M usic , M oviesand M ore

Sept.. 29. 2005
Sept
Music, Movies and More
MUSIC
USIC:: Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ M
Marley
arley rolls out new reggae album
MOVIES: ‘ Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride
Bride’’ and ‘Oliver Twist’ open in theaters
MORE
ORE:: New fall TV show guide
guide,, plus a tribute to New Orleans-style dining
2 THE BUZZ
Contents
02 The Inside Buzz
03 Fall TV Lineup
Concert Calendar
04 New Movies
06 New Music
Flashback Favorite
07 New Music
Titan Concert Preview
08 New Orleans-inspired
restaurants of O
OC
ON THE COVER: The Corpse
Bride, voiced by Helena Bonham Carter, and Victor Van Dort,
voiced by Johnny Depp, in Tim
Burton’s stop-motion animated
fantasy “Corpse Bride.” (Photo by
Warner Bros. Studios)
THE BUZZ
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
AMANDA PENNINGTON
A
ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
MAHSA KHALILIFAR
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
NICOLE M. SMITH
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING
CAN SENGEZER
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING
EMILY ALFORD
PRODUCTION
AMANDA PENNINGTON, MAHSA KHALILIFAR
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
LESLEY WU, DERRICK SALATNAY,
VANESSA RUMBLES, RICH BOYD,
KIMBERLY LEUNG, JACKIE KIMMEL
The Daily Titan 714.278.3373
T
The Buzz Editorial 714.278.5426 thebuzz@dailytitan.com
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Copyright ©2004 Daily Titan
THE
INSIDE
BUZZ
By MAHSA KHALILIFAR
Daily Titan Asst. Entertainment Editor
Breaking up is hard to do, well
not always – just ask the celebrities hitting splitsville this week
… “One Tree Hill’s” 24-year-old
hottie, Chad Michael Murray
and wife (fellow series co-star) of
five months, 23-year-old Sophia
Bush, have separated. People reports the once seemingly happy
couple has decided to split up.
Another report also claims that
there is no more wedding bliss
for “Sopranos” Actress, 24-yearold Jamie-Lynn Discala, and 34year-old husband (and manager)
AJ Discala. Married for two
years, they have separated and
there’s no word yet on a reconciliation … funny woman Kathy
Griffin requested papers to divorce her husband of four years,
Matthew Moline … on to happier news, at least for now – one of
the most high-profile couples of
the year have decided to get married. 42-year-old Demi Moore
and 27-year-old Ashton Kutcher
wed on Saturday in L.A. The
small ceremony caught the media
off guard and took place in the
couples’ Beverly Hills home…
first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby
carriage, at least for the Trumps.
Donald Trump, 59, is going to be
a dad once again, this time with
beautiful wife Melania Knauss.
Their spring baby will be the first
for Knauss and fifth for Trump.
... Anna Nicole Smith takes her
court battle to the Supreme Court
to try and get a piece of her late
husband’s fortune. New notable
CD releases that came out Tuesday were Sheryl Crow Wildflower … Neil Young’s Prairie Wind
… Sean Paul Trinity … new
DVD releases this week include
… Robin William’s “Robots”
(Widescreen and Full Screen
Edition) … “The Amazing Race
- The Complete First Season”
… “Family Guy Presents Stewie
Griffin – The Untold Story” …
Celebrity gossip of the week:
Ben Affleck, future Virginia State
Senator? … Stay tuned for more
news and gossip on the next Inside Buzz …
MAINSTREAM
TV’s fall lineup sure to please
By VALERIE SWAYNE
Daily Titan Staff
Falling leaves and cool temperatures signal the official start of
autumn, a season marked by football games, fun-filled holidays
and the end of daylight savings.
Best of all, great entertainment
can be found, not just at the movie theaters or on the sports’ fields,
but also on the small screen.
While beloved TV series such
as “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives” and others return for another season, a new crop of exciting shows are debuting on all the
major networks.
Here is a complete break down
of some of these promising prospects to help the discerning TV
viewer decide which to tune in to
throughout the week.
“Prison Break,” which debuted Aug. 29 on Fox, gives away
the premise of the story right in
the title. Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), convicted of killing the vice president’s brother,
is sentenced to death. Before his
execution he is locked up at Fox
River State Penitentiary.
His brother, Michael Scofield
(Wentworth Miller), is convinced
Burrows is innocent and stages a
bank robbery so he’ll land in the
same prison. Outside of Fox River, Scofield worked as an architect and helped design the entire
prison.
When he lands inside he uses
an extensive map of the prison’s
blueprints tattooed on his arms
and torso to help Lincoln break
out. Meanwhile, his friend and
lawyer Veronica Donovan (Robin
Tunney) investigates the details
behind Lincoln’s conviction and
discovers a government conspiracy. All of the characters are connected and involved in the escape,
whether it’s Scofield’s fellow
inmates or the mystery woman
who orders government agents to
thwart his allies.
It’s not too late to get hooked
on this tense, action-packed drama on Mondays at 9 p.m.
In lighter fare, “My Name
is Earl” premiered Sept. 20 on
NBC. The 30-minute series is a
wacky comedy about Earl (Jason
Lee), a loser who is hit by a car
after winning the lottery.
Recovering in the hospital, he
sees Carson Daly on TV talking
about karma. Earl reflects on his
life and believes his near-death
experience is the result of his bad
deeds and bad attitude.
Accompanied by his slacker
brother Randy (Ethan Suplee)
and sexy friend Catalina (Nadine
Velazquez), he ditches his trailertrash ex-wife Joy (Jaime Pressly)
and her boyfriend Darnell (Eddie
Steeples) and sets out with his
winnings to right all his wrongs.
The first recipient on his list
of wrongdoings is Kenny (guest
star Gregg Binkley), a victim of
Earl’s school bullying. Earl helps
Kenny find happiness at a gay bar.
Underneath its zany antics, “My
Name is Earl” shows a lot of heart
without being sappy. Catch Earl
and friends Tuesdays at 9 p.m.
“Invasion” debuted Sept. 21
on ABC with a warning to viewers to use discretion while watching because some of the scenes
were similar to recent real-life
events. In the pilot, a hurricane
alters the lives of residents of a
small Florida town after causing
a military plane to crash.
Park ranger Russell Varon
(Eddie Cibrian) is stranded after
reuniting with his lost daughter, Rose (Ariel Gade), who sees
mysterious lights in the water.
His ex-wife, Dr. Mariel Underlay
(Kari Matchett), missing during
the storm, is found nude and disoriented at the sight of the lights.
His brother-in-law, Dave (Tyler
Labine), discovers a mysterious
skeleton and offers it as proof of
his conspiracy theory - that the
hurricane was “a smokescreen
cooked up by the government” to
cover up an alien invasion.
The show’s ominous tone is
aided by strategic music during
tense moments, such as Rose saying her mom “smells different”
and Sheriff Tom Underlay (William Fitchner) whispering secretly to storm survivors.
This show will invade your TV
Wednesdays at 10 p.m.
“Everybody Hates Chris,”
launched Sept. 22 on UPN, is
a 30-minute comedy about the
childhood of stand-up comedian
Chris Rock. With an executive
producer credit, Rock narrates
the show while Tyler James Williams acts out Rock’s teenage life
growing up in Brooklyn in 1982.
As the “emergency adult”, Rock
was responsible for his younger
brother Drew (Tequan Richmond)
and bratty sister Tonya (Imani Hakim), who often got him in trouble
with his hard-working dad, Julius
(Terry Crews), and tough-loving
mom, Rochelle (Tichina Arnold).
They move out of the projects to
a house in Bedsty, a place nicknamed “do or die” because of
its reputation for an abundance
of violence and drugs. His mom
sends him to Brooklyn Beach
High School, which was two bus
rides away from the racist bullies
who picked on him.
Despite the mean intentions of
siblings and classmates, “Everybody Hates Chris” is not likely to
conjure up any ill will.
Everyone can hate or love the
show Thursdays at 8 p.m.
“Ghost Whisperer,” a new
show on CBS, marked a dramatic
close to the week on Friday. The
lead character, Melinda Gordon,
(Jennifer Love Hewitt), inherited
her grandmother’s ability to see
ghosts as a little girl.
Newly married to paramedic
Jim Clancy (David Conrad), she
runs an antique store with pal
Andrea Moreno (Aisha Tyler)
while helping wayward spirits
find peace and cross over to “the
light.”
In the pilot episode, the ghost
of an MIA Vietnam soldier (guest
star Wentworth Miller) appears
to Gordon begging for her help
to go home. She learns the details of his last moments and
shares them with his son (guest
star Balthazar Getty), who first
reacts with disdain but then accepts her gift. When the soldier’s
remains are found and laid to rest
in a proper military funeral, the
soldier’s ghost can move on into
“the light.” “Ghost Whisperer” is
a touching must-see on Fridays at
8 p.m.
3
Concert
Calendar
Fri, 09/30/05 7:30 p.m.
My Chemical Romance
Los Angeles Sports Arena
Los Angeles
Fri, 9/30/05 7:30 p.m.
Plea for Peace Tour
Chain Reaction
Anaheim
Fri, 09/30/05 8 p.m.
Less Than Jake
Roxy Theatre
Hollywood
Fri, 09/30/05 8 p.m.
Neil Diamond
STAPLES Center
Los Angeles
Fri, 09/30/05 10 p.m.
DJ Quik
Canyon Dinner Theater
Agoura Hills
Sat, 10/01/05 7 p.m.
Nine Inch Nails
Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood
Sat, 10/01/05 8 p.m.
Robert Plant
The Wiltern LG
Los Angeles
Sat, 10/01/05 7 p.m.
CSUF Jazz Ensemble I
Brea Jazz Festival
Brea
Wed, 10/05/05 8 p.m.
Sigur Rose
Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood
Thurs, 10/06/05 8 p.m.
The Killers
Long Beach Arena
Long Beach
Thurs, 10/06/05 7 p.m.
OC Supertones Farewell Show
Biola University Gym
La Mirada
4 MOVIE
REVIEWS
Movie flies above the rest
By ISAAC FABELA
the audience in from the opening
scenes and doesn’t let go until the
credits roll at the end of the film.
“Flight Plan” is an intense film
Foster has plenty of emotionally
that will keep audiences on the
riveting scenes where she desperedge of their seats. Airplane thrillately pleads for aid in finding her
ers can often be an entertaining
daughter. Being the seasoned pro
movie ploy and this movie is noththat she is, Foster does an admiing short of quality entertainment.
rable job that many Hollywood acThe suspense begins in Gertresses might not have been able to
many as Kyle Pratt (Jodie Foster)
pull off so convincingly. It’s hard
plans
to transport
to upstage an Academy
her recently deceased
Award winning actress
husband back to the
and it’s not something
United States for buridone very often, but
al. Her daughter Julia
Bean succeeds in this
(Marlene Lawston) almost impossible feat.
who is having trouble
The British actor, who’s
dealing with the unexknown in the United
pected loss - joins her
States for playing Boairplane engineer mom
romir in the “Lord of
aboard the plane that
the Rings.” Based on his
Pratt helped design.
performance in “Flight
Her knowledge of the
Plan,” audiences can
world’s biggest paslook forward to seeing
senger plane proves to
him in larger roles soon.
be useful later as her
His intense calmness
Touchstone Pictures
daughter disappears
dominates every scene
Kyle
Pratt,
played
by
Jodie
Foster,
tries
desperately
to
only three hours into
and he gives the feeling
the flight. This is where find her daughter aboard the huge aircraft.
that everything will be
the film gets interestalright. For every film
ing. At 30,000 feet Kyle organizes commodate Foster as she requests like “Flight Plan” there are a dozen
an in depth search of the plane with to search every inch of the airplane, films like “Turbulence 2.” But it’s
all the crew and passengers looking even the most hidden parts.
refreshing when a film comes to
for her missing daughter. The only
The film is directed by relative rescue a genre that has been poorly
problem is that nobody - including newcomer Robert Schwentke, handled over the past couple years.
the crew, passenger manifest and whose only previous work was a While we may not see a sequel,
other passengers - has any record little-known 2003 release called hopefully it will remind filmmakor memory of Julia being on the “Tattoo.” Despite his small body ers how much fun can be had while
plane. Kyle refuses to accept that of work, Schwentke easily draws flying high above the Earth.
Daily Titan Staff
TRISTAR PICTURES
Oliver Twist, played by Barney Clark, runs away in Roman Polanski’s “Oliver Twist” based on Charles Dickens’ novel by the same name.
Polanski delivers
classic twist on
Dickens’ ‘Oliver’
By ERIC SANDERS
Daily Titan Staff
Oscar-winner Roman Polanski’s adaptation of the Charles
Dickens classic, “Oliver Twist,”
is a brilliant cinematic experience to be enjoyed by all.
Polanski’s version of the novel
– the first attempt by anyone in
over 35 years – brings the world
of Oliver Twist to life, as if peeling the most intricate details of
the characters off the pages and
transplanting them onto film.
Shot in Prague, Polanski utilizes the beautiful country landscape as a backdrop to tell the
story of an orphan living in Victorian England, and seeking happiness that always seems to be
out of his reach.
The accurate representation of
19th century England is one of the
best aspects of the movie, specifically the London Street scenes,
which are like a meticulous timewarp and include everything,
even muddy roads filled with rats,
scandalous hookers and drunken
thieves. The realistic reflection
of the time period was obviously
an issue of great importance to
Polanski, pulling the audience in
even deeper to the world of the
lost orphan, Oliver Twist.
We are introduced to Twist
(Barney Clark) as one of the
many members of orphans who
make up the Parish Work House,
learning “a useful trade” such as
breaking apart rope and putting it
back together again.
The living conditions the orphans suffer are wretched, with
one boy proclaiming he’s so hungry he can’t even sleep.
Oliver finds himself in trouble
when, after drawing the short
rope, he is the one chosen by the
boys to go up and ask for more
gruel. This indignation is not
tolerated by the gruel dispenser,
who ends up switching Twist violently, and causes the Parish to
put him up for auction. This leads
to a series of offers that eventually has him sold to an undertaker.
As a result he runs off with
nothing but a bag tied to a stick
– hobo style – and finds himself
with nowhere to go except down
the 70-mile path that leads to
London.
Once in London, Twist pals up
with Artful Dodger (Harry Eden)
and a band of boy pick-pockets
lead by the sinister Fagin (Ben
Kingsley).
The group of pick-pockets
adds a childhood playfulness to
the movie and a comical character in Dodger, who is a quick
witted, drinking, smoking child
criminal.
Taken in by Fagin’s pseudoaffection, Twist settles into London’s underworld, but quickly
discovers the dangers that lurk in
a life full of petty theft and shady
characters.
The climax of the film comes
when Twist finds that he is the focus of ill intent by the notorious
Bill Sykes (Jamie Foreman) and
the intimidating pit-bull that accompanies him.
“Oliver Twist” is true to its literary roots with lengthy character
development and storytelling.
During a time when Hollywood studios are rehashing old
television sitcoms due to lack of
content, “Oliver Twist” is a refreshing new spin on something
old that will leave fans of good
storytelling and directing thoroughly satisfied.
she only imagined boarding the
plane with her daughter and basically holds the plane hostage as she
desperately looks for her. While
the rest of the crew and passengers
grow restless and frustrated with
the drama ensuing on board, Kyle
manages to gain two allies in her
search for Julia. Carson, an undercover air marshal (Peter Sarsgaard)
and Captain Rich (Sean Bean) ac-
Capote captivates
By BRYAN BARNETT
Daily Titan Staff
In November 1959, four shotgun blasts shattered the silence
of a Kansas prairie. A family of
four was dead and their murderers vanished into the night. The
horrific scene beckoned Truman
Capote towards the idea for a
simple magazine article that later
evolved into his greatest work of
non-fiction, “In Cold Blood.”
In Philip Seymour Hoffman’s
latest film “Capote,” Hoffman
captures all the eminence and personality of the legendary Truman
Capote flawlessly. His booming
presence captivates party guests
on every occasion – and there
are plenty of occasions. Author
of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” Capote won great fame and respect
across the country and the world
for his ample production of bestselling books.
This film tracks Capote’s sixyear struggle to gather viewpoints
from both sides of a brutal massacre in order to create the great
novel, “In Cold Blood.”
He travels to Kansas to inter-
view Alvin Dewey, played by
Oscar-winnwe Chris Cooper, an
agent heading the investigation
of the murders. While at first the
townsfolk are reluctant to give
him any help on the story, Capote
uses his masterful interviewing
skills to connect with just about
everyone on a deep, personal
level.
“It’s as if Perry and I grew up
in the same house,” Capote tells
his friend and author of “To Kill
a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee
(Catherine Keener). “One day he
stood up and went out the back
door while I went out the front.”
Perry is one of the two killers
found guilty of the slaying and
sentenced to death by hanging.
Most of the film is devoted to
Capote’s relationship with Perry
as the author tries to gather insight on what happened that fateful night. When this starts it all
feels dreadfully reminiscent of
the film “Dead Man Walking,” in
which Susan Sarandon plays the
part of understanding counselor
looking to provide solace for a
stray soul, Sean Penn. There are
other strong parallels, but divulg-
ing them would be giving too
much away.
The most phenomenal thing
about “Capote” is Hoffman’s acting. It gives the film two legs to
stand on when the storyline itself
might be tired and predictable. It’s
easy to watch as such a complex
1960s icon comes to terms with
his feelings about either hating or
loving a cold-blooded killer.
It nearly tears Capote apart.
Most of the time he pumps the
life into the parties he frequents,
but as he realizes the scope of
his novel and the lives entangled
within, he mopes about finding
comfort only in his gin and tonic.
Capote’s dramatic highs and
lows are enthralling. While the
story ends with predictable certainty, the legend himself remains
a mystery. Capote is as unpredictable as they come. Imagine
a famous carefree partier thrown
into a situation of unforeseen
profundity - in this case writing a
book that sympathizes with both
the loved ones and the killers of a
family of four - the effect is fascinating and sincere. And it’s all
true.
MOVIE
REVIEWS
5
Bow Wow, Nick
Cannon discuss
‘Roll Bounce’
By CARMELLIA MUNGUIA
Daily Titan Staff
ed to be a part of it. As a kid
he spent weekends at the skating rink having a good time
and thought it would be a good
quality film based on the players and the theme of the movie. The film crew didn’t know
Bernard would be a crazy character with a flair for color.
“The yellow and blue stirrups I fought all the way.
When I first saw those pants,
there was no way I was fitting
into those pants, and then I was
mad that I did,” Cannon said.
Bernard appears in a few
scenes and contributes his raw
and sly wisdom to Naps (Rick
Gonzalez).
“[Bernard] thinks he is giving you all the world, but it
doesn’t make sense,” Cannon
said. “He is like the Yoda.”
Only a bus ride away, the
boys are reminded of their
place in society amongst local
Sweetwater Roller Rink regulars.
The group faces the challenge of finding themselves
Wearing a white gold diamond necklace and a largefaced diamond-studded watch
with a black alligator band,
rapper Bow Wow enters the
suite at the Four Seasons in
Beverly Hills with attitude.
His happy gaze expresses fulfillment. At 18 years old, Bow
Wow is the youngest solo rapper to hit No. 1 and he’s not
stopping there.
He said his hard work and
commitment to being an entertainer has paid off – whatever
he puts his mind to, he accomplishes.
“I was born to do this. I
knew I was destined to do
what I do,” Bow Wow said. “I
did everything, talent shows,
commercials, [even Disney].”
“Roll Bounce” glances into
Chicago during the late 1970s.
Roller skating jams are a staple
like bell-bottom jeans. Bow
Wow departs from his rapper persona and
becomes Xavier
Smith, X to his
friends. He plays a
wholesome paperboy who lost his
mother to cancer.
X and his friends
face losing the local roller skating
rink where they
spend their downtime.
This role tranTwentieth Century Fox
sitions Bow Wow
from music and Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, Marcus T.
comedic roles into Paulk, Rick Gonzalez and Khleo Thomas
a more serious
skate up a storm in “Roll Bounce.”
movie.
“This was going
to be the movie to show my and winning the respect of
skills,” Bow Wow said.
their adversaries. The director,
He performed all his own Malcolm D. Lee and writer
stunts except for the jumping Norman Vance Jr., take viewand spinning moves and said ers on a journey of friendskating comes naturally to ship, family, love and a young
him.
hero’s journey from childhood
“I don’t like anyone to do into manhood.
anything for me,” Bow Wow
Wearing four-inch gold
said. “I wanted to come out hoops with “Good” etched in
authentic.”
the middle, Meagan Good, 24,
Bernard was an easy charac- who plays Naomi, Xavier’s
ter for actor and hip-hop artist sweetheart, had to convince
Nick Cannon, who starred in Lee that her pretty face could
“Drumline,” to play.
play an innocent, insecure
After hearing about the teenager.
roller-skating theme, reading
“I am used to being that girl
the “well written script” and with the big teeth and the gap,”
learning of the strong cast and Good said. “I was short and
filmmakers associated with super skinny. It was a reality I
“Roll Bounce,” Cannon want- had known.”
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
The Corpse Bride, voiced by Helena Bonham Carter, hauntingly twirls in “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride.”
‘Corpse Bride’ beautiful,
not quite ‘Nightmare’
By KELLI FADROSKI
Daily Titan Staff
the score for the film is excellent.
Taking cues from “Nightmare,”
“Corpse Bride” is also a musical.
With numerous musical numbers, the most colorful scene takes
place in the land of the dead where
Bonejangles (Elfman) and his skeleton crew fill Van Dort in about the
story of his new bride.
When the skeletons sing and
dance it’s reminiscent of Alice falling down the rabbit hole in “Alice in Wonderland.” The whirl of
colors and quick-switching scenes
along with a jazzy jingle leave
the audience wide-eyed. Unfortunately, this is about the only scene
in the movie that warranted any
real response. Visiting Elder Gutknecht, the wise skeleton of the
land of the dead, Van Dort tricks
his corpse bride into having Gutknecht cast a spell that will return
them to the land of the living. In
the course of singing, dancing and
marrying a corpse, he suddenly
falls in love with his arranged
bride, Everglot, and vows to return
home to her. Of course, the plot
thickens as back in the land of the
living, her greedy parents demand
that she marry a scandalous gentlemen whose suave demeanor, in
Victor’s absence, sweeps the Everglots off their feet.
This is where the story gets a
little thick. There’s nothing pure
about Van Dort and Everglot’s love
– it’s no Jack and Sally romance,
that’s for sure.
Plagued with darkness, “Corpse
Bride” has its lagging scenes
and moments of confusion. The
“Corpse Bride” story is just so
boring and far reaching. Burton
stretches for more and strings the
audience along with him, using
a maggot to chime in from time
to time to remind the audience to
smile. It’s really a shame because
the cinematography and music used
throughout the film is flawless.
The set up may appear to be the
same, but the story behind creative
mastermind Tim Burton’s newest
animated release, is a far cry from
the witty Halloween-takes-overChristmas plot of 1993’s “The
Nightmare Before Christmas.”
“Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride”
is defiantly a darker film in comparison. The characters in the film
seem to be forced upon each other
rather than having any real connection. Johnny Depp lends his
hi-pitched pubescent voice to the
awkward Victor Van Dort. His
parents pawn him off on the seemingly wealthy Victoria Everglot, a
young woman whom he has never
met, yet is forced to marry. Van
Dort’s bumbling leads into an intense scene filled with embarrassing moments as he attempts to recall his vows and slips the wedding
band onto the finger of a woman
whom he just met. His lanky
limbs give him nothing but
trouble as he tries desperately to
impress his future in-laws.
Although the movie has a
dark premise, Burton doesn’t
forget to add in a few moments
of comic relief. The film is shot
beautifully using clay-animation and computer graphics.
In Van Dort’s land of the living, the characters and scenery
are mostly dark blue, green
and black – the lack of color
portraying his rather dull and
moody life. Once Van Dort
accidentally slips his wedding
band on the finger of the corpse
bride, his world suddenly turns
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
colorful and even the music beVictor Van Dort, voiced by Burton-veteran Johnny Depp, receives a helping
comes light.
Produced by Danny Elfman, hand in “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride” released Friday.
6 MUSIC REVIEWS
Another revolutionary Marley
By ERIC SANDERS
Daily Titan Staff
If ever there was an omen in the
coming of an iconoclastic son, it
would be no clearer than in the return of Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley,
with his fourth album, Welcome to
Jamrock.
After winning a Grammy in 2001
for best reggae album, the new release brings Damian Marley back
to the forefront of the music world.
Welcome to Jamrock promises to
follow the same path, debuting at
No. 7 on The Billboard Top 200
Albums Chart, making it the biggest opening week for a reggae artist. Damian is the youngest seed of
the royal-reggae-family-tree called
Marley, but if people expect a modern day polished up version of his
father, they will be sadly mistaken.
Damian Marley’s music is a mixture
between the classic island sounds
of his Jamaican homeland, and the
hardcore street poetry of hip-hop
– which is seen in his militantminded lyricism, sharp enough to
test the most gifted of emcees. His
heavy Jamaican flow weaves his
words seamlessly throughout the
album with unpredictable styles of
hip-hop, reggae and dancehall, effortlessly and can only be described
as a gift to his listeners.
Damian and his brother, Stephan
Marley, produced all but two songs
the album. The well arranged tracks
show off the diverse musical talents
of the duo, with songs ranging from
melodic easy-skanking-reggae-riffs
to hard-pounding, neck-breaking
rebel-beats. The guest list of artists
stays true to the hip-hop and reggae
theme, with names like Nas, Black
Thought, Eek-A-Mouse and Bounty Killer, to keep both sides of the
spectrum happy. Also featured is a
rare musical appearance by Bobby
Brown, who dusted off his mike to
throw down some vocals on a saxlaced love ballad.
The album opens up with the
track “Confrontation,” which is less
like a song, and more like a call to
arms. With a war-like drumbeat interlaced with sound bites of Marcus
Garvey’s emphatic plea for action,
the energy of the song makes one
feel as if marching with thousands
of irie rebels ready to clash at the
first sign of authority seeking to oppress them. The title track and first
single, “Welcome to Jamrock,” is a
description of the Jamaican street
culture and youth, which displays
the conscious lyrical skills of Damian Marley. “Come on let’s face
it / A ghetto education’s basic / And
most of the youths them waste it
/ And when them waste it, that’s
when them take the guns replace
it / Then them don’t stand a
chance at all!”
A more dramatic song,
titled “Pimpa’s Paradise,”
features Stephen Marley and
Black Thought of the Roots.
Stephen Marley sings the
chorus in a raspy elegance
reminiscent of his dad, while
Damian and Black Thought
paint a deep poetic portrait
of a girl who falls into a dark
TUFF GONG INTERNATIONAL
despair of drug addiction.
The highlight of the album Marley remains unique in his new album.
is in the calm and peaceful
track named “Road to Zion.”
This album is a testament to the
The song guest stars Nas, who power that music can have in our
adds his own introspective flow to culture. With his sentimental melothe collaboration.
dies and political content, Damian
The soothing humming of a fe- Marley is the prodigal son who will
male vocalist mixed with the sounds make all who listen nod their heads,
of whaling winds, soft piano strides pump their fists and praise Jah for
and gentle guitar plucks, take the the revolutionary bloodline that is
listener on a journey.
Marley.
Flashback Favorite
No doubts about band’s legacy
By ASHLEY MAJESKI
Daily Titan Staff
October 10, 1995: It was a
day of intense emotion for a
band from Anaheim. No Doubt
released its third album that day,
and half expected it to fail like
their previous two albums did in
the midst of a grunge revolution.
However, the flannel shirts and
greasy hair of grunge were waning, making room for a sunny, fun
ska-punk album that would go on
to become one of the best selling
records of the 1990s.
It’s hard to believe that it’s
been ten years since Tragic Kingdom was released. The songs
ranged from girl-power anthems
such as “Just a Girl” and “Sunday
Morning” to break up ballads like
“Don’t Speak,” (which still in-
spires bad karaoke renditions).
I can still remember my first
sighting of Gwen Stefani. I was in
7th grade and mesmerized by the
“Just a Girl” video as she jumped
around in her midriff-baring top,
blond bangs and Dr. Martens.
Surrounded by guys, Gwen was
tough, but still glamorous.
As the band’s popularity grew,
every girl in junior high wanted
to be Gwen. At every talent show,
the sounds of “Spiderwebs” or
“Excuse Me Mister” were accompanied by a badly choreographed
dance with equally bad “Gwenabe” costumes. Girls could relate
to not only her lyrics about breakups and her frustrations with being a girl, but also her funky fashion sense.
Tragic Kingdom went on to sell
over 10 million albums world-
wide and could be heard blaring
out of every pre-teen’s bedroom
window from the years of 1995
to 1998.
No Doubt went on to release
three more albums after Tragic
Kingdom, but none matched its
commercial success.
The band is still in the spotlight
today, having released a greatest
hits album last year. Gwen has
also launched a successful solo
career, with her first album going
certified platinum.
The songs on Tragic Kingdom
are still great tunes to listen to
while getting ready to go out, or
when you just want to be transformed to the carefree days of
1995, before Gwen was a “Hollaback Girl” and stick-on bindis
weren’t available in malls across
America.
MUSIC
Reggae star makes ‘Clothes Drop’
By MAHSA KHALILIFAR
Daily Titan Asst. Entertainment Editor
Shaggy, also known as Mr.
Bombastic is back once again to
give some more music and loving to his fans.
Shaggy, whose real name is
Orville Richard Burrell, releases
his sixth album, Clothes Drop,
where he is once again dropping beats and songs that have
brought the Grammy AwardWinner where he is today.
Last time we heard from this
singer, we were repeating the
lyrics to “It Wasn’t Me,” and
swooning over “Angel.”
Now the reggae star is back
with a similar sound but different
style. Collaborating with various
artists from famed groups such
as The Black-Eyed Peas and the
PussyCat Dolls, this 17-track al-
bum brings a new flavor to the
Jamaican-inspired music.
Singing about love and sexual
innuendos is the usual mantra for
the self-proclaimed Mr. Lover;
this time though, the songs are
even more lyrically conscience
and the beats have slowed down,
leaving the listener room to pay
closer attention to his unique
voice.
The first single off the album,
“Wild 2nite,” features the vocals of G-Unit’s very own Olivia. The song has a good tone
and although a remix of the song
might be necessary for the clubs,
the song is still one to bump up
while driving.
The track to put on repeat:
“Would You Be” showcases
famed reggae artist Brian Gold.
The beats make this ballad one
of Shaggy’s best songs yet.
Although the album does not
have too many standout hit singles, the tracks are still enticing,
especially for hardcore Shaggy
fans.
The album does not allow
first-time Shaggy listeners a way
to get to fully understand his intentions but it is pure Shaggy:
sexy and unusual – just the way
he seems to like it.
Always provocative, Shaggy’s
album is not for innocent ears.
Sexuality exhumes Shaggy and
his music.
In “Ahead In Life,” the singer
blatantly gives his penis a pep
talk, which you cannot help but
laugh at. Topics vary, but they
mostly revolve around the subject of sex.
On a more serious note, the
singer speaks about what seems
to be a young woman being
ASI presents The Acidic
Front to CSUF students
By HENRY TRUC
Daily Titan Copy Editor
ASI Productions is bringing
another free concert to Cal State
Fullerton. On Sept. 28, The Acidic
Front is going to play at the Becker
Amphitheater at noon. The indie
rock band from Chino plays music that is influenced by big-name
bands like Jimmy Eat World and
lesser-known bands like Texas is the
Reason, Sunny Day Real Estate and
The Early November. The Acidic
Front consists of Nick De Partee on
vocals and guitar, Jeremy Sohl also
on vocals and guitar, Kevin Hedges on bass and Raul Martinez on
drums. With emotional lyrics, The
Acidic Front visits venues on their
mission to be signed by a label.
For the most part, the band has
been playing at churches, which is
fitting because of the band’s purpose.
“We are still a rock band playing
to show people God’s love and his
endless grace and mercy. We hope
that is evident in our lyrics, shows,
and lives,” De Partee stated on the
band’s Web log.
The band’s music is easy to listen to and at times even gets a little
edgy, but it’s definitely not as upbeat
as the other bands that have visited
CSUF in the previous weeks. Titans
can most likely expect the band
to plays songs off of their newly
released EP entitled “The Fall To
Love.” The songs “Procession”
and “Today is a Passing Trend” are
available for listening www.purev-
olume.com/theacidicfront. There
is also a track entitled “The White
in the Iris,” which is probably the
strongest track of the three.
For more information, Titans
can visit the band’s myspace at
myspace.com/theacidicfront.
abused in “Gone With Angels”
and a heartfelt message to his
own children in “Letter to My
Kids.”
Of course, what Shaggy album would be complete without
the booty-shaking dance tracks?
Although most of the songs
have beats one can move to,
tracks like “Ready Fi Di Ride,”
“Supa Hypnotic,” “Don’t Ask
Her That” and “Road Block” are
ones you might hear in the hiphop clubs.
Overall, the album gives
Shaggy fans a mix of old and
new flavors of his more original
music, this time with more guest
artists and even more seductive
lyrics. The only warning is that
after hearing the tunes, clothes
may just drop, which is exactly
what Shaggy may have been
aiming for. Goal accomplished.
Celebrity quote
of the week
“I went to Europe for a
month on tour and we
kinda dated by Blackberry.”
– Sheryl Crow to Entertainment Weekly, on how
she and Lance Armstrong
started dating.
REVIEWS
7
Brit
band
still
jams
By EDUARDO VASCONCELLOS
Daily Titan Staff
In 1993, this talented British
band broke out onto the scene, paying tribute to the disco trend two
decades prior. In 1996, the charttopper “Virtual Insanity” put them
on the map and people started to
recognize the name Jamiroquai.
That album Travelling Without
Moving, proved to the world that
they were more than a mere one
hit wonder. They have had two
great albums since then and almost
10 years later have put out one
– Dynamite. Maintaining the funky
sound similar to the house beats of
Groove Armada, Jamiroquai’s music is an experience worth listening to. Don’t be surprised if in the
near future, this album is used to
keep parties going in clubs across
the globe. Dynamite starts off with
the low-tempo Feels Just Like It
Should,” which starts out a bit
jerky, quickly turns into one of the
band’s trademark funk tracks, without getting to be too abrasive.
After that, it takes off with the
spacy “Dynamite,” with Kay’s soprano crooning, a great beat and a
fun guitar riff, it’s definitely one of
the better tracks on the record. Next
up is a track that matches its name,
“Seven Days In Sunny June.” It’s
not quite a track for the clubs, but
it is enjoyable and catchy. “Electric
Mistress” rounds up the first bit,
and offers an electronic sound that
reminds me of something from an
old-school 8-bit Nintendo game.
The latter half of the album is less
memorable than the first. It’s saving grace, however, happens to be
the best track on the entire album,
“(Don’t) Give Hate a Chance.”
It’s everything anybody could
ask of Jamiroquai. It’s totally overproduced, but in a good way, like
Radiohead’s Karma Police, with
every note played on a grand scale.
The bass keeps the beat as well as
any percussion instrument would
while the string and wind come in
and are so resounding, it’s hard not
to get caught up in the song. This is
the one track that will move copies
out of stores. The rest of the album
is a treat to the auditory senses and
each track keeps the interest level
peaked even if there is a slow patch
in the middle. Dynamite is certainly
8 RESTAURANT REVIEWS
Big Easy dining jazzes
up Downtown Disney
By CHRISTINA SCHROETER
Daily Titan Staff
At a time when New Orleans
seems inaccessible, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen brings the tastes
of the Big Easy to Orange County.
Bringing cooks and managers in
from Louisiana, Brennan created a
mock-up of the French Quarters.
From the wrought iron railings to
the live jazz, the Jazz Kitchen is a
fun way to escape the monotony of
ordinary restaurants. The restaurant
boasts classic courtyard seating,
balconies and a variety of indoor
dining rooms. An assortment of
parasols hang from the dining room
ceiling in the jazz club and a fourpiece jazz band plays vivaciously
on weekends and a pianist plays
on weeknights. Mardi Gras photos
hang on the walls and chandeliers
on the ceiling in the posh Queen’s
Room. For a classy, historical dinner, the Parlor Room is embellished
with antiques and old photographs.
Although elegant, the Jazz Kitchen
always welcomes casual dress.
The eatery also imitates New Orleans’ signature cuisine. Although
the N’Awlins Cheesesteak Po‘
Boy ($10.75). Thinly sliced filet mignon, caramelized onions,
bell peppers and provolone on
French bread create a mouthwatering sandwich. It’s served with
deep fried, seasoned dill pickle
chips making it a unique and
flavorful afternoon meal. Aside
from bringing in Louisiana natives, the restaurant also imports
ingredients from New Orleans,
like red fish, shrimp and oysters.
A favorite with regulars is the
Pasta Jambalaya ($19.75) with
Gulf shrimp, andouille sausage
and roasted chicken tossed with
spinach fettuccine and Creole
seasonings.
CHRISTINA SCHROETER/Daily Titan
The Jazz Kitchen also speThe Jazz Kitchen playfully replicates cializes in unusual flavored socourtyards of the French Quarter.
das and exotic cocktails.
On Sundays, there is a Zydeco
diners may be tempted to order
Jazz brunch from 11 a.m. to 4
gumbo, a customary dish, instead p.m. While listening to the jazz that
indulge in a bowl of Creole Onion melds Cajun dance music, R&B
Soup ($7.25). Caramelized on- and African blues, guests feast on
ions are drenched in savory soup entrees like the Southern Omelet
with Creole seasonings and gar- ($12.50) or Banana Fosters French
nished with croutons and Parmesan Toast ($12.75).
cheese. At lunch, save room for
The only flaw is the outdoor patio
facing Downtown Disney’s boardwalk. The Big Easy experience is
squashed when, instead of hearing
the sounds of New Orleans’ jazz,
the Disney speakers blast child-safe
top-40. Despite this, wonderful service, delectable dishes, incredible
entertainment and the Big Easy-inspired setting tempt patrons to return for a good time at this exciting
home away from home.
The Jazz Kitchen is located at
1590 South Disneyland Drive. For
more info call (714) 776-5200 or
log on at www.rbjazzkitchen.com.
CHRISTINA SCHROETER/Daily Titan
Memphis welcomes guests to its modern atmosphere to lounge, sip
cocktails and enjoy a high-class meal all at a reasonable price.
Soul food in OC
By CHRISTINA SCHROETER
Daily Titan Staff
Mellow, mod and full of soul,
Memphis is unlike any other restaurant in Orange County. An
intimate atmosphere and modern
soul food create a hip, yet poised,
dining experience.
The aroma of home cookin’ saturates the air of the café, inviting
all who pass to come in and savor
the one-of-a-kind delicacies.
Within a minute of being
seated, cornbread appears on the
table, which sets the mood flavor
for the entire meal - good Southern cuisine.
The menu, swamped with colorful appetizers and entrees, features an array of dishes foreign to
much of OC. The smoked chicken
and Brie quesadilla, served with
watercress, corn salsa and avocado ($9), is a fantastic starter to
share. The chicken and shrimp
gumbo ($7.50) is a tasty way to
plunge into the soulful ambiance.
Made with okra and chicken-andouille sausage, it’s served with
dirty rice and cornbread. Before
filling up on the delicious appetizers, save room for a main
course. The pan-roasted chicken
breast ($14.75), tender white
meat drenched in lemon thyme
sauce, is presented with silky collard greens, barbequed corn and
mashed potato pancakes, creating an upscale dinner, without
the aristocratic attitude or price.
Memphis also provides a full bar
and dessert menu.
With chic mid-century style décor, and an outdoor patio, guests
dine in a stylish atmosphere.
Funky soul tunes delicately flood
the dining room, creating a comforting Southern aura. The friendly staff and the close-knit tables
provide a family-like experience.
Memphis morphs into a club
Wednesday through Saturday
nights and fashionable twentysomethings trickle into the dimly
lit bar. With an eclectic array of
music and a dance floor packed
with inebriated hipsters, Memphis
is the answer to every OC cliché.
Memphis is located at 2920
Bristol Street in Costa Mesa, just
a few steps from The Lab. For
more info, call (714) 432-7685.