Culture - The Daily Lobo

Culture

'Platonica' poppy, unoriginal

Nicole Bernard | March 7

Platonica, the 2001 full-length debut album from the New York band The Pasties, is like Weezer's blue album without the crunch. Platonica begins with an assault of Ooh La La's at the beginning of "Shameless," the first song on the album. The rest of the album follows in this vein, lyrics never really living up to their prescribed hype and song progressions never reaching the dynamic possible for the seasoned musicians in the band.

Culture

'Making Scenes' disturbing foray into self-destruction

Anna Angeli | March 7

"Making Scenes," the debut novel by hypertext writer Adrienne Eisen, starts out innocently. A quirky but likable heroine is introduced, a seemingly engaging story begins to unfold and a typical feminist coming of age/finding oneself novel is brought into the world.

Culture

Stoic Frame gets back to roots to test new material

Ron Gonzales | March 7

Just prior to Stoic Frame's recent move from Albuquerque to the West Coast, the band was near the top of its form.

Culture

Cliff's to debut new roller coaster

Andrew Webb | March 7

With the nearest major amusement parks at more than six hours' drive away, the teeth-grinding terror, clavicle-crushing foam bars and 48-inch height requirements of roller coasters have been merely daydreams for most New Mexicans.

Culture

There's always a catch

Clay Holtzman | March 7

The supposedly sane are actually crazy, absurdity is reality and everything has this pesky little catch attached to it. No, this is not our government's proposed energy policy or the Enron scandal, its Joseph Heller's classic novel, "Catch-22," adapted to the stage by the author himself, performed this month at the Vortex Theatre.

Culture

Imbruglia's new CD is folkier pop

Jessica Minturn | March 5

Remember "Torn," the Natalie Imbruglia song that was played every three minutes on one radio station or another a few years ago? Of course you do. Well, the former Australian soap star has a new album out, White Lilies Island, but don't expect to find any more eternal pop melodies on it.

Culture

Costa's grooves celebrate empowerment

Kenn Rodrguez | February 28

Nikka Costa doesn't consider herself a sex symbol. If you've seen any of Costa's videos, such as the sassy one for her tasty breakthrough single "Like a Feather" or her publicity photos - the one featuring the top of her derriere peaking above her low-rise jeans is an Internet favorite - you're probably thinking to yourself, "Yeah, right."

Culture

Word Movement

Angela Williams | February 28

UNM is going to get slammed with poetry tonight. Performance poetry is set to make a riotous stop in Albuquerque when WordCore, a band of national slam poets, kicks off its spring college tour at UNM.

Culture

'Living' acquired, but good taste

Clay Holtzman | February 28

Art often serves as the preferred vehicle for self-expression. Some want the flashy sports car type while others desire the sensible and long lasting Goodyear Blimp.

Culture

Outpost to welcome spring with diverse acts

Andrew Webb | February 28

Ahh, spring. The Outpost Performance Space rings in this time of rebirth with a hot March calendar of Jazz, folk, chorale and world beat music - just the thing for a warm weekend evening.

Culture

'Dragonfly' is 'Message' redux

Benjamin S. Rogerson | February 26

Kevin Costner has done it again. With the release of "Dragonfly," he has officially agreed to reprise his role from "Message in the Bottle" - the grieving husband who can never get over the loss of his wife and is always thinking that she is trying to reach him from beyond the grave.

Culture

Breast-cancer survivors offer healing art

Marissa Jurez | February 26

As a woman, there are many challenges I face daily: proving myself to a patriarchal world, living freely yet still remaining to some extent, "lady-like" and - this one's for the boys, too - making my parents proud. Yet, after attending a matchless art show on Sunday, I realized there is something I don't worry about too often - my health.

Culture

LETTER: Pro-choice about freedom, not encouraging abortion

February 22

There is nothing like the issue of abortion to get people all riled up, including myself. Before I begin I would like to praise everyone, pro-life and pro-choice, for writing in and getting his or her opinions heard on this very touchy subject. Now, on with the debate.

Culture

Folk musicians to discuss death penalty alternatives

Angela Williams | February 21

Through the power of their music, folk artists Charlie King and Karen Brandow will commemorate the anniversary of two Italian immigrants' 1927 execution while attempting to educate people about the potentially dangerous consequences of the death penalty.

Culture

A Dream Deferred

Marissa Jurez | February 21

In his poem, "A Raisin in the Sun," Langston Hughes poses the question: "What ever happens to a dream deferred?" The answer to this lies within personal speculation - in a realm far beyond what most of us conceive to be real.

Culture

Chambers mixes country, blues

Benjamin S. Rogerson | February 20

Australian country singer Kasey Chambers made a name for herself with her debut album The Captain and the hit single of the same name.

Culture

Metheny magic mixed on new CD

Jessica Minturn | February 20

My first introduction to the Pat Metheny Group came at age 9, on one of many mind-numbing car trips my family took to California.

Culture

Skateboarder Guerrero unveils smart, versatile CD

Jesse AckerJohnson | February 19

San Francisco native Tommy Guerrero has returned from skateboarding and relative obscurity with this year's offering of Junk Collector. Guerrero, who became a poster child for Powell Peralta in 1985 when he began his professional skateboarding career, eventually became a member of the Bones Brigade - a sort of a mid to late '80s skateboarding dream team - and was cast in vintage skate films such as "The Search for Animal Chin."

Culture

Damian takes on Marley legacy

Marissa Jurez | February 15

Most of us will never know what it is like to be the progeny of an icon. It could be either good or bad, perhaps resembling a type of euphoric pride or a festering inequality in regard to the parent.

Culture

Heart of Azatlan

Iliana Limn | February 14

The heart of Aztlan, the Aztec mythic homeland, has been captured by The Albuquerque Museum's latest exhibit that chronicles life from the 1300s to that of the modern Chicano.