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(05/03/18 2:28am)
This week, WTSR music staff highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band Name: Flyte
Album Name: The Loved Ones
Release Number: 1st
Hailing From: London
Genre: Refined and Fun Indie Rock
Label: Island UK
Flyte’s debut album is beyond impressive. They have crafted a refined and smart sound that most bands don’t seem to obtain until a second or third release. The songs are reminiscent of bands like Spoon or Bombay Bicycle Club, yet at times it even feels as though the band is channeling Billie Joel with piano driven songs and powerful vocals. This is a very accessible album which should be enjoyable for anyone but will definitely appeal more to those who are interested in hearing more bands channel a classic rock sound while still making indie music.
Must Hear: "Faithless," "Victoria Falls" and "Sliding Doors"
Band Name: Django Django
Album Name: Marble Skies
Release Number: 3rd
Hailing From: Dundee, UK
Genre: Trippy and Fun Electronic Rock
Label: Because Records
Marble Skies is the exciting third release of UK band Django Django, who do a fantastic job of making some trippy and weird indie rock without getting too Animal Collective. This album channels the same psychedelic pop sound that they had on their critically acclaimed self-titled debut. Django Django do a very impressive job at making wildly catchy tunes out of songs that are still very trippy and unique. This album is full of fun songs with some crazy production all over the record, give it a play!
Must Hear: "Marble Skies," "Tic Tac Toe," "Sundials," and "In Your Beat"
(04/17/18 8:09am)
This week, WTSR music staff highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Titus Andronicus
Album: “A Productive Cough”
Release Number: Fifth
Hailing From: Glen Rock, New Jersey
Genre: Springsteen-Core Indie Rock
Label: Merge
Does the world need more New Jersey bands making their own take on what a modern-day Bruce Springsteen would sound like? Not really, but at least Titus Andronicus does it well. The fifth album from the New Jersey rock group leans less on the punk side. It uses more spacious songs featuring some interesting choices in instrumentation. The band’s intensity remains, and the album “A Productive Cough” is still an enjoyable rock record and an easy listen.
Must Hear: “Above the Bodega (Local Business),” “Crass Tattoo” and “Mass Transit Madness (Goin’ Loco)”
Band: Young Fathers
Album Name: “Cocoa Sugar”
Release Number: Third
Hailing From: Scotland
Genre: Eclectic Electro Pop
Label: Ninja Tune
The third album from the Scotland trio is their most confident album by far. It sees the band finding their own sound. On “Cocoa Sugar,” Young Fathers present rhythm and blues-styled vocals over experimental beats in a surprisingly accessible way. The album is diverse in sound and has some straightforward indie-pop songs and some more eclectic tracks. It is an album that stands on its own and is one of the most notable this year so far. It would be worth it to give this album a listen.
Must Hear: “In My View,” “Border Girl” and “Holy Ghost”
(04/03/18 6:45am)
This week, WTSR music staff highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Mint Field
Album: “Pasar de las Luces”
Release Number: Debut
Hailing From: Tijuana, Mexico
Genre: Indie Emo Soft Rock
Label: Innovative Leisure
Hailing from Tijuana, Mexico, Mint Field debuted with their album “Pasar de las Luces.” They focus very heavily on melodic guitar riffs complemented with airy vocals in the background. Their songs are generally instrumental with the occasional Spanish lyrics from lead singer Estrella Sanchez, who also plays lead guitar. With Amor Amezcus on synth and drums, the pair of 21-year-olds create an unusual blend of soft rock with an ambient indie vibe. While a lot of the songs from this album sound the same, there are definitely some gems.
Must Hear: “Quiero Otoño De Nuevo,” “Cambios Del Pasar,” “Para Gali” and “Ciudad Satelite”
Band Name: Quiet Hounds
Album Name: “Characteristics of Living Things”
Release Number: 5th
Hailing From: Atlanta
Genre: Indie Folk Rock
Label: Self-produced
Quiet Hounds debuted back in 2012 with “Megaphona.” Their most recent album, “Characteristics of Living Things,” showcases their talent on several instruments such as harmonica, piano, acoustic guitar and electric guitar. They have a full sound that creates a sense of rustic nostalgia. Quiet Hounds has the type of music that makes you want to sing along with family and friends. The band’s harmonies make for a feel-good album with an indie folk rock feel.
Must Hear: “Time Gone,” “Thieves,” “Great Expectations” and “Living Things”
(03/27/18 5:07am)
By Sean Reis
Staff Writer
In lo-fi purple and red lighting, a somber scene was set for the College Union Board’s latest CUB Alt show on Friday, March 23. From headliner Japanese Breakfast to the two openers, Long Beard and Mothers, the three female-led tri-state area acts created an atmosphere that filled the Brower Student Center.
“This lighting kind of reminds me of our press photo,” Michelle Zauner, who is better known as her stage name Japanese Breakfast, remarked during her banter with the crowd.
Zauner added that she picked the press photo’s aesthetic because “it made me feel like Steve Jobs and I wanted to be taken seriously (as) a mysterious musician.”
Zauner’s artistry was fun and playful, and she brought a whimsical humor with her superlative stage presence.
She opened her set with the song, “Diving Woman,” off her most recently released album, “Soft Sounds from Another Planet.”
It was plain to see that she was a music industry veteran in the making, and the same could be said when listening to, reading or watching her work.
She created a companion book for her sophomore album, “Soft Sounds from Another Planet,” and she directed the music video for her song “Boyish” — a hit compared to not only other Japanese Breakfast videos, but also music videos for similar musicians.
True to the name of her album, Zauner’s work transcended the music she performed on the CUB Alt stage. Zauner does not always write her music with a specific image in mind, however.
“I think that the images come much later after a song is completely done because a song can change so much with production and arrangement,” Zauner said in an interview with the College’s radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR. “Especially with Japanese Breakfast songs, a lot of them start in a certain way and end in a totally different way.”
This was specifically true for the song “Boyish,” which was originally written for Zauner’s previous project — the punk rock band Little Big Leagues. The song ultimately had to be reproduced for her solo career as Japanese Breakfast, which featured a drastically different, experimental pop sound.
“Boyish” was among the likes of “Road Head,” “12 Steps” and “The Body Is a Blade” from the same album, but Zauner did not limit herself to her sophomore record.
Her cover of “Dreams” by The Cranberries was well-received by the crowd, and the song that followed was the high-energy favorite, “Everybody Wants to Love You,” from her debut record “Psychopomp.”
Japanese Breakfast was not afraid to take a downtempo turn during her set.
“This is a love song written in the only way I know how,” Zauner said in the introduction for the next song. “Which is to incorporate my fear of death.”
The love song, “Till Death,” stood out as a soft and bittersweet beauty amidst an especially energetic end to the evening, but was nothing compared to Japanese Breakfast’s finalé.
Zauner left the confines of the stage or as she called it, her “keyboard cubicle,” to enter the crowd and dance during the breakdown of the final song, “Machinist.”
It was in that moment that crowd members reached into their last reserves of energy to close out another successful CUB Alt concert.
(08/29/17 1:42am)
By Sean Reis
Staff Writer
When most people think about the summer, their mind immediately jumps to the beach — the feeling of the sand on their feet, the sound of crashing waves and the smell of the boardwalk.
I do too, as any good New Jerseyan should, but another scene comes to my mind before the shore: the movie theater, from the feeling of the sticky floors with every step, the sound of a beautiful score and, obviously, the smell of the popcorn drowning in butter.
The summer blockbusters have always been a personal staple for me each year, and although the theaters may not fill seats quite like they used to, the season’s films have continued to live up to the Oscar-winning movies of past years.
Popcorn (envato elements).
Summer 2017, specifically, may have been one of the best years for movies during my young lifetime with films breaking the box office across all genres.
The superheroes undoubtedly dominated, however “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Wonder Woman” and “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2” weren’t the only movies to see this past summer.
“Baby Driver” surprised fans with action-packed cinematography accompanied by a flawless soundtrack. “Dunkirk” kept audiences on the edge of their seats for a symphonic war story told unlike any other.
“The Big Sick” brought loved ones together on an emotional rollercoaster filled with such strong feelings that sometimes they would find themselves awkwardly laughing and crying at the same time.
Furthermore, while Ansel Elgort proved himself as an actor, Harry Styles made his debut and Kumail Nanjiani headlined Oscar buzz; other movies such as “War for the Planet of the Apes,” “Lady Macbeth” and “Atomic Blonde” — all of which I regrettably missed in theatres — also received high praises from critics and fans alike.
I personally can only stamp the first six movies mentioned for approval, all six of which I made the seemingly forgotten trip to the theater to support. Though it is impossible — or at the very least difficult — to pick the summer’s “best” film due to varying genres, there was one movie that stood out the most.
“Spider-Man: Homecoming” starring Tom Holland had easily been the best of the summer’s superheroes, but director Edgar Wright’s surprise masterpiece “Baby Driver” ultimately had to take the cake.
With Elgort and other well-casted supporting roles from co-stars Kevin Spacey, Lily James and Jon Hamm, “Baby Driver” was definitely an experience born for the big screen.
As a gifted getaway driver, Baby (Elgort) lives a criminal lifestyle until he suddenly meets his dream girl, Deborah (James), and he must find an escape.
The audience follows Baby’s adventure between action and love as though we are not only in his shoes, but also in his ears as the audience listens to Baby’s favorite music for the film’s soundtrack –– synchronized, mixed and mastered with Wright’s cinematography.
Unprecedented, “Baby Driver” ultimately stood out as a theatrical joyride and the surprise summer 2017 blockbuster.
(04/11/17 7:37am)
By Sean Reis
Staff Writer
For a second, the crowd was silent — just a second, though. In an instant, Jeff Rosenstock and his band sent the eager crowd into a frenzy when he began his headlining performance. Fans charged the stage with arms in the air — and they wouldn’t lower them until the CUB Alt concert on Tuesday, April 4, came to a close.
Before Rosenstock took control, three other opening bands had taken the stage: Curtis Cooper, Teenage Halloween and Thin Lips. All three openers had short trips to the College. Cooper and Thin Lips are Philadelphia-based alternative rock bands while Teenage Halloween — an eight-person, indie rock band with strong ska influences — is from Asbury Park, N.J.
“We always wanted to do a four band bill, but the standard has always been three,” said Dana Gorab, CUB Alt co-chair and a junior communication studies major. “Tonight was originally three bands, but I saw Curtis Cooper in Philly and I knew I wanted to add him to the show.”
With four bands total, students at the College may have had a bigger bill to swallow, but the crowd was ready for Rosenstock. Those in attendance had enough energy to enjoy live music all night if the Decker Social Space would have allowed it, and the crowd gave the band their all from start to finish.
Rosenstock broke the brief, aforementioned silence and opened his band’s headlining performance with “We Begged 2 Explode” off “WORRY.” — Rosenstock’s latest album released in October 2016. The beginning of the set then followed the album chronologically, only interrupted by hilarious banter amongst the band members in between songs.
When the band played another “WORRY.” release, “Festival Song,” the College was especially enthusiastic.
“I’m trying to match your energy,” Rosenstock said. “But it’s just too damn high!”
The band as a whole also brought a very high energy to the stage, musically driven by heavy guitar, bass and hard-hitting drums, but Rosenstock’s fellow musicians also utilized one acoustic guitar, the keys of a synth and a drum pad to slow a couple tracks down. The set’s first half had more alternative rock elements, while the latter half became a more ska-oriented show.
“Ska is as popular as it’s ever been!” Rosenstock yelled to the crowd after the band performed “Rainbow,” which he had previously introduced with a shout out to the openers Teenage Halloween.
It’s unlikely the entire crowd was aware, but as a founding member of ska punk band The Arrogant Sons of Bitches in 1995, Rosenstock has been in the music industry for longer than some students in attendance have been alive.
He’s yet to stop doing what he loves, and when asked in an interview with the College’s radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, about how he still finds inspiration after all these years, Rosenstock simply responded, “I just like music and I like making music.”
His connection with the crowd and stage presence was a testament to his passion for music. Rosenstock was constantly jumping with pure joy onstage and his hardcore fans were jumping right back at him all night, even as the set was close to its end.
“We have six songs left,” Rosenstock told the crowd, but the remaining songs were primarily a minute each and rolled into one another.
The final stretch started with “HELLLLHOOOOLE” and chronologically rounded out “WORRY.” before “You, In Weird Cities” off another album, “We Cool?” ultimately brought Rosenstock’s set to a close. As the band seemed to fade away with a somber instrumental, the crowd knew it wasn’t over.
Rosenstock — with his band behind him — and his fans unleashed whatever energy was left for one last time, and like that, another successful CUB Alt concert came to a close.
(12/06/16 5:44am)
By Sean Reis
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Another adventure awaits in the “Pokémon” franchise’s latest game “Pokémon Sun and Moon,” and there’s no time to waste if you “want be the very best, like no one ever was.”
In the seventh generation of the series, “Pokémon Sun and Moon” is a four-island journey across the Hawaiian-inspired Alola region. This may be one of the best “Pokémon” games to come out in over a decade, and no, “Pokémon Go” doesn’t count.
The sixth generation, “X and Y,” was a strong attempt to revive the franchise, but “Sun and Moon” gives “Pokémon” fans the chance to return to their roots with a change of pace from previous titles.
Familiar faces such as Pikachu, Eevee and Magikarp, along with Alolan versions of Pokémon, will greet you as you begin your adventure. I specifically enjoyed playing with the Alolan form of Pikachu’s final evolution, Raichu, which features a new twist on the powerful evolution that I rarely used in past games. Pokémon, like Grimer and Muk, each have Alolan forms that, again, encouraged me to catch these Pokémon for battle, despite rarely using these Pokémon in past titles.
“X and Y” had included other generations of Pokémon with similar reasoning, however, “Sun and Moon” does so in a way that the classic Pokémon blend well with the Pokémon that are native to the new region. Pikachu and friends pick up the slack from their “Sun and Moon” colleagues, who don’t quite reach the creative standards that previous “Pokémon” generations have required.
Not to say that the Alolan Pokédex was not filled with cool, new Pokémon to catch, but many clearly took more thought than others. The new fan favorite Mimikyu was well-designed by the “Sun and Moon” team, while Klefki — the Pokémon that resembles a keyring — was not.
Besides the Alolan Pokémon, “Sun and Moon” has the richest plot — excluding the first three generations, which will forever hold a special place in my heart. With a beginning reminiscent of the third generation, the story starts after you move to Alola with your mother. It seems simple, but embarking on a new adventure with a similar background story for the character serves as a nostalgic vehicle for fans of the classic titles.
In Alola, you’re also welcomed by other dynamic characters, such as Lillie, Gladion and Acerola. The vast majority of the non-playable characters (NPC) who you meet on your adventure feature dense and well-written lore that adds to the game overall. Though this may not be the case for every NPC you meet on your travels — especially your one-dimensional rival Hau — these characters help drive the story as you progress from island to island by defeating several trials on each. Started in “Sun and Moon,” this trial system has replaced the gyms found in previous generations.
Among the many odd extras that the seventh generation decided to add, such as Festival Plaza or Pokémon Pelago, “Sun and Moon” would have been incomplete and less successful without a team of Pokémon thieves to stop your fun. Although the “Sun and Moon” successors to the original Team Rocket may not be my favorite team to fight, Team Skull did make for humorous competition on my adventure.
Overall, “Pokémon Sun and Moon” has been the best “Pokémon” experience in years, and I highly recommend it to all fans of the franchise, young and old.
(10/22/16 7:55pm)
By Sean Reis
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Imagine a world in which only you live. You control your world and each day of your life, you choose to create (or destroy) the world that you desire with a tablet.
In a short film produced with Japanese studio A-1 Pictures and Crunchyroll that was released on Tuesday, Oct. 18, musician and producer Porter Robinson tells a story based on “Shelter” — his latest collaborative single with his close friend and fellow musician Madeon. Told through the perspective of a 17-year-old girl named Rin who lives her life alone, “inside of a futuristic simulation,” the six-minute video follows Robinson’s trend of bringing his emotional electronic music to life through spectacular visuals.
According to the video description, Rin lives “completely by herself in infinite, beautiful loneliness. Each day, Rin awakens in virtual reality and uses a tablet which controls the simulation to create a new, different, beautiful world for herself. Until one day, everything changes, and Rin comes to learn the true origins behind her life inside a simulation.”
For the short film that doubles as the song’s official music video, Robinson poured his heart out to create the production, on which he had been secretly working with one of his favorite anime studios, A-1 Pictures, for the past year.
Until “Shelter,” Robinson had not released original music since 2014 when his debut album, “Worlds,” told his tale about an escape from reality, which for Robinson, was an escape achieved through video games. According to Robinson, the last track on the album, “Goodbye To A World,” was written about an atypical notion of an apocalypse: “a beautiful world kind of disappearing in a clean way.”
Though no one knows for sure, fans have theorized that “Goodbye To A World” could be where “Shelter” and Rin’s story begins.
Before the single starts, Rin welcomes viewers to her world with soft-spoken Japanese in her cutesy voice. Her final words before the music begins are, “Nothing changes anymore. This world that belongs only to me, each and every day, continues on. But I’m not lonely. It doesn’t bother me at all.”
However, it is clear to viewers that Rin feels alone, bothered by reading on her tablet that she has not received a message since she first entered the simulation 2,539 days earlier. With a sigh, Rin’s expression shows that she subconsciously dreams to one day be released from her world of loneliness. Though Rin stays strong and does not allow herself to cry, those who can relate to her character cannot help, but shed a tear — the first of many — for the young girl.
As viewers watch Rin create her latest world on her tablet, she appears to be happy, but her facial expressions hint that she longs to return to the life she once lived. Viewers follow Rin as she runs and skips through her creation, but they know the truth — a secret that Rin must know, too, deep down.
It’s a sad day when “everything changes” for Rin and she learns why she has been forced to live out the remainder of her life trapped within a simulation. However, as the memories of her father return to her mind and recreate themselves within her world, Rin knows that he did what was best for her — when Rin was born, there was so little time for her to live before life on Earth began to come to an end.
In a moment of bittersweet beauty, an orchestral version of “Shelter” plays and Rin speaks a childish Japanese tongue one last time: “Even if those memories make me sad, I’ve got to go forward, believing in the future. Even when I realize my loneliness, and am about to lose all hope, those memories make me stronger. I’m not alone… because of you. Thank you.”
(10/04/16 3:13am)
By Sean Reis
Arts & Entertainment Editor
College can be a stressful place. You need to balance courses, extracurriculars, a social life and more, but keeping a level head through it all isn’t always easy. Even those who have the best time management skills have moments of anxiety or distress. It’s only natural, and you don’t need to be professionally diagnosed to take care of your mental health. As important as it may seem to maintain a high GPA, there should be one thing that always comes first — you.
I’m not suggesting you completely disregard the reason you’re at college because despite the overall experience, you’re here to get a degree. However, before you can get that degree, both your body and mind need to make it through these four years. It may be easy at times, but work will often be difficult, you will feel stressed and you need to take the proper precautions.
If you don’t have a healthy diet or you don’t sleep on a regular schedule, your stress levels will be significantly worse when work gets too tough to handle. It seems obvious, but living a physically healthy lifestyle will help you live mentally well, too. So when the anxiety arrives or the stress shows up unannounced, you can be prepared to deal with it and act accordingly.
Of course, the way each person deals with mental health issues varies. Whomever you may be, having a hobby that you can do by yourself may help. Little activities like coloring, drawing and writing can be relaxing tools to distract your mind after a long day of hard work.
When I have moments of anxiety, I always listen to music. It’s an escape. I lay down, focus my mind entirely on the music and I forget about everything else for awhile. It’s not for everyone, but that’s how I ease my mind.
If these don’t quite appeal to you, obviously, there are so many other healthy coping strategies.
Even if alternative techniques work for you, some people might need extra help. You shouldn’t feel afraid to reach out for professional help. The College has Counseling and Psychological Services on campus to schedule an appointment if you need to seek out expert guidance, and there are always off-campus professionals.
I highly suggest you find what’s right for you because you should make the most of your four years in college. Don’t let issues with your mental health stop you from living life to the fullest.
(09/16/16 7:51pm)
By Sean Reis
Arts & Entertainment Editor
CUB Alt’s new home, the Decker Social Space, transformed into an intimate music venue on Tuesday, Sept. 12, when the reincarnation of CUB Rat held its first major concert of the fall semester. Organized by CUB Alt co-Chair Max Falvey, a sophomore communication studies major, the event featured three alternative rock bands: Lunch Ladies, Florist and the evening’s headliner, Teen Suicide.
Opener Lunch Ladies delved into its heavy-hitting catalog, but Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Florist, which took the stage as the meat and vegetables on a Teen Suicide and Lunch Ladies sandwich, brought the verve down a couple of notches with a soothing set. The crowd was in awe of Emily Sprague’s cute vocals and personal lyrics.
Florist primarily played music from the band’s debut album, “The Birds Outside Sang.” It has a somber sound that is complemented by the poetic lyrics featured on the album. Specifically, one bittersweet beauty called “Dust Inside The Light” was performed toward the end of Florist’s set.
“I heard / Water / Running behind the trees / But there was no river, nobody, not even a stream,” Sprague sang. “Maybe if I keep running, maybe I can find the rain.”
For those familiar with Teen Suicide’s music, Florist was a perfect pick to pair with the headliner. Teen Suicide has been known to release a style of music similar to Florist’s, complete with chill productions and angsty lyrics. However, the band’s live performance on Tuesday departed from its typical emo aesthetic. Teen Suicide treated the College to heavier versions of its original tracks.
Led by lead vocalist and guitarist Sam Ray — also known for his solo project, Ricky Eat Acid — Teen Suicide showcased unmatched energy onstage. As Ray led Teen Suicide’s charge, a bassist, a drummer and another guitarist raged alongside him. Together, they proved they were unafraid to hit the crowd with emotional feel trips whenever the moment was right.
Teen Suicide played a mixture of songs old and new, but one that stood out was “It’s Just a Pop Song” from the band’s sophomore LP, “It’s the Big Joyous Celebration, Let’s Stir the Honeypot,” released last April.
The track begins as Ray asks, “Where do your loyalties lie? And who gets my royalty checks when I die?”
Although “It’s Just a Pop Song” utilizes ambiguous, alternative lyrics at times, a deeper meaning about an artist’s struggle to produce art while still making money shines through, especially when Ray reaches the chorus.
“I guess that I should sing it / But I’m scared my heart’s not in it,” Ray sang. “It’s just a pop song / It’s just a pop song.”
In the same way “It’s Just a Pop Song” walks the fine line between art and entertainment, Teen Suicide’s performance featured both blasts of fun energy and somber spells of artistic integrity. With help from Florist and Lunch Ladies, as well as CUB Alt, Teen Suicide’s show was filled with emotions of all natures, energy off the charts and, of course, music, which set the bar at what will be an altitudinous standard for the fall semester.
(09/14/16 3:27pm)
By Sean Reis
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Well, the first week was filled with shockers, but it’s officially over. Specifically, to the surprise of many, the Denver Broncos offense produced points last week against one of the league’s top defenses, but that’s the NFL for you.
Quarterbacks
Most quarterbacks gave fantasy owners pretty standard results, but at running back, several top draft picks were not quite ready to return: specifically, Jamaal Charles, Thomas Rawls and Devonta Freeman. Meanwhile, at wide receiver, some looked as though they were not worth the pick, but you will need to wait two or three weeks before you make any drastic free agency moves. Nonetheless, let’s look at who to start during fantasy’s second week. Below are my rankings for the top 15 quarterbacks:
Cam Newton (CAR vs. SF)
Carson Palmer (ARI vs. TB)
Aaron Rodgers (GB at MIN)
Andrew Luck (IND at DEN)
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT vs. CIN)
Drew Brees (NO at NYG)
Russell Wilson (SEA at LA)
Eli Manning (NYG vs. NO)
Philip Rivers (SD vs. JAX)
Matthew Stafford (DET vs. TEN)
Derek Carr (OAK vs. ATL)
Andy Dalton (CIN at PIT)
Blake Bortles (JAX at SD)
Kirk Cousins (WAS vs. DAL)
Ryan Fitzpatrick (NYG at BUF)
Wide receivers
If, for whatever reason, you desperately need a new quarterback already, you can also look to pick up Jimmy Garoppolo or Dak Prescott, but let’s continue to wide receiver. Below, I have ranked my top 50 receivers:
Antonio Brown (PIT vs. CIN)
Julio Jones (ATL at OAK)
A. J. Green (CIN at PIT)
Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG vs. NO)
DeAndre Hopkins (HOU vs. KC)
Brandin Cooks (NO at NYG)
Brandon Marshall (NYJ at BUF)
Jarvis Landry (MIA at NE)
Alshon Jeffery (CHI vs. PHI)
Dez Bryant (DAL at WAS)
Mike Evans (TB at ARI)
Larry Fitzgerald (ARI vs. TB)
Jordy Nelson (GB at MIN)
Allen Robinson (JAX at SD)
Golden Tate (DET vs. TEN)
Amari Cooper (OAK vs. ATL)
Julian Edelman (NE vs. MIA)
Demaryius Thomas (DEN vs. IND)
Eric Decker (NYJ at BUF)
Randall Cobb (GB at MIN)
Michael Floyd (ARI vs. TB)
T. Y. Hilton (IND at DEN)
Jeremy Maclin (KC at HOU)
Jordan Matthews (PHI at CHI)
Travis Benjamin (SD vs. JAX)
Sammy Watkins (BUF vs. NYJ)
Doug Baldwin (SEA at LA)
Kelvin Benjamin (CAR vs. SF)
Stefon Diggs (MIN vs. GB)
Willie Snead (NO at NYG)
Emmanuel Sanders (DEN vs. IND)
Marvin Jones Jr. (DET vs. TEN)
Michael Crabtree (OAK vs. ATL)
John Brown (ARI vs. TB)
Allen Hurns (JAX at SD)
DeSean Jackson (WAS vs. DAL)
Steve Smith Sr. (BAL at CLE)
Tyrell Williams (SD vs. JAX)
Corey Coleman (CLE vs. BAL)
Tyler Lockett (SEA at LA)
Sterling Shephard (NYG vs. NO)
Tajae Sharpe (TEN at DET)
Donte Moncrief (IND at DEN)
Vincent Jackson (TB at ARI)
Will Fuller (HOU vs. KC)
Mohamed Sanu (ATL at OAK)
Mike Wallace (BAL at CLE)
Davante Adams (GB at MIN)
Tavon Austin (LA vs. SEA)
Cole Beaseley (DAL at WAS)
Running backs
Remember that these rankings were based on Points Per Reception (PPR) scoring, which was why I have decided to include the top three Arizona wide receivers this week. Although not all three will catch a touchdown, all three will likely score similar points by yards and receptions. Furthermore, below I have my rankings for the top 25 running backs:
David Johnson (ARI vs. TB)
Ezekiel Elliott (DAL at WAS)
Devonta Freeman (ATL at OAK)
Lamar Miller (HOU vs. KC)
C. J. Anderson (DEN vs. IND)
Todd Gurley (LA vs. SEA)
Adrian Peterson (MIN vs. GB)
DeAngelo Williams (PIT vs. CIN)
Danny Woodhead (SD vs. JAX)
LeGarrette Blount (NE vs. MIA)
Eddie Lacy (GB at MIN)
Spencer Ware (KC at HOU)
Jonathan Stewart (CAR vs. SF)
Latavius Murray (OAK vs. ATL)
Ryan Matthews (PHI at CHI)
Doug Martin (TB at ARI)
Mark Ingram (NO at NYG)
Carlos Hyde (SF at CAR)
Matt Forte (NYJ at BUF)
Darren Sproles (PHI at CHI)
Theo Riddick (DET vs. TEN)
DeMarco Murray (TEN at DET)
LeSean McCoy (BUF vs. NYJ)
Jeremy Langford (CHI vs. PHI)
Rashad Jennings (NYG vs. NO)
Free Agents
Lastly, I have five free agent suggestions for those looking to make moves on the first waiver-wire Wednesday:
Tyrell Williams (SD - WR)
Cole Beasley (DAL - WR)
Quincy Enunwa (NYJ - WR)
Jacob Tamme (ATL - TE)
Jack Doyle (IND - TE)
(09/12/16 11:58pm)
This week, WTSR Assistant Music Director Nelson Kelly highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: The Veils
Album: “Total Depravity”
Release Number: 5th
Hailing From: London, England
Genre: Alt Indie Rock
Label: Netwerk Music Group
This album was produced by Adam Greenspan, who also produced artists like Arcade Fire, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Band of Skulls. So, you could say he knows what he’s doing. Co-producer El-P from Run the Jewels adds to the awesomeness that is this alt rock album. Drawing on the sound of every alt rock band before them (Black Keys, Artic Monkeys, Fratellis, Strokes, etc.) The Veils deliver an album with thumpin’ beats, ambient synths and solid hooks. The only way to sonically describe this album is that it will make you want to put on your leather jacket with Ray Bans and smoke a cigarette at your local pool hall.
Must Hear: “Axolotl,” “Low Lays the Devil” and “Here Comes the Dead”
Band: JPNSGRLS
Album: “Divorce”
Release Number: 2nd
Hailing From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Genre: Alt Indie Rock
Label: Light Organ
JPNSGRLS love alt rock and hate vowels. “Divorce,” their sophomore effort, is a collection of songs in the vein of bands like Arctic Monkeys and Modest Mouse. With poppin’ riffs and Alex Turner casually screaming smooth lyrics over unrelenting drums, the overall heaviness harkens back to Modest Mouse. “Divorce” makes a tired genre exciting again as a very cool, heavy, alt indie rock album.
Must Hear: “Bully for You,” “A Comprehensive List of Things I Love,” “Circus,” “2009” and “19 Pound Baby”
(09/11/16 10:52pm)
By Sean Reis
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Based out of Boulder, Colo., music duo Big Gigantic has been blending genres ever since the release of its debut album, “Fire It Up,” on May 19, 2009. Comprising producer and saxophonist Dominic Lalli and drummer Jeremy Salken, Big Gigantic mixes electronic music, hip-hop and jazz, both during the music production process and when playing Big G original live shows. Lalli and Salken have released four full-length albums, several EPs and some singles over the course of their careers as Big Gigantic.
The most recent of the four albums, “Brighter Future,” dropped on Friday, Aug. 26, and may have been the duo’s best release to date — arguably the best electronic album to come out this year.
Unlike Big Gigantic’s first three albums, “Brighter Future” features collaborations with too many artists to list, while the previous three only had one credited collaboration combined. Though many would critique that this takes away from the LP, these collaborations only add to the talent behind the production because the album would not nearly be the same without featured artists like GRiZ, Logic, ROZES, Waka Flocka Flame and Naaz, to name my personal favorites.
“C’mon,” a track featuring disc jockey, electronic music producer and Big G’s friend GRiZ — who also plays his fair share of the saxophone — was the second single leading up to the album’s release, but was the first piece of evidence for fans that Big Gigantic would “Bring The Funk Back” with the new album. With sexy saxophone samples, I love “C’mon,” especially as the track builds up behind simple vocals that ride up to a funk-filled electronic bass drop.
As much as I loved “C’mon” upon release, the last single stole my heart before “Brighter Future” was fully released. “All Of Me,” featuring a stellar verse from rapper Logic and vocals for the chorus supplied by singer-songwriter ROZES, shows off all the elements that made Big Gigantic famous. Big G utilized an electronic-based track, and with a dash of hip-hop and a pinch of jazz, the two mixed up a blended production of the three unlike any other. “All Of Me” tells the tale of an addiction to nicotine as if it were a love story, but the only genuine love was between the track and myself — a must-listen on “Brighter Future” for fans of all genres.
Another must-listen track off “Brighter Future” was one of the album’s most anticipated collaborations, “Highly Possible,” featuring Waka Flocka Flame. The song begins with a catchy hook that features Daft Punk-esque robotic vocals. It gives the track a vibe reminiscent of “Stronger” by Kanye West, who sampled the great French duo for the hit. Then, Waka Flocka Flame lays down two fluid verses over an interesting instrumental that can be tough to categorize. The drum pattern clearly goes back to old school hip-hop roots, but the style from the happy hook that starts off the song continues throughout the verses and creates an even bouncier beat than hip-hop tends to bring. Overall, “Highly Possible” ends up being one of the best productions on “Brighter Future.”
However, no track sums up “Brighter Future” better than the title track. As the penultimate track on the album, “Brighter Future” featuring Naaz brings the full-length art piece home one more time before Big G closes out the album with smooth jazz on the final song. The title track, once again, showcases Big Gigantic’s skills to blend genres with ease. The duo combines the best of their respective skills, as Lalli’s elegant electronic instrumental infuses future bass music with jazz and Salken’s drums help keep the good vibes going. Together, they round out their latest release for a “Brighter Future.”
(09/05/16 10:12pm)
By Sean Reis
Arts & Entertainment Editor
As the first week of the season approaches, it is safe to say your team has been drafted, so who do you start to get the first win?
Obviously, you expect only the best results from your top draft picks, but what about when you have two solid quarterbacks (QB) and you don’t know who to start? What about your third string starting wide receivers (WR) that may not see as much action? What if your league runs a flex position you have yet to fill? I have the answers.
Quarterbacks
Let’s talk QBs first, excluding Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger: the top five QBs in the league and whom you should start without hesitation. Here are my top picks.
6. Drew Brees (NO vs. OAK)
7. Derek Carr (OAK at NO)
8. Blake Bortles (JAX vs. GB)
9. Carson Palmer (ARI vs. NE)
10. Kirk Cousins (WAS vs. PIT)
11. Matt Ryan (ATL vs. TB)
12. Marcus Mariota (TEN vs. MIN)
13. Eli Manning (NYG at DAL)
14. Andy Dalton (CIN at NYJ)
15. Ryan Fitzpatrick (NYJ vs CIN)
Running backs
Regarding your running backs (RB), the best players to start depend on whether your league uses standard scoring or Points Per Reception (PPR), but PPR can make the decision much more difficult. Below are my top RB picks outside of ESPN’s top 10.
11. Jamaal Charles (KC vs. SD)
12. Thomas Rawls (SEA vs. MIA)
13. DeAngelo Williams (PIT at WAS)
14. Latavius Murray (OAK at NO)
15. Ryan Matthews (PHI vs. CLE)
16. Carlos Hyde (SF vs. LA)
17. C.J. Anderson (DEN vs. CAR)
18. DeMarco Murray (TEN vs. MIN)
19. Frank Gore (IND vs. DET)
20. Jeremy Langford (CHI at HOU)
21. Jonathan Stewart (CAR at DEN)
22. Matt Forte (NYJ vs. CIN)
23. Melvin Gordon (SD at KC)
24. Ameer Abdullah (DET at IND)
25. Duke Johnson Jr. (CLE at PHI)
Wide recievers
Lastly — and likely the trickiest to choose from week after week — will be wide receivers (WR). Similar to RBs, below are my top WR picks outside of ESPN’s top 25 receivers.
26. Jordan Matthews (PHI vs. CLE)
27. Kelvin Benjamin (CAR at. DEN)
28. Emmanuel Sanders (DEN vs. CAR)
29. Allen Hurns (JAX vs. GB)
30. Michael Crabtree (OAK at NO)
31. Tyler Lockett (SEA vs. MIA)
32. Marvin Jones (DET at IND)
33. DeVante Parker (MIA at SEA)
34. Sterling Shepard (NYG at DAL)
35. Torrey Smith (SF vs. LA)
36. DeSean Jackson (WAS vs. PIT)
37. Markus Wheaton (PIT at WAS)
38. Willie Snead (NO vs. OAK)
39. Kamar Aiken (BAL vs. BUF)
40. Stefon Diggs (MIN at TEN)
41. Vincent Jackson (TB at ATL)
42. Will Fuller (HOU vs. CHI)
43. Kevin White (CHI at HOU)
44. Michael Thomas (NO vs. OAK)
45. Devin Funchess (CAR at DEN)
46. Travis Benjamin (SD at KC)
47. Tyler Boyd (CIN at NYJ)
48. Steve Smith Sr. (BAL vs. BUF)
49. Terrance Williams (DAL vs NYG)
50. Chris Hogan (NE at ARI)
The top WRs for the Arizona Cardinals — Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown — may all be worth the start. However, I warn you to start them at your own risk because no one knows who Palmer will lean on this season.
(08/31/16 10:40pm)
By Sean Reis
Arts & Entertainment Editor
The Woodlands of Dover, Del., was an escape from reality for music fans from Wednesday, June 15, to Sunday, June 19, as it hosted Red Frog’s Firefly Music Festival and sheltered communities of campers. The locale was beautiful, and so were the artists, attendees and friendly-faced workers that came together to make the event possible.
When fans began flooding the campsites on Wednesday — for those who had premier camping — and Thursday, the diverse masses of people left behind the real world as they kicked off their summer, ready to forget responsibility and enjoy what was soon to become one of the greatest weekends of their young lives. The days started early, while the nights ended late, however, the memories made during the time between would last a lifetime.
Early Days
The festival’s fifth year did not feature legendary artists Paul McCartney and Morrissey, who performed at Firefly 2015, but fans who frequent The Woodlands felt that 2016 was one of the best years yet — Firefly was filled with talent, from the headliners to the newcomers who had never played a festival before. The latter acts were especially impressive, and the artistry in their performances retained the prowess of experienced festival veterans.
It isn’t easy for artists to perform to a crowd that is unfamiliar with their music, but the artists at Firefly didn’t seem to have a problem with it. Boston’s William Bolton, who performed what he calls “soul-hop,” kicked off the first official day for many premier campers on Thursday afternoon. He performed as if he were personal friends with every member of his crowd.
“I’ve never been to a music festival before, but now I’m playing one,” Bolton said, but if he felt apprehensive, it didn’t show in his performance.
Another artist, Los Angeles-based disc jockey (DJ) and producer-turned-alternative rapper, gnash, took the stage on Saturday at The Pavilion tent — normally home to most of the weekend’s DJs — with similar fashion to Bolton. Garrett Nash, known as gnash and for his recent hit “I hate u, I love u” with singer-songwriter Olivia O’Brien, drew quite the large crowd for such an early set time. Though many gnash fans made an appearance and knew every word to every song, many only knew the musician from his recent hit track. Most of them stuck around anyway to witness the young, up-and-coming artist perform.
At that same stage the next day, Louis The Child was one of the more popular early-time DJs to play, as well as Jai Wolf, who previously played on Thursday. The Chicago-based DJ duo filled the tent to the brim as they spun what was one of the best DJ sets of the weekend with ease — excluding the other headlining acts, naturally.
Late Nights
The headliners that played through the nights and into the next mornings were all unbelievable — with the exception of Fetty Wap, who did not even come out on stage until half of his set time had passed. Instead, his DJ played for a majority of his allotted time, leaving only time for six or seven hits from the New Jersey-born sensationalized rapper.
Kings of Leon, though, proved its members were true kings and ruled the stage on Friday night. The following night, Florence and the Machine’s songstress Florence Welch captivated the crowd with beautiful, dominating vocals before deadmau5 unleashed what was one of the single greatest electronic music acts I have ever seen. Mumford & Sons also had quite a stellar performance and played for two hours on Sunday night, but nothing compared to three of the other second-row headliners: The 1975, Blink-182 and my personal favorite artist, Porter Robinson.
The young men better known together as The 1975 were rock stars on the Lawn Stage on Sunday night. Earlier this year the English rock band released its sophomore album, “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it,” and the band made sure to perform a mix of songs from both of its albums — most notably, “Chocolate,” “Girls” and “Sex.” Another fan-favorite song, “Somebody Else” from their more recent album, brought the crowd to sing together at the top of their lungs one last time.
Before attendees made their way to the Lawn Stage on Sunday night, many headed to the Firefly Main Stage to go see Blink-182 perform. The alternative rock band, which set the soundtrack for many fans’ ’90s and early 2000s, was one of the top reasons attendees made the trip to The Woodlands this year. Though the band also went on tour this summer, no one could say for sure how many more opportunities there would be to hear hits like “I Miss You,” “Dammit” and “All The Small Things” played live, which made Firefly a must-go-to for the biggest Blink fans.
The main reason I made the trip to The Woodlands this year, though, was to see an electronic music artist from Chapel Hill, N.C., known as Porter Robinson. His performance was by far my favorite set all weekend. Robinson started out as a DJ, but following the release of his debut album “Worlds” in 2014, he created a live show featuring visuals that virtually brought his world to life. When Robinson first went on his live tour for the album, such a show was unprecedented for modern-day DJs. Since then, his show has only grown and other DJs have followed suit by developing their own extravagant live shows.
Robinson’s updated live show was an amazing performance on Friday night, as were the other headliners, and Firefly as a whole. If only Fetty Wap lived up to the hype his DJ attempted to build for more than half an hour.
(08/31/16 2:12am)
By Sean Reis
Arts Entertainment Editor
Another year. Another football season. And another fantasy football league.
While many already rallied their friends together to draft a team for the new season, some have yet to do so. I hope to be of assistance as you assemble a team to play for your pride — and maybe your money.
The 2016 season certainly looks to be different from past years. As Points Per Reception (PPR) leagues continue to be the new fantasy football standard, the wide receivers are the most sought-after players. For those unable to pick the top three receivers — Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones — I urge you to pick running backs before they are all gone.
Though the falloff between elite wide receivers and the rest might be significant, the running back position can drop off before you even draft your second back. There are a few high-upside picks during the latter half of the draft, such as Jay Ajayi, Jeremy Langford and Justin Forsett, but you will likely prefer these options to be drafted as backups.
Meanwhile, the second-tier wide receivers tend to be more plentiful and last through the first six or seven rounds, depending on how many teams are in your league. Plus, there are many dependable third-tier receivers you can draft.
As for quarterback, some people like to reach for the elite players — primarily Cam Newton and Aaron Rodgers. Though these players are arguably the best at their position, will they be worth the early pick?
When other above-average quarterbacks tend to be picked late, such as Carson Palmer, Derek Carr and Eli Manning, the earlydrafted quarterback probably won’t be worth it. For those who disagree, I suggest you look at the suspended Tom Brady to be an elite backup, giving you two superstars for a majority of the season. Not only will this pick give you options at quarterback week after week, but it will also lead to owning an extra quarterback you can trade for a top-tier player at another position you might need to make a push for the playoffs.
Keep in mind that Brady does not pair well with Rodgers because Green Bay will be on the bye for the last week of Brady’s suspension. However, Brady works with Russell Wilson, who will be on bye when he returns.
Finally, let’s talk about the last position to be drafted — excluding any decent defense and kicker — a tight end. Rob Gronkowski will most likely be drafted during the first round, but most leagues do not pick tight ends for the next three or four rounds.
The next best tight end has to be Greg Olsen, especially with Newton as his quarterback. I wouldn’t draft Olsen before the fourth round because Gary Barnidge and Julius Thomas barely crack the top 100 projected picks. I will leave you with my top sleeper for this season, Jared Cook, who also happens to be a tight end. Good luck!
(04/19/16 9:29pm)
By Sean Reis
Production Manager
Whenever I shoot a crumpled up paper ball into the garbage can in my room, I don’t say “Reggie” for Miller, “Scottie” for Pippen, or “Curry” for Steph — who may be the greatest shooter to ever play the game, but that’s neither here nor there. I say “Kobe” for Bryant.
And we all do because that was the mark that Bryant left on the recent era of basketball — a mark that will earn him enshrinement into The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame four years from now.
Bryant may have played his final game last Wednesday, April 13, but for the previous two decades, he left behind a legacy, competing at an unmatched level during his time in the league. From the start of his career — fresh out of high school — to well past his prime, Bryant played the game with skills only the greatest players possessed.
In his rookie season, Bryant averaged 20 points per 36 minutes played during the playoffs, according to basketball-reference.com, for one of the highest averages ever among rookies. Meanwhile, 15 seasons later, Bryant averaged 30 points per game during the playoffs. Bryant was 33 years old, but age never slowed him down.
For Bryant’s final game before retirement, his former teammate Shaquille O’Neal reportedly encouraged him to score 40 points. He scored 60 points.
The game was another high-scoring total to add to his career, which included the second-highest scoring game in NBA history with 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006. Remarkably, that same season, Bryant also scored 62 points through the first three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 20, 2005, however, the Lakers were already winning by 34 points going into the final quarter and Bryant did not see play.
The 2005-2006 season was one of his highest-scoring seasons, however Bryant and the Lakers did not win the NBA championship that year. Bryant’s last two championship wins would not come until later in his career, while his first three of five championship wins came after only four seasons, when Bryant averaged more than 20 points per game during all three playoff runs.
Bryant’s other career accomplishments included winning the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2007-2008 season, two NBA Finals MVPs, and four NBA All-Star Game MVPs during his 18 NBA All-Star Game appearances.
The only two seasons that Bryant was not selected to play for the Western Conference’s All-Star team were 1997 and 1999, however, Bryant attended the 1997 All-Star Weekend as the youngest player to ever win the slam dunk contest during his rookie season. Bryant was also the youngest player to reach numerous other feats.
Bryant did not accomplish any accolades as the oldest player until his final game, where Bryant — at 37 years and 234 days old — was the oldest player to score 60 or more points in one game. A sellout crowd was there to witness the moment, including other athletes, artists and thousands of fans that filled the Staples Center and its parking lot.
The 60-point game was another Hollywood ending for another legendary Los Angeles Laker, ending an era, but only continuing the legacy.
(04/19/16 3:38pm)
By Mackenzie Cutruzzula
Columnist
After reading an article from Monday, Feb. 22, on Vulture that covered the trend of television shows that cast an average male actor aside a much more attractive female love interest, I was hesitant to watch Judd Apatow’s most recent venture, “Love,” which followed suit. That’s not to say Paul Rust, who plays leading man Gus, isn’t cute enough for Gillian Jacobs, who stars alongside him as Mickey. But in Hollywood terms, the couple is a bit mismatched from the outside looking in.
However, upon watching the series, Apatow restored my trust in his creative choices, because “Love” takes an unexpected approach to modern romance and the tropes the lead characters embody.
Gus is the stereotypical nice guy who just had his heart broken. He is a nerdy pushover who never goes out to get what he wants. Within this description, that is something overdone in Hollywood. Yet, Gus defies his archetype — he’s a nice guy, but that doesn’t make him a good person. Selfish and annoyingly not self-aware, Gus is more realistic, even as he is throwing all of his DVDs out of a moving car as an act of rebellion. He desperately wants to be liked and, in turn, is always trying to please those around him in typical good guy fashion, but he also does a really poor job of it because, like a real person, Gus has flaws.
My favorite part of the series was Mickey’s narrative arch because it was the most surprising. Set up to be the perfect “manic pixie dream girl,” Mickey has big, innocent eyes and a quirky taste and is placed into Gus’s life just when he needs someone like her most. It was almost as if “Garden State” director Zach Braff had written the script himself. Except “Love” was co-created by Rust and his real-life wife, Lesley Arfin, thankfully creating the ultimate demise of this trope.
Mickey isn’t just written as a vehicle to awaken Gus’s soul — she has an actual story with real emotions and problems that she is working through. Her problems aren’t just fixed because Gus is willing to love her, just like Gus isn’t suddenly a good person because Mickey is willing to take a chance on him.
Unlike other works by Apatow, “Love” is successful because it deals with dark issues and modern romance with a sense of realism instead of optimism. The characters are meant to be uncomfortable and frustrating because they are realistic and flawed — and that’s the best part.
By Sean Reis
Production Manager
When Judd Apatow’s “Love” was released exclusively on Netflix shortly after Valentine’s Day, I felt obligated to upset myself by watching the entire series (because I’m single). However, following my binge, I was surprised to find I was not upset for the reasons that I had predicted.
I was extremely disappointed with what I had dedicated my time to watch. “Love” felt as though I was watching an average, romantic, made-for-television comedy. The plot was cliché, featuring awkward guy Gus Cruikshank (played by co-creator Paul Rust) who meets beautiful women that seem to fall for him for unknown reasons.
From the first episode’s threesome scene, to Heidi (Briga Heelan), the actress who seduces Gus, to his rocky relationship with leading lady Mickey (Gillian Jacobs), these girls seem to flock to Gus — one of those usual romantic comedy stories often seen in movies.
But “Love” was an hour or so worth of watchable content that should have been made into one movie. It seemed like Apatow decided to stretch the story into 10 TV episodes instead, though, writing romantic filler to outweigh the comic relief. I literally only laughed out loud four or five times, and two of those times were during the season finale, which felt like quite the long wait for entertainment.
I also counted three episodes, as well as scenes from others, that could have been removed almost entirely without the show’s overall arc being broken. The third episode, for example, had necessary plot points, but they could have easily been written elsewhere because they were irrelevant to the episode’s fluff. Many scenes from other episodes deemed worthy for removal, too, because they were as though only to fill as much time as possible.
All forms of entertainment feature filler material, but when the filler does not “entertain,” well, does it really need to be included? Remove that fluff and the show could have been an excellent romantic comedy, but Apatow made “Love” 10 episodes too many for my love.
(04/05/16 5:37pm)
By Sean Reis
Production Manager
After an 11-game winning streak, Haverford College dished the Lions their second loss of the season last Wednesday, March 31, in the team’s final game before starting New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play.
The Lions started sophomore pitcher Matt Curry on the mound, who threw his season’s first loss before freshman pitcher Dylan Crowley gave a stellar relief performance with only one earned run in five and two-thirds innings. Junior pitcher Patrick McCarthy also came out of the bullpen to close, striking out two batters, but McCarthy allowed two unearned runs to reach home, as well.
The final score, 10-1, came after Lions’s senior outfielder John Rizzi scored on an RBI ground out dealt by the bat of senior outfielder Patrick Roberts.
The Lions then began conference play with a doubleheader against Kean University on Saturday, April 2. The team may have lost two tight games in its NJAC opening weekend, but the team played well overall. The Lions went into extra innings before losing, 2-1, in the first game, before falling again, 7-4, later on.
In the team’s first nail-biting loss, senior pitcher Steven Volpe started the doubleheader in a pitching duel against Kean’s fierce starting staff. Both tossed scoreless ball games through the first five innings until the Cougars scored an unearned run in the sixth.
The Lions quickly responded with a run of their own, though, when Roberts led off the top of the seventh inning by hitting his third homerun of the season.
Neither the Lions nor the Cougars scored another run as long as Volpe and Ferguson were on mound for their respective teams, but following 10 innings with only one unearned run and one walk, Volpe called it a day. And in the bottom of the twelfth inning, Curry allowed a walkoff single to rightfield to bring a Cougars runner home and the final score to 2-1.
The Lions will hope to bounce back into their season’s winning groove with back-to-back NJAC games against Stockton University on Thursday, April 7, and Friday, April 8.
(04/05/16 3:58pm)
By Sean Reis
Production Manager
An evolved strain of smallpox has intentionally been placed into one of the world’s busiest cities: New York City. What started with a few minor cases has quickly erupted into an epidemic and the city has been forced to close all borders. While the rest of the country sits in fear from the virus, Ubisoft’s 1:1 scale recreation of Midtown Manhattan has been left to struggle for survival. However, an organization known as The Division has arrived to help the apocalyptic concrete jungle that once operated as the epicenter of the world.
In “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” you play as a member of The Division organization, called to save those suffering from the disease and save the city. Released on Tuesday, March 8, across all platforms, the game was the first I have ever purchased for multiple devices — PC and Xbox One. I was that excited and I wanted to play with as many friends as possible.
Ubisoft might not have included every detail of Midtown Manhattan, but built on a 1:1 scale, “The Division” has been one of the most realistic video games I have ever played. The map may not have been as large as most had anticipated, but whenever I played the game I actually felt like I was walking through New York City — only the city was dangerous and decaying, so it is not quite the New York City we know.
The realistic world was not the game’s only positive aspect, though, and I found the gameplay to be especially smooth. As an avid gamer who would likely choose to play another first-person carbon copy “Call of Duty” over any third-person shooter, I have enjoyed “The Division” despite an unfamiliar perspective. The controls, both for the Xbox One and the computer, were easy to learn and I felt comfortable playing the game.
Nonetheless, with an expansive world and great gameplay, as well as a rich and well-written story, “The Division” has been fun to play overall. However, I do regret purchasing the game for more than one platform.
While many may argue that there was not enough story to reach the maximum level, I have to disagree. I have yet to reach the level cap with either friend group that I’m able to play with and I doubt I will anytime soon. The Dark Zone, an area set aside for player versus player content, does not have that competitive edge at lower levels, but at end-game, the area transforms and I wish I was able to experience that sooner.
“The Division” does not have to be “World of Warcraft,” with hardcore grinding, and I do not want to dedicate countless hours to get to the game’s best part — twice. I doubt I will even create more characters because I imagine the story will likely lack replay value due to the time required to level.
At the end of the day, although I may regret that I bought two copies, “The Division” has been fun, despite the fact that I have yet to beat the game. I highly suggest that when you have the time to truly dedicate after the semester ends, you purchase “The Division” (but maybe only once).