3 pounds of Colombian coffee beans. Sergio has been features on Colombian talk show “La gente hablar en voz alta.” He’s being honored locally and was awarded a prize of 10,000 Pesos. Equivalent to about $800. He will be featured in the 2014 issue of the Guinness World record book.

            A burglar was scared off by a skilled ax-thrower she grabbed the axe she keeps next to her bed when she felt a man trying to take he watch off in her sleep. She chased the man out of her house and off her property. "I would’ve gotten him right in the spine or the back of his head," she said. "I hit what I aim for." 22 year old Nicholas Illoa, was arrested for burglary.

Pathos ethos and logos

My Article is about the benefits of exercise for everyday people.

Pathos: "Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories" Weight loss is an emotional thing for people because it ties in so closely with self esteem and confidence.
 Ethos: "Our team has gone into intense research to identify the most beneficial reasons that you should start to exercise." Theyre a team of highly specialised doctors and researchers. 
Logos: "Losing weight in the best thing you can do. Not only is it good for your health, it will make you a more functional human being!" They show you the logic in weight loss

Ken ross reponse

Banning social and digital interaction through the internet in a child's bedroom is pretty ridiculous. If your child reaches the point of having to be limited then the real problem does not lie with the child, but the parent. Children should be taught that there is a balance between using phones and other digital devices and when you shouldn't use them. When parents fail to teach their children this, then addiction occurs. I believe children should not be put onto a strict regiment when it comes to internet and digital interaction. Instead they should be taught that it is a privilege to do those things. When we make children have a time limit on the things they enjoy to do, they will take every opportunity to do those things behind our backs. In the long term, this creates sneaky children.

Frys

According to the fry graph for estimating readers grades my 100 word passage targeted people around the age of 13. For every 100 words there were 6 sentences and 143 total syllables. The ratio of advertisements to content pages was 30 to 100.. so for about every 3 content pages there was 1 advertisement page. This shows that although there is alot of advertisements.. the magazine is very content focused. Both of my classmates who i compared to has a 1 to 1 ratio. So they had much less content than i did. Another student has a 1 to 5 ratio. So he had an extreme amount of content.

Is there too much emphasis on healthy living in schools in the United States.

Car listening preferances

              

         Music is a large part of our driving experience every day. How we choose to access it is different from person to person. Whether it be through your ipod,cd or just through the radio, majority of people listen to something when they drive. I went out and found out for myself what people thought on the subject.

                When asking the students of Norton high school on their preference I found that there was an overwhelming majority in favor of one choice. Most kids preferred to listen to their own music. In reality this should’ve been expected. When asked why they preferred their own music it seems that most kids agreed on one thing. “Radio music sucks” as Iain Brouwer, a Norton high junior states. The majority of people who listen to their own personal music listened to it because of their hatred for the radio. 9 out of 15 students disliked the music on the radio. This data clearly shows how the music that is currently on our radio stations turns the students of Norton high away from listening to it.

                6 of the remaining students were pro radio use in the morning. Surprisingly it was not for the reason I expected at all. “I like to listen to radio shows in the morning, and my own music later in the day,” Nicole LaCouture states. 3 out of 6 students pro radio agreed with this statement. So in total, only 3 out of 15 people interviewed on their car listening choice listened to radio for the music. That’s a whopping 1/5 of people. The lack of interest in radio in very apparent through this information. It is very clear that the radio is far less popular than it once was. More and more people don’t listen to it as the generation at whole moves toward ipods and personal device use. It seems that “pop” or popular music being played on the radio isn’t so popular anymore as less people continue to listen to the radio stations of today. 

Iain Brouwer is Son of Zeus

Iain Brouwer 

   

    Iain is an extremely interesting young lad. If you have never seen his name written out before, you're probably not going to be able to spell it properly. Iain enjoys to do many things in his everyday life. Some of these activities are  listening to music, playing video games, and playing his drums. Music is a big part of Iains life.He enjoys a large variety of music, country does not make that list. "Most country singers sound like kermit the frog" according to Iain. When hes not jamming out to his awesome drums, hes listening to his favorite bands Phish and 311. Everything that is, except Odd future. Iain has many special talents. One of which is a strange thing he does with his eyes. He Can very quickly shake his eyes from side to side. This creates a stunning effect on his victim, in which he can strike a quick blow to their face at any given time.  If Iain was a country it is very clear that he would be Canada. Not because he is a boring guy, but actually because he is so polite. Although Iain is such a nice boy, he also has some pet peeves. One of which is when people smack while they chew. This really aggravates Iain. If it was up to Iain "everyone should sound like Al Green".  When given the option to wear any outfit for the rest of his life, Iain chose an orange tuxedo with orange ruffles. This is swag. Iain would live in the Netherlands if he has to live anywhere. He is really fascinated by their culture and way of life. Overall Iain is a nice guy. Not only is he easy to get along with, he also can hold a conversation quite well. If you ever wanna meet a cool dude, or are just look for a new person to talk to. Iain is your man. Plus, hes a strait dime. 

Yo dood wuts gud

                Samuel Khokhlan

Journalism

              

                 Why is it that majority of people do not exercise? In the last 9 months of my life this question has come up more and more often in my mind. Exercise, not only is it good for you, it's necessary. We are told this all the time. Since majority of us know this, why is it that we continue to neglect this information? Within the last 9 months I have changed my personal physique dramatically. In this time I have come up with one conclusion as to why people do not hit the gym, or exercise. We as people limit ourselves to what we are told we are. As we grow, we get these preconceived ideas of who we are. When the opportunity comes to change, or to better ourselves as people we often don’t allow ourselves to take it. Instead we continue to live in our comfort zones. When I first started my journey I was 210 pds. I can proudly say that I am 178 today. Although my journey isn't complete, and I do still have a lot to learn, I can say that breaking out of my comfort zone has changed my for the better.  I had low self esteem, and didn't value myself as a human being. But through hard work and dedication I have transformed into a person of character, confidence, and ability. Going to the gym doesn't only change you physically. It does mentally and spiritually as well.  I learned how to work hard. I learned how to do thing people told me I would never be able to do. Today, I am doing those things and more. A big fear of mine initially was using the squat rack, or dead lift stations . As a person I wasn't confident enough to be able to go and do those things. But as I continued to go to the gym I realized how vital it was for me to be able to do those things. Similarly in life, whenever there is a situation I am reluctant to go into, I look back at my days in the gym and apply the lessons I learned there to that exact situation. So not only did I change my appearance in the gym, I changed my outlook at life. I no longer look at things I haven't done before with fear. Instead I persevere through them, and conquer them. You see, going the gym Is something anyone can do. But it takes true willpower and mental strength to go consistently. Even when you reach your goals and feel satisfied, you continue to go because you realize that there is always something to work on. Lifting and exercise have truly changed my life. I am no longer the person I was before. I can say that this is completely attributed to the gym. The lessons I learned there, built my character. These lessons grow the mentally, physically, and emotionally. The gym has benefited me in so many ways. It leaves me wondering, "why don’t more people lift?". It’s the question that keeps me baffled daily.

Rolling Stones is Mud

Samuel Khokhlan

Journalism

Rolling Stones controversy: Journalistic Perspectives

         

            Rolling Stones recent release of its extremely controversial article titled "The Bomber" has stirred much controversy with their July release featuring none other than the infamous Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.  Dzhokhar, or Jahar's recent celebrity status involving the Rolling Stones article has left a bad taste in the mouths of many of its readers. Writer Janet Reitman clearly defends Jahar, the boy terrorist, throughout her article. This is wrong and distasteful, as displayed by the rising outrage in readers.

            Reitman displays Jahar as an average kid with exceptional characteristics. "Jahar to his friends -as a beautiful, tousle-haired boy with a gentle demeanor, soulful brown eyes and kind of shy." (Reitman 1). Reitmans description could have been used in a job interview promoting Jahar. The writer takes attention off the fact that Jahar made a willing decision to bomb innocent by standers in the name of his cause by focusing the reader's attention on how much of an "average" guy he was. I mean heck! He even smoked pot! What a great guy. Rolling Stones lowered the bar by including this article in their July release. Any writer that finds it necessary to include the fact that a terrorist smoked marijuana every other sentence should consider a career in something other than writing. How can this point even be argued. Normal people don't commit such atrocious acts of violence against their fellow man.

            Rolling Stones has reached a new low through their insensitive, reckless release of the July article. "You know what's even more heartbreaking? How Rolling Stones can even think about turning an alleged murderer into a rock star by plastering his "soulful brown eyes"." (Rasmussen 1). Rolling Stones not only takes a position backing up Jahar. They go even further by making excuses for him. If Jahar didn't have such handsome features. Or such a charismatic personality. Or maybe if he hadn't been such a relatable guy, would they still take this ridiculous position in defending him? I think no. "Sgt Sean Murphy.. was described as furious about the Rolling Stones cover."(Carr 1). You probably made a mistake when you offend the Police officers responsible for taking down Tsarnaev.

            The article released by Rolling Stones was nothing but some sad attempt at defending one of the most brutal attacks on Bostonian citizens ever. It not only shamed them, but allowed for Jahar to be seen in a light that he should not be remembered in. Jahar and his brother committed horrendous acts on innocent people. 3 were killed, one of which was an eight year old child. By attempting to make excuses for Jahar, Rolling stones tarnished their credibility as a Magazine company, and disrespected those involved in the tragic incident that took place on that day. It should be common sense in our modern day that this is not an acceptable thing to do. In the name of writing people are releasing a bunch of garbage to influence the people of America. It is simply ridiculous.