Mount Hood

Artist spotlight: Patty MeLT

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

For many students, music is a great hobby. Writing, playing and even listening to music is beneficial and rewarding. Western student Patrick Jaursch, sophomore psychology major, takes that one step further by pursuing music as a passion.

“My music is very freeing. For me, I write music to get away from the stresses of life. Music is a way for me to relieve and get things off my head while I express myself through a creative outlet which allows me to make something that I can enjoy doing and other people can enjoy hearing,” said Jaursch.

Jaursch goes by the name Patty MeLT for all his music, a name he carefully chose.

“I chose Patty MeLT as a name because I love music so much that I wanted to take the whole ‘rapper’ stereotype out of its box,” said Jaursch. “I’m Patty MeLT because it clicks in your head and makes you say ‘isn’t that a sandwich, that’s kind of weird.’ I just wanted to evoke an emotion that’s off-putting.”

Jaursch is actively writing and recording new music. In 2016, he released a 10-track album called “TIMBERLINE: A Comprehensive Journey” that featured rap, some folk and a skit. A new single, “T I D E S,” was released on April 10 and marks a shift in Patty MeLT’s music.

“I’m moving onto bigger and better things, making music that actually comes from my heart. I’m doing things because it’s what other people do, I’m on my own path now.”

Patty MeLT’s next big project, which doesn’t have a release date yet, comes straight from the ideas that he begins to work with in “T I D E S.”

He says the album “is about saving the world. It’s a story, an audiobook. It’s not actually an album, I can say that much. While there’s music in it, more than anything I want to convey a message, so I’m trying to tell a story. I wrote a book and I’m having somebody, who if people listen to my music they’ll know who they are very well, narrate the album.”

When he’s not making music, Jaursch enjoys hanging out with friends, writing poetry and doing anything creative.

“I just like to be creative, I’m a very creative person. I’ll just draw, I’ll make music— anything that entertains me.”

Western has helped Jaursch follow his passions of music with their music program and services on campus.

“Western does a great job of being sure that students have access to resources. For example, our music program has studios on campus and drum labs that are both useful, and students who are music majors and minors have access to them. Western has been great at accompanying me with a studio that I can work with,” said Jaursch.

To anyone else wanting to follow their passions in music or any other field, Jaursch made sure to point out that it’s important to do what’ll make you happy.

“Follow your dreams, follow your passions. Do what makes you happy in life more than anything,” expressed Jaursch.

Patty MeLT’s music is available for streaming right now on Bandcamp and Soundcloud.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Review: “DAMN.”

By: Kevan Maloney 
Staff Writer

Two years after his last album, Kendrick Lamar returns better than ever with his latest release: “DAMN.”. He brings a fresh take on his career by making an album that sounds much more modern than any other album he has made to date. Despite how original this album is compared to his earlier work, Lamar still highlights and brings out his highly thematic lyrics and his unmatched flow, for which he is best known. While his lyrics are second to none, his ability to perform them is better than ever.

The first song released from this album was “HUMBLE.” which became an instant hit, with his high-powered rapping skills combined with a rags-to-riches storyline. It’s the perfect song to use as the frontline for the album.

After listening to this album a few times, some songs seem to shine more than the rest. It comes to no surprise that “LOYALTY. FEAT.
RIHANNA.” is one of the best on the album. Lamar brings Rihanna into the song and lets her show off her best qualities and mixes it with his best, this created an instant hit.

“DAMN.” is Lamar’s fourth studio album, featuring 14 songs. Unlike his previous albums, “DAMN.” has no skits.This album came out of left field for those who weren’t paying attention. It took a little over two weeks from the release of the frontline single to the release of the full album.

Compared to rest of his albums, “DAMN.” is almost as imaginative as “To Pimp a Butterfly,” while sounding nothing it by abandoning the styles of his previous works. “DAMN.”, follows the tropes of early and modern rap, as opposed to the jazz inspired album “To Pimp a Butterfly.” “DAMN.” takes on a more violent tone as he verbally duels with several artists and public figures, making for some of his hardest hitting songs on this album.

This album isn’t the best Lamar has made, yet it is still one of the best albums on the market. It’s an amazing and imaginative album, though it’s missing the same quality in the middle of the album, which would have made it extraordinary.

Contact the author at kmaloney15@wou.edu

Celebration of galactic proportions

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Each year, fans from around the world gather to celebrate “Star Wars.” This year’s celebration took place from April 13-16 in Orlando, Florida and brought in huge crowds to celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Star Wars.”

Fans gathered together to watch panels with “Star Wars” actors, writers and directors. During the many panels, new content was revealed, tributes were given and actors shared their opinions and favorite moments.

The most talked about moment of the Star Wars Celebration was the trailer reveal for “Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.” Following the trailer reveal, stars Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega took to the stage alongside director Rian Johnson to discuss the themes, characters and speculation surrounding the film.

While Johnson didn’t reveal much about the film, he did tell the audience that “things are going to get dire.”

Also during the Star Wars Celebration, Disney announced a new line of toys accompanied by new animated shorts titled “Forces of Destiny.”
Launching later this year, “Forces of Destiny” will consist of 16 original shorts focusing on six of the most influential female “Star Wars” characters. Both Daisy Ridley and Felicity Jones will reprise their roles as Rey and Jyn Erso, respectively. The shorts and toys will release this summer.

Fans dressed in costumes from all eras of “Star Wars.” One of the most viral videos from the celebration showed fans in cosplay reenacting the end scene of “Rogue One” in the middle of the convention center.

In one of the most heart wrenching parts of the celebration, Mark Hamill took to the stage to give a tribute to the late Carrie Fisher.

“Here’s a panel I was hoping wouldn’t happen for another 30 years,” said Hamill. By the end of the emotional panel, there were few dry eyes in the audience.

Hamill’s tribute wasn’t the only one; a tribute video was shown during the panel, as well as tributes from George Lucas and others who had worked with her throughout the years. Finally, the panel ended with John Williams performing Leia’s theme.

During the celebration, it was announced that season four of the animated show ”Star Wars: Rebels” would be the last. A new trailer was revealed and present fans were surprised with a screening of the first episode of the season.

The Star Wars Celebration is taking a year off in 2018, but Disney told fans to keep their ears peeled for more fun announcements this summer. In the meantime, the trailer for “The Last Jedi” is out now and fans are taking to the Internet to speculate and get excited.

“Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi” comes to theaters on Dec. 15.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Nintendo Prepares for an exciting 2016

By: Ashton Newton
Staff Writer

Nintendo has a big year planned for 2016. Fans have a lot to be excited for, including a new system, the NX, which is shrouded in mystery. Nintendo first officially announced the NX back in March 2015, saying that the NX is a “dedicated games platform with a brand new concept” before going silent.

Since then, rumors have begun popping up all over the Internet about NX. Rumors say that Nintendo will release a handheld in 2016, with the full console coming in 2017.

Rumors have also surfaced that the NX will be able to pair with mobile devices and PS4’s. As to what this means specifically, the general public is not sure, but there are hopes that this will be a means to share games between the devices or use them as second screens.

Fans of The Legend of Zelda have something to get excited for too, with “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD” releasing on the WiiU March 4.

“Twilight Princess” came out in 2006 for the Gamecube and Wii, and has held a solid fan base since.

A brand new Amiibo will be releasing with “Twilight Princess HD.” Amiibos are Nintendo’s line of collectible figurines that grant bonuses when paired with their games. Amiibos feature Nintendo characters, and the one releasing alongside “Twilight Princess HD” is Wolf Link, a character from the game.

Also in 2016, Nintendo’s “Legend of Zelda WiiU” is scheduled for release. Although not much is known about the next installment of the Zelda series, a few screenshots of the new game were revealed at E3 2014.

Nintendo promises that the players will have more freedom than ever before and that they’re “rethinking the conventions of Zelda.” Fans can be on the lookout for new information soon.

Additionally, Nintendo will be releasing “Pokkèn Tournament,” “Star Fox Zero,” and the well-received PC game “Kerbal Space Program” for WiiU in the first half of 2016. As well as Mega Man creator’s releasing “Might No.9” later this year, after several production delays.

Even with lower hardware specs than the Playstation 4 and the Xbox One, Nintendo’s WiiU has remained a competitor for both systems since launch.

Nintendo’s previous President, Satoru Iwata, who passed away in July 2015, is quoted as saying “Above all, video games are meant to be just one thing: fun. Fun for everyone.”

Fun is largely Nintendo’s goal for players, and there is a lot of fun to be had, both announced and unannounced, for 2016.

Whats Western watching?

By: Ashton Newton and Kinsey Bushart

“I’ve been watching ‘The Arrow’ since it’s been a long time since I’ve seen it. They’ve got five seasons on [Netflix] so it’s pretty good.”
Gael Maren-Valdez, exercise science, junior

 

“Workaholics for sure. It’s hilarious.”
Samantha Lindsey, interdisciplinary studies, senior

 

“‘13 Reasons Why.’ It was super good. It was crazy, I bought the book because it was that good.”
Kameron Acebo, early childhood education,
sophomore

 

“’The Walking Dead’ because it’s just entertaining”

Daniel Monrroy, business, sophomore

Blast from the past

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

There was a lot of energy in the audience as Micky Dolenz, lead singer of The Monkees, took to the stage at Rice Auditorium alongside the American Metropole Orchestra as part of the Smith Fine Arts Series. The April-15-concert packed the auditorium for a night full of laughs and music.

The night began with a tune from the orchestra and an introduction from music director Keller Coker, before Dolenz took the stage.

Dolenz is not only the lead singer of The Monkees; he’s a beloved actor, director and producer, whose music and personality has helped to shape television and rock and roll.

Throughout his career, Dolenz had many different people write songs for him. During the concert he made a point to dedicate each song to the individual who wrote it. He performed songs written by individuals like Carol King and Neil Diamond.

Two songs from the Monkees movie “Head” were also performed. The tunes were met with much applause from the audience.

Between songs, Dolenz entertained the audience with stories of his career, his family and meeting The Beatles. Each song performed had a story alongside it, most of which were met with laughter.

“This is the song that got me the gig!” yelled Dolenz as he played Chuck Berry’s “Johnnie B. Goode,” which he sang at his Monkees audition.

The concert ended with the fan favorite “Daydream Believer,” in which the audience’s singing almost overpowered Dolenz’s booming voice.

Some members of the crowd were up and dancing as Dolenz finished out the night with “I’m a Believer.”

“Don’t forget, I was singing this song long before ‘Shrek,’” joked Dolenz.

The Smith Fine Arts series will finish out the season with Danilo Perez and The Western Hemisphere Orchestra on June 10. More information can be found at wou.edu/smith/current-season/.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Review: “Mystery Science Theater 3000”

By: Darien Campo
Designer

Everyone’s a critic these days.

The fine art of “riffing,” making fun of bad movies through biting commentary, is still alive. On the internet there is no shortage of critics and reviewers all vying for attention on the digital stage, but we must be careful not to forget the original show that taught us how to make fun of movies; the critics who inspired a thousand differs.

Netflix sure hasn’t, and on April 14, they released the long-awaited return of cult-classic “Mystery Science Theater 3000.”

For those not in the know: “Mystery Science Theater 3000” was a cult sci-fi comedy series in the ‘90s about a man and his two robot pals trapped on a spaceship, the Satellite of Love, where evil scientists force them to watch the worst movies ever made. In order to keep their sanity, the three resort to riffing on the terrible onslaught of low-budget films.

Watching the show was akin to hanging out with a group of friends and watching the Syfy channel late at night just so you could add your own commentary on top of the movies.

Netflix’s revival and next season of the show focuses on a new human subject, Jonah Heston, played by Jonah Ray, co-host of “The Nerdist Podcast.” Original creator Joel Hodgson personally picked Ray to host the show, while giving him the choice over who would be the new voices of the show’s robot co-hosts, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot, voiced by Baron Vaughn and Hampton Yount, respectively. Mad scientists Dr. Forrester and TV’s Frank are replaced with their descendants, played by Felicia Day and Patton Oswald.

The show’s format hasn’t changed over the last 30 years, and still focuses on the three hosts riffing on a cacophony of film flops interspersed with short, goofy segments. Yes, the invention exchange is back.

I was amazed at just how similar the revival was to the original. The sets look cheaply made, the segments have a very loose “first-take” feel, some of the jokes are too obscure for anyone to get – it is everything that “Mystery Science Theater 3000” ever was and more.

For returning viewers, you’ll feel right at home from the silhouetted theater to the numbered hallway. For brand new viewers, jokes and references aren’t 30 years old anymore,making it possible to actually follow them, but luckily they never feel like they’re referencing modern pop culture in a pandering manner.

I only have minor gripes with the new season.

I, and other viewers, have noted that the speed that riffs are delivered is way faster than it was in the ‘90s. We’re not given as much time to absorb the film itself, and the rapid-fire jokes break the illusion that these three characters are improvising on the spot. But, for a modern audience’s short attention span, it makes sense.

The “Mystery Science Theater 3000” revival perfectly blends recreating the original show’s campy feel while bringing modern humor to a new audience. This is not just for returning fans, I would invite anyone who loves bad movies to take a look at season 11 of “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” exclusively on Netflix.

Keep circulating the tapes.

Contact the author at dcampo13@wou.edu

Review: “The Search For Everything”

By: Alyssa James
Staff Writer

In 1999, John Mayer made his way onto the scene with his EP “Inside Wants Out.” Over time, he became one of the musicians that had a noticeable presence within the music scene with such songs as “Daughters.”

Mayer had not released any new music since a single in 2014, “XO,” until April 14 when he released his new album, “The Search for Everything.” He partially released this album through two smaller EPs, “Wave One” and “Wave Two.”

For not hearing any new music from him for three years, his style of music has not changed much. It’s not to be expected though, as he is categorized in multiple genres, such as: pop, blues, jazz, country and rock. Despite that, it is definitely an album to listen to in order to chill out and relax.

The first song he released was “Love on the Weekend,” a more country song. It seemed like a weird choice of a song to introduce this album when compared to the rest of the tracks. Having a more a country sound is what set it apart from the other songs, but not necessarily in a good way. It came across as overdone and common.

Through listening to the whole album, the song that stuck out the most was “Emoji of a Wave.” The title in and of itself is an eyecatcher and it added to the song because it incorporates something very familiar to young people: emojis. Along with that, the song builds extremely well for being such a melancholy song. Not once was I bored from listening to it.

One of the more upbeat songs from the album is “In the Blood,” a heartfelt song about the ability to change in life. Along with that, the song “Moving On and Getting Over” has a jazzy feel that would definitely be heard in the back of the coffeeshop.

The album has a total of twelve songs and, when driving, it’s a quick listen. The album ends with the song “You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me.” There’s quite a bit of whistling in it, which is reminiscent of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” from “Toy Story.” It feels cliché which ultimately left the album on a lower note.

While the album is not the worst, it’s not the best. Other artists experiment and produce albums that have never been heard before, but I think Mayer missed the mark and created an album that is something we have all heard before, and that’s what makes it lacking. The album isn’t bad, it just does not offer anything new, making for a more colorless listen.

Contact the author at ajames16@mail.wou.edu

Review: “LA Divine”

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Cold War Kids became alternative favorites with their 2007 album “Robbers & Cowards.” Recently, their single “First” blew up and put them on lots of people’s radars.

Their newest album “LA Divine” released last week and is easily one of the best albums yet. After years of experimenting and reworking their sound, “LA Divine” is an incredible album that finds Cold War Kids at the best they’ve ever been.

The band released two singles leading up to the full album release. “Love Is Mystical” is an upbeat, danceable tune that quickly blew-up on the radio. The band collaborated with Bishop Briggs for the single “So Tied Up,” which was a bit of a let down compared to the first single. The collaboration with Bishop Briggs isn’t very strong: her presence in the song is weak, especially for being the only collaboration on the album.

All of “LA Divine” held my attention, each song standing wonderfully on its own. The song “No Reason To Run” was the highlight of the album for me. The track blends Cold War Kids’ upbeat, fast paced sound with some of the most heartfelt lyrics in the whole album.

All songs on “LA Divine” are pretty short. The 14-song album zooms by way too quickly, with some tracks only 30 seconds to a minute. “LA Divine” is so good that it deserves to be played over and over, I just wish it didn’t go by so fast.

The album ends with “Free To Breathe,” a slow, emotional tune that ends the album on a weak note. Cold War Kids puts most of their focus in the album on up-tempo danceable alternative music, so ending the album on such a slow note feels disconnected from the rest of the album.

“LA Divine” is the best Cold War Kids album yet. Each song stands on it’s own and rarely are there times without great written lyrics and feet-tapping goodness.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Turn the music up

By: Alyssa James
Staff Writer

As the weather begins to warm up, students may be wondering what to do in their free time. For music fans, the answer is simple: go to concerts. Seeing a band or artist live may require some planning and cost, but the memories can last a lifetime. Over the next few months, a variety of different artists will travel to Oregon to play their music.

Based originally out of Seattle, Fleet Foxes is an indie folk band who made their way onto the music scene in 2006. After taking a break in 2103, they came back in 2016 and now have a new album, “Crack-Up,” planned to release on June 16. They will be performing at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland on May 18 and at Edgefield in Troutdale on Sept. 16.

For a concert that is more local, The Sleep Millennium, an indie space-rock band, will be playing at The Space Concert Club in Salem for their debut performance on May 21. This event is 21-plus and will cost $15. More information will be provided at spaceconcertclub.com. To experience a fresh new sound, this concert is worth checking out.

From a small town in the United Kingdom, Ed Sheeran pursued music vigorously. Last month, he released his third album “Divide.” With that new album, he is also on tour and will be coming to the United States. For the pop-lovers, he will be at the Moda Center in Portland on July 30. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com from 39.50 to $89.50 depending on seats.

A throwback band for many, Rooney started up in 1999 and is still performing today. Categorized as alternative and indie rock, their latest album, “Washed Away,” came out last year. They planned to come to Portland last December but rescheduled their concert for this upcoming July 26 at the Doug Fir Lounge. The show is 21-plus and tickets for this show cost $16 and went on sale April 7 on ticketfly.com.

A British rock band, Catfish and the Bottlemen, will be playing at the Roseland Theater in Portland on May 27 and at the Moda Center on August 2. Although they started the band in 2007, they began to be more noticed with the releases of their first three singles followed by their debut album “The Balcony.” Following that, in 2016 they put out another album entitled “The Ride.” Tickets for the Roseland show are $25 and can be purchased through Roseland Theater’s website.

For those who enjoy spending time at music festivals, Musicfest Northwest’s Project Pabst will be happening on Aug. 26 and 27. Project Pabst is a two-day musical festival taking place in Portland. Beck, who broke into the scene in 1985 and has been present ever since, will be performing on the 27th during the festival; this event is 21-plus. Tickets are available at ticketfly.com and range from $65 for a one-day pass to $99 for a weekend pass.

No matter the preference of genre, there are concerts happening locally for all to enjoy.

Contact the author at ajames16@mail.wou.edu

Artist spotlight: Kristie Martinez

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

For Western student Kristie Martinez, senior dance major, following her passion is what college is all about. Dancing since she was three, Martinez says that she has always known that she wanted to dance.

“For the most part I just always thought that I would be a dancer, so education is now something I’m tackling because I want consistency in my career,” said Martinez.

Martinez moved to Oregon from the California Bay Area with her daughter to attend Western’s dance program.

“I moved up here to pursue the academic end of dance, I decided randomly that I wanted to be a professor of dance,” said Martinez. “I’d been doing a lot of the small companies in the Bay Area and a lot of modern companies, and pay isn’t always great and rarely do you get health benefits. There really is no assurance.”

“I randomly said teaching makes sense for me now, so I just went for it. Someone told me about Western and I applied and got it and moved my daughter and I up here. Immediately I was notified through the dance department here that one of the professors, Darryll Thomas, that him and his wife run a company and that if you wanted any possible teaching jobs to get your resume in immediately.”

Through that, Martinez was connected to the Rainbow Dance Company, who she has been with ever since.

“I joined the company and I’ve been with them for three years. I’m going to continue with them for a fourth year before I go to grad school,” said Martinez. “It’s a touring company, we perform in the spring dance concert, we go to Canada a lot. I love it, it allows for a lot of creative freedom. I can continue my performance and then pursue the academic end. It’s been a good blend.”

Martinez says that her biggest accomplishment of a dancer has been finding her voice.

“When I found a style of dance called “release technique,” it’s an anti-movement to the formatted Graham and Limon, it’s all about freedom and releasing, using organic movement. When I found that it was like ‘yeah, that’s me, that’s what I want.”

When she’s not dancing, Martinez also loves cooking and reading about mythology. Martinez loves that many rituals can be shown and told about through dance, which has helped to influence some of her dancing at Western.

“I’m actually a mythology nut. I love mythology and cultural anthropology. I love to read books on myth and my overall goal of dance is to merge the two. I’ve done two pieces here at Western, one was based on voodoo ritual and the second was based on the Native American process possession and their beliefs on that.”

Martinez’s goal is the be a dance professor and have a resident company.

“I want to leave some sort of teaching philosophy. I have one mentor here, Les Wantanabe. To me, he’s one of those teachers whose lessons will be repeating in my mind for the rest of my life. I want to be that teacher, if I could be that one day, that’d be awesome.”

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Review: “Norse Mythology”

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Fans of comics and superhero movies are well aware of the lives of Thor, Loki and Odin. This is exactly what pulled author Neil Gaiman into the world of Norse mythology and began his inspiration for his narrative collection of Norse myths.

“Norse Mythology” is Neil Gaiman bringing his narrative style to ancient Norse myths and, for the most part, it makes for an incredible experience.

Initially, I was very put off by the book. The first few chapters are a very dense, mundane read that feel more like a textbook than a collection of stories. The chapters are short, but are packed full with names, attributes and brief histories of many different gods.
It’s not the best way to start, but it’s necessary to understand the characters in the stories that follow.

The stories themselves are great. Gaiman makes Norse mythology accessible and fun for newcomers and his focus on Thor, Loki and Odin give fans of those characters a deeper look at their origins and roots.

Gaiman uses his knowledge of mythology from “American Gods” and “Anansi Boys” to breathe new life into these old tales. The characters seem very alive; their feelings and emotions jump off the page.

The book begins with the creation of the world, then moves into stories about the gods and their adventures and origins and ends with Ragnarok, the end of everything.

Some of the stories end up feeling weak, however. “The Master Builder,” for example, finds the gods dealing with a man who is wagering Freya the sun and the moon on whether or not he can build them a wall in one season. This story feels long and drawn out, the tension of whether the gods will prevail disappears and is replaced by hope that the story will end soon.

Other stories are entertaining throughout. “The Death of Baldur” is easily the most heartfelt and compelling story in the book. The side characters feel as alive as the main characters and I found myself not wanting the story to end.

My biggest criticism of “Norse Mythology” is that it’s too short. The book ends way too quickly, especially considering that it deals with such a rich mythology. Four or five more stories could easily fit into the book and further add to the depth of the characters.

There are times when the characters do feel really weak. Gaiman has a habit of writing dialogue as Gaiman, rather than the characters that he is writing. This isn’t as much of an issue with the characters of Thor, Loki and Odin, since the book’s main focus is on them. Characters like Balder, Frey and Heimdall don’t get enough enough time in most stories to form their own voices, so Gaiman takes over.

“Norse Mythology” is a fantastic look into the world of Norse myth. The characters are more alive than ever before and Gaiman brings his masterful writing to these narratives, breathing new life into these old tales. Though the book is short and some stories are a bit boring, “Norse Mythology” is a great read for anyone interested in Norse myths.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Community spotlight: The Elsinore Theatre

By:Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

With the start of spring term, school and work are starting to pick and up finding fun things to do is getting harder. Not too far from Western though, there’s a fun and affordable activity for all ages.

Salem’s Elsinore Theatre is only a 20 minute drive from Western, in the heart of downtown Salem. The theatre has been around for over 90 years.
It’s a beautiful and historic place to check out, not to mention there are a ton of fun events there, too.

The Elsinore Theatre is currently in the middle of its Wednesday film series. Each Wednesday, a different classic movie is shown. The films are shown each Wednesday at 7 p.m. for only $6, the next, “The Wizard of Oz” being on April 5.

For those over 21, some of these films also have wine pairings. There are two upcoming films with wine pairings: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on April 19 and “Singin’ in the Rain” on May 17. The times and prices for these events are the same and are still open to those under 21.

On April 28, LaserSpectacular will have a live concert laser show to the music of Pink Floyd. The show will feature “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Best of Pink Floyd.” Tickets are $15-$30 for students, depending on seating, and the doors open at 7 p.m.

The Elsinore Theatre also features a plethora of locally produced theatre events. With frequent high school drama festivals and shows from Theatreworks, the Elsinore never goes too long without an opportunity to see a show. The next show from Theatreworks is “Junie B Jones” on May 11. There are two showtimes: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Tickets for this show are $14.

For a slightly higher price, the Elsinore also regularly has famous musicians and comedians do shows as well. Gordon Lightfoot will be playing a concert on June 12. Tickets for this are between $49-$69. Country singer Ned Ledoux is playing a show on June 30 for only $20-$30.

There’s a little something for everyone at the Elsinore Theatre. Tickets to these events and more information about these and upcoming events can be found online at elsinoretheatre.com.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Review: “Heartworms”

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

The Shins’ fourth album, “Heartworms,” was announced with the release of the song “Name For You,” an upbeat, groovy tune that felt very Shins.
“Name for You” is poppy, but delightfully unique addition to the album.

Unfortunately, “Name For You” is a rarity in “Heartworms,” many songs sound much like The Shins’ previous music but fail to be anything memorable. “Painting a Hole,” “Cherry Hearts” and “Fantasy Island” all fall into this category. They’re not bad songs, but they just zoom by and don’t catch my attention in any way. Neither the lyrics or the music stood out in any particular way.

The highlight of “Heartworms” is the song “Mildenhall.” This folky song tells an entertaining story with catchy lyrics and mellow music.
“Mildenhall” goes down for me as the best song on the album and one of the best songs that The Shins have ever released.

“Heartworms” lacks a song that will be remembered for a long time. Each Shins album prior has a song or multiple that has gone down as a classic, but “Heartworms” songs are just not memorable. The album doesn’t catch attention like some of the best Shins-songs.

That’s not to say that “Heartworms” isn’t a great album. The music is enjoyable, just not on the same level of The Shins’ previous albums.

Another great song off the album is the title song, “Heartworms.” The song really stands out from the other songs in the album with a unique sound which is almost Beatles-eque. The upbeat music is matched with very meaningful lyrics, making for an enjoyable yet engaging listening experience.

“Dead Alive” is the song I’d recommend to people looking for a song that matches the sound of previous Shins music the most. The lyrics are simple and catchy and the song is similar to songs in albums prior. If already a Shins fan, “Dead Alive” is the perfect new addition to their musical lineup.

Overall, “Heartworms” is a good album. There is nothing horribly wrong with the album, but it fails to be memorable, most of the music just blends together rather than being a continuous enjoyable listen. With a few songs that catch the ear and some that don’t, The Shins new album is worth the listen, but it’s nothing that will be mindblowing.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Editor’s Picks

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Editor’s recommendation:
With popular games like “Tiny Tower” and “Pocket Planes,” NimbleBit has become one of the most recognizable and influential mobile gaming studios around, so it’s always a big deal when they release a new game.

“Bit City” has been out for a couple weeks now and is absolutely spectacular. Not only is it an in-depth city building game, it’s one that can be played with one hand.

The goal of the game is to build a city and reach a certain population level before moving onto the next city. Players click to build new buildings to make more money, while spending money on new vehicles and upgrades.

“Bit City” is available now for free on iPhone and Android.

Editor’s disparagement:
The fourth TV show in Netflix’s continuation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Iron Fist,” fails to match the quality of the shows before it.

The main character, Danny Rand, returns to New York after being presumed dead for 15 years with a mysterious superpower and lots of enemies.

One of the best parts of the other Marvel shows was the character development of both the heroes and villains, which “Iron Fist” lacks. Viewers are thrown into the world with a naïve protagonist and many unlikeable side characters.

“Iron Fist” is not a bad show, but it isn’t nearly on the same level as the shows that came before it.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Review: “Ghost in the Shell”

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

“Ghost in the Shell” has been the center of some controversy over Hollywood whitewashing, after casting Scarlett Johansson as the main character, Major Mira Killian. Due to this, the film already had a bad public view, but despite the whitewashing, “Ghost in the Shell” is a beautiful, though poorly written, action movie.

From director Rupert Sanders, “Ghost in the Shell” is an adaptation of the manga by the same name. The story follows Mira Killian, who is trained as a cyborg counter terrorist after she almost dies in a cyber terrorist attack.

The highlight of the film is the unique artistic style. Bright colors and futuristic settings bring a unique feeling to the film. I never found myself bored of the visuals. Whether it was seeing a building through the lens of heat-sensing binoculars or seeing the advertisement-filled city streets, “Ghost in the Shell” is bursting with color from start to finish.

Another highlight of the film was Johansson’s compelling performance. She grapples with the humanity left inside her. “Ghost in the Shell” is easily one of Johansson’s most compelling performances in recent years.

The biggest drawback of “Ghost in the Shell” is the writing. Were it not for Johansson’s acting, the film would feel like a total mess.
Conversations between characters feel bland and boring, making me feel impatient toward the next action scene.

“Ghost in the Shell” definitely looks the part of a good sci-fi action movie. The stunts, the costumes and the setting feel very much tied to a different and exotic world. Even the society is completely alien toward our own, people getting cybernetic enhancements like it’s plastic surgery. One character enhances his liver so he can drink more.

These cybernetic enhancements raise big moral questions about humanity, questions that Major struggles with throughout the film. The film tries to make the viewer grapple with how they’d respond to the options of enhancements and raises questions about what it means to be human.

This would have a much stronger effect though if these questions were paired with better writing and a better performance by the supporting cast. It felt like Johansson was the only one putting 100 percent into her acting.

“Ghost in the Shell” is a mediocre film at best. The beautiful visuals and great performance from Scarlett Johansson aren’t enough to save the film from its bland writing and poor supporting cast.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

2/4
+ Incredible visuals
– Bland writing

Spring into action

By: Alyssa James
Staff Writer

Winter term is coming to a close which means that after next week, spring break will be here. Oregon may not be the ideal spring break destination spot for most; however, Oregon offers various excursions that students can enjoy.

Beginning March 24, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is putting on their annual Tulip Fest. With 40 acres of land to walk about with views of the mountains, this is an ideal place to visit to enjoy the start of spring. There is a $5 ticket cost to enter, but once inside there are a few different gardens to explore, food onsite from the Mt. Angel Sausage Company, a coffee cart and more. This may be just the way to kick off the spring season.

Over 21 and want something fun to do? The Cider Rite of Spring is taking place in Portland on March 25. According to nwcider.com, Cider Rite of Spring is an event that celebrates the “blossoming Northwest Cider industry” and is “an annual cider tasting event welcoming the return of Spring.” The event runs from 12 to 6 p.m. and costs $25 to attend. With entrance, attendees receive a complimentary glass and access to a total of 30 local cideries offering almost 100 different types of cider.

For someone who doesn’t want to spend a bunch of money over the week-long break, taking a trip to one of the numerous hikes within Oregon may sound like the ultimate way to spend one’s time. A few options that may be worth looking into are Silver Falls State Park, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge and Multnomah Falls. One thing to always remember is that when going on a hike, staying safe is the top priority. Whether hiking, enjoying cider, or admiring tulips, there is something to enjoy for everyone during spring break.

Contact the author at ajames16@wou.edu

Western gets vocal

By: Blayde Biacan
Staff Writer

Western’s very own a cappella event took place at the Smith Recital Hall on March 9. A cappella is singing without instrumentals. The experience had the performers doing their utmost in their talents, all the while still joking with the audience and themselves on
stage.

Western’s a cappella is separated into two groups. The male group is called 15 Miles West. While the female group is called Suspended. Their interactions on stage and between themselves show how close they are, “We’re like a family” said one performer.

In the event, many well known artists and songs were performed. In order of their performances, the event started with 15 Miles West performing “This is Gospel,” “I Wish,” “Jealous,” “7 Bridges Road,” “I Do” and an Usher medley. It then transitioned to Suspended performing a Chainsmokers medley, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” a Rihanna medley, “Hide and Seek” and a Colors medley. In the end they came together to sing “Never Be Like You.”

The only time that an individual stood out was in a solo, other than that, you could see and hear every performer and their music. Trying to focus in on one specific tune or person is hard. Despite there being no musical instruments besides the performers themselves, it sounds exactly like each song, which is truly what a cappella is.

Contact the author at bbiacan16@wou.edu

Local musician shakes things up

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Breaking into the music scene can be hard for new artists. With the rise of social media and trends, staying relevant in today’s entertainment industry is a difficult thing to do, but local musician Isaac Turner is combating that.

Turner created a “Song of the Week” series, where over the course of one year, he writes, produces and creates a music video for an original song. Turner just wrapped up working on his week 10 song, “The Road.”

I got a chance to sit down with Turner and learn all about his work and the exciting things he’s been working on.

“Last year in December, I reflected that I’d done nothing the whole year. A whole year has gone by and I haven’t even finished my album, I was still recording it. I played a couple shows and did a few festivals, but that’s nothing. I did nothing to build a fan base” said Turner.

With this, Turner recounted that it was time to make a change.

“I came up with this idea to write, record and produce a song every single week. One, it’s going to force me to buckle down and handle it. It’d force me to stay in the studio writing and producing. The other thing is that you get better every time you do something. Every time I do one of these songs, the songwriting will get a little bit better, the production will get a little bit better, the music videos will get a little bit better. That was the main part of it” Turner added.

Shying away from the old standard of making music and staying relevant in today’s world of social media are both important for Turner and his music.

“How do you stay relevant in today’s crazy social media? If you have an album that’s 12 songs, how do you keep that relevant all year? You can’t. By a new song every single week and the process of the song, I can stay relevant all week long” Turner said.

Turner currently has three albums out. His latest, “Give You Love” released in January with 12 songs.

The biggest inspiration for Turner’s current release system is the band Marion Hill, who released a song online and gained enough popularity that they had a record deal before their first tour. He said Marion Hill, “… and their story is what changed my idea, so they’re a huge inspiration on me, their story more than their music. Sound wise, I’d say Chet Faker. I love his vibe”.

Another inspiration for Turner is the state of Oregon, where he’s spent his whole life.

“The rivers, the woods, nature. I incorporate that into so many of my videos. I think a huge part of my acoustic thing comes from that folky Oregon natural kinda thing” added Turner.

Isaac Turner’s music is available on both iTunes and Spotify, as well as on his youtube channel “isaacturnermusic,” where his weekly music videos can be found.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Review: “Kong”

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

“Sometimes the most dangerous things are the most beautiful,” says Tom Hiddleston’s “Kong: Skull Island” character, explorer James Conrad.

A fitting quote for a movie of such monstrous proportions. It’s difficult to watch “Kong: Skull Island” without being constantly blown away by the beautiful South Pacific setting and the fantastic cinematography.

Each scene of terror is followed by a scene of beauty. The wonder of the uncharted Skull Island is shown throughout, causing smile-inducing scenes of beauty around every corner, which helps to make “Kong: Skull Island” an excellent adventure film.

Accompanied by music and outfits from it’s 1973 setting, “Kong: Skull Island” makes great use of the time period, set up to feel like a Vietnam War film.

The film makes great use of its cast. Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly, Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston and John Goodman all bring unique and compelling performances to the table. Working with an ensemble cast of well known actors can make for thin characters, but in “Kong,” everyone has their moment to shine.

Even Kong himself is an incredibly done character. Both terrifying and sympathetic, Kong’s special effects help to make him realistic enough to feel like a real threat to the viewer, rather than an animated joke like some “King Kong” movies in the past.

The film does fall into standard action movie tropes though. When the soldiers are focused on in the film, I found myself having heard the same dialogue and seen the same problems. “Kong: Skull Island” doesn’t do much to set itself apart from every other action film.

The plot is also weak. Two hours of “get from point A to point B with monsters” gets redundant and annoying after a while and would be a total bust without the accompaniment of great performances and excellent visuals.

With a great cast and beautiful cinematography, “Kong: Skull Island” is one of the best “King Kong” films ever made. Although brought down by action movie tropes and a weak plot, “Kong” is still a great, beautiful movie that definitely deserves a watch.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

¾
+ Great cast
– Weak plot

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