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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 2003)
6 The Clackamas Print February 27, 2003 Local authors amuse audience A&E Editor LUKE MAHAN Clackamas Print Local authors Susan Fletcher (left) and Carmen Bernier- Crand spoke in the Cregory Forum Wednesday, Feb. 19. Approximately 30 people gath ered on Feb. 19 in the Gregory Forum to hear two local authors read and speak. Winter term’s Authors’ Night, put together by instructor Allen Widerburg, featured Carmen Bernier-Grand and Susan Fletcher, and concentrated on children’s and young adults’ fiction stories. Both writers had great senses of humor, and kept the audience laugh ing throughout the course of the night. Fletcher read two passages, one from her novel “Walk Across the Sea,” which is the story of the Chinese people’s expulsion from a small town by the ocean. The sec ond came from her novel “Shadow Artist: Avenged Sevenfold | Album: Sounding the Seventh Trumpet News Editor In a time in music when absolute ly anything is possible, Avenged Sevenfold’s “Sounding the Seventh Trumpet” takes a step back from the now popular sample-enhanced rock and puts forth an explosive 13 song debut album that can be labeled noth ing less than amazing! The Orange County-based five piece is so focused on their work that, according to Meanstreet maga zine writer Waleed Rashidi, “They (the band) went as far as stripping their true identities for assumed names to place the emphasis on what matters most - the music.” They all refer to each other by nicknames. Their true names are unknown. Like friends and labelmates Thrice, Avenged Sevenfold members hate being defined as any single genre of music. Their blend of heavy rock riffs, punk ethos, and all out hardcore guarantees a good time. Avenged members truly don’t adhere to any scene, trend, or “clique” with in the current music industry. The band, who more or less takes the lis tener on a musical rollercoaster of softs and louds, plays more hard rock than soft. However, in songs like “Warmness on the Soul” the band proves that anyone can tune the noise down a notch for some great piano playing. Singer “M. Shadows,” who cites Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose as one of his musical mentors, melds his harmonic singing with a murderous growl to help create a non-stereotyp ical hard rock album. “Recorded in less than a week, with veteran producer Donnell Cameron, ‘Sounding The Seventh Trumpet’ is highlighted by the intense guitar and bass riffings of guitarists ‘Zacky Vengeance’, ‘Synyster Gates’, and bassist ‘Dameon Ash’. The tracks of ‘Sounding the Seventh Trumpet’ are seamlessly driven by the double-kick drum accents and patterns of drum mer ‘The Reverend Tholomew Plaque’, who in a remarkable feat, banged out over half of the tracks in a single take,” wrote Rashidi. Phenomenally technical arrange ments and unfathomable instrumen tation puts Avenged Sevenfold’s music in its own category. “Avenged Sevenfold’s ‘Sounding The Seventh Trumpet’ puts aspiri-on the entire umbrella of hard and heavy rock,” wrote Rashidi. As one of the most anticipated bands of 2003, Avenged is preparing to enter the studio in April to record a new full-length album expected to hit stores this summer before the nationwide Warped Tour. Go out and buy Avenged Sevenfold’s “Sounding the Seventh Trumpet.” True music connoisseurs will want to hear one of the most musically important bands to date. ♦PROPS FOR ALL STYLES* - I’ve gotta give a shout out to 50 Cent who currently stands in the limelight of the rap game with the number one album in the world and is backed by thé strongest producer and lyricist in the industry to date. Artist: 50 Cent | Album: Get Rich or Die Trying If you’re looking for a new album this month, you might want to consider South Side Jamaica Queens rapper 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Trying.” The album includes 16 new tracks, three bonus tracks, and a limited edition full length docu mentary DVD, “Get Rich or Die Trying” the movie. This album might be the steal of the year. The follow-up to 50 Cent’s fl)99 under ground hit “Power of tha Dollar” brings a new style of fap as well as a new set of high profile producers. 50 brings his “gangsta” attitude to light in this-brilliant mix of street anthems, club “bangers” and two rap love ballads “Like My Style” and “21 questions.” In 1999 he was shot nine times outside his grandparents’ home in Jamaica Queens, New York. In and' out of prison for the last three years, it’s evident that 50’s street credibility is no joke. Teaming up with Shady/Aftermath records, 50 Cent’s new ‘ lyrical flow’ is highly influenced by industry legends Dr. Dre, and Eminem. When asked about production on his documentary 50 said, “If Dre says I shouldn’t do it, I’ll scrap it.” Trackmaster’s beat production’ on “Tha Power of the Dollar” is in no way inferior to that of Dr. Dre’s. work on “Get Rich or Die Trying.” Dre has the industry connections to push 50 Cent and his gangsta atti tude into mainstream music with put selling 50 out. Eminem has the appeal to the teen crowd to push record salés. “Get Rich or Die Trying” is not for innocent ears. With sharp gangsta cuts, including: “What’s up Gangsta?” “Many Men”, and “Heat,” 50 Cent clearly holds noth ing back. Attacking fellow rapper Ja Rule on “Back Down,” 50 goes right after mainstream rap without looking in his rearview. Be prepared for a style oFrap never heard before. 50 Cent is not afraid to spit raw lyrics that will offend most unless they understand his genre of music. Comparisons to the late rappers Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace (Notorious B.I.G.) have made this CD the most highly anticipated rap album since Shakur’s 1995 classic All Eyez on Me. Spinner.” This story was slightly harder to follow, as it takes place in another country and the language is a bit more difficult to understand. The descriptions were extremely visual though, which made it easier to follow. For her novel “Walk Across the Sea” Fletcher practically had to learn a new language. “It took me about a year before I could sit down and full sentences would come out,” she said. “With writing historical fiction you don’t have to make stuff up,” Fletcher explained when asked how she gets the information for her nov els. “Making stuff up is hard.” Bernier-Grand started her pres entation with a short riddle from her native country, Puerto Rico. She then launched into the story of Cesario Chavez, which was a bit more dim and serious. Her third, final, and longest story, “You’re a Señorita,” came from her soon-to-be published collection of short stories for young girls, “Period Pieces.” Bernier-Grand is a large ball of fire in a tiny package. As she read her final story, she was animated and amusing. The story of a young girl getting her first period is a hard subject, but she tackled it wonder fully, and had the entire room laugh ing (including the males). A young lady in the audience asked Bernier- Grand why she chose the topic of menstruation. Bernier-Grand simply stated, “Oh, I’m sure everyone has a story.” Both authors have their bache lors and masters degrees, Fletcher in English and Bernier-Grand in math. Bernier-Grand went on to get her Ph.D. in math. Love on the rocks in 'The Quiet American' Staff Writer A love triangle igniting amidst the explosions of war describes Miramax Film’s recent release of “The Quiet American,” starring Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser. The remake of the 1958 film star ring Michael Redgrave and Audie Murphy was originally scheduled for release in the fall of 2001. In light of Sept, 11, the release was delayed and nearly did not make its big screen debut, as direct-to-video was predict ed. Caine and Director Phillip Noyce (“Rabbit Proof Fence”) fought to defend its belated release. Caine plays the role of Thomas Fowler, a reporter for the London Times who is based in Saigon to cover its corruption and the impend ing conflict between the Communists in North Vietnam and the French colonialists fighting for control of the country. The burnt out, opium-addicted Fowler is in love with a young Vietnamese woman named Phuong, played by Do Thi Hai Yen. He is no longer motivated by his work, but by the adoration of his liVe-in mistress whom he would marry if only his wife, who resides in London, would grant him a divorce. Enter Alden Pyle, as the quiet American of the title (Brendan Fraser), who introduces himself to Fowler as a medical-aid provider. The two Americans form a friendship with Phuong in the center, as the object of both their affections. Pyle is honest with Fowler about his feelings for Phuong, , purporting love at first sight. He-feels"he can offer her marriage and a passport out of her tumultuous homeland, whereas Fowler cannot. - The movie begins with an already murdered Pyle. The rest of the movie is a flashback revealing the events leading up to the murder. Caine1 offers an effective narrative through out the movie to enhance the under tone of the story. Towards the end of the story a twist piques intrigue, but is underdeveloped and anticlimactic. While Caine and Fraser provide wonderful performances, in the case of “The Quiet American” the plot is somewhat camouflaged by the front burning love story. I would have enjoyed more exploration into America’s entanglement of the pre war intricacies, which were only vaguely examined. “The Quiet American” is current ly playing at Fox Tower, located at SW Park and Taylor. INTERNET PHOTO Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser) and Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) exchange words in last year’s dramatic film‘The Quiet American,’ currently playing at Fox Tower.
