4 Aquinas THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2009 5 Arts & Life Editors Eva Piatek Post-pop-punk band ‘The Thermals’ return Eight days Alison Swety a week Campus Comment with brand new album ‘Now We Can See’ Arts Alexis Sullivan by Jess Abbott Life with a “love/hate relationship” as & commentary by And Sarah Hardy he talks about how love kept him joe wolfe Staff Writers Staff Writer from dying when he was afraid. “Liquid In Liquid Out” brings up a Looking for something differ- The Thermals are back at it again new theme on the album as Harris ent to do this week? Check ‘Adventureland’ not a superbadder film with their fourth album, “Now We talks about his struggles with alco- out this list of daily upcoming Can See.” The band continues with hol. He sings, “Saturate, fill me up/ events. commentary by are engaged in the era, rather its self-proclaimed “post-pop-punk” Liquidate, empty my cup/It’s what michael le than watching a movie. Even the sound and, as described on The my life was all about/It’s what my Thursday, Apr. 16 Staff Writer colors and filming style seem to Thermals’ website, “we know we’ve life was all about it was all about.” capture the ambiance of the 80s. done the whole ‘post-’ thing before. The album ends on two solid Additionally, the movie highlights Egyptian dance class 7-8 We should really be over so post- songs, “How We Fade” and “You p.m.—Take a class with Diana the music of the time period, as ‘post-’ at this point. But we’re not.” Dissolve.” “How We Fade” contains James makes mix cassettes for Shahein. Possibilties Books & Flash back to the movie the- With this being said, The Thermals some of the best lyrics on the en- Gifts. ater two years ago. You and your others. There is always a catchy just do not “do” the whole “post-” tire album. Harris goes back to the friends sat in front of the screen, song playing in the background. thing again, but seem to master it theme of heartbreak as he belts out ate popcorn and candy, made The movie has a great story, on “Now We Can See.” at the end of every stanza, “dream- Friday, Apr. 17 fun of one another’s mothers and a believable atmosphere, timely The album starts off quickly on ing of you/dreaming of you/and and appropriate soundtrack and judged future movies based upon the right foot as Hutch Harris sings, how we fade.” “You Dissolve” is a “The Pajama Game” 8 p.m.— their previews. You were wait- almost flawless acting. Yet, there “The earth was too hot/the air was solid finale for this album as Har- is something very important miss- Go see this musical based ing to see “Superbad,” a film that too thin/I took off my clothes/I took ris seems to finally get out all his on the novel “7-1/2 Cents” by you expected to be mundane and ing: laughter. You would think that of my skin/I crawled to the sea that feelings about his heartbreak as the creator of “Superbad” would Richard Bissell. Scranton Cul- monotonous. Boy, how you were was crawling from me/so I could he describes his lover as someone tural Center. $20. surprised. From the beginning to create another comedy with ease. swim/yeah so I could swim.” Har- who dissolves, whether in the sense the end, each scene was original Yet it is obvious that this was not ris’ lyrics lead into the percussions of leaving of just with a complete and witty, filled with crudely hi- his intention. Motolla focuses on of newly recruited drummer Westin change in personality. To put it larious humor and laugh-out-loud the complex and heart-wrenching Glass along with the bass-work of plainly, what he thought this person Saturday, Apr. 18 moments. Spectacular and raun- human emotion that is called love. Kathy Foster. was in the beginning seems to not That is his primary goal. He tries chy one-liners burned into your Harris’ lyrics hit hard through- throughout the album, most no- love is near/I hear it speak/It’s in my be the case in the end. The University of Scranton memory and you left the theater his hand at romantic drama and out, especially in “I Let It Go” as he tably in “Now We Can See,” as sight/But just out of reach/It slips “Now We Can See” is another comes out with success. But his String Orchestra 7 p.m.—Listen feeling closer to your friends and sings about heartbreak. He sings, “I background vocalists repeat, “Oh- from my hand/Just like it did on the great album to be made by The to a performance by student the strangers around you. overarching story is unoriginal, was holding on to a love I knew so way-oh-a-whoa,” to the point that land” in one of the strongest songs Thermals. For anyone who thought almost cookie cutter and predict- musicians. Houlihan-McLean Enter April 2009. Greg Motolla, long/I thought it must be keeping it encourages the listeners to “Oh- on the album. that the jump from Sub-Pop to the Center. Free. the genius behind “Superbad,” able. me afloat/Only when I was down/ way-oh-a-whoa” along with the The following track, “When We Kill Rock Star label would have any has released his second so-called That is not to say that the mov- Only when I was drowning/did I fi- song. These pop hooks are very Were Alive,” is perfectly juxtaposed effect on the band, The Thermals comedic masterpiece, “Adven- ie is bad. “Adventureland” is a be- nally see your hands on my throat” distinct from the post-punk genre to “At The Bottom Of The Sea” as sound stronger than ever. “Now We tureland.” You and your friends lievable love story. Although there and continuously pounds on his and help make the post-pop-punk Harris, Glass and Foster quickly re- Can See” may not be the best al- Sunday, Apr. 19 are doing the same routine, but are only a few one-liners that you guitar in pure punk fashion. “I Let It the genre it is. mind the listener about what The bum creatively, as it really does not this time you are waiting for courtesy of mctcampus.com will remember as being sort of These pop hooks are highlight- Thermals are primarily about— do anything different in the sense ‘ADVENTURELAND’ FEATURES a great plot centering on amusement park employees. Go” is one of the many examples on Eve 6, Split Fifty, OurAfter something unbelievably funny— comedic, the movie is simply not the album where The Thermals per- ed in “At The Bottom Of The Sea,” punk—as they put together the of experimentation with sound as funny as you thought it would and The Five Percent 6 p.m.— a second laugh-out-loud movie for journalism graduate school ate and street-smart Em. From dialogue is witty, albeit not that fectly fuse the sounds of post-punk which is a temporary shift in tempo heaviest 1:46 track of the album (post-pop-punk was also the genre be. It is the kind of movie that Catch a show featuring the that will once again rekindle the at Columbia. At his new job he the outset, James and Em have funny, but is interesting and main- and pop punk. Harris’ voice sounds as The Thermals slow down the with screeching guitar, pounding on their previous album “The Body, you would go to see on a date, not band Eve 6 of “Here’s to the humor of the human condition, meets a multitude of characters chemistry as they first exchange tains the pace of the movie. reminiscent of 90s post-punk bands music for what is the longest track bass and crashing drums. The Blood, The Machine” (2006)), with your friends. Where “Super- Night” fame. Tink’s. a “Superbadder.” Maybe it was portrayed by fantastic actors with glances from their secluded gam- The atmosphere of the movie with powerful pop punk bass lines of the album—at 5:44 long. The fa- “When I Was Afraid” is yet an- but it does take a genre, a sound bad” was a great comedy with a due to the high expectations, but, humorous twinkle: the overactive ing booths. should be commended. “Adven- and percussions. miliar theme of heartbreak is again other strong track on the album. and a theme and utilizes them bet- good story, “Adventureland” is a frankly, the movie was a bit of a park managers Bobby and Pau- James eventually falls in love tureland” re-creates the 1980s su- Catchy pop hooks are featured mentioned as Harris belts out “the Harris seems to keep struggling ter than most bands ever have. great story with some comedy. disappointment. lette who take themselves way with Em only to find out that she perbly. Washed-out jeans, short Overall, you should go see this Monday, Apr. 20 The movie follows the sexu- too seriously; a sexy and gossip- had been cheating on him with the shorts, side pony tails, sporty movie if you are into atmospheric, ally-awkward and brainy James, loving co-worker Lisa P; the suave married Connell. This relationship headbands and classic automo- romantic movies. However, don’t “The Pursuit of Happiness” who is forced to get a job at an and married Connell; and finally drives the story, which is indeed biles grace the screen. Immedi- expect a “Superbadder” or you will 2009 Battle of the Bands 7:30 p.m.—Support the Electric amusement park to pay the way the beautiful, powerfully opinion- well-written and thoughtful. The ately, you get a sense that you be sorely disappointed. Theatre Company by attend- ing its benefit performance, Basic Information: featuring actors from famous —Saturday May 9th 2009 Broadway musicals. $25. Folky singer ‘Emmy the Great’ releases debut CD —Starts at 2:30 p.m. —Dionne Green commentary by with a charming voice and mean- crash and sitting there covered in —Free joshua perry ingful lyrics. It’s easy to overlook blood while listening to the singer Tuesday, Apr. 21 —Presented by University of Scranton Programming Board Staff Writer some of the more impressive ar- M.I.A. There are few lines that rangements if you focus too much have the power to shake, such as, Lacrosse 4 and 7 p.m.— If you’re constantly frustrated on what she’s saying. “I still remember holding my hand Current Bands from the University performing: Watch the Royals teams as by getting into bands long after The song “24” is carried by danc- against your face just before it —Livingston they play Marywood. Free. ing guitar strings, emphasized by was sprayed across the radio as it they’ve gained acclaim and want —No West something new to impress your a violin and the occasional piano. played.” Instrumentally the song friends with, here it is: Emmy the Over this arrangement she sings is very light, which makes the —So Long Pluto Great’s debut album, “First Love.” about her failing relationship with straight-forward lyrics even more —Shrimp Jambalaya Wednesday, Apr. 22 Emma-Lee Moss, known as a man who watches the television beautifully disturbing. Emmy the Great, is a folky singer- show, “24.” She says to him, “Man Although this album may ap- Headliner: Jonathan Clay 8 p.m.— on the screen, he has done more in pear to be overbearingly gloomy, Come to this performance at songwriter hailing from London Valencia – from Philadelphia, PA who is most known for her con- a minute than you have achieved Emmy lightens the mood by sing- the USPB Coffeehouse Series. tributions on Lightspeed Cham- in your entire life,” and later, “I ing, “And a meteor shower is head- Show starts at 6:30 p.m., Dionne Green, FREE!!! DeNaples Theater. Free. pion’s album “Falling Off the Lav- am sorry that you happened to ing for my throat. Bang, bang. Check them out at: www.myspace.com/valencia ender Bridge.” For longtime fans me but they say one man is the Smack. Ouch,” or, “you’re an ani- of Emmy, her much anticipated accident, the other is the hand mated anvil, and I’m an animated Each band has 25 minutes to give it their all and show the that stops the blood.” This incred- duck.” The lyrics may fall a little Thursday, Apr. 23 full-length debut is nothing short judges what they have. They will be judged on overall sound, of brilliant. ibly sad feeling carries right into on the emotional side at times, Each song is its own story and, the next song, “We Almost had a but the way Emmy delivers them entertainment values, originality, crowd reaction, and overall Body Image Fair 11:30 like a good book, entices you to lis- Baby,” where she says, “and once is perfectly simple. performance. a.m.—2 p.m. Join in on the fun ten from beginning to end. Unlike I tried to make a life to keep you This album is deep enough to be and learn something at this most CDs, there aren’t any songs in mine.” In this song, she tells of picked at with a fine-tooth comb, Check out their sound during the first week of May. Battle fair. DeNaples Student Forum. on this album worth skipping, how she was forced into woman- but seemingly simple enough to Free. hood and how hard she tried to listen to while writing a paper. of the Band committee members and band members will be which is a huge accomplishment to make it more relatable while the songs “Dylan” and “First Love.” hold onto the man that took her It ranges from poppy to classic, promoting the event with free CDs featuring the competing Have any suggestions for next considering it’s fifty minutes long. she discusses her emotions. There The most haunting and fantastic there. and even somewhat bluegrass, all week’s “Eight days a week?” Although the instrumentation on seems to be a strange battle go- song on the album, at least lyrical- bands. Put in a free raffle for a chance to win a Wii version The album is sprinkled with without a single misstep. Send them to swetya2@scran- this album may seem simple at ing on between her and Bob Dy- ly, is “MIA,” where she describes of Rock Band! Winner will be announced during Battle. pop culture references that seem ton.edu. points, Emmy adds further depth lan on the CD, made apparent on being the sole survivor of a car Campus Comment If you could invent a national holiday, what would it celebrate?

“‘National WWJD Day!” “National Ice Cream Day.” “National Frisbee Battle Day.” “National College Students Appreciation “National Sleep All Day For College “Sleep.” “National Bar-B-Q Picnic Day.” “National Pay It Forward Day.” “National Sleep Day Where Everyone “National Free Museum Day.” Day.” Students Day.” is Encouraged to Catch Up on Much Needed Sleep.” Caitlin Ehly Kellie Brady Kathleen Cardos Kelly Lillis Daniella Ciollo Joanne Nashi Brendan Bradford Caitlin McMullen Mark Wehrenberg Taryn Fogarty Freshman, Philadelphia Freshman, Langhorne Freshman, Mechanicsburg Freshman, Jersey City, N.J. Freshman, Staten Island, N.Y. Freshman, Mount Pocono Junior, Shavertown Senior, Hamilton, N.J. Freshman, Saylorsburg Sophomore, Staten Island, N.Y.