14 October 3, 2006 THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY Arts & Entertainment Greg Laswell soulfully explores Toledo

On Thursday, October 5, UMBC is hosting its biggest career fair of the year! Held in the RAC from 1-5 pm; there will be over 140 employers including Northrop Grumman, Mercantile Bankshares Corporation, NIH, Social Security Administration, Legg Mason, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Microsoft, U.S. Census Bureau, and many more. The fair is not only for seniors seeking positions, it is an incredible opportunity for all students to network with employers, learn about different career fi elds and options, and apply for jobs. At times a career fair can seem extremely overwhelming, so below are some tips to help you prepare for an extremely worthwhile experience: Career Fair Preparation Tips Nothing is more important than being prepared. Before walking through the doors, you should know the organizations that you’re interested in and even the ones that you may not be. There is a list of all of the companies attending on the Career Services Center (CSC) website (http://www.careers. umbc.edu/news_events/careerfair.php). Take the time to go to employers’ websites and learn about the company so that you are able [Courtesy of Management MusicDivision] to talk to recruiters about why you would fi t Not Quite Sufjan: Greg Laswell puts his own spin on indie-pop with Through Toledo. in with their organization. • Looking, speaking and acting many of his male contemporaries. defi nes his position in life: he’s doing the best he professionally are essential to making a KATRINA COHEN General thematic elements aside, an can for his friends and family. On the surface, he’s remarkable fi rst impression. Come dressed to Retriever Weekly Contributing Writer impressive aspect of Laswell I noticed before come a long way, implied in the lines, “the wind impress and bring copies of your resumes! If having a serious listen is that that the man’s got is picking up now / and the new newspaper’s all you want the CSC to look over your resume, Blame Sufjan Stevens, if you must. But talent. He not only wrote each of the eleven tacks over town.” However, the song takes a turn at the come by for “Walk-in” from 2-4 pm, Monday lately there have been a bundle of male musical on Through Toledo, but he provided most of the end, and he accuses someone he lives with of a – Friday. Do you have a portfolio? If so, bring artists packaging their collections of indie-pop- instrumentation in a one-man-band-type way, mistake that’s changing him -- “I know... / ‘cause I it with you! rock-alternative (you decide) behind a location. layering his own guitar, piano and percussion over live there too.” The song is personal and affecting • Use your time wisely. Look at the Stevens’s Michigan and Illinois records aside, his vocals. What impresses me the most about without being overbearing. “High and Low” is fl oor plan that you will get when you check there’s Josh Rouse and Nashville, Dave Barnes and this discovery that Laswell has a full appreciation the most simplistic song on Through Toledo, and into the fair to determine where employers Chasing Mississippi, and now Greg Laswell and for every element of his sound, implying that his is Laswell’s shining moment. Turns out our man are located and in what order to visit them. Through Toledo, a July 2006 release on Vanguard songs will be equally well rounded. doesn’t need his big production, just a piano and Don’t eliminate companies because they Records. I’m sure there’s something to this affi nity Undeniably there is a richness to many of thoughtful lyrics, romantic without the schmaltz. are recruiting for positions outside your for a sense of place; certain spots do evoke certain the tracks that makes me want to listen again, and The loveliest turn in the album is the harmonizing, major or fi eld; take the time to network images, feelings, and memories. Whether these again once more, to fi nd that piece of evocative soaring break in the last minute of the song. with representatives and get names of hiring aspects of city or state are accurately represented backing vocal, that beautiful piano run, or that Laswell is searching for himself, lest we managers for your particular career fi eld. by the music is up to the listener. And luckily for sneaky, somber violin I let drift by without forget, and his attempts to be edgier tend to be • Be prepared to talk about your work us listeners, this collection of wanderlust-driven noticing the fi rst listen. On lilting album-opener less effective. “Worthwhile” is a jumpy ode to experiences, skills, and abilities in a thoughtful men don’t all sound the same. Where Stevens is “Sing, Theresa Says,” Laswell contemplates many women that leaves me with questions and and concise manner. quirky and subtle, Rouse is feeling and direct. changes in relationships and the season (and even chafes the romanticism of other tunes. “I’m Hit” • Always get a business card so that you Where Barnes is bluesy and bright, Laswell carves complains about some onerous June-bugs) with takes a few too many hits of synth and cynicism. can follow up and send a thank you letter. a niche of his own. His songs are layered and enhancing backing vocals by Molly Jenson. On However, Laswell can rock; the guitar-driven loops Never underestimate the worth of face varied, and while others push and prod softly at “Through Toledo,” Laswell crafts a piano-driven of “Amazed” bring to mind an energetic Pete Yorn time with recruiters from leading companies. their tunes, many of Laswell’s songs burst out in piece explaining why “another humdrum grey with all the dark edge that comparison entails. This is a chance for you to sell yourself and big sound. day” in Toledo really does make him “need a drive In the end, Laswell seems to be wishing he to ask any questions that you may have. In What is it about Toledo, though? A quick up San Francisco bay,” with a kicky bridge that could pass through Toledo, but he’s stuck for now. addition, pay attention to the questions you’re google search told me Toledo has the honor reassures, “one day I’ll snap out of this.” Sometimes, though, the view is gorgeous, and being asked, these are clues to what to expect of being the fourth-largest city in Ohio (and I My favorite section of the album comes at leaves me wondering if he should get out at all. in an interview. No matter what stage you are fail at geography). Maybe there’s a point here; track four, “Do What I Can,” and its follow-up, in, it’s impossible to leave without something Laswell’s record isn’t implying that he wants to “High and Low.” “Do What I Can” chimes, darts Katrina Cohen is a Contributing Writer for of value. Best of luck and we will see you on stay in Toledo; he merely wants to drive through. and dances its way to an emotional conclusion The Retriever Weekly. She can be reached for the 5th! So he’s going on some sort of proverbial journey, with help from string accompaniments, spot-on comment at [email protected]. Sponsored by: and that’s a theme he does have in common with percussion and an especially soulful Laswell who Career Services Center: Providing students with career and job search skill ’s new album is best work yet development, full and part-time job listings, on-campus interviews, job fairs, and help you can watch the four commercials that Oldham think of him as a lesser-known - a with the graduate school application ZACH KAUFMAN made to advertise his new album, fair comparison if only because Cash’s cover of process. Math/Psych 204, 410.455.2216, Retriever Weekly Contributing Writer (the one directed by Neal Michael Hagerty which Oldham’s “” was by far the best [email protected], www.careers.umbc.edu. Will Oldham, aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy uses claymation and colored drawings is pretty song on American III: Solitary Man, one of Cash’s The Shriver Center: Connecting (along with about half a dozen other monikers brilliant). Oldham has always been the roughest last albums. students with internship, co-op, and service- used throughout the 90s), has been getting a of the guys in the indie/folk/ After last year’s harder-hitting collaboration learning opportunities. Public Policy, 1st fair amount of press lately. Perhaps you saw him movement. His songs are working-man’s ballads with (), The Letting Go fl oor. just the other night on Late Night with Conan of love and hardship. These songs are probably 410.455.2493, www.shrivercenter.org O’Brian. No? Well, it was damn good. You should best listened to after a week of heavy drinking see OLDHAM page 18. probably go fi nd it on YouTube. While you’re there (you’ll appreciate them more; try it). Maybe you’ll