2010
Entertainment
15
Locally owned Typhoon! brings Thai food!, deals for students
A ustin C ummins
Recently opened in West
Linn, Typhoon! serves
quality cuisine from all parts
of Thailand in a relaxing
environment and with subtle
charm.
The restaurant is
decorated in a modern
Asian atmosphere, designed
to capture the essence of
Thailand. From the live
orchids to the large tree in the
lobby that really grabs your
attention as you walk in, the
place really brings a sense of
relaxation and peace.
Service was quick and you
are seated at a table almost
immediately. The waitresses
are very nice and the manager
makes it a point to greet all of
the seated customers.
I ordered the stir fried
ginger chicken with rice and
my friend had the Pad Thai,
one of Typhoon's signature
dishes. Business was slow
and it took no longer than 20
minutes to prepare. Drinks
were served in glasses shaped
like bamboo, which I thought
was a nice touch to the
scenery.
The ginger chicken
was delicious, loaded
with vegetables that were
beautifully arranged. It was
definitely some of the best
Thai food I've ever eaten.
The Pad Thai was a bit too
salty for my taste, but since
that is the way that good
Thai food is supposed to be, I
wouldn't hold it against them.
From our table by the
window I had a great view
of the rest of the West Linn
Central Village. The Blue Sage
Cafe (the previous occupant
of the building) had put
shades over the windows to
provide a lounge ambiance,
but Typhoon! did a great job
of opening the place up and
letting in the light. Another
interesting thing was the
smooth river rocks in the
bathroom sinks. I'm not really
sure why they were there, but
they really added to the zen
atmosphere.
Overall the meal totaled to
about $30 (including tip). This
seemed like a bit much to me
Photo by Austin Cummins
Typhoon serves Thai food in a unique atm osphere w ith exciting
variety. W LH S students can text in their lunch orders ahead of time
to beat the lunch rush and they w ill receive a 15 percent total discount
by show ing their ID card.
for two people. Most entrees
are at least $10. However, the
portions given are definitely
worth what you pay for.
If you are on a tighter
budget, you might try the
"happy hour" where you can
get entrees for a lower price
than usual. Also, not only
do West Linn. High School
students receive a 15 percent
discount at lunch if they have
their ID card, but they can
also text their orders ahead
of time so they can be picked
up without having wait and
waste most of your lunch
period.
Overall, I would give the
West Linn Typhoon! a nine out
of ten. With great scenery and
delicious food, it's definitely
a great find for Thai food.
Don't let the higher prices turn
you away when considering
going to Typhoon! for lunch or
dinner.
New Bob Dylan demo recordings give light to old songs
busE
B rown ________ ~
Bob Dylan's songs are often
regarded as masterpieces.
Songs like "Mr. Tambourine
among other songs that are
essential to the Bob Dylan fan.
Between these recordings and
the ones in Dylan's official
canon, it can't be said whether
e version is better than the
ther, but differences and
milarities can be found,
lese comparisons only
iphasize the greatness of
; song, never diminishing
For example, the "Bootleg"
>ion of "Hard Rain" has
lyric change, but sounds
ntially the same. "Mr.
bourine Man" has the
Courtesy of Columbia Records exact same lyrics, but uses a
Bob Dylan's newest release, "The piano instead of a guitar, with
Bootleg Series, Vol. 9," contains a very different rhythm. It
the original versions of some of his takes a while to get used to,
most well-known songs, as well as
but it absolutely works.. Even
previously unreleased material. It
songs that were released on
is available for purchase on iTunes,
previous "Bootleg" collections
Amazon.com and in music stores.
have distinctions: "Talking
Man," "The Times They Are
John Birch Paranoid Blues,"
A-Changin'," "Hurricane" and
originally from the first
"Like A Rolling Stone" formed a "Bootleg" collection, has a
foundation for later folk, rock
couple lyrical changes, which
and even pop music. One may
in my opinion make the song
wonder, listening to the Bard at
even more hilarious. It seems
work, how those masterpieces
that Dylan always makes his
songs sound good, no matter
came to be.
how he plays them, making his
Thanks to "The Bootleg
musical genius more audible.
Series"—so called because
Some of the tracks are
the songs on these albums
brand new discoveries to those
were previously bootlegged
who don't dabble in Dylan
material—we can see how
bootlegs. "I'd Hate To Be You
Dylan's songs came to be.
On That Dreadful Day," "Poor
Volume nine of "The Bootleg
Boy Blues," "Standing On The
Series" is now available
Highway" and "Long Ago, Far
for purchase, with demo
Away" (which is my personal
recordings from Dylan's first
favorite song from this
years restored to extremely
collection) have been released
high quality.
to the public in a legal album
These rough drafts of his
for the first time, after they've
well-known songs are just as
only been known to the most
good as the versions that are
most recognized by Dylan
serious Dylan fans. We only
have Dylan and Columbia
fans and the songs that were
Records to thank for making
unknown to everyone but
these incredible songs more
the bootleggers until now are
available.
further proof of Dylan's genius.
My only complaint is this:
"The Bootleg Series, Vol. 9"
includes rough draft recordings why doesn't Dylan's harmonica
appear until the second disc?
of "Blowin' In The Wind," "A
It's a bit of an acquired taste,
Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall,"
but I like Dylan's harp playing
"Mr. Tambourine Man" and
"Girl From The North Country," very much, and I am very
surprised that it isn't heard
on the songs that normally
include it, such as "Mr.
Tambourine Man," "Talking
Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre
Blues" and "Blowin' In The
Wind." While the recordings
are remarkable as they are,
adding the instrument would
have enhanced the songs ever
so much.
"The Bootleg Series, Vol. 9"
should be on every Bob Dylan
fan's iPod or CD shelf. Even
those who are new to his work
should check it out. Dylan's
songs, as always, showcase
magnificent lyrics and skillful
musicianship. These acoustic,
raw recordings show the
evolution a Dylan song goes
through to get to the version
that plays on the radio, and
they show his musical talent
incredibly well. Fanatics and
casual listeners, rejoice: Dylan
has released a collection that
will no doubt satisfy you.
This collection is available
from iTunes for $20 and from
Amazon.com starting at $12.46.
Check your local CD store for
copies.
Indie Rock fits Portland like a glove
The White Stripes, Modest
Mouse and the Black Keys
are all bands that have one
thing in common: indie rock.
Originally, "indie" stood for
independent as in not signed
with a major label. Now indie
has become a genre of music.
Indie rock can be very
hard to describe because its
music is always changing
Portland has been called
a "mecca of indie rock." It is
exemplified by The Shins,
S p o o n and m an y m ore
bands. Sometimes though,
we overlook the great local
music we have here.
M any bands such as
The Thermals, a local indie
rock band, started right here
in Portland. They've been
played by alternative radio
Photo by Lauren Monaco
The Thermals, a three person indie band from Portland, plays in New
York City. Portland is a hot spot for new and upcoming indie bands
like Blitzen Trapper and "Portugal. The M an."
and morphing into something
new. But overall, it's like
alternative rock, a type of
rock that doesn't fit into
any other category, because
it's not metal, it's not hard
rock, it’s ju st alternative.
Indie rock is a place where
two people can make up a
band, and individuality is
expressed through not just
lyrics, but also through their
instruments.
"Portugal. The M an" has
toured with several popular
bands like Cake. Blitzen
Trapper, another Portland
product, produces a soft
alternative sound, almost folk
you could say. Indie rock is
becoming more popular, and
Portland is in the middle of it.
Indie rock didn't start here
though. It actually started
in England, but the more
fam ou s term w as in d ie
pop. The Temper Trap, best
known for its song "Sweet
Disposition," is from Australia.
Bands like Arctic Monkeys,
Franz Ferdinand and Oasis
are famous not only in United
K ingdom , but around the
world.
Alternative radio station
94.7 KNRK hosted "December
to Remember," a charity event
that ran five days in December.
Two bands played each night,
for a total of 10 bands. The
event helped the Portland
Police Sunshine Division, a
non-profit em ergency food
relief organization. Not only
do indie rockers bring good
music, they also help people
around the country, like all
artists should.
Not all of you listen to this
music, I understand that. But
if you want to get started, I can
help. I recommend the White
Stripes for an introduction
to indie. The Black Keys are
good if you want a blusey, raw
sound. Arctic Monkeys are
famous for the honesty in their
songs and they produce a fast
beat, sometimes even good for
dancing. If you're looking for
an almost electronic sound,
Broken Bells may be for you.
I love music. Not all music,
but most. I’m glad that I live in
a place where the music I love
is cherished, celebrated and
show how it is individuality
that is supposed to make up
the music industry, not money.
I hope that indie music lives on.