the Color of Context

May 28

“The album that broke my heart”
Epic Records, Release date: 27 May 2008

By Joe DeRosa

Think back for a moment, if you will, to the last time you broke up with someone after being together for a long time. It was sad that someone who once brought so much joy to your life was no longer capable of providing you with those same feelings. That’s how I feel about Cyndi Lauper’s newest release Bring Ya to the Brink. Maybe it’s her attempt to reinvent herself as a dance-floor diva (a la Cher), or maybe it’s the shock of seeing a parental advisory label on her CD. Whatever the reason, listening to Lauper on Brink is kind of like seeing your ex for the first time after a breakup: You want to remember all the good times you’ve shared, but the truth is, it’s just not the same anymore.

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May 22

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indy’s latest adventure is out of this world
Release date: 21 May 2008

By Jerilyn Covert

Bompa dum dum . . . bompa dumm . . . bompa dum dum . . . bompa dum dum dum! Oh John Williams, your classic score is instantly recognizable. And it’s the perfect background music to accompany Indiana Jones as he escapes from the bad guys–yet again!–and, latching onto a high beam with the tale-end of his trusty whip, swings valiantly into action. . . . “Damn, I thought that was closer,” Indy says, after missing his landing. Indeed, in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the fourth installment of the popular ’80s action-film series, Harrison Ford is not as young as he used to be. But instead of glossing over Ford’s advancing age (64), the filmmakers incorporate it into the story, which takes place about 20 years after The Last Crusade. Back then, it was the Nazis Indy was fighting, but this time it’s communists–KGB Russian operatives. They want Indy to help them find a crystal skull, which will provide the means to golden treasures and limitless power. Read the rest of this entry »

May 21

The Dresden Dolls

The Dresden Dolls: For this dynamic duo, life is a cabaret
No, Virginia, Roadrunner Records
Release date: 20 May 2008

By Joe DeRosa

“Long live Punk Cabaret!” Such is the mantra of The Dresden Dolls, a Boston-based duo who burst onto the music scene in 2003 with their self-titled release. They’ve spent the past five years carving out their niche in the ever changing soundscape of the music industry. With influences ranging from The Beatles, the Stray Cats and The Cure, to Bon Jovi, Elvin Jones and John Coltrane, the talented Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione have created a style of music that is very much their own.

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May 18

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: You’ll find yourself in Narnia, too
Release date: 16 May 2008

By Jerilyn Covert

A lot can happen in 1,300 years–a lot of ebb and flow. In the magical land of Narnia, wars begin and end, kingdoms rise and fall, and four young siblings from England live four lifetimes, and then stumble back into their own world and become children again. In The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the Pevensie children are once again called upon to save the land they once reigned as kings and queens. They may be only children, but they have 1,300-year-old souls–not to mention the fighting skills of a soldier twice their age and a powerful, talking lion on their side. Good thing, too, because the sequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe features a heckuva lot more battle scenes than the first one did. After all, it takes a tremendous amount of resistance to change the course of history. Read the rest of this entry »

May 11

Priceless

“Priceless”: French comedy has that certain . . . j’ne sais quois
Release date: 28 March 2008

By Jerilyn Covert

“Priceless,” in two words, is delightfully screwball. It is, after all, a French comedy, which means you can count on a fair amount of slapstick and farce, not to mention mistaken identities, frivolous scenarios, and a central love story between two, seemingly mismatched leads; imagine a Judd Apatow film, only more suggestively sexual, and less overtly so. A beautiful, ambitious young woman with a desire for rich men–a gold digger, as we’d call her here in the States–mistakes the hotel’s bartender for one of its wealthy guests. Instead of coming clean, he keeps up the charade for a one-night romp. But with no money, how can he afford to provide for his lady in the manner she’s become accustomed to? Turns out, he does have a secret resource–and it’s the same one that this movie possesses. After all, as his leading lady points out, nothing is more irresistible than charm. Read the rest of this entry »

May 7

Mindi Abair

Mindi Abair
Stars: New album really shines
Peak Records, Release date: 6 May 2008

By Joe DeRosa

Each week millions of people tune in to shows like American Idol to watch “nobodies” compete to become “somebodies.” Those somebodies then go on to sell millions of records–inexplicably, in some cases. Yet year after year, truly talented artists continue to put out good, often great, music that is unheard by the masses. Some get labeled or grouped in with a certain style of music that immediately causes some audiences to tune out. Such is the case with Mindi Abair. You may find her music coded under “adult contemporary” or “contemporary jazz,” but with her newest release, Stars, Abair has crafted a truly exceptional–pop–record. Read the rest of this entry »

May 2

Iron Man

“Iron Man”: A modern spin that soars, just like he does!
Release date: 2 May 2008

By Joe DeRosa

“You will believe a man can fly.” That was the legendary tagline from 1978’s “Superman.” Well, it’s been 30 years since those words were immortalized, and in “Iron Man” you will believe a man can fly, shoot rockets from his shoulders and radiate blasts of pure energy from the palms of his hands. And all this is brought to you by the classic red-and-gold armor. With mind-blowing special effects and perfectly cast characters, this Jon Favreau-directed comic-book film adaptation effectively tells the modern tale of a hero who has been a part of the Marvel Universe for over 40 years. Read on, true believers! Read the rest of this entry »

Apr 29

Portishead

Portishead
Third: Not quite the charm, but still charming!
Mercury Records, Release date: 29 April 2008

By Joe DeRosa

By today’s record industry standards, 10 years can be a lifetime. Yet that’s how long it’s been since we’ve heard from Beth Gibbons, Adrian Utley and Jeff Geoff Barrow, the once holy trip-hop trinity collectively known as Portishead. In 1998, the group’s stellar live album from NYC not only highlighted the best moments from the previous year’s self-titled album and 1994’s Dummy, but showed us what this U.K. trio was truly made of. Live: Roseland NYC really captured Portishead’s essence, from the haunting vocals to the sweeping symphonic song structures to the scratching and sampling of the DJ, which was such an interesting contrast against the often hypnotic melodies. Alas, gone is the DJ from the group’s latest release, Third. But the band’s overall mood and tone has remained in tact and is sure to be pleasantly familiar for fans who’ve remained loyal despite the inexplicably long hiatus.

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Apr 25

Deception

Deception: No one sees it coming but the viewer
Release date: 25 April 2008

By Jerilyn Covert

“Intimacy without intricacy.” That’s how one character in the film Deception explains The List, an anonymous sex club for wealthy, high-powered New York businesspeople. Unfortunately, the description aptly sums up the movie, as well. Deception is 108 minutes of hard entertainment, but the plot’s as transparent as lingerie. As the title would suggest, the story hangs upon the elaborate lies of conmen. But by now, we moviegoers have seen just about every twist ending imaginable, and we’ve become pretty savvy. It takes a lot to surprise us, and this movie just isn’t all that tricky. The only trick, perhaps, is that the movie promises to trick us. And it–you know–doesn’t.

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Apr 22

Ashlee Simpson

Ashlee Simpson: Just bein’ herself?
Bittersweet World, Geffen Records
Release date: 22 April 2008

By Joe DeRosa

Let’s face it. There are three things that come to everyone’s mind when you mention Ashlee Simpson: one, that embarrassing lip-syncing fiasco on SNL; two, all the pretty pictures of her lovely new nose in the ragtag mags; and three, she’s Jessica’s little sister. Now, in Simpson’s defense, she has been trying desperately to overcome all that rigmarole and establish herself as a solid artist. Adopting a slightly edgier tone than her sister, Simpson’s first two releases in just the names alone – Autobiography and I Am Me — were attempts to plead her case. Now with her newest and most versatile release to date, Bittersweet World, Simpson proudly steps out from behind her more-famous sister’s shadow. Still, the album comes off as more of a Gwen Stefani retrospect, rather than a breakthrough in self definition. Read the rest of this entry »

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