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Show : -B4 MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2008 Life • THE COLLEGE TIMES The 10 best and worst albums released in 2007 ttom Every year everyone creates a list of favorite (or least favorite) albums released during that year, .This is pretty much one of those lists, completely arbitrary and decided by two people. Because this is what they chose, that doesn't mean it is a definitive list of every album released, it is merely the 10 albums they enjoyed the most and the 10 they wish they had never heard. Top 10 of 2007 1. LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver James Murphy and crew put out a briliiant followup to their 2005 self-titled release. The disco-punk outfit's second album, Sound of Silver, shot the band somewhat into the mainstream, as did their fall tour with Arcade Fire. Standout tracks include "North American Scum," "Someone Great," "All My Friends'1 and "Get Innocuous." 2. Arcade Fire- Neon Bible The Canadian group's sophomore album was released to varied reviews; but over the course of 2007, it has proved to have the staying power that many albums lacked. Their tour with LCD Soundsystem that finally brought them to Utah didn't hurt, either. 3. The National Boxer After the success of Alligator, The National was up against some serious scrutiny from fans and critics. But with songs like "Fake Empire," they pulled off one of the best albums of the year. 4. Radiohead- In Rainbows This album was the surprise of the year. Not until right before Yorke and the band self-released In Rainbows was it even much on the radar. But when it finally hit the Internet (at whatever price you decided) and the airwaves, Radiohead catapulted itself further into music history. 5. Kings of LeonBecauseof The Times The southern rockers put out their third full-length to polarizing results. Because of The Times took a chance on not just being another southern rock album and pushed the envelope on what people knew about the Kings of Leon. This album deserves recognition if, for nothing else, being the album to take a chance and catch on with a majority of people who were open to listening. 6. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare Though not necessarily a sequel to Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, Favourite Worst Nightmare How to...Enjoy a sporting event Mel Sundquist Lift .'Jirttl The College Times is running a new series of articles this semester with the purpose of teaching UVSC students about "how to" do things they most likely wouldn't learn otherwise. The first in our series is meant to educate readers on how to enjoy a sporting event. 1. Prepare yourself. If you are totally clueless about the rules of the game, do a bit of research. For example, you should at least know that most basketball games are held indoors, or else you might arrive improperly dressed. It would also be useful to know how long a typical sporting event lasts, and if it is broken up into quarters. 2. Find a pleasant seat. If necessary, bring a pillow to sit on. Because if all else fails and you become completely lost and uninterested, you might as well be comfortable. 3. Think of the game as a rhetorical contribution to a larger conversation. The aggression behind a soccer player's kick is no less potent or interesting than the masculine aggressive tones in Shakespeare's Macbeth. A volleyball team's unity is as good an example of teamwork and an all for one, one for all philosophy as Dumas' The Three Musketeers. 4. Find the parallels between the game and your life. If, for example, you are interested in filmmaking, notice the plot structure of the game ... or lack thereof. The excitement escalates with the points on the Scoreboard, until at the climax the audience is sure of which team will win. Throw in a couple unexpected plot twists in the form of interceptions or fouls, and finally come to a resolution at the sound of the buzzer. 5. Bring a book or some knitting, just in case. 6. Remember that you can also watch the crowd, not just the players. Sports fans realty are an interesting breed. Notice how invested they can become in the game, and how infectious their excitement is. Notice the spectators that use the event as an excuse to be around other people. Guess how much of the energy in the room is focused on the actual sport, and find out what else has drawn people to the arena or court. proved that the Arctic Monkeys had the power to stick around and not fade out after an amazing initial release, like so many bands in their position have in years passed. 7. Stars-In Our Bedroom After The War Canada's Stars took a stand when battling the super early leak of their album In Our Bedroom After The War hit the Net months before it was set to be released, officially. To combat the teak, the band took a different turn than most bands have done before them: They advanced a copy to online music outlets like iTunes and eMusic, so folks who wanted a legal, real copy of the album wouldn't have to be tortured for months with the music being readily available. 8. Elliott Smith-New Moon Even from beyond the grave, Elliott Smith makes the list with his amazing B-side album featuring unreleased material from this incredible singer/songwriter. m Wincing the night away is not something a listener of this album would be doing. Following up their success with Chutes Too Narrow, sparked by Garden State, The Shins keep the stone rolling with a real solid effort here. Great albums that didn't quite make the list: Justice - f, White Rabbits - Fort Nightly, Fiery Furnaces - Widow City, !!! - Myth Takes, New Pornographers Challengers, Ozma - Pasadena Ten albums 2007 could have done without Leslie Feist reminds the world why she is such a good artist with The Reminder. How could tunes like "My Moon, My Man" or "I 2 3 4" be overlooked when considering the music that made 2007 great? Imagine AFI trying to make it as an electro-newwave band and you have Blaqk Audio. Davey Havok and Jade Puget should stick to what they're good at ~ being members of AFI. There's a fine line between art and crap. It rhymes with art and begins with the letter "f." That's about the best comparison for this album. It stinks and should never be present in social situations. OFF Regular price on any cut and 2230 N. University Pkwy., (Coltontrw Square) • Provo, UT 84604 pfijemrd by Umintti in training • Mail prtterJ (wpim • Sol Miliii tdrt any ahtt prvmnifo 4. Portugal, the Man - Being A Wizard Is Complicated Trying to figure out what drugs these guys were on when they put out this EP is more complicated than being a wizard. This trippy album that actually begins with the whole album as one track, then splits them up, was floppy and probably sounded better on drugs than it does to a sober ear. Luckily, they also put out a full-length, Church Mouth, which reminded everyone that Portugal, the Man is really a decent band. 5. Cartel-Cartel They made the album in a giant bubble. What - more needs to be said? It's a gimmick within a gimmick. 6. Saves The Day Under The Boards Since being dropped from their major label deal, a more angry, stripped Saves The Day has tried to make a comeback and prove that the drop was a mistake. With this new album, the second in a series of three albums that are supposed to ^~~~""~ 7. Fall Out Boy-Infinity On High The name of the album describes the exact opposite of the final product. Sometimes it's better not to try so hard to reinvent yourself. 8. B-side albums A lot of bands tried to release albums chronicling all of the songs they never put on their other albums. The result: albums with songs most fans of the band had years ago. 9. Motion City Soundtrack-Even If It Kills Me Faced with trying to top their last album, Commit This To Memory, Motion City Soundtrack stepped up to the plate, but Even If It Kills Me was a swing and a miss. 10. Apples In Stereo - New Magnetic Wonders This album wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that good, either. That's why it only barely makes an appearance here. At least everyone can stop wondering what an apple would sound like in stereo. UVSC student film makers compete infilmfestival Jack Waters UVSC students were among many statewide participants in a film festival hosted by the Utah Arts Council titled "48 Hours in Utah" held the weekend of Jan. 4-6. Participants were encouraged to gather a team of volunteer filmmakers for a weekend of creation. A set of four criteria was given to ail teams. Among the UVSC students involved were siblings Bryce and Brandon Hatch, whose film, Porcelain Perusal - Toilet Read, has amassed more than 1,600 views on its YouTube version in just a few short days. The Hatch boys' film, an infomercial parody loosely resembling Requiem For A Dream1 s "Tappy Tibbons" infomercials, is based around the idea of a bathroom reader "guaranteed" to improve all facets of life, stating "Toilet Read is the catalyst for all hidden talents." One "success story" is told of a young man thanking Toilet Read for his four platinum records. The team went as far as creating a Web site for its "product," which was continually flashed on the screen throughout the film, accompanied by the phone number. The film is a comedic parody of infomercials and "accidentally" shows the owner of Toilet Read bribing a man on the street to say Who said the Cold War wasn't hilarious? good things about the product on the air. "Toilet Read changed my life," said Brandon Hatch, who does not appear in the film but directed it. "Not really, but it is something [we] are proud of. The ups outnumbered the downs over the weekend. It's our second [48 Hour] festival, and it gets better each time." Todd Whatcott, a member of UVSC's news broadcast team, was also a participant in another group. Whatcott1 s team made a film titled Open Mic', in which he plays the lead character whose dream is to be a rock star. "I thought that I was just going to help film, [but] I ended up being the main guy in the movie. I had never done anything like this but had always wanted to. I was just myself," said Whatcott. Filmed at local music venue The Pig Pen at Pleasant Grove High School, it is a story in which Whatcott is given an opportunity to shine as a rock star at an open mic event, but an unfortunate accident makes his dream just that, a dream. Porcelain Perusal - Toilet Read and Open Mic can by found (along with the other participants' films) on YouTube by typing either the film title or "48 Hours in Utah" into the search field. The "Toilet Read" Web site is found at www.toiletread. blogspot.com Jack Waters participated as a writer, director and actor for "Porcelain Perusal" in this film festival. Festival Cinemas By University Mall Showtimes January 11 - 17 Closed Sunday BEE MOVIE PG 11:00 3:10 7:20 GAME PLAN PG 1:00 5:10 9:20 MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM G 11:15 1:15 3:20 5:20 7:30 9:30 HALF PRICE TICKER-STUDENT RUSH **- Students w/cunent ID can buy HALF PRICE Monday • Thursdoy fix week of show dote. &• Students w/ament ID can buy HALF PRICE ,. Friday & Saturday after 4 p.m. day of show. CENTER THEATER OREM • 1 WO • fcf* • NBtfwn H * Advanced Studio excluded Coupon Expires February 29, 2008 Ait unirn Their next album will be titled In Defense of Our Last Album, and defending it needs, badly. comprise some sort of story, Saves The Day is showing the world just why it was lost in the major label shuffle. One film, two days, four criteria December 2 9 through February 9 2. 3. Soy Anything - In Defense Of The Genre l.Blaak AudioCexcells 2. Liars - Liars 9. Feist-The Reminder Life writer 10. The Shins -Wincing The Night Away If you would like to know "how to" do anything in particular, drop Mel a line atvalleyadvice@gmail.com 00 Chad Hunt and Greg Wilcox ff 801.226.8600 225 West400 North - www.HaleTheater.com HITMAN R 11:00 1:00 3:10 5:20 7:30 9:40 DAN IN REAL LIFE PG-13 11:10 1:10 3:20 5:30 7:40 9:40 |