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The Revelin' Family Band Finds Local Success

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

Breaking into the music scene can be a daunting task. With lots of competition and the unpredictability of music tastes, it can be nearly impossible to make a name in the world of music. While this is particularly true on a large scale, musicians are often faced with similar challenges even on the relatively small scale, like at a place like Notre Dame. Yet, there are always those bands that manage to stand out. The Revelin' Family Band, a band consisting of several Notre Dame seniors and a graduate student, has managed to do just that. Starting out small, but gradually gaining momentum throughout the school year, The Revelin' Family Band continues to develop a substantial fan base and play shows all around South Bend. The Revelin' Family Band was formed by Senior Mitch Bradford during his sophomore year. Since then it has existed in several different variations, but for the last year there has been a consistent lineup. It currently consists of Bradford on lead vocals and guitar, senior Brad Monroe on vocals and guitar, senior Tim Gallo on guitar, graduate student Joey Herzog on bass, senior Joe McLean on keyboard and senior Dave Lucas on drums. Bradford, Lucas, Gallo and Monroe met while studying abroad in London, and in the words of Monroe, "our similar tastes demanded that we play together when we returned to Notre Dame." Through their jam sessions and common musical interests, the band has developed a sound Monroe describes as "the best of rock, country, and soul with pop sensibility." Playing a variety of music from Carole King to Men Without Hats, the group is constantly adding new songs to its repertoire. Even within one show, the band can be heard playing a variety of songs, making it surprisingly difficult to pin down their genre. "Purple Rain" by Prince has become a specific favorite among the band and fans. "I think we feel a common catharsis [when playing "Purple Rain"] with our audience that results in a frenzy of emotional expression," Monroe said. The Band has played at a variety of venues in South Bend, most recently performing at Club 23, Reckers and Legends. They have several gigs lined up for the near future, including Mulligan's, Club Fever and another appearance at Club 23. For now, the band intends to continue playing together as long as possible. With all of the members graduating in the spring, it is inevitable that the band will have difficulties staying together. Still, with many of the members somewhat unclear about future plans, a tour of some sort is in discussion. If nothing else, all members of the band intend to continue playing music. "Even if the band doesn't survive, the music will live on," Monroe said. More immediately, fans and intrigued readers can catch Brad Monroe and Dave Lucas performing at Acousticafe  Thursday night at 10 p.m. in LaFortune. The duo, working under a side project "The Monroe Doctrine," have become a staple on the Acousticafe circuit and have been known to play a variety of hits, including "Sexy Chick" by David Guetta. Keep an ear open for news of The Revelin' Family Band and check them out the next time they are performing around campus. It's a great opportunity to support local talent and take in an awesome performance at the same time.  

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Surviving February with the Olympics

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

February has never flown by so fast. Usually, these 28 (sometimes 29) days creep by, stealing away all enjoyment once held in January at returning to campus and friends. Work finally begins to pile up, snow continues to fall, and the days just keep dragging. One enjoyable aspect of high school was always February vacation, a weeklong break over President's Day instead of just a long weekend. It's a New England phenomenon that really breaks up the monotony of February. But here at Notre Dame, we don't even have three-day weekends, so the idea of a February Break is a laughable one. This year, though, there is something almost as good as February vacation to get everyone through the winter doldrums: the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. The 21st Olympic Winter Games have provided endless entertainment and distraction for the past week and a half. At almost every given moment, one Olympic event or another is playing, either live or on replay, on NBC, MSNBC, USA or another NBC syndicate. From ski jumping to pairs skating, half pipe to two-man bobsledding, the opportunities for viewing and cheering on the Americans are limitless. But why do we watch all these events? Why do we allow ourselves to spend so much time watching sports we have never before cared about in our lives? If you've recently found yourself transfixed for hours by men's and women's curling, you understand. The draw these random sports hold over us is inexplicable. Never before in my life have I cared about curling, and yet I can now explain many of the rules and even some of the stats from the round robin men's match between the United States and Switzerland. I recently had a conversation with friends on this same subject. We all find ourselves entranced by sports like curling or speed skating, and we do not know why. It's easy to understand our fascination with Shaun White and his gravity defying aerials, or the men's Olympic hockey team and their stunning defeat of Canada, but not some other sports. I think that a lot of it stems from the desire to be involved. The Olympics have been a major sporting event, uniting city-states and nations, since the times of the ancient Greeks. We all, on some level, want to feel included in this international event that puts our favorite television shows on hiatus for two weeks. We all want to feel some of the power and magic surrounding the Olympics, the aura and history. Watching every sport, no matter how boring ice dancing is compared to the men's short program, helps us forge this deep connection to the Games. Another thing people love about watching the Olympics is whipping out their ancient and possibly questionable family genealogy and basing their support for teams off of the family tree. You can't just root for Team USA during the Olympics — though they should be your No. 1 — because sometimes the Americans do not make the competition or are not competing in the heat currently playing at 11 p.m. on MSNBC. Instead, Denmark is competing against France in women's curling. Obviously, you choose to support Denmark because you are pretty sure that your family is 1/16th Danish (or was it 1/20th?). Or maybe German skaters are neck and neck with the Swedes, and you, possibly 1/16th Danish, have never forgiven the Germans for taking the state of Schleswig-Holstein from your already tiny country. Obviously, then, you chose to throw all your support behind the team from Sweden. No matter your reason for watching or for supporting a certain team, the 2010 Winter Olympics will be there on at least two channels whenever you flip on the TV, at least until Sunday. So thank you Shaun White, Apolo Ohno, Bode Miller, and all other Olympic athletes for helping us through February. It would have been a rough month without you.  

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Why Megan Fox Bothers Me

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010

A personality a little too shallow to make for an amiable interview, Megan Fox fails to impress in her latest interview with W Magazine. With looks that are unquestionably beautiful – dark long waves, steel blue eyes highlighted by arched eye brows and delicate, rosy lips — Fox is a pleasant break from the Barbie blonde America loves to love. Her daring and sultry attitude, tattooed arms and perfect body (all of which lead to apt Angelina Jolie comparisons) make you wish for an equally mesmerizing personality. Unfortunately, personality does not seem to be a forte for Fox. After controversial comments about how "Transformers" wasn't all that great of movie (surprise, surprise) Fox went on to star in the massive fiasco that was "Jennifer's Body." Luckily for her, however, that won't be much of a problem since she recently signed a seven-figure contract with Armani underwear in what Fox claims will be a challenge because, not only is she "a Vargas girl" (and, when wearing lingerie, immediately "provokes a pinup image"), but she has no confidence. But that's not the problem. It's cool when celebrities as huge and beautiful as Fox show their insecurities (they're humans too). The problem is in her contradictions and nonchalant-ness to everything. Where's the charisma we used to find in celebrities? For that matter, where's the talent? Fox herself said acting isn't her talent. Instead, she's "marginally talented at a lot of things." What? What is that supposed to mean? Let's go to the beginning. Fox begins her interview complaining about photo shoots and how she hates them. Indeed, if you look at her pictures you can tell she isn't having much fun (and likes maintaining that same facial expression … in every picture). Fox isn't a fan of fashion either, and sticks to basic t-shirts and jeans, which is actually kind of cool. Again, normal. A little later, however, she talks about how she actively pursued acting in her youth and actually managed to get her mom to take her from Florida to L.A. to audition for a show (in which she ultimately got a role). A pretty determined and driven action for someone who would later say acting isn't really her thing. Maybe saying that is better than saying she's a natural even though her past roles haven't been impressive (at all). Anyone remember Fox in "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" with Lindsay Lohan or in "Holiday in the Sun" with the Olsen twins? Both characters are equally whiny. Maybe this says something about what Fox can do well. She continues by saying how being a celebrity is such a burden. Boo Hoo. I mean, I don't doubt this, I bet it really is a pain to have people follow you around, destroy your privacy and to become scrutinized by the public eye. What I do doubt is the legitimacy of her "I didn't create this" claim. In 2008 Fox said, in an interview for a male magazine, that she once had a stripper girlfriend who "smelled like angels." Turned out this was a lie. When confronted about that, she replied "Whatever." And then she talks about how very maternal she is and how she's worried she'll get caught up in everything that's going on in her life and forget to have children "even though I would be able to provide them with an amazing environment." Finally, she concludes about how she can't trust girls in the industry. Everyone seems to resent her. Maybe if she kept a different attitude, things would be a little different. All it seems from this is that she leads a somewhat lonely life, where she doesn't like being a celebrity and doesn't trust her talent. I think Megan Fox needs a change of attitude. And we need to be more selective in the people we admire and pay many fortunes to. Whatever happened to all the Grace Kellys and Audrey Hepburns of the world?

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Motion City Soundtrack doesn't disappoint with 'The Dinosaur Life'

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010

I must admit that I have been a longtime Motion City Soundtrack fan. Ever since I heard Justin Pierre crooning about his heartache and quirky obsessions, I was hooked. I have a feeling it's his extreme honesty that makes him most endearing. From his obsessive compulsive behavior to his touching, though seemingly perpetual, heartache, Motion City Soundtrack can't be described as anything less than my guilty pleasure. I would rarely admit to enjoying a band so strikingly punk rock. Yet sometimes everyone needs a little bit of angst and heartache. It keeps us all human.

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Music Rewind: The Academy Is ... was 'Almost' perfect on debut album

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010

The Academy Is … is a hard band to define. Once dubbed emo, thanks to some concerts played with fellow Illinois rock band Fall Out Boy, sometimes called pop punk, and now considered a part of the broad "alternative rock" movement (and what does that really mean?), these spunky rockers have mostly been on the back burner lately, recently playing a special concert in Chicago featuring only songs from their first album "Almost Here."

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Shutter Island' twists, turns but falls short

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010

"Shutter Island" plays as though it's so many things that it's not: a horror film, a 1950s detective tale, mainstream entertainment for everyday filmgoers, a complicated psychological thriller that some might call a "mindbender"… the list goes on and on. Martin Scorsese's latest film is in fact a genre-bending, smartly-crafted thriller veiled as an exercise in complicated "make you think" filmmaking that is actually pretty straightforward and easy to guess at, yet enjoyable nonetheless. That is to say, it succeeds as a journey and in its destination.

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Florence + The Machine Provides Heart Stopping Soul-Indie Fusion

By The Observer · Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

Britain is on the rise, and Florence Welch is riding the wave over. With a sound organically grown from Etta James and Imogen Heap, Florence + The Machine's debut "Lungs" hits like a ton of bricks somewhere in the impossible fusion of soul and indie pop. Welch, a 23-year-old from London, has been blowing up U.K. charts for the past year (fueled by the BBC) and has finally crossed the pond. Her band's first release is not similar enough to any one artist to be placed in a genre. Instead, "Lungs" manages to bring out the soul-power of fellow Brit Adele to the layered orchestration of Frou Frou (with less electro-pops and more harp). Plus, the lyrics are not too cryptic to require a microscope and thesaurus to decipher, whilst remaining odd enough to deserve multiple plays. The album opens with "Dog Days Are Over," a bait-and-switch that begins like an Ingrid Michelson song and ends up in a Gospel anthem, complete with clap track. Then comes "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)," the album stand out. The moving soul melody is littered with punches of choir backing, as it dances precariously between an intimate revelation and a blow out proclamation. By the time the chorus hits, it's become hypnotic and begs to see the fairy tale finished. "Midas is king and he holds me so tight/And turns me to gold in the sunlight," belts Welch, and one wonders who Midas is until, of course, the bridge comes around, the orchestra drops out and suddenly you couldn't care less about Midas because the choir is chanting "Raise it up!" with such devotion that you want to chuck your shoes and go dance in the snow. By the time the last chorus — coated with harp glissandos — cycles through, you're hooked, and there's no going back. "Kiss With a Fist" is the most unique on the album. This pure punk-rock tribute to PJ Harvey contains tongue-in-cheek lyrics set to bare drums and electric guitar. "You smashed a plate over my head/Then I set fire to our bed," drawls Welch, with the fierceness of Lily Allen. This not-breakup song ("A kiss with a fist is better than none") is so delightfully awful that it even landed on the soundtrack of the Megan Fox movie, "Jennifer's Body." Beware, though, because it contains all the elements of a song you won't be able to get out of your head. Florence + The Machine provides a wealth of samples for one new to their indie Gospel anthem. "Drumming Song" is a heart-racing track that once again manages to reconcile funk and edgy rock that is "Louder than sirens/Louder than bells/Sweeter than heaven/And hotter than hell." The lyrical simplicity that Welch uses provides enough punch to get the point across but is so straightforward that one feels comfortable belting them right along with her. The album takes a breather for the oddity "My Boy Builds Coffins." Here the lyrics really do take front and center, as Welch calmly explains the profession of her beau. "He's made one for himself, one for me too/And one of these days he's gonna make one for you." The placid tone still manages to end in a choir anthem. "Hurricane Drunk" sounds the most like what one would expect to hear on the streets of London. This post break up soul number has a chorus worthy of Kelly Clarkson, but unlike Clarkson doesn't induce fervent jumping — just swaying hips. "Lungs" ends with a cover of "You've Got the Love" that Florence + The Machine takes to appropriate heights. The track, originally done by Gospel singer Candi Stanton, becomes a theatrical ovation (and might induce some jumping). Overall, "theatrical" is a very good term for "Lungs." Welch barrels through everything she takes on, layering synth and orchestra at will, with an artistic recklessness that threatens to blow over any bystanders not keen enough to brace themselves.

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The Mark of McQueen

By The Observer · Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

The fashion world mourned on Friday as the death of Lee Alexander McQueen cast a pall on the commencement of New York Fashion Week. At age 40, the designer committed suicide after having been troubled by the loss of his mother. McQueen's legacy lives on in the brilliant and groundbreaking work that he had given the fashion world. He began working in London's famed Savile Row as an intern and then transitioned into costume design. He then pursued his master's degree in design and began his individual collection.       McQueen was a designer well known for his dramatic shows and garments. It's no wonder then that the he is a favorite of Lady Gaga. For majority of the public, the only thing even recognizable as a work of McQueen's is his designs featured in Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video. The video opens on Gaga and a posse of some number of Russian brides and mafia members. She is seated in the center in a glimmering gold dress from McQueen's Spring 2010 collection. Some may also recall the moment when Gaga is slowly walking across a stark white room in an elaborately sequined garment and shoes that are impossibly high. This entire ensemble is straight off the Spring 2010 runway as well. Shoes seem to be the one area in which designers completely throw away any sense of wearability, and yet McQueen's designs were an integral part of the music video itself.     McQueen ventured into the commercial realm in 2005 with his line for Puma.  The collections for Puma are a much more toned down version of McQueen than what is usually seen on the runway. Let's face it: a gym shoe with a nine-inch heel simply wouldn't sell. The collection features athletic shoes for men and some for women as well.  The women's shoes are not particularly appealing and would generally not be distinguished from the men's at first glance, but the real draw to the collection is the select items of clothing. Most of the clothing is meant for working out, but the men's bomber jacket offers a fantastic alternative to the worn out hoodie most men find appealing.       Puma and Lady Gaga may be fans of McQueen, but his real mark on fashion was made in his groundbreaking collections. His most recent collection, Spring 2010, took the global trend to an entirely new level. He created beautifully crafted garments with some of the most intricately designed fabric patterns. The fabrics looked as though they were the skin of some creature that has not been discovered yet. The patterns had elements of snakeskin and yet some had shoulder pads that more closely resembled armor. Each model was transformed into something not quite human by the hair and makeup choices.  Their hair was piled atop their heads in alien-like spikes with braids along the side of the head and their makeup emphasized the cheekbones and diminished the eyebrows yet again creating the illusion of an alien creature. The shoes were incredibly powerful. They added a good foot to the already Amazonian models and simply added to the otherworldly effects of the show. The show was a look forward to the future in an unbelievably creative manner.     The lingering question following his death is what will come of his Fall 2010 collection. The men's collection was shown in Milan in late January, but the women's collection was not. It was reportedly close to being finished upon his death, but whether it will debut in New York remains to be seen.     His work simply cannot be summed up in one article. His creations were groundbreaking and extremely powerful. He was a versatile designer with acclaimed collections in both men's and women's wear and his design aesthetic was both outrageous and beautiful. He emphasized the juxtaposition of power and beauty in his clothing, and left a huge mark on the fashion industry. He will surely be missed and will be remembered for years because of his amazing work.

The Observer

Weekend Events Calendar

By The Observer · Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

Thursday: Aspen Santa Fe Ballet @ DPAC, 7 p.m. The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is an acclaimed dance group with studios in both Aspen, Colo. and Santa Fe, N.M. Formed in 1996, its goal is to attract top composers and dancers to create a pleasing combination of entertainment and modern dance. Traveling across the country, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet offers a program full energy and excitement and is very accessible to all audiences. They are said to make use of their dancers in inventive ways, widening the range of ballet and modern dance. The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet will be performing Thursday and Friday evenings at 7 p.m. as well as Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

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Ariel has nothing on 'Splash:' The Tom Hanks rom com from 1984

By The Observer · Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010

Back in the good old days of the mid-1990s, the Disney Channel didn't have much original programming. Before the specially made ‘tween concoctions "Hannah Montana" and even "Lizzie McGuire," it showed Australian sci-fi shows, tapings of Billy Joel concerts from Disneyland and movies. Lots and lots of movies: cartoons and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," but also some less kiddie-centric fare, too. One such movie was "Splash," which is basically "The Little Mermaid" set in New York City, but without the talking tuna fish and evil sea queen. This 1984 romantic comedy was the first film released under Disney's "grown-up" label Touchstone Pictures, because it's PG rating was too intense for the Disney name. It was responsible for making "Madison" a name for girls and jumpstarting Tom Hanks' movie career. It was also directed by future Oscar winner Ron Howard and features Eugene Levy (later of "American Pie" fame) as a mermaid-obsessed marine scientist. John Candy, at the time the film's only recognizable star, got top billing for playing Hanks' lascivious older brother. Daryl Hannah plays the mermaid who gets some legs so she can find the man of her dreams (she chooses the name Madison from the street sign). Hanks is the human guy, Alan, who falls in love with her. All sorts of fish-out-of-water high jinks ensue, until Levy's mad scientist sprays water on Madison in the middle of the street. Then her legs turn into a big goldfish tail and Alan is understandably freaked out. It's okay, though — love prevails and he rescues her from the big, bad government scientists. I first saw "Splash" sometime in the middle of first grade, and I would stalk the Disney Channel row in TV Guide to see when it would be on again. Why? When I was little, I was obsessed with Disney's "The Little Mermaid." As I got older, though, I was put off by the lame ending where Ariel decides to become human for her man, giving up swimming around with all her spunky fish friends and getting to wear a purple shell bra. Not to mention the fact that she also has to leave behind her dad and all her sisters. Eric was a hottie, sure, but what a message to send to little girls: you might find the guy of your dreams, but you'll have to change your whole life (and in Ariel's case, species) for him! Now that is a terrible relationship model, or at least an unfair one. So I liked "Splash" a lot better. It was more "grown-up" and realistic when it came to relationships. Granted, the sex jokes either went right over my head or were edited out for TV, but 7 year-old me loved that Madison was smart and learned English just by watching the display TVs in Bloomingdale's. I also liked that Alan comes back to save her and then (spoiler alert) gives up everything he knows to stay with her forever in the sparkly city under the sea. It's all very romantic, not to mention progressive in regards to gender roles and fun things like that. I once told my boyfriend that he looked like Hanks circa "Splash" (it's a compliment — Hanks was very cute in 1984), and on the next major gift giving holiday, he gave me the DVD. Now that I'm a decade and a half older and watching the original, uncut version, a lot of things stand out: The script is clever, funny and touching (it was nominated for an Academy Award for best original screenplay). The cast is fantastic, from Levy and Candy's comic timing to the sweet, sexy chemistry between Hannah and Hanks. Hannah's wardrobe is outrageously dated and kind of ugly, but that's part of the movie's charm. Most of all, it's simply a very good romantic comedy, helped along by a creative, high-concept story that wards off the formulaic mess most rom coms end up in today.

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Get Lucky with 'Love'

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

It's three days after Valentine's Day. Are you still love drunk, smelling the beautiful roses sent to you by a boyfriend, smiling as you stare at the adorable stuffed bear reading "I Love You Bear-y Much!" across his chest? Or are you still recovering from a chocolate overdose resulting from an attempt to drown the sorrows of your single life with sugar? But no matter your current state of mind or relationship status, it is possible to find happiness with "Love," the newest album from Angels & Airwaves.  

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That's 'Odd'

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

The album cover for Yeasayer's "Odd Blood" looks as if something is missing. It appears that there is a face there, but it looks distorted, like a person being Skyped with horrible service. It's a blur with basically no structure. What a clever choice for album art because that's essentially the way the album feels. There are certainly great tracks, but as a whole it isn't quite assembled and something seems to be missing.  

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I Am Going to Hold My Breath and Stomp My Feet Until '(500) Days of Summer' Gets an Oscar Nod

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

Ok, so easily the best movie released in the past 12 months was "[500] Days of Summer." Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, this romantic comedy managed to take a genre that is flooded by awful Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Aniston vehicles and turn it into something with a message on the complexities of modern relationships that, at the same time, remained entertaining due to an offbeat sense of humor, a great soundtrack and visually dazzling moments that conveyed the emotions of the characters in a way that words never could.  

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Film Fashion & Television Collide to Enhance Fashion Week Experience

By The Observer · Monday, Feb. 15, 2010

Tired of living in sweatpants and the lack of inspiration in not exactly fashion-forward South Bend? Turn your eyes towards Fall 2010 Fashion Week, which began in New York City Thursday. Now, it is easier than ever to imagine that you are one of the elite in the fashion world, due to the ability to see entire collections online only moments after the shows finish. Some designers, such as Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein and Michael Kors, are even live streaming their shows online, making almost anyone feel like they have a ticket to a big-name fashion show. Unfortunately, the week started out on a tragic note, as designer Alexander McQueen was found dead from apparent suicide on Thursday morning. This event has cast a somber tone on what should be an exciting time for designers, editors and all fans of fashion. Luckily, there is always enough activity and drama during Fashion Week to keep people on their toes and moving from one show to the other quickly. Who will be the new up-and-coming designer? Which designers will strike out? What are the new fall trends? The answers to these questions are revealed little by little after each show. Thus far, critics are hailing the collections shown by Peter Som, Preen and Chado Ralph Rucci. Chado Ralph Rucci presented an upscale collection filled with luxurious fabrics such as fur and feathers. The Peter Som show had more of a bohemian feel to it, mixing prints and layering beads and tweed. Preen showed silhouettes with both masculine and feminine elements. There have been many other emerging trends that do not need to be saved for fall. Thin long-sleeved T-shirts layered under sleeveless dresses were shown at BCBG. Chunky knits, which are necessary for South Bend weather, were on display at Jason Wu and Lacoste. The latest style of blazer seems to be double-breasted, seen at Ruffian and L.A.M.B. One trend that hopefully will not be making a comeback in real-life wardrobes any time soon is the maxi-skirt, which was present in numerous shows so far. That is just a little too reminiscent of late-1990s teenagers. If just looking at the beautiful clothes in the shows is not enough, there is real entertainment to be found in the behind-the-scenes action of the fashion industry. Two excellent documentaries about giants in the fashion world came out in 2009: "The September Issue" and "Valentino: The Last Emperor." "The September Issue," the better of the two films, documents the making of the September 2007 issue of Vogue magazine, which is the biggest in the magazine's history. It presents a fascinating portrait of the mysterious editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who is without a doubt the most powerful person in the fashion industry. The contrast between Wintour and creative director Grace Coddington makes for some of the most interesting dynamics seen in any film in recent years, but it is made all the more appealing for the fact that it is real. "The September Issue" will be released on DVD on Feb. 23. "Valentino: The Last Emperor" is also worth seeing. Valentino Garavani is one of the most important designers in the world. This film follows him at the end of his long career.  It is rare to get an inside look at how a legendary designer works and to see what inspires them. "Valentino: The Last Emperor" is available now on DVD. For those who would rather watch the rise of the future in fashion, look no further than the popular reality series "Project Runway." Now in its seventh season, there is no doubt that this show has influenced the fashion industry. Past contestants Christian Siriano and Daniel Vosovic both showed collections in the last few days. If you need a fashion fix, these are great options to get an intimate view of the important, the legendary, and the newest style-setters in the fashion industry. Fashion Week has only just begun, and there is much more glamour and excitement still to come.  

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A Night at DPAC

By The Observer · Monday, Feb. 15, 2010

Friday night, students, parents, children and professors alike trudged through the snow banks and drifts and skated over patches of black ice to make it to the Winter Concert of the Notre Dame Symphony Orchestra at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC). Director Daniel Stowe started off the evening with Felix Mendolssohn's "Hebrides Overture."  A trip to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull, one of the Hebrides, inspired Mendelssohn to write this elegant overture.   The orchestra did the wonderful piece justice.  Beginning from the strings of the opening theme to the hushed conclusion, the melodious notes drifted over the audience.  The rising clarinets of the second theme brought more emotion and beauty to the score.  Closing your eyes, while listening to the winds over the soft strings, it was easy to imagine yourself on the breathtaking, hilly Scottish isles, scrambling among the thatched roofs and rushing waterfalls. From there, the orchestra moved on to Aaron Jay Kernis's "Air for Violin and Orchestra."  Kernis originally wrote the piece, a lovely and moving air, for his wife, Evelyne.  The piece began enthusiastically and sonorously, captivating its audience from the onset.  As the air continued, it became more and more passionate, until it tempered into the euphonious solo, played exquisitely by Carolyn Plummer on violin.  After another short burst of passion and zeal, the work slowly ebbed to its conclusion. The violin solo was a beautiful, central part of the air. Plummer is an associate professor of music at Notre Dame with many impressive achievements to her name, having played in a number of orchestras across the United States, including some in Wyoming and Colorado.  Her solo Friday night was heart-rending in its passion.  It lent even more emotion to an already heartfelt piece, striking cords in the hearts of all its listeners. After a brief intermission, Stowe concluded his night of beautiful music with Johannes Brahms's "Symphony no. 2 in D major."  The immensely popular Second Symphony gained the designation as Brahms's "Pastoral Symphony," despite the hints of melancholy found in the piece.  The Notre Dame Orchestra played the famous symphony beautifully. The first movement began with a beautiful cello piece.  After, the woodwinds and horns harmoniously followed in to create a tuneful movement.  Especially moving was the use of trombones near the end, before the movement ended in what sounded almost like a sigh.   The second and third movements were simple, yet beautiful.  They combined rising countermelodies of bassoons with woodwind interludes and an oboe theme.  At one point in the third movement, the rhythm closely resembled a country dance, but it worked in the overall simplicity of the movement. The fourth and final movement provided an excellent ending to the symphony and the concert as well.  A quiet beginning morphed into a rise of energy and spirit.  The intensity only continued to increase with the majestic entrance of the trombones, giving breadth and emotion to the final movement. The night spent in DPAC with the Symphony Orchestra was extremely enjoyable, both the music and the atmosphere.  DPAC, with its fantastic acoustics and comfortable seats, provided a lovely background for the melodious night of music.

The Observer

Valentine's Day Part Sweet, Part Sour

By The Observer · Monday, Feb. 15, 2010

It's no "Love Actually," but director Gary Marshall's "Valentine's Day" is a heartwarming film with multiple, interconnected stories about love. A star-studded cast comes together to portray Los Angelinos trying to navigate love. But just like any box of assorted chocolates there are a few bad ones in the bunch. Ashton Kutcher and Jennifer Garner are absolutely fantastic as the arguable leads of the film, and on-screen best friends. Kutcher's Reed is a hopeless romantic and florist who proposes to his workaholic girlfriend Morley, (Jessica Alba) but things are not as picture perfect as he thinks. Meanwhile, Garner plays Julia, a lovable teacher who is head over heels for her heart surgeon boyfriend Dr. Harrison Copeland played by Patrick Dempsey. Unfortunately, this doc is no McDreamy, and drama and humor ensue. Kutcher and Garner are charming and endearing. They are the best parts of this film, and deservedly spend the most time on screen. Supporting actors that shine are the always lovely Anne Hathaway and the goofy but adorable Topher Grace as a couple struggling with their new relationship. Hathaway is hysterical as an adult phone entertainer. Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper holds his own with romantic comedy queen Julia Roberts as two passengers on a long plane ride. It is refreshing to have Roberts back in the rom-com sphere, but sadly she is only on the screen for all of six minutes. The pair are natural together, and it is nice to see Cooper play a good guy for once. But with the good comes the bad. In the case of the Taylor Lautner-Taylor Swift duo, the very, very bad. Lautner doesn't do much. He mostly stands there, next to an hyperactive Swift. He doesn't even do what he did best in "New Moon," which is to take off his shirt, because his character is too shy. Fail. And Swift should absolutely stick to singing. An accomplished young actress would be able to pull off her self-absorbed, immature homecoming queen character. However, she is simply annoying. If we had less of the Taylors and more of the better teen actors like Emma Roberts and Carter Jenkins who are considering having sex for the first time, the film would have benefited. Their relationship has considerably more substance but we do not get the chance to see enough of them because of the large cast. The bottom line is that there are simply too many characters in "Valentine's Day" that certain storylines felt rushed while others were simply unnecessary. If you just had a little bit more information here or there things might have made a bit more sense, and the pacing would seem more even. But there are surprising twists and turns along the way that help the keep the viewers interested. If you're looking for the magic of "Love Actually" look elsewhere. The comparison is unavoidable, but perhaps Christmas is more romantic than Valentine's Day or everything is sexier with a British accent, but "Love Actually" is leagues above this film. But that is not to say this film is without merit. A huge benefit to the large cast is that viewers have a greater opportunity to relate to a particular storyline or character. George Lopez provides comic relief as Kutcher's employee and friend. Eric Dane is intriguing as an aging quarterback with a secret. And Jamie Foxx is funny as a sports reporter forced to do puff pieces on Valentine's Day. He hates Valentine's Day almost as much as his sports publicist contact, the neurotic Kara (Jessica Biel) who organizes an "I hate Valentine's Day" party every year. She worries that no one will show up, but as smart viewers we know that there will probably be a few broken hearts that arrive late. Romantic comedies rarely showcase love of all ages, but this film gets the opportunity. Bryce Robinson is adorable as Edison, the lovesick fifth grader determined on delivering flowers to his crush. And Shirley MacLaine and Hector Elizondo demonstrate that love is timeless as an old married couple. The accomplished actors bring a refreshing sensitivity to the film. Sure, the film is predictable at times, but any viewer should expect that heading into the theater given the title and trailer alone. What they might not expect is the surprisingly well-done job of portraying the varying emotions that one might feel when February 14th rolls around. Love, lust, bitterness, joy, regret and deceit are all on the menu. The characters range from those who are deeply in love, to those who think they are in love, to lying cheaters who never deserved any love. But that's the beauty of this mosaic of different stories. There is something for everyone to enjoy, even if it just to see Swift be ridiculous.

The Observer

Rebirth' is Not Lil Wayne's Saving Grace

By The Observer · Monday, Feb. 15, 2010

It's hard to place Lil Wayne in the rap canon. One thing is very clear: he is one of the most productive musicians of the past decade. In that time he's released 10 albums and 23 singles and has been featured on over 50 other tracks as well as countless mixtapes. It almost seems as if the confusion is intentional. He'll drop a top-10 hit like "A Mille" but then follow up with a song about playing basketball on a moon made of drugs. Besides music, the other defining characteristic of Lil Wayne is his prolific drug use. As displayed in his music, his relationship with illicit substances is rather complex. While his raps profess most often profess love for them, at times he appears conflicted. It may be best said that his hand rolled misdemeanors are the closest thing he has to a muse. Sometime shortly after 2006, Lil Wayne transformed into a rap star. While he had been moderately successful as an underground musician before then, his mixtape work caught the attention of critics, mainstream fans and indie kids. Riding this wave of newfound momentum, "Tha Carter III," his fifth studio album, sold over one million copies in the first week, earned eight Grammy nominations and transformed Lil Wayne into the brightest star in the business. With several mainstream sources, including Rolling Stone and MTV, naming him the hottest MC in the game, Lil Wayne announced his follow-up album: "Rebirth." Some confusion resulted from his first press release, but it was quickly clarified: "Rebirth" was no a remix album, it was going to be his rock debut. Listening to the album, it becomes clear that Lil Wayne spent his formative years in the post grunge wasteland of the 1990s. From the opening track, Lil Wayne's understanding of rock music is, at best, warped. His inspiration is drawn from late period nu metal acts such as Korn and Limp Bizkit, whose commercial pull rightly ended at the turn of the millennium. Boring riffs, uninspired choruses and forgettable verses populate the album. As for Lil Wayne's actual performance, it leaves much to be desired. While his distinctive vocal attributes serve his now iconic flow well, their charms fade quickly when he starts singing. Barely surviving beneath heavy doses of auto tune, it just may not be possible for Wheezy to carry a tune. Wayne is also credited with a fair amount of the instrumentation across the album. While this seems a dubious claim at best, their truth wouldn't make the effort any more impressive. Most of the backing music could have been written by a 15 year-old with two months of guitar lessons trying to impress his friends. Worst of all, Wayne falters where he normally shines: his lyrics. While his audience has come to expect elaborate metaphors, tight word play and copious punch lines, he instead delivers what he thinks should be in a rock song: vague anger, undirected aggression and a revenge narrative. Lil Wayne's fruitlessly compiles beats, distortion and auto tune in an attempt at a futuristic sound, but instead sounds more like a computer program. He's gathered all the pieces that would make a rock album, but just didn't quite put them together correctly. Most importantly, the album is completely lifeless.   After a stunning disappointment, his fans are left hoping this musical adventure is a diversion and not a completely new path. Lil Wayne appears to have already moved on, already hyping his next projects including a collaborative effort with Juelz Santana and "Tha Carter IV."  

The Observer

BFFs with Ben & Jerry

By The Observer · Friday, Feb. 12, 2010

Do you plan on spending this Valentine's Day with the most constant friends in your life, Ben and Jerry? Or would you just like to bring in the dynamic duo to join you and your significant other for a quality double date? Either way, Ben and Jerry are there for you, ready to provide with their typical brand of frozen goodness. Whether you're a chocolate lover, dig the cookie dough or just want some fruity fun, there is a flavor for everyone. Get those spoons ready.  

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