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Friday, April 3, 2026
The Observer

Scene


The Observer

The Social Network:' The film that defines a generation

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Highly lauded as the film that defines the past decade, "The Social Network" meets, if not rises above, expectations. David Fincher's film tells the story of Facebook's founding, adapted from Ben Mezrich's 2009 nonfiction novel "The Accidental Billionaires."


The Observer

Movie Rewind: Beauty and the Beast

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"Beauty and the Beast" is making a comeback (not that it ever really left) next week. The Disney classic, released in 1991, is one of the most beloved and successful animated (and non-animated) films of all time. Now the movie, about true love, personal identity and talking furniture, is making a return to pop-culture with the upcoming re-release of the film on Blu-Ray and DVD. There will also be a theatrical release of sing-along version for one day only, and that day is tomorrow.


The Observer

Socially Conscious: Does Life Really Imitate Art

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What do you want to do before you die? How would your life be different if you were a teenage mom? Would I like that person if I really knew them? What would it be like to spend a week in the life of a rapper, boxer or homeless girl?


The Observer

Young collaborates with Lanois on solo album

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 The title of Neil Young's latest album, "Le Noise," is an appropriate allusion to the record's producer, Daniel Lanois. Though Young's 33rd studio album is technically a solo effort, Lanois — a renowned producer who has worked with U2, Bob Dylan and Brian Eno — expertly disassembled and manipulated every track to create a remarkable new sound environment for Young. With no band backing Young's electric guitar, Lanois intervened to create a textured album never heard before from the veteran singer-songwriter.

The Observer

The Bible: Hilariously Abridged

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While Foundations of Theology may have put many a Notre Dame student to sleep, "The Bible: The Complete Word of God Abridged" promises to redeem theology of its dry and oftentimes sleep-inducing tendencies.



The Observer

Papa Roach on the Road

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For those able to make it to the Papa Roach/Trapt concert at Club Fever this Wednesday who liked what they heard, and for those of you who could not make it but are fans of Papa Roach or Trapt, both have new albums recently released or soon to be released.


The Observer

Fade to Black

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After eighteen years of teaching and editing in the film loft of O'Shaughnessy Hall, Film, Television and Theatre (FTT) professor and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Jill Godmilow will retire in May 2011. This weekend, "Days and Nights of a Filmmaker" will pay tribute to her profound impact on the Notre Dame community and the filmmaking medium.





The Observer

Hot start for Carroll Hall

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Carroll Hall is the smallest dorm at Notre Dame, and is often an afterthought to others on campus — especially, in recent years, athletically.




The Observer

Music Under the Radar: New Age Acoustic

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The Situation: Music hunters seek, read, blog and cull music from radio, print and most often, the interwebs. Music gatherers collect mix CD's, free digital downloads and whatever their friends happen to be listening to. If you are a gatherer, this space is for you. If you are a hunter, e-mail me your latest find, and I promise you'll find it written up here. (Seriously. E-mail. Even if you're not a student.)


The Observer

Hitting a wall: Why 'Wall Street' didn't meet expectations

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With a glowing cast of talented Hollywood mainstays and eager young artists, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" had the potential to be the film that defined a decade, in the same way that the original "Wall Street" did years before. The focus on the financial crisis, however, distracted from the most interesting character, Gordon Gekko, and placed too much emphasis on the weaker characters to truly give that thrill that had once captivated audiences.


The Observer

More of the same from Maroon 5

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Not quite rock, a little more than pop and at times drifting towards funk, Maroon 5 has refused to be pinned into a single genre since its inception. And at the same time, one of the consistent criticisms against the band is that all of its songs sound the same. The group's newest studio album, "Hands All Over," is no different.



The Observer

S. Carey concert review

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There have been many drummers to break out on their own and release solo albums, from Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl's solo debut as Foo Fighters on his 1995 self-titled album to Radiohead percussionist Phil Selway's recent album "Familial" to The Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney's LP "Feel Good Together" under the side project Drummer. And now, Bon Iver's drummer, background vocalist and pianist Sean Carey is emerging as a solo artist in his own right, having recently released his debut "All We Grow" as S. Carey and currently on tour with his backup band.