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Features

FEATURES

'Making Cents' a breakthrough for hip-hop

Hip-hop is a door not easily accessible in Ann Arbor and definitely less in Lansing. Artists have fewer options of places they can perform which causes problems building an audience and attracting fans. Members of Ann Arbor's Switch Stance, who have been together since 2001, have been finding a way to break the stereotype and surrounding frustrations while putting together solid beats and rhymes.

FEATURES

Strange venue, band's antics mark Go show

Elysia A. Smith
April 7, 2003

One by one, girls grabbed their boyfriends' hands and dragged them - some quite unwillingly - up the sides of the elevated stage. Staring at a still audience while others kissed and hugged, couples waited as shaggy-haired OK Go frontman Damian Kulash promised the audience a song for lovers.

FEATURES

'Noise' has powerful messages

Jeremy W. Steele
April 7, 2003

Shackled by the slave traders who ravaged their continent, millions of Africans could do little to prevent the loss of their freedom. But despite lashings by slave owners and the inequity of U.S.

FEATURES

'Basic' is basically a bad movie

Insipid, dull, talky, rancid, long, insulting, stupid, presumptuous and wholly disappointing - what else would you expect from Hollywood? "Basic" is easily one of the worst movies so far this year, and man, have there been a lot of them.

FEATURES

New brand of humor to take Riverwalk stage

Shaun Byron
April 2, 2003

It's not everyday the death of a friend's fiancee can bring laughter to a Lansing theater.Fans of English sitcoms might want to check out "Absent Friends," premiering this week.The play is written by English playwright Alan Ayckbourn and is about Colin, who's fiancee has just drowned.

FEATURES

Online addicts

Megan Frye
April 2, 2003

It starts as curiosity. Then it becomes a hobby. But not long after, for those who have explored the world of shopping online, clicking "add to cart" becomes a habit. Or even an addiction. Jonathan Lenz considers himself a recovering online shopping addict.

FEATURES

White Stripes keep Detroit rock alive with 'Elephant'

Joey Guillen
April 1, 2003

It's okay to be caught smiling uncontrollably today, you have a reasonable excuse to do so. Like parents who are proud of their honor students, fans of the Detroit rock scene just watched their children's training wheels come off. The White Stripes, who have been driving fun, lighthearted rock 'n' roll back into the Detroit scene since the band's formation in 1997, jumped up on the commercial success tricycle with the release of its third album "White Blood Cells" in 2001 and took right off down the block. It's hard to believe the band is back already with its fourth release "Elephant." The album has a less polished feel to it.

FEATURES

New releases

It's the CD for which almost every fan of the more recent Detroit explosion has be waiting for, call it part two if you want - The White Stripes' fourth album "Elephant." The disc includes the already popular first single "Seven Nation Army," a catchy "Ball and Biscuit" and even a surprising guest appearance by Detroit news television personality Mort Crim on "Little Acorns." Following in the theme of two-member groups, The Kills, who have toured with Sleater-Kinney, releases its debut album "Keep on Your Mean Side." The duo, consisting of vocalist and guitarist VV and drummer, guitarist and also vocalist (phew) Hotel, released an EP in 2002 titled "Black Rooster." Other not-so-shocking news: Another member of the Wu-Tang Clan releases a new album.

FEATURES

World violent enough, riots not needed in war time

March 21, 1999. After the Spartans advanced to the Final Four by defeating Kentucky, about 1,000 MSU fans celebrated the Sunday night victory by running across downtown East Lansing and campus. The revelry moved from Cedar Village apartments to Gunson Street, then Munn field, Shaw Hall and finally back to Cedar Village. As I met up with the crowd at Gunson Street and followed the leaders west along Grand River Avenue, I could tell I was part of something special. Upon our return to Cedar Village, a couch already in the street was sprayed with lighter fluid and set aflame. We cheered.

FEATURES

'Evil' worthy of cult status

MSU alumnus Sam Raimi pulled off the impossible. His first recognized film, "The Evil Dead," drew acclaim and cult status through its creepy atmosphere, punctuated violence and overall dreadful feel. Though the film was not a financial success, its underground popularity made fans demand more horror work from the talented young director. What he gave them was "Evil Dead 2." The beauty of the sequel is it's not all that different from the original as far as plot is concerned. Actually, though there are less characters in the beginning, the setup is the same. Ash (Bruce Campbell) goes to a secluded cabin with his girlfriend.

FEATURES

Moore begins work on new film

Allison Lucy
March 31, 2003

Filmmaker Michael Moore, who won an Academy Award for his documentary "Bowling for Columbine," recently made a deal with Mel Gibson's Icon Productions to produce his next film. "Fahrenheit 911" will focus on the ties between the Bush and bin Laden families and suggests the bin Laden family greatly profited from a business association between former President Bush and Mohammed bin Laden.

FEATURES

'Pearl' a lyrical legacy of Joplin's passionate life

Megan Frye
March 31, 2003

One of the most powerful voices in the history of blues-rock happens to belong to one of the most intriguing female musicians of all time. Janis Joplin, who died of a heroin overdose just months prior to the 1971 release of "Pearl," took the world by storm with her emotional, passionate, sexy delivery of raspy-voiced rock 'n' roll.