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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Murder By Death stays with what works on latest album

By TONY MARTIN | March 4, 2008

"Red of Tooth and Claw" - Murder By Death Murder By Death, the pride of Bloomington, Ind., is back with another album, "Red of Tooth and Claw." This phenomenal effort, the band's fourth overall, follows 2006's "In Bocca al Lupo," which was not this critic's...

Punch Brothers blend bluegrass, folk and Celtic sounds

By JEN HANCE | March 4, 2008

"Punch" - Punch Brothers Rating: 8/10 This project from former Nickel Creek mandolin player Chris Thile is a fresh blend of modernized bluegrass, folk and Celtic music. If listeners can get past the original shock that they are actually listening to bluegrass,...

Stealing Love Jones from South Africa headlines at Otto’s

By TONY MARTIN | March 3, 2008

Another great show in DeKalb went under the radar Friday, yet all in attendance were treated to two great sets. Egon's Unicat opened the show with an entertaining set. For almost an hour, the band played what was likely most of its catalogue to an enthusiastic...

Pelican plays solid show at House

By BEN BURR | March 3, 2008

I don't listen to heavy metal. But based on the turnout Friday night at the House Café, it seems I'm the only one. Unearthly Trance started the show, the crowd accumulating during the band's performance. Black Cobra followed with a 45-minute set, then...

Flavor highlights ska all week in TOTD

By TONY MARTIN | March 3, 2008

Ska sucks. Or does it? Experts cannot seem to agree on ska, which is arguably either the best or worst form of music ever created. However, there are some things that should be said in its defense, before it's dismissed by every college student. Ska supposedly...

Track of the Day: ‘Cheer Up!’ by Reel Big Fish

By JEN HANCE | March 3, 2008

Roaring trumpets, wailing saxophones and a swingin' trombone combined with a rock band is not only a surprisingly wonderful blend of genres, but something that will undoubtedly put a smile on anyone's face. It seems only fitting to have a week of this...

‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ doesn’t translate to screen well

By NYSSA BULKES | March 3, 2008

The Book: Written by Philippa Gregory (2001) Gregory's exceptional novel expertly weaves 16th-century wartime history with the previously untold story of Mary Boleyn, the titular "other" Boleyn girl. With Mary as narrator, Gregory uses first-person prose...

‘Semi-Pro’ Ferrell’s least funny film

By PATRICK BATTLE | March 3, 2008

Rating: 5/10 Starring: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin, Will Arnett Plot: Music sensation Jackie Moon (Ferrell) is the owner, coach and team captain of the Flint Michigan Tropics, a semi-professional basketball team whose chances of greatness...

Track of the Day: ‘Cuckoo Cuckoo’ by Animal Collective

By ANDY MITCHELL | February 29, 2008

Since Feb. 14, I've been trying to find a good song about death. The penultimate song on Animal Collective's latest (and arguably greatest) album, "Strawberry Jam," speaks from the mind of a ghost. Over a serene, melodic piano line, singer Avey Tare describes...

We should take responsibility for our art

By KEITH CAMERON | February 29, 2008

In the film "High Fidelity," the character Rob Gordon asks, "Do I listen to pop music because I'm miserable, or am I miserable because I listen to pop music?" This line raises an interesting question: At what moment does art stop being an expression and...

Janet returns to ‘dominance’ in latest offering

By TONY MARTIN | February 29, 2008

"Discipline" - Janet Jackson Rating: 7/10 Despite corny introduction songs and random filler throughout, Janet Jackson's newest effort, "Discipline," should be considered one of her finest. It has been a handful of years since Janet's infamous Super Bowl...

Indie-pop group from Champaign records excellent, varied album

By CHRIS KRAPEK | February 28, 2008

REVIEW "Some Racing, Some Stopping" - Headlights Rating: 10/10 "Some Racing, Some Stopping," the newest endeavor from Champaign's beloved Headlights, stands alone as the defining album of the band's genre. The only problem is figuring out what genre that...