Arts and Entertainment

Marissa Sliney: Free Press Staff

Everyone old enough to legally drive is dead or diseased. So who’s gunna drive you to the mall? This calamity has run down the whole world but this story takes place in London. Parents, teachers, neighbors, cops, all adults alike who survive are plagues with nauseating puss filled boils and gashes while their brains are so degraded, they turn into animals. Did I mention they’ve developed an appetite for humans? They are so demented from the disease they will do anything to survive.

This story begins a year after the disaster. Kids have grouped together for safety in buildings, away from these monsters. The main focus is on two groups in particular hiding out in supermarkets. The kids of Waitrose and Morrison. Though they have developed means of survival and many kids have found their niche whether it be fighting, inventing, or leading, the adults are growing more aggressive as food dwindles down.

Out of the blue, a mysterious new comer offers them sanctuary at Buckingham palace. No where else to turn they pack up and risk everything to make it through London and to this safe haven.

The kids learn rather quickly Buckingham Palace is not so perfect and the adults are not the only enemy.

My review:

Warning: This book is both dynamic and thrilling but may contain spine tingling suspense. For your safety, keep in mind before reading that your eyes may jump out of your head and run away out of fear. If you choose to read, you accept all of these risks, however be aware of your own physical conditions and limitations. If the heart stopping, jaw dropping tension could irritate any pre-existing condition, get over it and read the book anyway.

In all honesty The Enemy by Charlie Higson is a brilliant book. Higson gives you the reader a wide variety of dynamic characters to pick and choose from. Who is your hero? Who is your enemy? However don’t get attached to any character in particular, because at any moment in this hair raising story of survival anyone can go. These kids face tyranny, deceit, death, constant tragedy, and absolute horror at every sudden jerking twist on this rollercoaster of a plot.
I declare this book anything but a typical novel for the young readers out there.
So many characters have such vivid personalities and pivotal roles it’s hard to choose the main character but easy to find someone to identify with. Don’t be surprised when you’re running through the pages and immersing yourself in the idea of this post-apocalyptic world. Where ever your imagination goes… don’t expect a happy ending.

Read this book and ask these questions: Who am I when there are no more adults to tell me? More importantly, who am I when the adults turn against me? And last but and not least, who is the enemy?

Tiffany Sammy: Free Press Arts & Entertainment Editor

MGMT’s second album “Congratulations” is scheduled to hit stores April 13. However the band provides free streaming of their entire new album off their website: www.whoismgmt.com . I highly recommend an immediate listen of this album, and then buying it, because it is too good of a listen to be waited. Although the band deviates from the style of their first album “Oracular Spectacular”, it just shows what innovators they truly are.

The entire album is comprised of songs with simple pop progressions but it’s layered with hushed voices and light synth; an all around psychedelic retro feel trickles throughout it. The nine songs combine to create a full “cartoon-ish” journey from beginning to end. It opens with the song “It’s Working”. This song is reminiscent of an old surf rock classic and then adds a psychedelic twist, which establishes the retro pop that sets throughout the album. Between the modulations, the songs progress through some racing edgy melodies, which fit perfect in old videogame music, and switches to a dreamy feel guided by droning synth and light guitar. However, in songs like “someone’s missing”, the “trance-like feel” lures you into the breakout of a 70s pop fantasy. The last two songs “Lady DaDa’s Nightmare” and “Congratulations” close out the album well. “Lady DaDa’s nightmare” slows down the album but keeps the dream feel going and segues into “Congratulations”, which slowly brings the listener back to reality with a hint of melancholy.

Daiany Santana: Free Press Staff

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre . . . to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria . . . to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own — scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected. 

Keith Murray: Free Press Staff

“Enemy of the World” is the highly anticipated fourth cd release of the Melodic Hardcore/ Pop-Punk band Four Year Strong, who hail from Worcester, Massachusetts. The new album takes a less “faster-sound” approach to most of the songs, but still maintain their unique sound. The good thing is, this album doesn’t sound exactly like “Rise or Die Trying”, which shows that Four Year Strong is able to bring an exclusive sound to each album. Just from listening to the first track, “It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now” you can tell that the entire cd is going to be just what you were hoping it would be. The dual vocals, along with the melodies prove to be much more interesting and ear-appealing, yet do not use auto-tune.

Four Year Strong does not abandon their Pop-Punk oriented songs with gang vocals, and the fourth song, “Nineteen With Neck Tatz” proves that they will put on an even greater live show, better than the incredible ones now that are still usually sold out. Continuing through the album “Find My Way Back” shows a softer but still consistently melodically sound. The next song, “What the Hell is a Gigawatt?” is the fastest song on the album, and the breakdown is intricate yet heavy and catchy, not a generic “chug-chug” breakdown that so many bands use today. Furthermore, the catchy breakdowns, lyrics, and overall amazing musicianship prove that “Enemy of the World” is a solid release, distinctive from “Rise or Die Trying” proving that this band can produce a new album without repeating past techniques. TEAM UP!

Recommended Songs
-It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now
-Nineteen with Neck Tatz
-Find My Way Back
-What the Hell Is a Gigawatt?

Tiffany Sammy: Free Press Arts & Entertainment Editor

During February vacation, while many spent their time on facebook or watching reruns of Jersey Shore; your own wildcat jazz band and chorus took a trip down to Orlando, Florida to participate in the Disney Jazz Celebration 2010. The festival and trip itself was extremely motivational for not just the music students of Weymouth high school but also the many other talented students that were there. “Disney was a place to work hard, have fun, be rewarded, and bring the band closer together”, says Stephanie Giuffrida of the Jazz band, who can probably speak for not just Weymouth.

            The Wildcat musicians went to all four parks including some other Disney attractions and spent six days in the Florida sun. The festival itself was comprised of middle school and high school performances, although the bands were separated into different classes, it was a more of a competition against one’s own band. There were the school performances, clinics for each school (critiques of their performances), guest performances, “master classes” and a jam session with some highly renowned professionals that were the judicators and guest performers. In addition to playing at Disney, the Jazz band and Chorus also played at B.B. King’s restaurant one night and streamed live over their website!

            The actual festival kicked off Thursday February 18^th with an opening ceremony that showed the students the true background jazz has in Disney, the integrity of the festival and it included a special music performance. Before this trip I was slightly uncertain of the relevance of Jazz in Disney. However I learned that Jazz has actually been very influential in the making of Disneyland and several Disney productions. Walt Disney was a very big fan of jazz and so when he built Disneyland he devoted an entire section of it to New Orleans- an essential location to the formation of Jazz- and it is meant to represent New Orleans in its “age of Jazz”.  Walt Disney also knew many famous jazz artists like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, and frequently had them play live music at Disneyland. I enjoyed learning this history and felt that it was beneficial to know because it made me feel much more appreciative of playing at Disney World and it led to a more honorable experience.

             The Chorus and Jazz band performed for judicators: Jennifer Barnes, Dr. Steve Zegree, Connaitre Miller, Dr. Willie Hill, Fred Herby III, and Dee Spencer. Although these may appear as just names, these people are masters of their art. It was an honor to hear from such great professionals, regardless if they were unknown to many before the trip. The achievements and background we did hear of these people were enough to make all of us feel gracious to be able to even stand near them. Dan Gessner of the chorus says: "hearing some of the stories they had and the backgrounds they came from was pretty inspiring and showed how anyone can reach a dream with the right attitude”. 

 They gave critiques and great advice about music that we can carry throughout our music careers.

             The chorus did a spectacular job and reports, “It was definitely the best they had ever done”. Sarah Russo of the chorus says: “we worked very hard for the festival. And I am glad to have had this experience with them”. They received a rating of “good”; the judges loved them and highly respected their choice of music. They also admired chorus member Kurt Joyce, whose enthusiasm gained them positive attention and left the chorus with this piece of advice: “Whenever you’re performing just think ‘what would Kurt do?’”. The Jazz band also performed their best. They received a rating of “excellent” along with high accolades for the “soloists in the back”, TJ Ritz, James Callahan and Zack Locurto.

Another exciting component of the trip was participating in the Master classes and Jam session. The Master Class was a workshop for the students where they discussed and learned tips about playing their instruments or voices. The students had a chance to talk more in depth with the judicators and hear from the guest performers of the festival: Saxophonist Jessy J, trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, trombonist Saunders Sermons and drummer Jared Schonig. To reiterate with these names, these are people although younger than the judicators, they have achieved an extremely high level of musicianship that can only be admired. These performers discussed what they did to reach their level of success and obstacles they have faced in their life. Brittany Brown of the chorus said “it was extremely cool to meet professionals who have gone far with their music and have performed with some of the hit artist we hear on the radio”. TJ Ritz of the jazz band was especially inspired by Jessy J and says “they were really insightful about playing their instruments as kids and it’s good that they were specific in furthering training by mentioning summer camps to improve improvisation”.

The main theme that ran through the discussion was dedication. It could not be overstated the importance of practicing everyday; being fully dedicated in order to achieve the highest level of success. These words definitely affected the students on the trip; afterwards there was a definite consensus on the majority of people looking to step it up musically and keep it going. These guest performers also played with students, including some of the wildcats, in a giant jam session. It is an exciting experience to play with people you’ve never met and be able to draw from their creativity. Brian Shaw a member of the Jazz band who participated in the jam session said: "I can't believe I was able to perform with some of those professional jazz players, I've never felt so impressed by music before."

Although it is the music that everyone has in common, we as people brought ourselves together and closer during the trip. Brandi Moore of chorus says "Disney was absolutely amazing. It was the best week of my life and there are no other people I would have rather spent it with". In essence, I think we all feel to some degree as Paul Safrine does, who said: “It was an all around great experience. I learned a lot about myself both musically and personally. Everyone should have an opportunity to go on a trip like this”.

Andrew Cannata: Free Press Staff

Vampire Weekend stayed true to themselves and I can not fault them from trying new styles and studio effects, after all they are an experimental band. Vampire Weekend is a New York based indie band that infused their indie pop sound with Afro Beat while sporting Polo’s and Yachting attire. Their second release Contra failed to live up to their self titled debut album. The band threw mainstream Hip Hop in to the mix with the use of Auto Tune on the song “California English” which ruined the song. Auto Tune made the song seem cheesy and gimmicky. While using an M.I.A. Sample on the song “Diplomat’s Son”, gave the song a nice experimental flare.

On the second LP, Vampire Weekend may have over done it. Songs like “Horchata”, “White Sky”, and “California English” just did not get my attention like the songs from the first album did. The song “Cousins” is the best off Contra, with catchy lyrics and an upbeat sound. Overall the album is not terrible, it just fails to compare to their first release. They continue to stay within their original sound of pop rock. But the band still keeps their self described “Upper West Side Soweto” sound alive. While failing to live up to my expectations after their epic first release, no love was lost I can’t wait to see what they’ll do next.
Rating 3 out of 5

Caitlin Fitzgerald: Free Press Staff:

    Calling all young adult writers, poets, editors, anyone who wants to be involved in the literary world. Harper Collins, the publishing company, has come up with a new online site to get work out there written by teens and rated by teens. This site is geared to helping teens and young adults get their written works out into the publishing world to become noticed and receive a real chance at getting published.

Sarah Butler: Free Press Staff:
  

 It’s Friday and you and your friends decide to have a movie night, what do you watch? Well, if you like movies that will make your head spin, Frank Capra’s Arsenic and Old Lace is the movie that will guarantee a 360° loop. Capra, whom you may have heard of before, directed some of the 20^th century’s most popular films. Some of his more recognized titles are, It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and (the original) Mr. Deeds (1936). Not noted as one of Capra’s best, Arsenic and Old Lace is still a movie that drags you into the plot and won’t release you from its terrible grasp until all problems are solved.  

 The movie begins with our introduction to Mortimer Brewster (played by the once-upon-a-time hunk Cary Grant), a very well known theater and anti-marriage critic, who just happens to be waiting in line at city hall with his fiancée Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane) to be married. After, the newlyweds pack up to celebrate at Niagara Falls. The only thing Mortimer wants to do before he leaves though is go home and share the good news with his two old aunts, Abby and Martha (Josephine Hull and Jean Adair). Instead of a quick get away as planned, Mortimer is troubled with the discovery of a dead body in the window seat! Thus revealing his aunts’ hobby of murdering lonely old men.

 The movie then becomes a hectic mess of Mortimer trying to keep his aunts from being discovered by the authorities and also keeping his brother Teddy (who is quite convinced he is former President Theodore Roosevelt), from spilling the beans about this “hobby”. Things only get worse when Brewster’s deranged and mass murdering, older brother Jonathan (Raymond Massey) comes home with his alcoholic henchman, Dr. Einstein (Peter Lorre), and a dead body of their own!  

 The next hour or so is spent painfully watching a family of fools running around, trying to get things sorted out, but unfortunately none of them have any idea what’s really going on. What makes this movie so unique though, is its plethora of close encounters of death and tragedy. These moments will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat and screaming angrily at whatever bumbling idiot who happens to be in danger to get out of the way. This movie is far from the slapstick comedy of The Three Stooges, but its characters have about as much smarts as that trio does. A film where everyone seems to be missing a few hundred brain cells, Arsenic and Old Lace will certainly leave you with a sample of its insanity and have you screaming “CHARRRRRRRRGE!!!” up the stairway as well. 

Mariely Rivera-Free Press Arts & Entertainment Editor:

The curtains were raised, the crowd’s chants were heard, and the monster finally hit the stage.  At nine o’clock, a hologram appeared and the opening beats to “Dance in the Dark” began to play. Behind the hologram, was a  petite blonde attached to her electric keyboard, sporting oversized shoulder pads and bare legs.  

Born on March 28, 1986 Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was destined for stardom. Raised in the Upper West Side of New York, Stefani learned how to play the piano at the tender age of four by ear. At the age of thirteen, she already wrote her first piano ballad and by the age of fourteen she captivated night clubs with her new age music and her funky, outrageous wardrobe. Once she turned twenty, she was signed to Interscope Records and now at the age of twenty-three she was declared the most successful female artist of 2009, selling over five million copies of her debut album, “The Fame”. Stefani Germanotta, the picked on, freaky girl from  New York, is now showing her former classmates what she is made of. However, on the radio you do not hear a new song from Stefani, you hear a new song from Lady Gaga, a new, larger than life figure. With her hit songs “Just Dance”, “Poker Face”, “Paparazzi” and “Bad Romance”, Lady Gaga’s career is only beginning.  

That night at the Wang Theatre, Lady Gaga was far from a freak. She was giving her all into the show, and spoke to the crowd as if they were old friends. She was interactive and fan oriented and made sure that each and every fan there felt comfortable in their own skin, and not afraid to be different. What fans are used to seeing are her out of this world performances, where she would publicly hand herself covered in blood or wear a Kermit the Frog jacket. This show’s ensembles were a little low-key but still did not fail to amaze me. The only outfit that made my jaw drop to the ground, was her Rupunzel-esque braided wig that reached the end of the stage. That night, a more intimate and calm Gaga was seen by the audience. Someone a little more relatable. She did have her moments yelling profanities at the audience, but Lady Gaga is as unpredictable as they get. She sang most of the songs off of her 5x platinum record, “The Fame”, and new songs from her eight track EP “The Fame Monster”. She also added a few unreleased songs, for the true fans like, “Paper Gangster”, and “Fashion”. Each performance was different and creative and nothing like any other concert I have ever been to.  

Being at the concert was a whole different experience. I have never seen such devoted fans ever; some people were dressed like her or had her signature Fame glasses and disco sticks. Even with the opening acts (Semi Precious Weapons and Kid Cudi) the crowd was enjoying every minute. Since seven o’clock until eleven, the audience was up, dancing and not once did anyone stop to sit down. Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball Tour was an incredible concert to attend because it was so original. The atmosphere in the theatre was indescribable and like her one of her songs, it left me “speechless, so speechless”. Thanks Ms. Germanotta or Godga as her die hard fans call her, for an amazing night.