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Features

FEATURES

Goldfinger's 'Best of' lives up to CD's title

Megan Homanick
July 12, 2005

After 10 years and more than 2,000 shows, Goldfinger has released a compilation of its favorite songs in "The Best of Goldfinger." The ska/punk act from Los Angeles has produced six albums, but is more well known for their rockin' shows they've played across the world. Inside the album cover, lead singer/guitarist John Feldmann confesses that he believes the only reason the band is still having success making music is "our live show" because he said the fans keep coming out to see them. There are no surprises on this record, as Goldfinger fans get everything they could've asked for in 17 songs - from "Here in your Bedroom" to "Open Your Eyes," as well as "Mable" and "Superman." Feldmann, guitarist Charlie Paulson, bassist/backup vocalist Kelly LeMieux and drummer Darrin Pfeiffer aren't done making music, but the "Best of" is a great look at what this band has done over the last decade. The best suggestion for listening to this album is to read the inside cover before diving into the songs, being careful to read each blurb that Feldmann wrote about each of the first 14 songs.

FEATURES

Ellsworth 5-track debut lacking in originality

Ryan Mccormick
July 12, 2005

Without any edge or uniqueness, local band Ellsworth goes through the motions of creating another white suburban "rock" album. The debut five-track CD, "Axioms Aren't The Only Lonely," vaguely tackles mundane issues like driving in cars, watching television, writing letters and wondering why there isn't a choice to be born.

FEATURES

Action-packed 'Four' scores

Alex Abate
July 11, 2005

"Fantastic Four" hit theaters this weekend equipped with a full dose of action, power and tons of special effects. The film is based on the original comic series and includes the same characters and plot.

FEATURES

Lead singer overpowers Mayday's 3rd release

Ryan Mccormick
July 11, 2005

"Bushido Karaoke," Mayday (Saddle Creek) Like a fish in the ocean, Mayday's third full-length album is deep and catchy. The album, "Bushido Karoake," pushes 14 tracks, all two- to three-minute tunes, with stark lyrics, bluesy/folksy guitar riffs and piercing drum beats.

FEATURES

Cole's latest CD full of unique R&B sounds

Alex Abate
July 7, 2005

Keyshia Cole differentiates herself from the rest of the R&B pack with the release of "The Way It Is," which features stunning vocals from Cole and a little production help from Kanye West. Cole's R&B sound isn't that different than others in her genre, but it's her dominating voice that makes her CD stand out.

FEATURES

Buzzkiller's 'Feel Good Tunes' fail to do just that

Katie Rausch
June 28, 2005

"Feel Good Tunes," Captain Bringdown and the Buzzkillers (Sock Hop Records) Captain Bringdown and the Buzzkillers have a name that certainly fits the type of music they play - depressing. The band deserves a "C" for effort and energy, but in the categories of vocals, lyrics, music and replay, they might want to try another genre.

FEATURES

Solid Bangkok Five CD could use more tunes

Alex Abate
June 28, 2005

"10 The Hard Way," The Bangkok Five (Aeronaut Records) With only five songs on "10 The Hard Way," The Bangkok Five makes sure all of its tracks are quality tunes that please the listener. The first song, "Black Noise," has a unique sound.

FEATURES

Dredg's 'Catch Without Arms' bad mix of genres

Alex Abate
June 23, 2005

Never really deciding what kind of music they play, the band Dredg comes at its listeners with many different genres in "Catch Without Arms," its latest release. The first track, "Ode to the Sun," is an interesting mix of hard and fast-paced music.

FEATURES

Company takes modern look at 'Macbeth'

Katie Rausch
June 23, 2005

Watch out Shakespeare fans, Macbeth isn't just delivering monologues anymore - he's packing some serious heat in Sunsets with Shakespeare. The nonprofit theater company is putting on a 1920s version of William Shakespeare's tragic "Macbeth," complete with guns, blood and much more.

FEATURES

Morissette's acoustic 'Little Pill' little improved

Alex Abate
June 20, 2005

Alanis Morissette has put a new spin on old success by re-releasing her 1995 album, "Jagged Little Pill." The songs are about the same as the original CD but stripped down and less produced. The rawness of the CD is evident in her popular track, "You Oughta Know." In the first version, this song is carried by hard drums and Morissette's screaming voice.

FEATURES

French slasher flick full of cliches, blood

Alex Abate
June 20, 2005

Delivering nothing out of the ordinary - except French subtitles - the slasher flick "High Tension" is a mix of blood, guts and gore. In fact, the movie could define itself by the tagline: "The more blood the better." "High Tension," or "Haute Tension" in French, is about two college girls - Alex (Maïwenn Le Besco) and Marie (Cécile De France) - who go for a visit to Alex's house.