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Show 4 Friday, April 20,2006 The Missing Link: There are more cool gadgets at www.engadget.com than previously thought possible. Check it out. 797-1769 diversions@statesman.usu.edu New series can't 'Drive' for too long Aaron Peck "Drive" Grade B tay ajfit,a^d'I weat t o ^ e v leal u EarlMb]be:en runningtt^r.vr «£*•- but reall^ expanded the jHolaKy*>/;» Hangar into, the size and selection nd selection Can ^r.y ... >H6BB&S Tube eviews If a cheesy B movie like "Cannon Ball Run" mated with a TV show, you'd have "Drive." "Drive" is the new actionpacked, slightly silly, but overall fun show on FOX. When the show begins we are introduced to a few characters: a lady who has just had a baby (Melanie Lynskey, "Coyote Ugly"), a man whose wife is missing (Nathan Fillion, "Serenity"), and a convict who's just been freed from jail (Kevin Alejandro, "24"). They nave all been invited to join a secret and illegal cross-country race. Like "The Amazing Race" on crack, "Drive" features a horde of contestants pitted against each other to win 32 million dollars. The contestants race down freeways, almost crashing into other motorists and trying to run each other off the road. But, some people are playing for something more than money. During the pilot, it's hinted that the people running this race are coercing some people to play against their will. I guess that would make for a better race, wouldn't it? "Drive" is cheesy, but in a good way. It's extremely action-packed; the scenes of cars racing down freeways are surprisingly well done, especially for a TV show. The tning I don't understand about "Drive" is that how in the world, if it stays on the air, will this ever be a show that has more than one season? Sometime they have to finish the race right? I'm all right with the idea of a loony race across the United States for one pulse-pounding season. But, if they stretch this show to two or even three seasons, I'm out. It just wouldn't be worth it. My guess though, is that we won't even have to worry about "Drive" making it that far. Sure ifs a fun, silly show that doesn't require a lot of thinking to watch. But, I'm betting it doesn't catch on. it's too bad, because it is pretty interesting in a nutty "Rat Race" sort of way. Now only if they had Mr. Bean as a contestant, then it'd be a runaway smash hit (pun intended). "Drive" airs Monday nights at 7 on FOX. Aaron Peck is the Statesman TV critic. Send comments to him at aaronpeck@cc.usu.edu Bands coming to USU are catchy and fun "Everybody Else" Everybody Else Grade B+ Tom Liljegren Everybody Else wants to make pop music that isn't dumbed down or overly processed, according to the band's Web site. They're putting the raw power of rock back in pop/ rock. The song exhibits what is best The Los Angeles trio - which consists of Carrick Moore Gerety on about the band - its ability to take vocals and guitar, Mikey McCormack simple events or situations in modon drums and Austin Williams on ern life and make them interesting bass - mixes the energy of many (like a girl putting on makeup in retro new-wave bands like Franz "Makeup" and adolescence in "In Ferdinand with attitude, rhythm and Memoriam"). harmonies of classic '50s and '60s Along with "Meat Market," other pop. album standouts include "Say The album's opener, "Meat Goodbye" and "Faker" with their Market," begins with a slick power- bass-heavy verses and Beach Boypop guitar riff, fuzz bass, driving like harmony choruses, and the backbeat and handclaps - all that anthemic album closer "Alone in before Gerety jumps in with his the World Tonight." The whole album doesn't mainsweetly snarling vocals (a little like a mellower American Liam Gallagher tain the energy of their best and of Oasis) sings about the dating isn't as interesting as these songs. Some songs begin to sound the scene being a meat market. Review same, and the simple situations they write about are sometimes maybe a little too simple (like the ode to wealthy girlfriends on "Rich Girls, Poor Girls"). But even at its worst, the band's tight energy and melodies keep it a step above the vast majority of similar bands. While they may not quite be as consistently excellent or have the lyrical depth of some of their stated heroes (according to the band's Web site) such as Elvis Costello and the Kinks, Everybody Else's debut album is a step in tne right direction, "On Fire" The Higher Grade C+ Somewhere there is an episode of "The OC" or "Laguna Beach" waiting to play The Higher. The Las Vegas band's sound on their new CD, "On Fire/' fits seam- Need to Know Both Everybody Else and The Higher, along with two other bands, will be playing next Friday in the Walnut Room. Tickets are $5. lessly along with other pop/punk/ emo bands like Yellowcard that the show has popularized, while they also incorporate more R & B and dance beats into their music like Fallout Boy. While their knack for writing fairly catchy melodies may excite fans of the pop/punk/emo genre, their lack of originality in style or substance prevents them from standing out. The album's lyrics often sound simplistic and cliche. The band seems to bring these criticisms on themselves with song titles like "Can Anyone Really Love Young" and "Histrionics" that seem to highlight the faults in their music, which all revolve around adolescent conceptions of relationships, love and lust. Lyrics like, "Everyone gets in the way of everything" and "Everything you feel is terrible, 'cause it is" from "DARE" take away from the drama, and drama they seem to want to create with their polished music and earnest sounding vocals. Despite its weaknesses, "On Fire" does nave catchy melodies and radio-ready songs like "Insurance?" and "Guts." Fans of similar pop/punk bands should also enjoy this CD. Tom Liljegren is the music critic for the Utah Statesman. Comments, questions and suggestions for future bands to review can be sent to him at www.tliljegren@cc.usu.edu. |