Maybe it isn't obvious enough, or maybe it hasn't been brought to the attention to the general public and musicians, but the privilege of NIU students and DeKalb residents have to have several live music venues around town is something that should not...

Teachers love the threat of the next big academic jump. It gives them leverage against their students. Elementary school teachers enjoy the greatest amount of ammunition. Back in fifth grade my teacher loved to begin lessons with a forboding "Next year...

Grade: C+ | "Return of the Mac's" opening cut "The Mac is Back Intro" announces that this is a stronger, more refined recording than the flabby "Blood Money" released by Mobb Deep a year ago. Throughout the "Return of the Mac" album, sexy ‘70s-style...

Grade: D | It's been three years since pop-punk group Good Charlotte has "graced" us all with its presence… and it turns out three years was no where near long enough. Good Charlotte is generally known and referred to as one of the biggest jokes to...

Grade: B | The third LP from The Ponys finds the Chicago band following the same formula as its previous releases, proving the band is… well… somewhat of a one-trick pony. The foursome is very good at front-loading its records with vibrant, neo-glam...

Grade: A | The brilliance of the full-length debut of James Murphy (aka LCD Soundstystem) is that it sounds like a product of the most complete and intriguing record collection on Earth. The producer-turned-frontman's 2005 release compiled the hipster's...

Originally hailing from the Naperville/Downers Grove area, Starter Kit offers unique music with a punk and hard rock feel. The band began with drummer Chris Javorski, guitarist/backup vocalist Emo Manuel and guitarist Ryan Aquino. They filtered through...

Grade: C | The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have returned to the big screen with their most recent animated feature, "TMNT," which, for many, will be a nostalgic return to childhood. Many college students today were once the perfect age to enjoy the three...

Grade: A | On the morning of September 11, 2001, Charlie Fineman's (Adam Sandler) family was taken from him. Six years later, he remains a lost and broken man. He has withdrawn both from society and from himself by blocking out memories that remind him...

Grade: D+ | Search for plot keywords of director Antoine Fuqua's films on IMDB and you'll get these: "shot-in-the-chest," "shot-to-death," "helicopter," "machine gun," "attempted rape," "betrayal," "blood splatter" and "death." In so many words, that...

There are few things that make me want to simultaneously laugh and vomit uncontrollably the way modern marketing gimmicks do. The general public's unflinching acceptance of said gimmicks tops the list. The endless stream of lies, manipulation and sensory...

Chicago-based art-rockers Unique Chique will invade The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, Thursday. The band lists Radiohead, Rainer Maria, U2, Hum and American Football as primary influences, but they also combine the best elements of groups like Sonic...