THE SCOOP MY FAVORITE THINGS February after all)! The knife on my desk Pocket knife has two blades, a bottle-opener, By Daniel Ward, Junior and a leather-punch. The way that it catches the light from the artificial light at my workplace connotes a sense of seriousness, like the friend who has got your back come hell or high water. A beautiful wood-inlay adorns the Favorite things that brought me sides, and the pitted surface of to Fresno State! the bark has been rubbed a bit through years of use. In my Featured Article mind’s-eye, I see my grandfather I often times wonder how many who gave me my very first lives have been saved through pocket knife and many more in- prior proper planning; in my cluding the subject of this de- book, carrying a pocket knife is scription. Even in old age, one such way to ensure that you Grandpa still manages to catch have yourself covered in a wide- the light and give that comfort- range of less-than-desirable in- ing feeling. Knowing that I One of my favorite possessions, stances. At the very least, there symbolically carry around a and one that gets me from A to is a sharp blade that can function family member so dear, a Fresno B. State alum himself, is such a as many different tools (it’s what What I brought to college- good feeling. One of my favor- separates us from the monkeys Great Music ites! you, I don’t wanna touch.” “No featured in Rock Band 2. It has “This Year’s Model”- Action” certainly sets the tone some of the most unclear lyrics Elvis Costello: A Review for an album that seamlessly on the record, leaving the lis- By Shae Dougall, Freshman combines cold apathy, broken- tener to fill in the blanks. heartedness, furious sarcasm, “Little Triggers” is The Scoop is asking us what we and Farfisa organ to create a next, and is relatively unimpres- brought to college. Well, I musical experience that draws sive. It evokes images of a 50’s brought some fantastic tunes. you in, chews you up, and spits doo-wop singer crooning to his Among my massive iTunes al- you out leaving you completely girl. It’s the only spot on the al- bum collection is this gem from disoriented. It’s a 13 track romp bum where the energy drops 1978- “This Year’s Model” by that rarely sees a break in the down to a minimum level, and it Elvis Costello. Often lumped in energy. would have probably benefitted with the punk/new wave move- After “No Action”, from being placed later on the ment of the late 1970’s, Costello which is a song about a man album. actually tends to lean more to- who is disgusted with his girl- The sixth and seventh wards pop song writing- albeit friend, come a power trio of tracks, “You Belong to Me” and some of the most bitterly com- songs, “This Year’s Girl”, “The “Hand in Hand” are quick dit- posed lyrics of the era. Beat”, and “Pump it Up”. The ties. The former is bouncy and “This Year’s Model” three songs rush by the listener catchy, but the latter tends to is no exception, as it opens with in a whirl of irony mixed with lean towards dull songwriting, a whispered “I don’t wanna kiss miserable lust. “Pump it Up” is mostly due to the music itself, the star of the bunch, and is also and not the lyrics, which are don’t think I’ve ever heard such inches on the reel-to-reel,” sings sharp as ever. a frantic, mean spirited take on Elvis with an arrogant tone “Chelsea” is the first pop music since Love’s “Seven reminiscent of The Sex Pistols; truly incredible song on the al- and Seven Is”. “Lipstick” roars A very fitting ending to an al- bum, and it’s followed by three along at 155 BPM, but feels a bum that is simply begging to be tunes that all keep up with lot faster. Only Costello has listened to. “Chelsea’s” standard. “Lip Serv- enough rage in him to even sug- If you have already ice”, “Living In Paradise”, and gest that the idea of love is “just given Elvis the King your undi- “Lipstick Vogue” are all excel- a tumor”. If I could recommend vided attention at some point in lent as well, but for completely one track off the album, it would your life, why not try the Other different reasons. “Chelsea” it- be “Lipstick Vogue”. By the Elvis? I guarantee you’ll like self is a song about last year’s way, as a bass player myself, my what you hear, but be prepared model and how nobody wants to opinion is that Bruce Thomas is for something different from be with her any more due to the one of the best bass players ever. what you’ve heard before. newest model being so fresh and Just saying. exciting. “Lip Service” contains Sadly, “Night Rally” “This Year’s Model”- 9/10 great lyrics about how men can is surprisingly unremarkable. be so cruel to the women they It’s quite a let-down, given that love. “Living in Paradise” is a the songs that sandwich it at #12 groovy song about jealousy, and are some of Elvis’s best tunes. the bass drives through each “Radio Radio” follows verse with a soft implied feroc- as the encore, and it is an ironi- ity that must be heard to be un- cally radio friendly protest song derstood. about the airwaves. “You better “Lipstick Vogue” is so shut up or get cut out/They don’t good, it’s almost unbelievable. I wanna hear about it/It’s only More Than a Song tend to feel a little off-putting so night, and study session. The By Parker Nalchajian, we find something to make it patio chairs that make wonderful Sophomore even a little like home. We nap zones are also awesome. bring trinkets and decorations The most important aspect of from home that will harken back my life has always been music to days before the dorm. and as such, I would not wish to Whether it is a favorite blanket, go through college without a treasured stuffed animal, or a bringing my own personal li- picture of friends at other col- brary of music. leges, we all have something Back in high school, I that is uniquely ours. These was tremendously involved in things make our new home a the instrumental music program little more home-y. and since then I have continued When living in the dorms, you There are plenty of ob- volunteering my time during the have a limited amount of space jects I could single out that I am marching season. The memo- to identify as your own. The thankful for bringing to college. ries I have during those four cold cinder blocks and the Our fluffy rugs--both last year years are not memories that can creaky wooden frame bed can and this year’s iterations--have be captured in a single picture seen many a gathering, movie (or even a movie, for that mat- ter). The whole of my music the Electric Light Orchestra. I identity, however cheesy that experience is best captured by learned to hold classical and sounds. I feel empty when I recordings of our performances. wind band music very near and don’t have a song stuck in my Each piece is a memory catalyst dear to my heart. I (much like head and I am often found that takes me back to the days the borg, to betray my nerdiness) humming, whistling, or other- when I could wear a tuxedo assimilate the notable music wise singing something at all regularly and sit up on stage tastes of those I meet, associat- times. with the glaring lights and com- ing each new group with a friend When all is said and pletely let go. I filled my iPod made. It has gotten to the point done, I could not live without with these memories and they that when I listen to my iTunes my music and I am tremen- mingle with hundreds of other library on shuffle, any span of dously grateful for the advent of songs that make up an indispen- fifteen minutes can include jazz, the personal media player. Now sable aspect of my identity. opera, dubstep, and symphonic I never have to be without a I grew up listening to my metal and much more. Each song to sing. dad’s classic rock like Emerson song, artist, and playlist com- Lake and Palmer, Queen, and pose an indispensable part of my Destressitizer for those days when there is ab- know you’re jealous of my word By Hannah Richardson solutely nothing to do, not even creating skills. And of my homework (or maybe you are squishy purple ball. I might let The best thing I brought with me just avoiding the homework…) you to college is this squishy purple because in addition to being a bor- ball. I call it my Destressitizer. good means of taking out your row it It’s hard to understand its great- frustration, it is also just plain if you ness until you’ve had it there fun. So, I sometimes call it the ask next to you during a frustrating Unboredifier or Procrastassister nice. homework assignment or extra when it is not acting in its offi- long paper.