Thursday, December 19, 2024

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Features

FEATURES

Oakenfolds Bunkka well-mixed

Electronic mixer Paul Oakenfold’s newest album, “Bunkka,” is high-energy music for all who love house laced with techno, hip-hop, electronic and pop. After listening to this British DJ’s CD three times, his well blended sounds indicate a musician with experience and vocals capable of keeping heads bobbing back and forth. The first track on the album, “Ready Steady Go,” is produced by Oakenfold and Andy Gray, with lead vocals by Asher D. The electronic and techno heavy song is definitely the bounce-off-the-walls track all the clubs will eat up. The song has no specific meaning, but you just find yourself moving to the beats. “Southern Sun,” the album’s second track, is more electronic with the smooth pop vocals of Carla Werner, one of the many guests on this electronic compilation. Her voice is similar to Celine Dion, and is perfect for the mellow electronic music. Werner’s beautiful voice lends even more significance to the song’s meaning - searching for peace. The third song, “Time of Your Life,” has a catchy chorus with slamming electronic drums and bass behind the monotone lead vocals of Grant Lee Phillips. The energetic tunes focus on reaching that point in your life simply known as the “Time of Your Life.” And much like great life experiences, the track is full of energy. The compilation’s highlight, “Get Em Up,” comes near the end of the album.

FEATURES

2002 Michigan Pride schedule

Friday 8 p.m. - Absolut Pride Comedy Show with Jason Stuart, featuring Mimi Gonzalez and special guests The Gemstones, at The Temple Club, 500 E.

FEATURES

Country opens Summer Circle with success

I’ve been waiting for the chance to write a positive review for this newspaper, and the opportunity to do so presented itself Saturday night when I saw “A Month in the Country,” the first of three plays in the MSU Summer Circle Theatre season.The play is a never-ending web of love and relationships, highlighted by the fine acting of Natalya (theater Professor Julia Lenardon) and Michel (2002 graduate Mike McKeogh). The two share some intense scenes, where their love and hatred for each other envelopes the audience.

FEATURES

Terror at Baxter U aims for campy, but just plain bad

“Terror at Baxter U,” the first full-length motion picture filmed at MSU, made its premiere in front of a raucous crowd at the Kellogg Center auditorium Tuesday night. But after seeing the movie, I am correlating that raucousness with the fact many of the spectators were parents or friends of the actors. First you need to know the plot - which was written by MSU English Professor Bill Vincent.

FEATURES

Living, learning: the acts of life

Act I I fell in love with drama at a young age. Growing up in the flourishing community of Canton, I was exposed to all sorts of traveling and high-school entertainment troupes. Acting owned Canton, with yuppies, including myself, packing the theaters every night. I soon realized I was tired of being a spectator.

FEATURES

Acting under the sun

Not even Mother Nature’s scorching heat and heavy rain can stop the actors of Summer Circle Theatre from opening up their 42nd season of entertainment.

FEATURES

A Month in the Country opens summer theater

Six months of hard work for eight hours of glory doesn’t seem like a fair trade. But that’s what the first Department of Theatre summer production demanded. The Summer Circle Theatre season begins tonight with the first of four showings of “A Month in the Country,” a 19th century Russian play about a married woman who falls in love with her children’s tutor. Summer Circle runs through June 22 and is the country’s only free-admission outside-theater program administered by a university.. “A Month in the Country” ends its run Saturday at 8 p.m. Rehearsals for “A Month in the Country” began May 13, but production of the play began back in January. Stage manager Nathan Cox said eight students in Theatre 311, Production Practicum, began building the 16-by-28 foot set. The class required a 30-hour per week commitment. “Taking Theatre 311 is like having a full-time job,” Cox said.

FEATURES

Family issues continue to drive Eminem

Did the music industry really feel empty without Eminem? Well, that’s what the Detroit rapper believes. “Without Me,” the first single from “The Eminem Show,” proclaims the music business has a void when Eminem is missing. Eminem is back, and the usual drama that surrounds him is back as well. Most of his music is written from the everyday experiences in his life.

FEATURES

Target requires Eminem fans show ID

As Eminem’s newly release LP sits at the top of The Billboard 200 chart, retailers are making it difficult to purchase the rapper’s music.Fans looking to purchase the Detroit rapper’s new music at local Target stores will need proper identification, as the national Target Corp.

FEATURES

Papa Roach satisfies crowd

Detroit - The air was drenched with anticipation as two hours of opening bands and tension-charged sound checks had passed. Silence hushed over the sweaty crowd as the darkness devoured the stage. The unbearable longing ended with a kick of the bass drum and familiar, guitar-churning riffs.

FEATURES

Bronze statues bring new life to downtown

Lansing - “Sculptures In the Streets” created a capital city buzz in downtown this weekend, luring passers-by to stop and notice the revitalization of the area. With beautiful weather on the city’s side, the 15 bronze contemporary sculptures, created by J.

FEATURES

Lifeguarding - not as easy as it looks

Beaches and pools can become highly populated areas during the summer, where you find lifeguards soaking up the sun, wearing sunglasses and lounging in tall, white chairs.The job looks easy, almost like an episode of “Baywatch.” You might think the biggest obstacle on any given day is making sure you’ve got a enough sunblock on, but that’s not the case.Being a lifeguard is one of the most important jobs of the summer months.

FEATURES

Jazz musical lacks energy

Once in a while, your expectations can exceed the reality of a situation, and BoarsHead Theater’s production of “Ain’t Misbehavin‘” did just that.It was supposed to be a representation of the Roaring ’20s, but it lacked something called energy.

FEATURES

Not Memento, but just as good

Do not, I repeat, do not go into the film “Insomnia” expecting to see a mixed sort of jigsaw puzzle similar to director Christopher Nolan’s last movie, “Memento”. I made this mistake already - don’t make the same mistake.

FEATURES

R.L. poised for success with J Records

The year of J Records continues as R & B singer R.L. debuts his first solo album called “RL:Ements,” which features some of the hottest artists and music in the industry. R.L., formerly of the group Next, has ventured out on his own as an “R & B thug,” which he likes to refer to himself as in his music. He starts off the album slowly, allowing listeners to get to know him through the track “Elements.” The vocals on this song are emotional and honest as he opens up to his audience about the elements he’s composed of.

FEATURES

Weekend guide

Friday DTE Energy Music Theatre presents Eddie Money at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.