Hail, Caesar? Fail, Caesar! Asleep in a Dim, Warm Theater
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THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL a&e FEBRUARY 11, 2016 THE FOURCAST 17 CULTURE POPS | The Fourcast’s Favorite Restaurants, Movies, Music, TV Shows and More The Icing on the Cake (Bar) This is Good PHOTO BY AMELIA BROWN BY PHOTO PHOTO PROVIDED BY RCA RECORDS RCA BY PROVIDED PHOTO This is Acting Sia Sia set the bar high last year with her hit “Chandelier.” A top-10 single, it peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated the airwaves in late 2014 to early 2015. So you’ve probably heard of Sia – but you may not know that Sia was initially known for her songwriting rather than her singing. Although she had released songs prior to “Chandelier,” it wasn’t until last year that he hypnotic glow from the gold, metallic letters, listing flavors ranging from red velvet to she established herself as a singer as well Italian cream, draws me closer to the assortment of the pastries on the other side of the as a songwriter. Her powerful lyricism and her unique vocals are both showcased in dark blue door. Through the window I can see an unavoidable display of cake-covered her latest album, “This is Acting,” released on Jan. 29. countertops. Finally, after I give in to my sweet tooth, I face a new challenge inside the In an interview with New Musical Ex- shop: how do I only pick one flavor when they all sound so good? press, Sia revealed that she called the album “This is Acting” because “they are songs I was The Cake BarT at Trinity Groves Once you narrow down their to sit and enjoy your pastries and the result is a cake that tastes like writing for other people… I didn’t go in think- is a Southern-style pastry shop filled large and tempting menu you may the view. homemade banana bread, sweet- ing ‘this is something I would say.’ It’s more with a variety of homemade cakes, be left to choose between a classic Servings are generous. Each ened with several layers of frosting. like play-acting.” cookies, pound cakes, quick breads chocolate chip cookie, a mysteri- slice of cake is put into a clear But if you are looking for But that’s not to say that the music is and ice creams. Experienced baker ous slice of hummingbird cake or a container, making it easy for those something less sweet and rich, not genuine. With her instantly recognizable and founder Tracy German was in- full-sized red velvet cake. After the who want a cake to-go. However, you will also find zucchini, sweet voice, Sia adds her own unique twist to the spired to open this dessert hotspot decision is finally made, customers it would be nice if the shop offered potato and pumpkin quick breads album. Just as her previous album “1,000 after selling cakes from her house can enjoy the shop’s warm, bakery pastries on dining plates for those on the menu. To compliment their Forms of Fear” focused on Sia’s struggles for 14 years. German strives to bake feel which feels almost as if you had who wish to enjoy their sweets in pastries, the dessert bar also of- with alcoholism and bipolar disorder, there is the types of cakes that people used just walked into the heart of your the shop, rather than just in the fers traditional ice cream flavors an obvious theme with “This is Acting.” That to eat from their own kitchens with grandma’s kitchen after she has plastic to-go boxes. such as vanilla, chocolate and theme – liberation from fear and insecurity – sticky fingers from licking the batter baked a fresh batch of chocolate chip The menu includes many tra- butter pecan. resounds in each and every song. off the spatula. cookies. You can tell that everything ditional flavors such as red velvet Before you fill yourself to the The first two songs on the album, “Bird “Making food for people is a comes straight from the kitchen in cakes and chocolate chip cook- brim with whatever pastry you se- Set Free” and “Alive,” were supposed to be very personal thing,” German said the back of the shop and that each ies along with a variety of unique lect, you can’t forget to pose for a for Adele. It’s a fact made obvious from the on the official Cake Bar website. slice is cut from the dozens of cakes flavors such as piña colada cakes, picture with your dessert of choice first listen; the opening piano notes in “Bird “It connects you to every person.” displayed on the countertops. toffee pecan cookies and maple in front of the iconic, flashy Cake Set Free” sound eerily similar to Adele’s hit Growing up in Augusta, There is usually a small bacon pound cakes. Each slice is Bar sign. “Someone Like You,” and the steady back- Georgia, she watched her moth- mid-afternoon crowd, which gives moist, fluffy and crafted with a The variety and creativity on ground tempo in “Alive” parallels “Rolling in er improvise recipes to concoct a you the perfect amount of time balanced icing-to-cake ratio. their menu will certainly accom- the Deep.” Nonetheless, Sia makes the songs multitude of flavorful sweets. in line to debate which flavor to Although I usually feel like I modate any sweet craving. her own with her raspy timbre and strangely “She was the best scratch choose. But post-dinner the shop need a glass of milk to wash down appealing voice cracks. Along with the songs baker I knew,” German said on gets a little overcrowded, making any rich, chocolate dessert, the “Unstoppable,” “Cheap Thrills,” “Reaper” and Ideal Valentine’s Dates the official Cake Bar website. “She it difficult to find indoor seating. Cake Bar’s German chocolate cake AMELIA BROWN “Fist Fighting a Sandstorm,” the theme of BY BRENDA LEE didn’t need to follow a recipe, and Standing shoulder to shoulder is not too rich nor too sweet and STAFF WRITER confidence rings loud and clear. In “Unstop- if she did, she changed it to make with dozens of voices trapped in could stand on its own. Another pable,” Sia describes herself as “a Porsche it her own.” this small space, customers some- less traditional option to try is a with no brakes,” and in “Reaper,” she sings to Also, German encourages times struggle to enjoy their cake slice of their hummingbird cake, a Death, “no baby, not today.” customers to submit family rec- in this buzzing atmosphere. mix of pineapple, banana, toasted $$ The album mainly deals with Sia regain- ipes so she can recreate them When all the tables inside pecans and cinnamon, iced with 3011 Gulden Ln #117 ing confidence, but those who enjoyed her and feature them as cake of the are occupied, the patio, which cream cheese frosting. Although it Closed Monday previous tracks about depression and harm- month. With this idea, she wishes overlooks the Margaret Hunt seems like an unusual combination Tuesday–Thursday 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ful love will still find something to enjoy. The to honor old memories, but also Hill bridge along with the rest of of ingredients, they all work to- Friday–Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. songs “House on Fire,” “Broken Glass” and to form new ones. Downtown Dallas, is a good spot gether to enhance each other and Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. “Space Between” are more similar to the songs on “1,000 Forms of Fear” and speak of breakdowns due to toxic relationships. scenes, I basically paid $10 to fall fullest, creating the most believable Although some songs tell depressing sto- Hail, Caesar? Fail, Caesar! asleep in a dim, warm theater. characters in the most unbelievable ries of unhealthy relationships, listeners will Hail, Caesar! Perhaps the larger narrative situations. Clooney is a startling be uplifted by the tracks “One Million Bullets,” was a bit messy, but the more min- facsimile for the daffy Whitlock, “Footprints” and “Summer Rain,” all of which The Coen Brothers ute details of Caesar truly indicate and even relative newcomer Eh- are significant departures from Sia’s usual the well attributed talent of the Co- renreich’s performance was out- tunes about abuse. Sia sings about separat- ens. Whimsical storytelling is a main standing, unabashedly sweet and ing herself from toxicity and finding herself component of the film and creates genuine. through healthier love. Her vocal fry – that he story-within-a-story seemed like an amalgam of smaller genuinely interesting subplots, like And though not billed as a co- trademark croakiness of her voice – comes subgenre is tricky to pull bits and pieces, rather than an in- DeeAnna Moran’s (Scarlett Johans- medic movie, Caesar is sharply and through strongly on “One Million Bullets,” but off, but can be enormously terconnected whole. son) accidental pregnancy, Hobie subtly funny, gaining laughs consis- not annoyingly so. It’s the only song on the al- rewarding and refreshing And it’s rather unfortunate, Doyle’s (Alden Ehrenreich) foray tently throughout the movie. Most bum that was not written for another artist. Twhen done right. But unfortunate- too—phenomenal actors like Scar- from the western countryside to notable is a scene in which Mannix “Move Your Body” and “Sweet Design,” ly, the Coen brothers’ new film, lett Johansson, Tilda Swinton and the silver screen and Burt Gurney’s calls in a variety of religious figures on the other hand, were clearly written for “Hail, Caesar!” barely fits the bill.