Reviews

Mixtape Monday: November 29, 2010

Last modified on 2010-12-07 01:22:46 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

In 1989, Young MC released “Bust A Move,” a Grammy-award-winning smash hit. Featuring Crystal Blake and bassist Flea,

killing me softly- roberta flack

alone- heart

the chanukah song- adam sandler

somebody to love- queen

dream a little dream of me- etta james

to sir with love- lulu

between high school and old school- alice cooper

good vibrations- marky mark and the funky bunch

Glee: What’s Wrong and What Should Be Done to Fix It

Last modified on 2010-12-04 02:45:56 GMT. 331 comments. Top.

By Jen Connors

The sophomore slump is not an uncommon trend in the entertainment world. It occurs with directors, musicians, and oftentimes on television shows. One show that has been greatly affected by the dreaded downward spiral is Glee.

On paper, Glee should not have worked. A musical dramadey about a high school glee club in the Midwest does not fit in in a lineup of vampires, nerd comedies and crime dramas. There was nothing about the show that pointed towards success…until the pilot aired. The show was dark but extremely comical, and the musical numbers actually showcased some talent. In an attempt to prove naysayers wrong, producers broke out a number that everyone was dreading: Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” The song’s subsequent iTunes release smashed sales records and set the bar for the rest of the season. The show’s original thirteen-episode order became the first of the season to receive a full-episode expansion, thanks to its snappy dialogue, talented cast and the ability to incorporate its songs into the plot. After a four-month production hiatus, the back nine episodes premiered with more fanfare, more numbers and more guest stars. That’s when the show’s problems began.

With more musical numbers, the plot began to dwindle. Guest appearances were kept to a minimum during the first thirteen, with minor appearances by Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Victor Garber and Stephen Tobolowsky. With the exception of Chenoweth, none of the stars got singing time and none really took time away from the main characters. As the back nine began, guest appearances by Jonathan Groff, Idina Menzel and a reappearance by Chenoweth led to some steps back in the development of the main characters. After a ten episode arc about her unplanned teenage pregnancy, Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron) was shoved into the background until the episode before the birth of her child. Characters who had made tremendous strides in the first round of episodes were forgotten, those who had barely uttered a line got only one or two more. Dijon Talton, who had been in nineteen of the first twenty-two episodes, spoke all of two lines, the first not heard until the twentieth episode. The show began revolving around the music rather than the plot, with random songs thrown in that had nothing to do with what the characters were going through.
This season, the trainwreck has continued. Nine episodes in, there has been an abundance of stunt casting (Youtube sensation Charice, Gwenyth Paltrow and Carole Burnett, to name a few) and the addition of two more lead characters to take away what little face time the students receive per episode. In the most recent episode, “Special Education,” the character of Tina Cohen-Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz) sang her most notable solo since “True Colors” in the first thirteen last season. Agron’s character has been featured in three songs. Newcomers Chord Overstreet (playing Sam Evans) and Darren Criss (Blaine) have been featured in five and two songs, respectively. Five characters, plus followup appearances by Menzel and Groff, are being incorporated into the second half of the season. Since the beginning of the season, five have been introduced. Any progress any of these characters made last season has been long forgotten.

A lot of the show’s problems can be traced back to the show’s co-creator and co-executive producer, Ryan Murphy. Glee was originally his idea, with most of the plotlines and the current direction of the show stemming from him. Before the season began, Murphy made a series of promises about what was to come. Quinn Fabray, having spent the last season pregnant, would be a strong, independent woman coming into her own this season. Mercedes Jones, whose last crush was the openly gay Kurt Hummel, would find love. Rachel Berry, the star of the club, would be more tolerable and nicer. A Conservative Christian character would be added to promote tolerance. The budding romance between Tina Cohen-Chang and Artie Abrams would be developed and explored more. Many serious issues would be explored.

By episode four, Quinn, who had grown so much over the course of her pregnancy both literally and figuratively, had gone back to her cheerleading squad and had snagged a new boyfriend. Mercedes Jones was eating her feelings, with her most poignant storyline so far being a protest about the lack of tater tots in the cafeteria. Rachel Berry has been mostly shoved into the background, coming out for a ballad or two, but has reverted back to her uber-annoying, conceited ways. In all of the new characters, a religious person has not appeared. Tina and Artie are in completely different relationships, despite Murphy calling them the show’s “Cory and Topanga.” The only real issue that has been explored is gay bullying.
Bullying of any type should not be tolerated, whether it’s about clothes, income, friends or sexual orientation. With the recent suicides in the media over orientation, the storyline for Kurt Hummel could not come at a better time. However, the way Murphy is handling it is all wrong. Out of all of the students, Kurt, portrayed by Chris Colfer, has been getting the biggest storylines and most screentime. He is constantly being pushed into lockers and being called names. What is being done to him is terrible, and for the most part realistic. However, Murphy could not stop at that. A football player, who has been doing most of the harassing, kissed Kurt in the sixth episode, outing his character and his secret crush. After the bully threatened Kurt’s life, Kurt transferred to an all-male private school with a zero-tolerance harassment policy. He has been portrayed as the only character who can do no wrong all season, as if the writers have forgotten that he has been the bully before, and even was during this last episode. While Kurt was being called names, he was teasing Rachel, saying things to her about her “irritating personality,” her “grandmother clothes,” her bedroom, which looked like “where Strawberry Shortcake and Holly Harvey come to hook up,” and saying that he wanted to “shove a sock into your mouth.” While Kurt’s bullying has been taking center stage, Murphy has been forgetting about the other half of the bullied; the ones that are bullied just because. He has a club full of misfits, all of whom are routinely picked on, but he has never once focused on what happens to them. Bullying is the third-highest cause of suicide in teens, having been attempted by almost seven percent of high school students and considered by fourteen percent. One hundred and sixty thousand students stay home from school every day because of bullying, and Murphy has an incredible platform to discuss this, to prove to adolescents that they are not alone. Instead he is reliving his high school days vicariously through Kurt, giving him the perfect gay-activist potential love interest, plus an interested tormentor. Murphy is going by the illusion that if a guy picks on you, it’s not because he’s a jerk, it’s because he wants to be with you, another misconception he is letting his character buy into.

I keep wondering why I still watch this show. I have my reasons, of course. I still watch for the occasional glimpse at the show it used to be, just below its current surface. I watch for the passing glances between characters who used to be romantically involved and now sit across from each other and act like nothing ever happened. I watch for moments like the final ones of this week’s episode, with the group just having fun singing Florence + the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over.” I watch because I still like the music, despite the generous and unnecessary use of AutoTune. Because a production hiatus is coming up after next week’s episode and the show has been renewed through the 2011-2012 season, I still have hope that one day it will be back to its former grace. I still have hope that Ryan Murphy will use this amazing platform he has to promote tolerance of everybody in a realistic fashion for high school students. In the meantime, a list of things that could be done to restore the show back to its original glory:
Resolve the Puck and Quinn storyline. Quinn Fabray and Noah Puckerman had a baby in the season finale. They flirted through the first thirteen episodes and were barely shown during the back nine, but when they had their moments, it was always for a good reason. As they stood watching their daughter sleep before giving her up for adoption, he confessed his love for her. They shared many loving glances in the final moments of the finale. Since then, they have not been shown speaking, only looking at each other once. Their story is incomplete, and after having a child together at sixteen they should have at least one conversation.
Let the characters see some type of development. Last year, all of the characters went through some pretty dramatic changes. Rachel became less selfish, Quinn became more understanding and maternal and Finn Hudson learned to love again after Quinn cheated on him with Puck, his best friend. All of the progress that all of the glee members made was forgotten as the season was written. Quinn is back to being a catty cheerleader, Rachel is unbearable and Finn is not exactly the most loving boyfriend in the world. These are young adults. Change is not something you can hide from. They’re growing up, and they should be shown maturing.
Enough with the guest stars. With an ensemble cast, it’s hard enough to get face time. With a never-ending parade of guest stars, it’s even harder. With Darren Criss immediately being promoted to series regular, Chord Overstreet approaching regular status and Harry Shum Jr. being promoted at the end of the season, either some of the characters have to start graduating early or the guests need to stop hogging up the hour.

Share the love during solos. Lea Michele (Rachel) has been featured in fifteen numbers out of the fifty performed in the last nine episodes. I love her voice as much as the next person, but Jenna Ushkowitz and Heather Morris have good voices as well. Naya Rivera and Amber Riley have each had their fair share of solos, but they could always do more. While Cory Monteith, Chord Overstreet and Chris Colfer have gotten the most singing time, male-wise, Mark Salling and Kevin McHale are pretty much going unused, and Harry Shum Jr has never really been given a proper opportunity to show off his voice.
Focus on the kids, not just the teacher. Matthew Morrison is incredibly talented, but he has been featured in all but two of the group numbers this season. He is also heavily featured interacting with most of the guest stars. This is supposed to be a television show about the students in glee club overcoming adversity and their underdog status, but it’s becoming more and more about Morrison’s overbearing, inappropriate, no-boundaries teacher every episode.

Mixtape Monday: November 29, 2010

Last modified on 2010-11-30 02:32:05 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Mixtape Monday: November 16, 2010

Last modified on 2010-11-17 00:04:46 GMT. 235 comments. Top.

By Jen Connors

After a week hiatus, Mixtape Monday is back with a double feature, bringing you six throwback hits from the eighties and nineties.

Billy Squier had his biggest hit with “The Stroke” in 1987. Ultimately a top twenty hit, the song has since been featured in Blades of Glory and Billy Madison, in addition to being covered by Buckcherry and Mickey Avalon.

“Paradise City” was released by Guns N’ Roses in 1988. According to band member Slash, the song was written in the back of a rental van after a show in San Francisco. A more explicit version was debated but turned down by the rest of the band. It is often used as the closing song in live shows. It has been covered by Carrie Underwood, Hole and Slash himself.

Madonna released “Like A Virgin” in 1984, the first and title single off of her sophomore album. It became her first number one hit and remains one of her biggest songs to date, often credited with cementing her status as the reigning Queen of Pop. The song has been featured in Glee, Moulin Rouge! and Reservoir Dogs. The song has also gained notierity as the song Madonna was performing when she kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera at the 2003 VMAs.

One of the most covered songs of all time is “Hallelujah,” originally performed by Leonard Cohen in 1984. Best known for the Jeff Buckley cover version, the song has been covered by dozens of artists over the years. While it did not initially achieve much success, it has spawned dozens of chart topping versions over the last twenty-five years. Notable covers include versions by Rufus Wainwright, k.d. lang, Jason Castro, Alexandra Burke and Bob Dylan. The song’s lyrics follow its chord procession, “it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift.”

Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released on the band’s second album, Nevermind, in 1991. Widely considered one of the best songs of all time, the band was puzzled by the song’s success at first. Written by Kurt Cobain, the song went through so many rewrites that the other three members of the band evenutally gained writing credits. The song has been covered by Patti Smith and Tori Amos and featured in Moulin Rouge!

In 1983 Pat Benatar went to songwriter Mike Chapman and asked him to write her a hit song. The result was “Love is a Battlefield,” which went on to become one of her biggest hits. The song has been covered by Selena Gomez, Cher, Carrie Underwood and Chris Norman. It has also been featured in the film 13 Going On 30.

Mixtape Monday: November 1, 2010

Last modified on 2010-11-01 20:43:26 GMT. 324 comments. Top.

Many people consider “Dancing With Myself” to be a Billy Idol number, but it is originally by the band Generation X. It is the band’s best known-hit, though its success wasn’t explosive until the Idol recording. While he plays the song at most of his shows, Idol always credits the song to Gen-X. The song has also been covered by the Donnas, Green Day, Blink182, Laura Bell Bundy and Kevin McHale.

“Solitaire,” a ballad about lost love, was written by Neil Sedaka and released by him in 1974. One of the most famous cover versions was released by the Carpenters in 1975. Other covers have been release by Clay Aiken, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Presley, Westlife and Dean Martin.

“Physical” is Olivia Newton-Johns’ best-known single and one of the biggest songs of the 1980s. It spent ten weeks at the top of the charts in 1982 and the video was banned by several broadcasters due to its sexual nature. A duet version with Jane Lynch was featured in the “Bad Reputation” episode of Glee last spring.

Franklin Pierce Zombie Survival Guide

Last modified on 2010-10-30 20:35:44 GMT. 367 comments. Top.

By Mat Overdeput

Disclaimer:
This guide is a HIGHLY suggested evacuation plan for Franklin Pierce students who are located on the Rindge, NH campus. Maps, routes, guides, tips and all other tips associated in this article are pure recommendations; there is no promise and guarantee that this guide will grant 100 percent survival. Also, roads and other tips, such as the boat, may or may not be available for use, make sure to have your own BACK-UP plan. This guide was written by highly trained officials who thought of the best recommended guide; to all survivors reading this, good luck.

Intro:
This guide will teach you what you need to do in order to make it out of Franklin Pierce and to a safe area in a timely fashion. It will also help you on making choices on what items you need to bring in order to survive the Zombie Invasion. Please note, that during a Zombie Invasion, it will be overwhelming physically and emotionally. Survivors will be doing a lot of running and heavy lifting as well as, killing other humans and may ending up having to kill someone they care for. In a Zombie Invasion, it is a dog eat dog world.

Basic Zombie Information:
To give you a quick fill in about the zombies. They are infected humans are infected with a virus that takes control of the victims brain. The virus is similar to a severe case of rabies as well as changing the victim to have cannibalistic behaviors; which will assist in spreading the virus. The virus will eliminate the need for the heart and blood will cease to be a new. Since there is no heart beat, the virus only has a matter of months to find another human to spread the virus to before decomposition renders the host body immobile. With that being said, survivors only need to last about half a year or plus in before the Zombie Invasion ends. To avoid getting the virus, you must avoid being bitten or getting a zombie’s blood or salvia to enter your body. Sounds easy, especially when there are only a few zombies, but with ten or more zombies around, it gets very hard to avoid it. Avoid contact with zombies at all costs!

Evacuation Route: Target Location, Knockemdown Island
This route is extensive and a bit over the top, but it will get the job done. First of all, be thankful you went to school in the middle of nowhere. We have little zombies to fight because we have little humans around here, giving us the advantage to plan better, since we got more time before the zombies get to us. If we heard the broadcast of the invasion happening before it hit Rindge, begin using this plan. If the invasion happens in Rindge, begin using this plan but be prepared, because it will be a lot harder with zombies around.

First thing first, gather anyone you can tolerate for a long period of time. Groups are good, but only in manageable sizes. No more than six is our opinion. After six, groups get harder to maintain, and you also cannot fit more the six in a car with supplies. Four is the most ideal number. If your group knows that someone in your group is going to slow your group down, get rid of them. You have no room for slackers. In a zombie invasion, we go back to nature’s basics, survival of the fittest. Once you have your members of the group, it is time to GTFO of Franklin Pierce.

Second thing; take the most powerful vehicle your group has to use. You’ll need something that can plow through zombies, can handle off road and also, may need to ram other cars. An SUV with a plow attached is a good choice. Don’t go for anything flashy, because by the time you get to your destination, it won’t be in the nice condition you found it in. As you’re packing the vehicle, grab important supplies only! Blankets, first aid kits, medicine, non-perishable foods (soup, canned vegetables, etc), small amounts of clothing and other supplies that are needed for survival are a necessity. Do not bring your laptop, TV, electronics of any kind, other than a handheld radio. Electricity will become scarce after a few days in the invasion and most network shows will not be running. A radio is important so you can hear important updates from other survivors or the military. Once you gather your supplies, organize them into your vehicle, and drive on out. 

You’re probably wondering, what about weapons? Yes, now is the time for that. Since Campus Safety does not allow weapons on campus, you’ll most likely not find them in your dorm room as you pack your needed supplies. Luckily, since we live in a hunter’s paradise, there are numerous of gun and other hunting supply shops around Rindge. More so, there is one literally right down the road, 300 Archery. When you leave Franklin Pierce from the main entrance, take a left on route 119. It’s about a mile away and on the right side of the road. Eventually, you’ll see the sign to the right, stating “300 Archery.” There, you’ll find weapons, such as bow and arrows and I’m sure they have small fire arms there. If not, there is a bigger gun shop not far from Keene. It is in the town of Troy; more precisely, on route 12, heading towards Keene. They have more guns and archery equipment. Not to encourage stealing, but, in this case, survival holds more importance over monetary policies. When choosing your weapons, do not take the big and heavy guns. We understand that guys want to have the biggest penis, but in this case, avoid this. Grab lightweight weapons, such as pistols. There is no need to carry a military sniper rifle or any other huge gun that will weigh you down. Carry something light and easy. You’ll already be carrying ammo and other supplies for earlier, why make it harder for you?’
Now that you have your weapons, time to get to the seashore. That’s right; you’re going on a boat. Here is the trick though; you’re going to want to follow the given map. Main highways will most likely be jammed, and going through major cities will be a pain. NOTE! This map is assuming that the most ideal situations have happened. You may have to leave your car and grab another one, or worse, have to walk it. This route will help you avoid cities, but it will take more time. When traveling this map, whether by foot, car, anything, always be on guard. Don’t let your guard down just because you haven’t had an encounter a zombie in a while. Also, shoot only when you have to. This isn’t Halo, no damn killing sprees. If there is a zombie blocking a much needed path, such as a grocery store for re-supplies, then shoot. Be prepared to fight zombies within ear-shot of the gun fire. When you get to Portsmouth, Hampton or the shore now is the time.
Pick your boat wisely! Like the car, nothing flashy! Take a boat that can hold your supplies and everyone in the group. Make sure you grab some spare fuel from gas stations, so that you can replenish the tank if need be, and so you can make fewer stops on your way down to Knockemdown Island. The island is located at coordinates: 24° 42.9’ N and 81° 28.7’ W. When traveling down to the island, stay close to the shore as to see it, but far enough away from Zombie’s harm. When needing fuel and food, pull off to the shore, this is why you want a small boat, and have people recruit food and fuel. Someone has to stay with the boat, and recommended that it is two people. The rest, minimum two, go out and scavenge. When you finally reach Knockemdown Island, enjoy your stay! The island has deer on it, as well as natural fruit. You can hunt the deer and harvest the fruit. If medicine or any other necessities are needed, Knockemdown Island is only accessible by boat, so, leave with your boat, and go to one of the keys and begin gathering from the major towns there. Also, Knockemdown Island has a house on it, with a weather monitoring system that is owned by the government. This will help you keep note of any hurricanes or bad storms en route and you’re on a tropical island, holding out fort till the invasion is over. Enjoy your stay.

Conclusion:
This guide will only describe the most ideal situations. This is an obvious case of, easy said than done. To all survivors of Franklin Pierce using this map, good luck and be careful. Be smart, you’re in college, so we’re assuming you have great intelligence. Hopefully, you’ll be able to survive this disaster, and continue life the way you would like. Good luck, live long and prosper.

Mixtape Monday: October 25, 2010

Last modified on 2010-10-26 01:46:54 GMT. 142 comments. Top.

By Jen Connors

For this week’s special Halloween edition of Mixtape Monday, we have three songs that are traditionally played this time of year.

In 1984, a new paparazzi-stalker anthem was born with Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me.” Featuring Michael and Jermaine Jackson, the song is known for its paranoid lyrics and its haunted-house themed video. It has been covered by many artists and sampled in a great deal of work.

Warren Zevon came out with his best-known song in 1978 with “Werewolves of London.” Off the album Excitable Boy, the song is filled with pop culture references and features howling over the chorus. Kid Rock borrowed heavily from the song in his 2008 single “All Summer Long”. The song has been sampled by Dexy’s Midnight Runners and covered by Jackson Browne and Adam Sandler.

In 1973, audiences fell in love with the main number from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The “Time Warp,” a dance that involves a “jump to the left, and then a step to the right,” has reached cult standards, often played at dances and weddings. Featured in both the stage and movie version, the song has been covered by a multitude of artists and will be featured on tomorrow night’s episode of Glee.

Mixtape Monday: October 18, 2010

Last modified on 2010-10-18 22:20:11 GMT. 259 comments. Top.

The iconic performer Cher had a dramatic comeback in the late eighties with “If I Could Turn Back Time,” the lead single from her twentieth studio album, Heart of Stone. Written by the prolific Diane Warren, the song has been featured on episodes of Will & Grace and Eastenders. The video, in which Cher wears a revealing black swimsuit and fishnets, has been parodied by Family Guy in Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, with Meg filling Cher’s role.

The Beatles came out with “Get Back” in 1969. A game changer for the group, the song was the first Beatles recording released in stereo format and the first where the Beatles were not the only people credited. The song was credited to “The Beatles and Billy Preston.” Preston played electric piano and the organ on the track. The song has been covered by Al Green, Rod Stewart and Tina Turner.

“I Won’t Back Down” was Tom Petty’s first solo single. Featuring George Harrison, the song has since been used in various political and sports campaigns. George W. Bush used the song in his 2000 campaign until receiving a cease and desist letter from the publishers. The song has been covered by Switchfoot and Johnny Cash.

Mixtape Monday: October 11, 2010

Last modified on 2010-10-11 23:56:47 GMT. 292 comments. Top.

In 1988, a singer-songwriter named Tracy Chapman debuted with “Fast Car,” a top ten hit. Known for its female-empowerment lyrics, the song was nominated for several Grammies and has since been covered by several artists, from Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson and REM to In Living Color. Rolling Stone declared it the 165th Greatest Song of All Time, the highest-ranked title both written and performed by a woman.

“Whole Wide World” is the most well-known recording by the English artist Wreckless Eric. Known for its easy-to-lean beat, the song was never a chart hit for Wreckless Eric, gaining notice after a 1997 cover by the Proclaimers and use as a plot device in the 2006 Will Ferrell-Maggie Gyllenhaal film Stranger than Fiction.

The Barenaked Ladies rose up on the Canadian music scene in 1989 with “Be My Yoko Ono,” a song comparing a relationship to that of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It was the band’s first single and released on a few of their following albums. Ono, when asked for a reaction to the song, said she enjoyed it, but liked the band’s followup “If I Had $1000000″ more.

Mixtape Monday: October 4, 2010

Last modified on 2010-10-04 19:24:41 GMT. 191 comments. Top.

By Jen Connors

The Beach Boys had their third number one hit in 1966 with “Good Vibrations,” which was ranked at number six on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Written by Brian Wilson, the song was used in a 1995 biopic about him called I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times. The song has appeared on The Simpsons and will appear in the latest installment of Rock Band, due out on October 26.

Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Gos had her only solo number one hit in 1987 with “Heaven Is A Place On Earth,” widely considered her signature song outside of the band. The song was nominated for the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and has been covered by Cyndi Lauper, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Ashley Tisdale.

One of the most recognizable songs of the nineties is MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This“. With phrases like “Stop! Hammertime!” and the title of the song still being used in pop culture today, the song still retains its presence in today’s music scene. The song has been used in Glee, Family Guy and a wide variety of movies since its release.

Mixtape Monday: September 27, 2010

Last modified on 2010-10-02 21:22:56 GMT. 85 comments. Top.

by Jen Connors

This week’s Mixtape Monday features one hit wonders from bands popular in the seventies and eighties.

The first song is “Lady Marmalade,” first performed by the girl group Labelle in 1974. Known for its suggestive French chorus, the song has maintained a spot in pop culture through various cover versions since its initial release, most notably for a cover done for the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! The cover featured Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya, Missy Elliott and Lil Kim. The original version reached the top spot on the Billboard chart and is still considered Patti LaBelle’s most well-known song.

Dexy’s Midnight Runners had a hit in 1982 with “Come On Eileen,” their only major hit. The song has the distinction of preventing Michael Jackson from having back-to-back number ones, separating “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” by its one-week stay at the top of the chart. The song is well known for its chorus and its bridge, which speeds up as it repeats until the final chorus. It has been covered by bands like Save Ferris and Badly Drawn Boy.

“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” was first featured on the Proclaimers’ 1988 album Sunshine on Leith. It has recently been featured in two episodes of How I Met Your Mother and an episode of Family Guy. The song has been covered by artists such as Phish, Steven Curtis Chapman and Verbal Warning. It reached number three on the US Billboard charts.

This Week In Sneaks: September 20, 2010

Last modified on 2010-09-21 12:15:16 GMT. 263 comments. Top.

By Eric Taverna

This is the first installment of many of “This Week in Sneaks”. I am an avid sneaker collector and in this segment I will be bringing you the best (or worst) of sneakers each week. So let’s get into it.

Jordan 6 Rings “3M”

This is a retro release of the Jordan 6 Rings but this color way is different from past releases. It features a complete 3M upper. 3M for those of you who don’t know is a reflective material and shines bright white/silver when in the sun or any significant light source. The sole is nice and icy and the rest of the shoe features minimal accents of light grey.



Available Now $160

Nike ACG Rongbuk GTX

As the winter months slowly approach it is a sneakerheads worst nightmare. They can’t wear many of their shoes for fear of ruining them. Well fear no more because the Nike ACG line is back and they brought some killer kicks. The Nike ACG Rongbuk is a fully winterized sneaker that features a complete Gore-Tex upper. This means your feet will stay dry and your kicks will look good. The sneaker is all black with minimal hints of red. This is a great offering from the ACG line and there are also two other color ways green and umber.

Adidas Jeremy Scott x Adidas Originals JS Wings 2.0

It’s not often that you see a sneaker that makes you look like Hermes but these certainly do. The JS Wings 2.0 is a crazy shoe designed by Jeremy Scott that features a completely light grey upper with the infamous JS Wings attached. Unlike the previous models of the JS Wings the wings on these shoes are not detachable and are places in a much more appropriate spot. If you want to break necks and get stares then these out of this world kicks are for you.

Available Now $200

Mixtape Monday: September 20, 2010

Last modified on 2010-09-21 12:12:25 GMT. 332 comments. Top.

mixtape: n; a compilation of songs recorded in a certain order on a CD or DVD

Welcome to our first ever Mixtape Monday feature. It is a new weekly post featuring three songs  from amy time before 1992, when the vast majority of this year’s freshmen were born.

This week’s mixtape consists of three well-known songs from the 70s and 80s. ‘In the Summertime,’ by Mungo Jerry, has been featured in movies such as Wedding Crashers and Mr. Deeds and is considered to be one of the best-selling singles of all time. This Tuesday, September 21, is the official start of fall. Hopefully this song will help you celebrate the last official day of summer in style.

The next song is Rick Springfield’s ‘Jessie’s Girl,’ an eighties staple about unrequited love that still finds resonance in pop culture today. Featured in 13 Going on 30, Glee and Hot Tub Time Machine, the song is available on Guitar Hero: On Tour and is still in consistent airplay on contemporary or classic rock radio stations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2T7wKdQsTo

The final song is ‘Bad Reputation’ by Joan Jett and the Black Hearts. It has been featured in 10 Things I Hate About You, Shrek and Kick Ass and was the theme song for Freaks and Geeks. The song is also available on three games in the Rock Band series.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOdLQp0JWQ0

If you want to submit requests for Mixtape Monday, send a song name, artist and year to frankinpiercetv25@gmail.com. The song has to be from 1992 or before. Each week will feature a song from a male artist, female artist and a group. All songs can be downloaded on iTunes, and be sure to check back on fptv25.com for more world and campus news.