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Show 5 ARTS www.dailyutahchronicle.com Friday January 18, 2013 Hang Time's synth a fresh sound Javan Rivera STAFF WRITER A band's debut album is like the first time you meet a person — it tends to define them. That initial impression can't be undone, or, when it comes to music, you simply can't recreate the same fresh experience ever again. For local indie-pop quartet Hang Time, that first impression is a nostalgia-fueled trip to the late '8os when synth-heavy pop grooved to groundshaking bass lines and the light staccato of repeated drum tracks. That being said, Hang Time is not a band everyone will appreciate. Much in the same vein as bands like Neon Horse, Hang Time's sound is one that will likely have a polarizing effect. Most will either love their sound or simply not care, with few opinions falling in between. Hang Time isn't complicated. It's not the type of album that needs to be listened to a dozen times to get to the core of its sound and lyrical design. The nine-song album reflects much of the synth-pop that inspired it. Crisp synth loops are accompanied by rumbling bass, drums and the soft wail of lead vocalist Will Sartain. Part of what gives Hang Time such a genuine synth-pop sound is the old synthesizer keyboard player and back-up vocalist Andrew Sato used to write and record the music. "It's really a distinctive sound," Sato said. "You know it's something that can't be faked with digital sounds or midis. That's what, to me at least, makes it such distinguishable music." Songs such as "Turquoise," "Big Kids" and "Bubble Bath" take full advantage of this sound and open the album with a certain sense of playful kitsch. Synth lines come in fast and heavy, with bass and drums driving the beat. They present simple but extremely catchy melodies playing well off one another. However, one of the most notable and audibly attractive aspects of the album is the way Hang Time plays PHOTO COURTESY HANG TIME with sound, with the song "Cop Show" in particular taking everyday noises and incorporating them into the music. It's not exactly a new concept, but the way the sounds layer with the music flows perfectly. You're going to want a good stereo headset or sound system to listen to the album if you want to do it justice. Unfortunately, what begins as a promising start begins to fizzle as the album reaches its closing. The songs "Happy Place" and "Mystery" close out what could have been an absolutely fantastic debut album with a less-than-stellar performance. The synth that worked so wonderfully during Hang Time's opening seems to slow to a crawl, with vocals coming in distorted and poorly mixed. Hang Time's debut is available for purchase on their Bandcamp page at Controversial 'Hair' brings 1960s flair to Kingsbury Lynette Randall STAFF WRITER Set against the backdrop of the hippie counter-culture movement and the Vietnam War, "Hair" is known for its controversial political views and its depiction of sexuality, drugs and the bohemian lifestyle. The story follows a group of young Americans, all of whom are impacted by the imposing Vietnam draft and their feelings concerning the general oppression of individuality. They are searching for a way to live with love and peace, despite the turbulent war swirling around them. Claude, his friend Berger, their roommate Sheila and their other friends struggle against the conservative environment they live in. However, the end conflict resides with Claude as he has to decide whether to evade the draft or give in to the pressures surrounding him and serve in Vietnam. The desperation of the 1960's teenage generation is expertly conveyed on stage. The characters convey their rebellious attitudes of shrugging off government oppression and living a life filled with no hindrances by evading the draft, annoying authorities and forgoing all common sense laws through public nuisance. The bohemian lifestyle portrayed through this story is one typical of the time period and remains true to the general attitude of the era. It is often filled with disregard for any authority, primarily composed of leading a life solely for the purpose of fulfilling one's own desires and wants, and great enthusiasm for throwing all responsibility to the wind. "Hair" is a love-rock musical based off a book by the same name. The book and lyrics were written by James Rado and Gerome Ragni with the music by Galt MacDermot. "Hair" helped pave the way for more with the 196os counter-culture rock-centered musicals through generation is significant. its unique message and sounds. However, it is important to Opening on Broadway in April keep in mind the cornerstones 1968, "Hair" ran for 1,750 perfor- of this play are drug use, pacimances at a plethora of theaters, fism and sexual freedom, and eventually leading to a Tony it is through these aspects that Award in 2009. Claude and his friends are able Despite its controversial con- to tell their story. "Hair" is playing at Kingsbury tent, "Hair" has experienced a mainly positive reaction across Hall Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. the board. The raw and uninhib- and Sunday at 'p.m. Tickets pricited passion expressed through es vary from $30-57.50 and are $15 the play resonates with audience with a student ID. members young and old, and the I.randall@ depiction of common struggles chronicle.utah.edu the moment, but for those looking for something a little more tangible, the band is having a CD release party on Jan. 25. Hang Time will be performing at Kilby Court with Night Sweats as part of the release. Entrance is $5, but $io will get you a ticket and the new album. A second release party will take place at Kilby Court on Feb. 9 with Your Meteor and Koala Temple. Ultimately, while it is unfortunate a couple of songs detract from the album, there is no denying Hang Time's debut is something worth looking forward to. Though some songs lack in quality, the majority shine bright, and as far as first impressions go, Hang Time's debut is a damn fine one. j.rivera@ chronicle.utah.edu `Walking Dead' episodes to focus on relationships Eliana Sanchez STAFF WRITER The mid-season finale of the zombie apocalypse TV series "The Walking Dead" left dropped jaws as fans desperately awaited the fate of Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus). Possibly the most adored character on the show, Daryl was left pitted against his brother Merle (Michael Rooker) in a zombie pit in the closing moments of the finale. "The Walking Dead" succeeded in prodding fans to the edge of their seats, anxiously awaiting the next episode, "The Suicide King," which premieres on Feb. 1o. The show then succeeded in smothering the suspense by repeatedly showing Daryl in the mid-season premiere teaser. Fans are also buzzing about new executive director Scott Gimple, who will take over in season four. AMC recently released a promo for the new season, confirming Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and his following — who are still camped out in an abandoned prison — will battle it out with Woodbury, a settlement led by the Jim Jones-like "Governor" (David Morissey). Viewers knew Rick's gang would return for Daryl, but now that their paths have crossed, only one colony can survive. Knowing Daryl's future, one of the most anticipated questions for the upcoming season is where Andrea's (Laurie Holden) alliance lies. Andrea's role grows in coming episodes, as she is sure to play a pivotal role in the prison-Woodbury war. After being accidentally abandoned by the primary cast, Andrea found her way to Woodbury, where she ignored all the warning signs and took a liking to The Governor. Though exhibiting some questionable characteristics, Andrea still has viewers convinced she is one of the good guys. Andrea begs The Governor to spare Daryl in the mid-season finale, but whether she can overpower the vengeance fueled by the death of his zombie daughter is still unknown, not to mention unlikely. If there's anything to learn from the title "The Suicide King," it is that a brother's sacrifice might play a bigger role in Daryl's survival than Andrea. One of the other main female characters, Michonne (Danai Gurira), who has been a mystery so far in season three, should also step up her role. Michonne has expressed that she needs the prison WALKING DEAD gang as much as they need her, so she should be sticking around for a while. Judging by the titles of coming episodes, the show will follow the graphic novel a bit more closely, and we might see a love triangle emerge involving Michonne, Carol (Melissa McBride) and outsider Tyreese (Chad Coleman). Maggie (Lauren Cohan) reminded viewers last season even though the battle is against the "walkers," people can be just as vicious. Though the show has never struggled to garner ratings, with Gimple's addition, viewers can look forward to more human-on-human conflict for the remainder of season three, moving the show away from a violent video game and in the direction of a narrative TV series. It will be interesting to see how the show's new head allows female characters to develop as more than helpless agents subject to decisions and protection of male leaders. For example, despite Maggie's country upbringing and smaller size, she escaped captivity, thanks to a pizza delivery boy. At first glance, Andrea gives the impression of a strong female character, but numerous times Andrea's gunmanship has been less than her equally untrained male counterparts. Perhaps in the upcoming season she will she finally find her footing as a survivor. However, since the cast has been nearly cut in half since season one, the biggest question is this: who's going next? e.sanchez@chronicle.utah.edu |