September 21, 2007 - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

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14 September 21, 2007 Arts & Entertainment www.smumn.edu/cardinal Kanye does it differently with ‘Graduation’ BY ALEX CONOVER Cardinal Staff Are you sick of repetitive, gimmickfilled pop rap? Is Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat” dance not doing it for you? Before you give up on hip-hop, give Kanye West’s “Graduation” a spin. It might just renew your faith in the genre. There are many other hip-hop artists making improvements to the scene, but no one is doing it quite like Kanye. His first two albums were almost revolutionary (“College Dropout” brought the sped-up soul sample, “Late Registration” brought the multi-layered orchestral beat). “Graduation” is no different. Most of the tracks on the album follow a similar formula: laid-back synthesizers laced with hard-hitting hiphop beats. Although many songs sound similar in style, each one is distinctive. “Flashing Lights” has a light, catchy riff, while “Barry Bonds” (Don’t get the name? Listen to the hook) sounds like the low octave of a church organ. Although his producing style continues to progress, Kanye didn’t forget the sampling that made him famous. “Graduation” is filled with cleverly-cut snippets of artists like Elton John, Steely Dan, and Michael Jackson, but the real pride of the album is “Stronger.” In his first single, Kanye shows his producing versatility by drawing elements from the techno song “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk. Bringing in Timbaland to program the drums, the two producing superstars combined styles to bring us a smash hit and the most impressive effort of the album. With such impressive beats, it’s easy to overlook Kanye’s lyrics. Just like his producing, however, Kanye’s rapping is clearly different from his last album. Especially in tracks such as “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” he uses different emphasis styles to get his point across. One thing that is very different from his past albums is the general lack of skits or guest artists; there are only two verses on “Graduation” that are not done by Kanye, one of them being a very photo by Lindsay Dickson unimpressive cameo from Lil’ Wayne. Whether you are a diehard hip-hop fan or a casual listener, you will find something to like in Kanye’s latest release. By their third album, many artists succumb to laziness or lack of creativity; “Graduation” defies both, proving to fans that Mr. West still has the ability to make hits and keep us listening. The Good: -Kanye’s lyrical abilities continue to improve. -Heavy in synthesizers, the beats give a mellow, laid-back feel. There are also plenty of samples in his classic style. -Unlike other albums, “Graduation” has no skits and is a solid 51 minutes of music. The Not-So-Good: -Besides Stronger, nothing jumps out at first. The album takes a few listens to adjust to. -One of the best parts of past albums were exceptional guest verses from artists like Jay-Z, Twista, and Lupe Fiasco. “Graduation” contains only two, including a weak effort from Lil’ Wayne. Best Tracks: Stronger, Can’t Tell Me Nothing, Good Life, Homecoming Final Rating: 8 out of 10 Student praises Jon McLaughlin album BY RACHEL ELBERT Cardinal Staff photo from the internet McLaughlin is on the rise and will be on stage in Nov. On the brink of stardom, Jon McLaughlin released his album “Indiana” in early 2007. The album title pays a special tribute to his hometown of Anderson, Indiana. Growing up as a pianist, songwriter, and singer, McLaughlin was influenced by Ben Folds, Billy Joel, and Elton John. The influence of these people and his passion are evident in his music. The album equally mixes upbeat tunes with mellow/relaxing tunes, providing a great listening variety on the album. The album starts off with the song “Industry,” which has a jazzy tune hidden under the pop feel. McLaughlin’s music has recently been appearing in movies, such as Disney’s “Enchanted” and “Bridge to Terabithia.” Last month, he made an appearance on the Today Show, performing his current number-one hit, “Beautiful Disaster.” Currently on a nationwide tour, he will be appearing in the Midwest on Sept. 29 and 30 in Illinois and Iowa, respectively. He will also be performing in the Twin Cities on Nov. 2 at the State Theatre. For more information on tour dates: www.myspace.com/jon mclaughlin.
www.smumn.edu/cardinal Arts & Entertainment September 21, 2007 15 ‘Nature’ and ‘Interstices’ show artists’ skill BY LAUREN ROTHERING Cardinal Staff Rarely does one find a ceremonial robe standing in front of a speeding train. But until Oct. 5 at Saint Mary’s University’s Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, you can see these and a variety of other unique art pieces on display during the showing of “Images of Nature” and “Interstices,” featuring artists Carol Faber and SMU’s Director of Web Communications, Monta May. Faber, assistant professor of art and design at Iowa State University, considers her artwork a representation of “how [she] perceives the world,” her emotional response to personal and global events. One particular personal tragedy served as strong inspiration for a majority of this collection: the accidental death of her beloved horse Ruby. With pieces such as “Ruby” and “Above the Ice” featuring digital mixed media images of animal bones, grass, photo by Kristina Perkins Faber’s “Ruby” shows Ruby’s death and the beauty her life gave back to nature. and horse hair, Faber is able to connect her audience with the reality of who Ruby once was. As much as Faber’s pieces focus on the connection between personal emotion and reality, May’s collection serves to blur the distinctions between craftsmanship and art, ancient methods, and current techniques. An accomplished painter, sculptor, and photographer, May uses a variety of textured supplies: fabrics, metals, beeswax, ink, clay, glass, and paper. She re-creates distinctly historical pieces with an obvious modern flair. May admits that she is “intrigued by process,” and this fascination is displayed though the incredibly intricate processes of knotting and stitching evident in much of her artwork as well as the amazingly fluid, connected quality that it seems to retain. In addition to textiles, May is also skilled in encaustic painting, a type of artwork. Dating back almost 2000 years, encaustic painting involves melting beeswax and resin until it becomes molten, and then applying them to various surfaces, fusing them to create an enamel effect. May’s “Apocalypse” and “From the Beginning,” along with multiple others, were created using this method. The exhibit is free and open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call the gallery at ext. 1652. photo by Kristina Perkins May’s encaustic piece, “From the Beginning,” is being auctioned. Proceeds will benefit school of the arts. Fall Fashion: Tips to stay up on the current trends BY BECKY NEWBY Arts and Entertainment Editor In the past, wearing summer clothes after Labor Day was a sin, but according to InStyle magazine, making a few changes to your summer wardrobe is the latest trend in fall fashion. InStyle’s national correspondent Katrina Szish suggests taking warmer-weather clothes and layering them with different textures appropriate for the cool weather. Dawn Yanek of Life & Style Weekly said, “You don’t need to spend a ton of money to look amazing and trendy for the fall. With a few smart purchases, you can easily update your current wardrobe for fall 2007.” Tip 1: Summer Update Girls, don’t ditch those summer dresses. Just replace your sandals with pumps and add a cashmere argyle hoodie or a chunky knit cardigan. InStyle also said to keep those summer shorts handy. Just trade the tank-top for a button down blouse and a skinny belt. Boys will need to replace shorts with pinstriped trousers or jeans and throw a sweater over that t-shirt. Tip 2: The Preppy Look According to Yanek, the “preppy” look is back. Boys, toss out those chunky backpacks and replace them with a sleek messenger bag. Sweater vests are also in style for men this fall. Wear them over a plain t-shirt to look both classy and casual. Two-toned cables, loose knits, and simple combed scarves will also add character and class to your wardrobe. Girls, according to InStyle magazine, oxford heels along with a schoolboy jacket are a must. Tip 3: Return to ‘80s Style A lot of the ‘80s-inspired looks for men and women are being showcased as well. Purple has become the new black, especially on men. If you’re feeling daring, men, a light lavender palette will not only make a statement, but look great as well. And according to GQ magazine, you should kiss those bootleg jeans goodbye and say hello to straight legs and tapered jeans. Girls, try adding patent leather to your accessories in bold, bright colors. Remember, patent leather is easy to over-do; one or two items is enough. Tip 4: Accessories Girls, hang on to your blacks this fall. Szish suggests pairing black clothing with metallic accessories, such as a silver clutch and high heel. If you’re not into wearing heels, ankle boots are still going strong this year, said InStyle. Boys, colorful sneakers will add style to any pair of jeans. photo by Becky Newby Joseph Manley (’08) models straight-leg jeans, a purple top, and grey sneakers.
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September 21, 2007 - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

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