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Packages from the past
The switching of beverages from glass to plastic containers might not seem like a big deal to you.
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N.E.R.D. molds numerous styles
The best type of music is the kind that incorporates a large variety of influences and delivery styles. Too often an artist will lay down a blueprint of what direction he or she wants to go, and stick to it without even considering an alternative route.
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Sorority Boys not as bad as expected
Going into a theater showing “Sorority Boys,” we all expect one thing: crap. The title alone sounds like it’s going to stink.
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Soundtrack has familiar concept
Putting together an album which features only collaborations of artists is an interesting concept - one that’s been done many times before. Sometimes it’s a clever concept, but most of the time it isn’t, especially for soundtracks.
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Orpheus a hilarious success
In January, when Melanie Helton found out she would direct the School of Music’s Opera Theatre’s production of “Orpheus in the Underworld,” she had a vision of how she wanted the play to happen.“Technically everything went very well,” the assistant professor of voice said.
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Blade II restores faith in sequels
Oooh, another vampire movie. Perhaps I should make fun of goth kids again. Or, instead of doing that and facing the inevitable backlog of e-mails telling me I’m just another whitebread joiner making fun of things I don’t understand, I’ll just go for the gusto: “Blade II” rocks.
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Film Festival awards handed out, several movies to be shown again
On Sunday, the fifth annual East Lansing Film Festival wrapped up, complete with plenty of awards and excitement. The festival this year included a new audience award, which is currently being tallied. But for the “Michigan’s Own” portion of the festival, which took place Sunday, awards were already prepared for the winners. For the feature category, the winner of the grand prize of $400 was “Living with the Fosters.” Second was “Wicked Spring,” winning $250 and third was “Coping.” All three received three rolls of film for future projects. In the shorts category, first place went to “Race Condition,” winning $400 and a $500 certificate for film development from Film Craft Lab.
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Art worth it for the laughs
What do three men and a painting have in common in “Art” A complicated friendship that lacks communication and understanding.
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E.T. is worth another look
For some reason people seem to think I’m a gruff guy. After reading some of these reviews, I must come off as an evil and hateful ogre, sitting under a bridge eating goats and spewing bile about movies. But to be honest, I’m really a big softy.
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Mercedes show goes off without a hitch
Using a heater as his chair and a window as his back-support Friday night, Todd Bell admitted that he and his band, Hey Mercedes, have been freaking out lately.“We’ve been on tour so much, it’s hard to write,” the bass player said.
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Real World comes to U
Condoms, lubricants and detailed discussions of sex invaded the International Center cafeteria on Friday during MSU’s third “Sex in the Real World” event.“The Real World” New York cast members Malik Cooper and Coral Smith joined health experts Dianne Singleton and Dennis Martell for a “Loveline”-style sex advice panel.But before being bombarded with various sex questions from the 600-person audience, Cooper and Smith offered some insight into the lives of “The Real World.”“We’re normal people just like you,” Smith said before the show.
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Film Festival continues this weekend
Easiest “Best Bet” to write ever. Want to see some good movies this weekend? Go to the East Lansing Film Festival.
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Lansing veteran to play Harpers Saturday night
Brian Vander Ark will perform an acoustic set Saturday at Harper’s Downtown, 131 Albert Ave. Vander Ark will play a selection of songs from his band, The Verve Pipe, as well as performing some solo material. “We’ve already got people calling about it,” said Christian Dorsch, general manager of Harper’s.
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Band flows with new influences
Brett Bielski admits his band, The Flow, is always looking for new influences to dig itself into. Later this month, the band will take a master class with Antibalas, an Afro-funk group from Brooklyn. “Basically, they do workshops while they’re touring and Afro-funk is something we’ve been listening to a lot lately,” Bielski said.
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Student helps run local label for hip-hop
Like most college students, Dan Atkinson is constantly chatting on the phone. But the telecommunication senior doesn’t converse with friends or family during those long talks: He spends countless hours handling mail orders and making contacts for the record label Virus Independent. “It’s a full schedule, but everything seems to always work out,” he said. “The rest of the guys are always willing to pick up the loose ends when I’m extra busy.” The hip-hop label, based in Mount Clemens, was founded in 1999 by solo artists Skrapz, F.R.eeze and producer Sol46.
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The Sound of Music continues in Lansing
Lansing Catholic Central High School’s production of “The Sound of Music” illustrates how true love can conquer all the obstacles put forth to hinder something worse than hate or warfare. “Sound of Music,” written in 1965, circles around the Von Trapp family and a girl named Maria, a student at Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg.
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Showtime a goofy Lethal Weapon
Whatever happened to the show “Cops?” It’s on occasionally, but nothing like it used to be - you could find it everywhere, all day long.
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Fairchild to host Opera
The MSU School of Music’s Opera Theatre will perform Jacques Offenbach’s comedic 1858 operetta “Orpheus In the Underworld” this weekend. Filled with raunchy humor and love scandals, the opera will show Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
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Check out two great concerts this weekend
Hey Mercedes will perform tonight at the Erickson Hall Kiva, sponsored by Pop! Entertainment. The band, comprised of former members of the now defunct Braid, is supporting its latest effort, “Every Night Fire Works,” on Vagrant Records. For those who dig off-beat guitar chirps and tricky bass lines backed with solid brass, check out Grand Rapids-based Mustard Plug Saturday at the Common Grounds Coffeehouse, in the basement of Akers Hall. Singing on subjects ranging from thigh-high nylons to working at a gas station convenience store after hours, Mustard Plug will provide good ska/punk tunes to dance and sing along to. The band, on popular punk rock label Hopeless Records, has released a number of albums, singles and 7-inch vinyl records. Ruth’s Hat will open the show, performing its blend of goofy and lighthearted punk rock.
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Play will deal with crimes brutality
A parent faces his worst nightmare in the play “Talk About the Passion,” by Graham Farrow.