VERGEREVIEWS FRIDAY1/20/06 advertising is DA BOMB

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VERGEREVIEWS
FRIDAY1/20/06
Strokes break out ballads on latest album
THE STROKES
“FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF EARTH”
★★★
out of
★★★★★
BY GREG WALKER |
VERGE REPORTER
The Strokes are back with their third album, “First
Impressions of Earth,” a bloated, yet much more aggressive
disc.
The album opener, “You Only Live Once,” is classic and
laid-back, yet rocking. The next track and first single from
the album “Juicebox” slaps you across the face with its menacing intro riff that sounds like it would be more suited
accompanying a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie trailer.
“Don’t go, (insert tough guy name).”
“But I must…” cue “Juicebox.”
The song “Vision of Division” could also be grouped into
the more aggressive Strokes category. In fact, I heard lead
singer Julian Casablancas’ yell of “How long must I wait?”
during an NFL pregame show.
In The Strokes’ previous two albums, Casablancas vocals
were muffled and at times pushed to the background of the
songs. On this album though, The Strokes brought in a new
producer who for the first time left the vocals unaltered.
Something else new in The Strokes’ universe is the ballad.
There’s only so long that a band can go without a ballad as
witnessed by “Ask Me Anything” and “15 Minutes.” “Ask
Me Anything” is a lovely piece of musical balladry, but what
makes it so great is the lyrics. Instead of the usual ballads
that express deep desires and thoughts, Casablancas states it
how it is when he echoes, “I’ve got nothing to say, I’ve got
nothing to give, got no reason to live, but I will fight to survive, I’ve got nothing to hide, Wish I wasn’t so shy.”
“First Impressions of Earth” contains some notably different songs from The Strokes and other songs in the same vein
that they have become known for. The only problem is that
there is just way too much here. The previous Strokes
albums came in at around 30 minutes, “First Impressions of
Earth” totals up to 15 tracks and just under an hour in
length. If some of the songs were left off it would have
greatly benefited the album. Because of this, The Strokes
may be struggling to keep your attention.
The Strokes are showing signs of maturity and growth on
their newest release. The only question is if you are willing
to listen. This album will not grab you as quickly as their
previous two, but if you are willing to invest some time, you
will be rewarded.
GAMERS:
CONTINUED
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1
“Console gamers have no dedication.
They play because they are bored or have
nothing else to drink,” he said.
PC gamers may call it dedication but console gamers think different.
“They spend way too much time playing
video games,” said Kelly Cluver, a freshman
pre-physician assistant major.
“I play for hours at a time, but not every
day like PC gamers,” Cluver said.
Even though gaming too much can interfere in gamers’ personal lives, they still play
on.
Arnold Estarda, a freshman pre-optometry
major, said he plays games to either kill time
or procrastinate in doing something he
needs to do.
“I don’t make it a lifestyle like PC gamers
do,” he said. “They’re just a bunch of nerds
without girlfriends.”
It is not just PC gamers without the girlfriends though.
“Video games aren’t a good way to get the
ladies, PC or console,” Andries said.
Would gaming get a better rep with the
ladies if it were an established organization?
Nerger said he wants to start a PC gamer
club at Eastern.
“No console gamers allowed,” he said.
His roommate agrees.
“They talk (trash), so
we talk (trash)...What
are they going to do,
attack us with their
lifesavers?”
-JON MURRAY
J OHN B AILEY /ON THE VERGE
FRESHMAN PRE-PHARMACY MAJOR
Jim Hopulch and Craig Nerger, both junior computer information system majors, play games on their custom-made gaming
area in their Stevenson Hall room.
Holpuch said console gamers play with
kid toys and wouldn’t be able to handle a
Gaming PC.
When it comes to gaming, there’s little to
no interaction between PC and console
gamers.
Danny Young, a junior accounting major,
said he plays video games on console for 2-3
hours a day during football season. He said
he doesn’t have a problem with PC gamers
but can’t imagine that playing video games
on a computer would be better than on a
Playstation 2 or Xbox.
“All I know about PC gamers is that they
wear glasses and talk about Star Wars,” he
said. “I’d just rather play with consolers.”
The rivalry only gets more ugly.
“I think the rivalry between gamers is
lame. They’re all a bunch of freaking nerds,”
said Jon Murray, a freshman pre-pharmacy
major.
Murray said he plays console systems only
and thinks PC gamers are the ones who provoke the rivalry.
“They talk (trash), so we talk (trash),”
Murray said. “What are they going to do,
attack us with their lifesavers?”
Holpuch said console gamers are just
“jealous, dumb-ass console gamers.”
He said he doesn’t think they do much
but “drink, smoke it up and sit in front of
the TV with their stupid little controllers.”
Some console gamers stay out of the rivalry and think it should end.
Andries said he is never been big into PC
gaming but doesn’t think it’s as nerdy anymore.
Some PC gamers act like they are in a
cult, but then again some console gamers do
nothing but sit in front of the TV and play
aimlessly, he said.
“I think the two will gradually become the
same system,” he said. “So more hugs, less
hate.”
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