Culture

PHOTO: John Mayer

'Simone' has clever, comedic vision

Looking for an engaging film? Something with deep undercurrents that deals with severe issues present in the world today? "Simone," starring Al Pacino, is one of the most clever films to be released this year. The film masquerades as a comedy and does a superb job.

Theatre X season offers diversity

Deep in the bowels of the Center for Fine Arts building, you will find the bastard offspring of the Theatre and Dance department, Theatre X. The student-run theatre has existed quietly since its inception, but is now on the verge of breaking into the consciousness of the greater UNM community.

Hip hop group's strong sound weakened by poor lyricism

Walking that fine line between mainstream and indie hip-hop, Slum Village's latest release trinity (past, present and future) on Capitol Records defies categorization. Slum Village's sophomore effort was released Aug.13 to good reviews. Trinity is a concept album, 23 tracks long, entwining the band's memories, current reality and predictions for its future.

Video game promotes 'White Power'

Editor's Note: The Daily Lobo does not endorse either "Ethnic Cleansing" the video game, or any of the values promoted within. It is important to inform the reader of some of the alarmingly successful propaganda being passed off as common entertainment. These games are becoming more successful.

Mayer attracts audience with feeling

For anyone who's ever wanted to run through the halls of UNM and "scream at the top of their lungs or swim in a deep sea of blankets," here's the chance.

Kravitz kicks, Pink pops

Headliner Lenny Kravtiz assumes the rock star position during his Journal Pavilion show Tuesday night. Kravitz played hit songs spaning his 12-year long career, inlcuding his latest "Once You Dig In."

Sound Off

How many people saw the opinion columns in the culture section in the July 25 mail-out issue of the Daily Lobo?

Fall Crawl brings culture Downtown

As seasonal as Christmas and as reliable as clockwork, the Weekly Alibi's annual Fall Crawl is scheduled for Saturday.

'Blue Crush' worth the ticket price

Surfing hugely dangerous waves in Hawaii? Yeah, we girls kicked that ass. Or so we prove in "Blue Crush," a movie that came at the end of summer, but keeps the tingling, relaxing feeling that the days of June and July bring. Starring Kate Bosworth, last seen in Robert Redford's "The Horse Whisperer," and Michelle Rodriguez known from the independent film stunner "Girlfight," this movie is about girl power in the non-Spice Girl, scary sense of the words.

'Trainspotting' play unlike movie

Trainspotting, a book, a movie, and now - a play showing at the Vortex Theater. First off, if you've seen the movie starring Ewan McGregor, you'll notice a few slight differences. For one, the climax isn't included in the play version - a stage adaptation by Harry Gibson, based on the novel by Irvine Welsh.

Excess bass drowns De La Soul show

How much bass can the Sunshine Theater handle? Judging by the sound at the De La Soul concert on Wednesday, Aug. 14, not much. De La Soul is one of the most groundbreaking and inventive hip-hop groups around and its influence stems all the way back to its 1989 debut Three Feet High and Rising.

Band continues avant-garde jaunt

Dredg treads familiar and similarly fascinating ground with its second major-label release El Cielo. Following in the footsteps of the heavily lauded major-label debut of Leitmotif, Dredg continue upon the avant-garde concept album rock path. El Cielo yields such lines as “watch clouds peek over the tallest mountain tops, cuz they unveil honest opinions about the stars” from the album’s real opener “Same Ol’ Road”.

Film adaptation collects dust

The problem with reviewing local cinema is that you worry that Billy Garberina might hunt you down and kick your ass for giving him a bad review. Who is Billy Garberina? He is the writer, co-director, producer and star of the entirely locally made full-length feature: “Collecting Rooftops.

‘Signs’ nearly a tour de force

Ever felt a growing sense of dread from something as simple as watching a man stare into a darkened cornfield? If you see “Signs” — written, directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan — you might. Shyamalan, director of “The Sixth Sense” and “Unbreakable,” follows a kind of Hitchcock-esque methodology in “Signs.

Flaming Lips spits out new serene masterpiece

Everyone’s doing retro pop these days. The ’60s are long gone, but pop from that era is all over the place. But left out of that is psychedelic pop — that LSD-fueled sub-genre that Pink Floyd started out in before building The Wall. Leave it to The Flaming Lips to make sure that psychedelic pop is represented.

LETTER: Pledge not in need of revision since it does not violate laws

Editor, I am writing in response to the letter I just finished reading sent to you by one Seth Warren Heath. His letter remarked that the pledge defied the Constitution. I would like to point out that in his letter he commented that the government required people to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Film illuminates hip-hop culture

Currently making waves at venues throughout Northern California, a group of independent visionary filmmakers are taking their Hip Hop Film Fest on the road and to Albuquerque's Guild Theater from July 26 through Aug. 1.

'Sky' displays heart of a poet

Those who know Luis Alberto Urrea for his acclaimed nonfiction work might be taken aback by his latest collection of short stories, "Six Kinds of Sky."

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Green Day sends out "non-hit" album to follow greatest hits album

Leave it to the punk trio Green Day to give a follow-up “non-hit” album on the heels of its greatest hits album. The band, with members Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt, released Shenanigans this month to complement last year’s International Superhits.