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Creativity fuels Moulin Rouge
When Kurt Cobain wrote “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” he probably didn’t imagine his song would be in a Hollywood musical.
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Punky Smoother rocks
Smoother Chasing the Dragon (EMI Music Canada) The press release for Smoother cites the Canadian band’s influences as Beck, Blink 182, Daft Punk and Weezer - and, in fact, the sounds of all these artists can be heard on Smoother’s “Chasing the Dragon.” The CD is an odd combination of so many different musical sounds that it’s even accessible to people who are die-hard fans of specific bands. “Rock Her Like a Lion,” the fourth track, is reminiscent of Blink 182 - a punky love song with catchy lyrics.
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Memento gains box office popularity
Most films that arrive in theaters aren’t worth watching there. No one wants to pay $7.50 for a film that ends badly, has weak characters and bad directing.
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Binoculars voice soothes
Binocular Binocular (Maverick) Binocular produced, sang, wrote, performed and recorded his self-titled debut album by himself in his New York City apartment.
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Remixes honor composer
Various artists Morricone RMX (Reprise Records) In this tribute to movie composer Ennio Morricone, artists from around the electronic music genre have remixed Morricone’s scores and the result is an interesting mix of Morricone’s classic 1960s music, and the newer, techno-inspired remixes found on “Morricone RMX.” Morricone has recently worked on film scores like “Mission to Mars” and “Bulworth,” although neither of these films are featured on the CD.
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Lengthy Pearl Harbor mixes love, war stories
“Pearl Harbor” is like “Titanic” on testosterone. Just like James Cameron’s film, “Pearl Harbor” is a disaster movie - but not just any disaster movie.
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Motown's electronic music festival to thump this weekend
Detroit Rock City will be Electronic City this weekend as the streets of downtown will be trampled by dancing feet at the 2001 Detroit Electronic Music Festival.As one of the largest free festivals in the world, more than 1.5 million people from the suburbs of Detroit and around the globe flooded downtown last year.
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Lopez unbelievable in Angel Eyes
Odd as it may sound, Jennifer Lopez is too famous to be an actress. Most Hollywood stars want all the publicity they can get, but it’s not always beneficial to their careers - or their acting roles. Lopez has overexposed herself - appearing on magazine covers, MTV music videos, and a very public breakup with P.
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Animated film features humorous Myers as ogre; delights all ages
An animated feature-length film doesn’t always get the credit it most often deserves. Many times, cartoon movies are brushed aside as trivial and childish - but anyone who subscribes to this obviously hasn’t seen “Shrek.” Mike Myers, best known for being a “Saturday Night Live” cast member and star of the “Austin Powers” films, does an outrageously hilarious job as the voice of the title character.
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Pop-saturated movie soundtracks appeal is too young for students
Various Artists Shrek Soundtrack (Dreamworks Records) With any movie release nowadays, there’s usually a soundtrack close behind.
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Screaming Staind offering has slower-paced gems
Staind Break the Cycle (Flip Records/Elektra) Sounding a lot like Metallica, Korn and many others before them, Staind’s new album, “Break the Cycle,” should be called “Break the Eardrums.” Staind just added itself to the long list of heavy metal/hard-core bands.
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Michigan author to discuss book tonight
When thinking about addictions, drug and alcohol dependencies usually come to mind. But not for Sue William Silverman - her addiction was sex.
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Crafts, music featured at annual E.L. Art Festival
Only the best of the best will be displayed at the 38th Annual East Lansing Art Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
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Wharton to host dance performances
East Lansing will be inundated with pirouettes, pointe shoes and dancers this weekend, as more than 300 people take part in the Regional Dance America/Mid-States Dancing Into the Millennium Festival. The three-day festival will include students from 12 dance companies in the Midwest and feature three performances at the Wharton Center.
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Weezer gives fans taste of rock, punk, some repetition
Weezer Weezer (Interscope Records) Weezer finally released its third album, “Weezer,” after a five-year hiatus and the wait is well worth it.
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Same old, same old from R.E.M.
R.E.M. Reveal (Warner Bros. Records) Michael Stipe should quit whining.
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Depeche Mode album offers pleasant listening experience
Depeche Mode Exciter (Reprise Records) Depeche Mode is just what modern music needs.
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Atom plays local house
East Lansing resident Lisa Bennett has been listening to the Philadelphia-based one-man band Atom and His Package for more than two years and has even traveled to Arkansas to see him perform. But Bennett didn’t have to travel very far for her third Atom and His Package concert Monday night. Multi-talented Adam Goren made his third visit to East Lansing on Monday, supporting his new album by playing at a local house party. “I’m really glad he’s out there being a guiding light for fun-loving nerds out there,” Bennett said. Goren performs with his guitar and his “package,” a music sequencer, from which most of his backup music is produced.
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Ledgers A Knights Tale entertaining, predictable
Teen-age time-period jousting movies aren’t exactly a big draw at the box office. If “A Knight’s Tale” is any reflection on this subgenre of movies, it isn’t a very good one. It’s not that “A Knight’s Tale” isn’t entertaining, it’s just that the film doesn’t have the spark to completely captivate an audience for two hours. Heath Ledger (“The Patriot,” “10 Things I Hate About You”) plays the main character, William Thatcher.
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Classic Steinbeck tale comes to local stage
Steinbeck’s classic drama “Of Mice and Men” will open in the Arena Theatre, in the basement of the Auditorium, on Saturday and tell the tale of two traveling workers during the Depression. “It’s about the value of being alone versus the value of being with someone,” said Director Dave Goss, who completes his master of arts degree this semester.