Vivacious gospel show brings Holy Ghost to Syracuse
Things are not looking good for my immortal soul. I already knew I was damned, but I got yet another reminder Saturday night while at… Read more »
Writer archives: Joshua Alston
Liner Notes
Rihanna 'S.O.S.'Those under the impression that Rihanna's 'Pon De Replay' was a one-off fluke single are choking on humble pie (myself included). This workmanlike club… Read more »
On the road to success, emerging band creates distinct identity
There's a house on Ostrom Avenue, and on a Sunday night in the basement, an indie-pop band called Ra Ra Riot writes songs and practices… Read more »
Band successfully steps out of musical comfort zone
Seattle post-punk darlings Pretty Girls Make Graves have a habit of choosing pretty awesome cover art. Last time, it was an extreme close-up of a… Read more »
Hip-hop legends bring old-school flavor to Syracuse
At Friday night's 'Two Tables and a Microphone' hip-hop concert in Schine Underground, there was initially some confusion as to why the sold-out crowd had… Read more »
Hollywood hustle: Television, radio and film majors head to Tinseltown hoping to make it big
A young enthusiastic student, full of ideals and motivation, goes to Los Angeles with dreams of a career in show business, willing to do whatever… Read more »
Album shows artist's unexpected emotional transformation
'Ringleader of the Tormentors'Genre: RockSounds Like: The Smiths, The London Suede85 DecibelsFor long-tenured members of the rabid, loyal cult of Morrissey, the portrait that adorns… Read more »
'The Artist' launches solid funk disc by pressing right buttons
Prince'3121'Genre: R&B/FunkSounds like: There's only one Prince80 DecibelsOn the title track of '3121,' the 25th proper LP by everyone's favorite Jehovah's Witness, Prince dangles an… Read more »
Tedious lyrics burden embarrassingly atrocious sophomore release
Hawthorne Heights'If Only You Were Lonely'Genre: EmoResembles: Fall Out Boy, Dashboard Confessional25 DecibelsDoctors take the Hippocratic Oath, which binds them to clearly delineated ethical standards.… Read more »
Bands incisive lyrics, strong rhythm renew Brit-pop genre
Arctic Monkeys'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'Genre: Brit-popResembles: The Smiths, The Strokes90 DecibelsI have a reluctance to get too involved with the… Read more »
Album fails to deliver true musicanship despite impressive guest list
Sergio Mendes'Timeless'Genre: Bossa nova meets hip-hopResembles: Black Eyed Peas, Dream Warriors65 DecibelsStarbucks already has so much to answer for that you would think they'd plot… Read more »
Belle and Sebastian: Group's melodic evolution takes positive turn with new album
Belle & Sebastian'The Life Pursuit'Genre: Kitschy popResembles: Camera Obscura, The Smiths85 DecibelsScottish twee-pop careerists Belle & Sebastian are typically saddled with sugary synonyms. To let… Read more »
During campus reading, author digs into the roots of hip-hop
Because the permeation of hip-hop music into American pop culture leaves no corner untouched, it's difficult to imagine a time when the influential music was… Read more »
Cruise Control: A first-person account of a night out and about with one of Syracuse University's finest
In every facet of the working world, from butlers to bureaucrats, there are those who are deadly serious about their jobs, and others for whom… Read more »
Cat power: Powerful song sequence takes listeners on musician's emotional rollercoaster
Cat Power'The Greatest'Genre: Bluesy popResembles: PJ Harvey, Dusty Springfield85/100 DecibelsThere's a difference between an album and just a bunch of songs, and that difference lies… Read more »
'The Boondocks:' strong enough for whites, balanced for blacks
From dailyorangeblog.com:It's a silly question, but I'll ask it anyway: Did anyone happen to catch 'Nightline' on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Monday night… Read more »
Top 10 albums of 2005
Top 10 lists usually bug me because, as a rule, I think the number in the list should be the product of the digits in… Read more »
One-way ticket: Disobeying road rules for SU parking situation leads to authority run around
Ruth Sideris-Bazinet, a 2000 alumna, received a message from Syracuse University at her parents' house asking her to send money to the school. At face… Read more »
Banks charges hit racial nerve
From dailyorangeblog.com:I can vividly picture in my mind where I was and what I was doing when I heard about the sexual misconduct allegations against… Read more »
Band kicks off second round of the joke that just won't deliver
The Darkness'One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back'Sounds Like: Queen, Thin Lizzy75 DecibelsOnce upon a time, William Shakespeare wrote that 'brevity is the soul… Read more »
'Little Red' finds new path in Chinese culture
A fairytale, much like a joke, only has as much humor, inventiveness and insight as its teller gives it.Thankfully, Kuang-Yu Fong and Chinese Theatre Works,… Read more »
Fading vocals prove Madonna better seen than heard
Madonna'Confessions on a Dance Floor'Genre: Dance-PopSounds Like: Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx65 DecibelsAlright, so maybe Madonna is now a 47-year-old mother of two. So what? What… Read more »
A coming-of-age tale of one SU graduate's journey from stock quotes to deep throats
The cherry wood desk in Clifton Britt's office serves several functions. It's the nerve center where he fields calls from his clients, sometimes with his… Read more »
Beatles tribute should have just let it be
'This Bird Has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' 'Rubber Soul''Genre: Pop/RockSounds Like: Uh...Beatles covers maybe? 65 DecibelsBless me Father, for I have… Read more »
