March 30, 2007: Kaiser Chiefs: Music Review
“Yours Truly, Angry Mob”
Recommended Listening: Angry Mob, Learnt My Lesson Well
The follow up to the ever successful "Employment", the
Kaiser Chiefs’ "Yours Truly, Angry Mob" is full of hook-friendly
melodies that mask lyrics "If you came here on your own you'd be
dead / Its only ‘cause you follow what the others do / Its no excuse
to say your easily lead." The album is full of potential radio hits
that don't care to hide its obvious satire to a certain type of people,
making it all the more appealing. The song "Ruby" opens the
album to an eclectic sound of repeated words about Ruby and
infectious hooks… You can't help but bob your head to! It's clear
the band has a successful year ahead of them with their newest
album.
~Emily Maloney
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Dead Silence
March 23, 2007: Movie Review
There is a certain protocol to making horror films these days. The script should be simple, the actors should be somewhat unknown, and there has to be a twist. Dead Silence sure followed these guidelines and then some. It is your standard scary movie that follows the same plot line as any other movie of its type, with the addition of a vendetta seeking ventriloquist and her possessed dummies.
Newlywed Jaime Ashen, played by Ryan Kwanten, is forced to go back to his hometown, Raven's Fair, in search for answers regarding his wife's brutal murder. Her death is similar to other homicides that occured in Raven's Fair; all the victims' tongues were ripped out of their mouths. Jaime suspicions point to Mary Shaw, the star of an old ghost story he knew as a child.
Mary Shaw is known throughout the town of Raven's Fair as the talented ventriloquist who was accused of murdering a young boy and in turn was hunted down by people of the town. For revenge, her tongue was ripped just before she was brutally murdered. The old tale says that Mary Shaw came back to kill those who had been involved with her death, as well as their families. The film follows Jaime as he uncovers secrets about the town and Mary Shaw.
The plot is somewhat creative but the film is not nearly as bloody as one would hope especially knowing that the writer and director of the film created the film series, Saw. The special effects used throughout the movie try to make it more eerie but they become repetitive and ultimately take away from the already creepy story-line. The script is cliche and the acting is terrible but that is to be expected from movies of this genre.
The bottomline is, if you like cheesy horror flicks, or even if you like to have a good laugh at them, this movie is for you. Don't expect a dazzling cast or award winning directing on this one. The only thing that can be anticipated is a good ghost story fit to scare all the neighborhood children.
~Brittni Liyanage ("Buzz" Reviewer)
There is a certain protocol to making horror films these days. The script should be simple, the actors should be somewhat unknown, and there has to be a twist. Dead Silence sure followed these guidelines and then some. It is your standard scary movie that follows the same plot line as any other movie of its type, with the addition of a vendetta seeking ventriloquist and her possessed dummies.
Newlywed Jaime Ashen, played by Ryan Kwanten, is forced to go back to his hometown, Raven's Fair, in search for answers regarding his wife's brutal murder. Her death is similar to other homicides that occured in Raven's Fair; all the victims' tongues were ripped out of their mouths. Jaime suspicions point to Mary Shaw, the star of an old ghost story he knew as a child.
Mary Shaw is known throughout the town of Raven's Fair as the talented ventriloquist who was accused of murdering a young boy and in turn was hunted down by people of the town. For revenge, her tongue was ripped just before she was brutally murdered. The old tale says that Mary Shaw came back to kill those who had been involved with her death, as well as their families. The film follows Jaime as he uncovers secrets about the town and Mary Shaw.
The plot is somewhat creative but the film is not nearly as bloody as one would hope especially knowing that the writer and director of the film created the film series, Saw. The special effects used throughout the movie try to make it more eerie but they become repetitive and ultimately take away from the already creepy story-line. The script is cliche and the acting is terrible but that is to be expected from movies of this genre.
The bottomline is, if you like cheesy horror flicks, or even if you like to have a good laugh at them, this movie is for you. Don't expect a dazzling cast or award winning directing on this one. The only thing that can be anticipated is a good ghost story fit to scare all the neighborhood children.
~Brittni Liyanage ("Buzz" Reviewer)
The Friendly Toast
March 23, 2007: Restaurant Review
Diners are a great American past time, usually full of satisfying but unhealthy foods, tacky decorations, intriguing staff, and conversations that couldn't happen anywhere else. The Friendly Toast in Portsmouth, NH could be called a diner with a few twists.
When I walked into the Friendly Toast, I was thrilled. Intriguing decorations cover the walls, ceiling, and tables from I love Lucy lamps to surfboards and mannequins. My friends and I took menus at the door and sat ourselves as instructed by signs at the entrance. If you want your hand held through the dining experience, this place isn't for you. Our waiter, the only one apparently, was a 30 something hipster along with the rest of the staff and wasn't the most attentive or personable which some patrons may find off putting. I ordered a two egg sandwich on wheat toast with American cheese, sausage and a side of home fries for $6.75. I was expecting a normal, small, sandwich but I was happily wrong. The Friendly Toast bakes their own gigantic bread, fresh everyday. Each slice was the size of my stretched hand and two to three times thicker than an average slice of bread. The sandwich was delicious and perfectly cooked and the home fries were crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and had a nice spicy seasoning. Three of my friends ordered the Basic Breakfast which brought them a plate of two eggs, home fries, a choice of bacon or sausage and more huge toast for a reasonable $6. Another friend ordered the Orange French Toast which was cinnamon bread in an orange flavored batter topped with a raspberry glaze for $10. The only issue we faced was the service as we had to find our own sugar from another table and the waiter took 15 minutes and two reminders to bring us ketchup for the tasty home fries.
The prices seemed a bit steep until I saw the serving sizes which more than justified the cost. Our bill for five came to under $40 including tip. The Friendly Toast also does more than the standard breakfasts. They offer a Green Eggs and Ham which is two eggs on ham and toast with green herb sauce and New Hampshire's Finest, scrambled eggs or tofu with local goat cheese, scallions, asparagus and bacon. A large lunch and dinner menu is also available and offers huge sandwiches such as a chorizo and Cuban bean burrito and nine ounce burgers with every topping imaginable. The Friendly Toast has a large number of vegetarian and vegan friendly meals and many others can be made differently for non meat eaters by the very accommodating and imaginative chef.
The restaurant is located at 121 Congress St. in Downtown Portsmouth and is open daily for all three meals as well as from Friday morning through Sunday evening 60 hours straight.
So whether you're feeling a craving for a huge breakfast platter or a big veggie burger, check out The Friendly Toast about an hour north of Lowell.
~ Julia Gavin ("Buzz" Reviewer)
Diners are a great American past time, usually full of satisfying but unhealthy foods, tacky decorations, intriguing staff, and conversations that couldn't happen anywhere else. The Friendly Toast in Portsmouth, NH could be called a diner with a few twists.
When I walked into the Friendly Toast, I was thrilled. Intriguing decorations cover the walls, ceiling, and tables from I love Lucy lamps to surfboards and mannequins. My friends and I took menus at the door and sat ourselves as instructed by signs at the entrance. If you want your hand held through the dining experience, this place isn't for you. Our waiter, the only one apparently, was a 30 something hipster along with the rest of the staff and wasn't the most attentive or personable which some patrons may find off putting. I ordered a two egg sandwich on wheat toast with American cheese, sausage and a side of home fries for $6.75. I was expecting a normal, small, sandwich but I was happily wrong. The Friendly Toast bakes their own gigantic bread, fresh everyday. Each slice was the size of my stretched hand and two to three times thicker than an average slice of bread. The sandwich was delicious and perfectly cooked and the home fries were crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and had a nice spicy seasoning. Three of my friends ordered the Basic Breakfast which brought them a plate of two eggs, home fries, a choice of bacon or sausage and more huge toast for a reasonable $6. Another friend ordered the Orange French Toast which was cinnamon bread in an orange flavored batter topped with a raspberry glaze for $10. The only issue we faced was the service as we had to find our own sugar from another table and the waiter took 15 minutes and two reminders to bring us ketchup for the tasty home fries.
The prices seemed a bit steep until I saw the serving sizes which more than justified the cost. Our bill for five came to under $40 including tip. The Friendly Toast also does more than the standard breakfasts. They offer a Green Eggs and Ham which is two eggs on ham and toast with green herb sauce and New Hampshire's Finest, scrambled eggs or tofu with local goat cheese, scallions, asparagus and bacon. A large lunch and dinner menu is also available and offers huge sandwiches such as a chorizo and Cuban bean burrito and nine ounce burgers with every topping imaginable. The Friendly Toast has a large number of vegetarian and vegan friendly meals and many others can be made differently for non meat eaters by the very accommodating and imaginative chef.
The restaurant is located at 121 Congress St. in Downtown Portsmouth and is open daily for all three meals as well as from Friday morning through Sunday evening 60 hours straight.
So whether you're feeling a craving for a huge breakfast platter or a big veggie burger, check out The Friendly Toast about an hour north of Lowell.
~ Julia Gavin ("Buzz" Reviewer)
Zodiac
March 23, 2007: Movie Review
Based on Robert Graysmith's book, Zodiac is the story of a serial killer in
the 1960s and 1970s. The movie however tells the tale of the zodiac killer
through media spectacle only randomly placing victims in cars and on the
sides of the road. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Graysmith who was working as a
cartoonist at the San Franscisco Chronicle at the time of the murders.
Although he plays a second hand role in the film, the conclusion to the story
ends with his definitive answer to the problem. With constant time jumping
scenes, the film still gets across the fear that the killings have
caused. With no concrete conclusions to end the tale, the most unsettling
thing about this movie is that the killer is still out there… somewhere.
~Emily Maloney ("Buzz" Reviewer)
Based on Robert Graysmith's book, Zodiac is the story of a serial killer in
the 1960s and 1970s. The movie however tells the tale of the zodiac killer
through media spectacle only randomly placing victims in cars and on the
sides of the road. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Graysmith who was working as a
cartoonist at the San Franscisco Chronicle at the time of the murders.
Although he plays a second hand role in the film, the conclusion to the story
ends with his definitive answer to the problem. With constant time jumping
scenes, the film still gets across the fear that the killings have
caused. With no concrete conclusions to end the tale, the most unsettling
thing about this movie is that the killer is still out there… somewhere.
~Emily Maloney ("Buzz" Reviewer)
Big D And The Kids Table
March 23, 2007: Music Review
Big D and the Kids Table, a mainstay in the New England ska and punk scene for more than 10 years, is slowing things down a bit. Don’t worry, they’re not going anywhere soon, especially with a tour calendar packed tighter than ever. They’ve taken their fast paced, in-your-face attitude and have come out with a dub album, simply titled, “Strictly Rude”.
Not the sound you would find on their previous albums such as “Good Luck” or “How It Goes”, this one takes it back to their dance hall reggae roots. The opening track “Steady Riot” sets the pace of the album with a fun, get on your feet and dance beat. Other tracks such as “Relocate the Beat” and “She Knows Her Way” are, for a lack of better words, strictly rude. You can hear classic that Big D sound in a few tracks though, such as “Breaking the Bottle”. Big D and the Kids Table have taken their fans into new territory with this dub movement, but they’ve done it the only way they know how, amazingly.
Big D is currently on the road with their new album, touring the U.S. before heading over seas. If you’re not able to catch this time around, they’re scheduled for the entire Warped Tour, which kicks of June 28th.
Strictly Rude is a great CD for the diehard Big D fan, or for anyone with a taste for some laid back reggae and dub. You can find it in most retail music stores, as well as on their website. And as always, you can be sure to hear it in rotation on several of the many programs right here, one 91.5 WUML.
~ Chris McKenney ("Buzz" DJ)
Big D and the Kids Table, a mainstay in the New England ska and punk scene for more than 10 years, is slowing things down a bit. Don’t worry, they’re not going anywhere soon, especially with a tour calendar packed tighter than ever. They’ve taken their fast paced, in-your-face attitude and have come out with a dub album, simply titled, “Strictly Rude”.
Not the sound you would find on their previous albums such as “Good Luck” or “How It Goes”, this one takes it back to their dance hall reggae roots. The opening track “Steady Riot” sets the pace of the album with a fun, get on your feet and dance beat. Other tracks such as “Relocate the Beat” and “She Knows Her Way” are, for a lack of better words, strictly rude. You can hear classic that Big D sound in a few tracks though, such as “Breaking the Bottle”. Big D and the Kids Table have taken their fans into new territory with this dub movement, but they’ve done it the only way they know how, amazingly.
Big D is currently on the road with their new album, touring the U.S. before heading over seas. If you’re not able to catch this time around, they’re scheduled for the entire Warped Tour, which kicks of June 28th.
Strictly Rude is a great CD for the diehard Big D fan, or for anyone with a taste for some laid back reggae and dub. You can find it in most retail music stores, as well as on their website. And as always, you can be sure to hear it in rotation on several of the many programs right here, one 91.5 WUML.
~ Chris McKenney ("Buzz" DJ)
Arcade Fire & Chili's Restaurants
March 2, 2007: Music/Restaurant Review
*Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - *released March 6th
The second record from the Montreal based band evokes more resonance than
before! The intentional use of reverberation adds a mysteriously pleasant
sound to the garage band feel. The catchy melodies and inspiring lyrics
give the band a reputation for creating haunting songs that one can't seem
to turn off. Lyrics such as "Every spark of friendship and love will die
without a home/hear the soldier groan 'we'll go at it alone'" are backed up
by an array of musical instruments such as pipe organs and orchestras. The
album brings an upbeat sound to the indie rock music scene.
*Chili's Restaurants*
My wife and I arrived at Chili’s on South Willow Street in Manchester around 4:45 p.m., relatively early for a Saturday, but when Auntie J is watching the kids for a few hours, one escapes when one can!
A courteous, helpful host immediately greeted us at the door and offered to seat us right away in the main dining room or allow us to entertain our more casual side, seated in the bar area. We opted for the cozy, tavern-like atmosphere afforded by the smaller yet ample bar area. The seating arrangement, with its booths set around the outer edge offering a window view and tables in the middle, emphasized its main attraction - what looked to be a comfortable, functional "watering hole", doling out a variety of thirst quenchers from the two accomplished mixologists at its helm! The room was filled to legal capacity and conversation plus TV. Sports buzz murmured in the background.
We no sooner settled into our perch for the evening, when our server promptly greeted us inquiring whether we'd like to start with drinks and/or an appetizer; water for my wife and a short Bass beer for me, presented in a nicely chilled, sturdy mug. Without further ado, we knew ahead of time we wanted the boneless Buffalo wings to start; their reputation precedes them. Our wings were served at proper temperature hotness, slender celery slices, and just enough ranch dressing to cool the palette from the tangy goodness of each bite. We weren't able to finish our appetizers before our main meals consisting of the Fajita Pita and Cajun Chicken Pasta arrived.
The sliced, Cajun-seasoned chicken breast, smothered in an Alfredo sauce, topped a bed of penne pasta cooked to perfection. Seasoned diced tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and garlic toast rounded out the entrée to aptly support its place amongst the menu's "Favorites." My portion was just right despite the fact that I walked away with the proverbial "doggy bag!" A pita filled with marinated steak, grilled bell peppers, onions, lettuce, and Chili's own special sauce well cared for my wife's taste buds. Listing this as a mere sandwich conjures up an image of the mundane and almost serves it an injustice - her meal was anything but. Her portion was exact and again provided yet another take home container for the 'fridge. Both dinners tasted fantastic and didn't put a strain on the wallet either. Our total bill came to just under forty dollars including 20% tip.
All-in-all, our dinner expectations were met with great satisfaction, from the eclectic, rustic furnishings to the many TVs broadcasting a variety of programs to watch as you enjoy your food, drink, and merriment! This particular Chili's restaurant is located at 1071 S. Willow Street, Manchester, NH. They operate Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., staying open until Midnight on Friday and Saturday.
They may be reached by phone at 603-624-1486 or click http://www.chilis.com for more information. I give them a rating of four out of five stomachs.
~Scott Harrington (UML Grad Student)
*Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - *released March 6th
The second record from the Montreal based band evokes more resonance than
before! The intentional use of reverberation adds a mysteriously pleasant
sound to the garage band feel. The catchy melodies and inspiring lyrics
give the band a reputation for creating haunting songs that one can't seem
to turn off. Lyrics such as "Every spark of friendship and love will die
without a home/hear the soldier groan 'we'll go at it alone'" are backed up
by an array of musical instruments such as pipe organs and orchestras. The
album brings an upbeat sound to the indie rock music scene.
*Chili's Restaurants*
My wife and I arrived at Chili’s on South Willow Street in Manchester around 4:45 p.m., relatively early for a Saturday, but when Auntie J is watching the kids for a few hours, one escapes when one can!
A courteous, helpful host immediately greeted us at the door and offered to seat us right away in the main dining room or allow us to entertain our more casual side, seated in the bar area. We opted for the cozy, tavern-like atmosphere afforded by the smaller yet ample bar area. The seating arrangement, with its booths set around the outer edge offering a window view and tables in the middle, emphasized its main attraction - what looked to be a comfortable, functional "watering hole", doling out a variety of thirst quenchers from the two accomplished mixologists at its helm! The room was filled to legal capacity and conversation plus TV. Sports buzz murmured in the background.
We no sooner settled into our perch for the evening, when our server promptly greeted us inquiring whether we'd like to start with drinks and/or an appetizer; water for my wife and a short Bass beer for me, presented in a nicely chilled, sturdy mug. Without further ado, we knew ahead of time we wanted the boneless Buffalo wings to start; their reputation precedes them. Our wings were served at proper temperature hotness, slender celery slices, and just enough ranch dressing to cool the palette from the tangy goodness of each bite. We weren't able to finish our appetizers before our main meals consisting of the Fajita Pita and Cajun Chicken Pasta arrived.
The sliced, Cajun-seasoned chicken breast, smothered in an Alfredo sauce, topped a bed of penne pasta cooked to perfection. Seasoned diced tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and garlic toast rounded out the entrée to aptly support its place amongst the menu's "Favorites." My portion was just right despite the fact that I walked away with the proverbial "doggy bag!" A pita filled with marinated steak, grilled bell peppers, onions, lettuce, and Chili's own special sauce well cared for my wife's taste buds. Listing this as a mere sandwich conjures up an image of the mundane and almost serves it an injustice - her meal was anything but. Her portion was exact and again provided yet another take home container for the 'fridge. Both dinners tasted fantastic and didn't put a strain on the wallet either. Our total bill came to just under forty dollars including 20% tip.
All-in-all, our dinner expectations were met with great satisfaction, from the eclectic, rustic furnishings to the many TVs broadcasting a variety of programs to watch as you enjoy your food, drink, and merriment! This particular Chili's restaurant is located at 1071 S. Willow Street, Manchester, NH. They operate Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., staying open until Midnight on Friday and Saturday.
They may be reached by phone at 603-624-1486 or click http://www.chilis.com for more information. I give them a rating of four out of five stomachs.
~Scott Harrington (UML Grad Student)
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