“Ender’s Game” had a difficult journey getting to the big screen. The author of the original novel, Orson Scott Card, refused to give up the rights to the film for decades due to creative differences. But now that it was finally made, thousands of people vowed to boycott it due to Card’s homophobic views. Whatever his views might be,...
A crowd cheering, people dancing the night away, soft and beautiful songs filling the room –– these are a few of the things that I was surprised to take away from the Elephant Revival show at the Barn. As a huge music enthusiast, I have been to many concerts –– rock, rap, dance and various other genres — but...
“Oh, when love is gone / Where does it go?” questions Arcade Fire lead singer Win Butler in the song “Afterlife,” off the band’s latest album, “Reflektor.” The album stands as the band’s most ambitious and sonically complex work to date, serving as a more-than-worthy follow-up to 2010’s Grammy Award for Album of the Year, “The Suburbs.” Themes of...
It seems the “Jackass” franchise is in constant pursuit of expanding its empire and outdoing itself in terms of crude, disgusting humor. In the film “Bad Grandpa,” Johnny Knoxville whips out old man prosthetics and turns himself into Irving Zisman, a raunchy and perverted 86-year-old character who has appeared in previous “Jackass” features. Instead of Bam Margera or Steve-O...
California girl Katy Perry’s fourth studio album, “Prism,” is full of hit songs which reflect her bubbly and eccentric personality. Although several of her lyrics are basic and simplistic, Perry’s messages are full of depth. Many slow and thoughtful songs accumulate with biblical references throughout. “Prism” lets fans of Perry see several sides of her –– and in that...
AFI is no stranger to the post-hardcore punk scene. With more than 10 years as a band, eight studio albums and countless EPs under their belt, the group returns with their latest record, “Burials.” Reflective of lead singer Davey Havok’s personal tribulations, the album displays the collective sounds and lyrics that fans of the band have grown to love.
The...
In the midst of mainstream releases from the likes of Drake and DJ Khaled comes a new project from the underground rapper and notorious troublemaker, Cage. No newcomer to the hip-hop scene, his most recent album, “Kill the Architect,” arrives with his signature loud mouth and nonchalant mentality, seemingly throwing his middle finger in the air with every track.
Cage...
With the advent of next-generation consoles (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One), all the upcoming new game releases and continuations of popular series are both exciting and mysterious — but let’s hope they do not disappoint.
1. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (PS4, XB1, PC)
Although this game comes out in October for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it also has a...
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
As a holiday, Halloween is unique. Though the way it is celebrated often evokes parties, candies, costumes and fun, Halloween’s dark origins are centered on scaring off demons –– the dark and frightening creatures and emotions that lurk in our minds. With this in mind, I am dedicating this week’s Away from the Sprawl to the...
The energy at the Student Recreation Center started at a simmer.
Pillars illuminated by blue and gold light bordered the gym floor. A single archway, fronted by what would later be revealed to be smoke pillars, waited for a parade of men’s and women’s basketball players to make their grand entrance. The stands slowly filled — one side first, then...