Spring Break
"Searching...Seek and Destroy." James Hetfield and company finished an unprecedented nineteen songs, two over-the-top guitar solos, and one funk-fortified bass solo in two and half hours, and when the dust settled, everyone was still standing. It was as if they weren't leaving, and neither were we.
Atmosphere can often go a long way. Somehow, a vacation is much better in a nice hotel room and a party is much more exciting with decorations. Bistro St. Tropez, located high up in the Marketplace Design Center at 2400 Market Street certainly has atmosphere.
Just short of one year since the tragic passing of Elliott Smith, fans and friends alike are given the gift of his final record "From a Basement on the Hill." Released on ANTI-Records with producing credits to Rob Schnapf and former girlfriend Joanna Bolme (of Steve Malkmus' Jicks), "From a Basement on the Hill" is a posthumous release like none other.
Upon picking up The Explosion's newest album, Black Tape, I took a good look at the cover. It is all black, with some white text. As such, I almost missed the parental advisory in the lower left corner of the booklet (what's even more unsettling is the fact that there is a version of this CD being sold without the advisory, meaning all the "objectionable" stuff is edited out).
Staff Recs
I picked up this CD for two reasons, one being because it was $9.99 for a two-disc compilation of several great bands. The second, and main reason, was the title: Rock Against Bush Vol 1. What better time to be reading about such a CD? This is a compilation of bands who, as stated on the CD, "...have come together for one reason, and that's to express our outrage-and form a unified front against-the dangerous, destructive, and deadly policies of George W.
During Drexel's summer "break", or whatever it is classified as, I took a much needed personal vacation. I spent three weeks alone in Italy. On my own terms and own agenda. I started in Rome, which to me is kind of like Manhattan with ancient ruins all over the place.
For my fall break on Study Abroad in Copenhagen, I decided to go visit a high school friend, Lindsey, studying in Bologna. I stayed in Bologna for two days, Roma (Rome) for three days and took a day trip to Florence my last day in Italia. Roma was by far the most fascinating city I stayed in and while I spent the most time there I would gladly go back for weeks on end.
Dead Asian girls are fucking scary. The Grudge gave me a seasonal scare in the best horror flick since The Ring. In short this is the time of year people really want to see horror movies and The Grudge is a damn fine one. The Grudge revolves around the ghosts of a Japanese family in the present day.
