CapVision

March Madness!

2011-03-27T23:08:00.002-04:00

The month of March is filled with basketball games and opening day for baseball. Many fill out brackets and hope their team will win the NCAA National Championship. This year the games have gone a little different than expected.

Not one #1 seed team has made it to the final four.

This year the team with the best seed in the final four is #3 UCONN. The final four is made up of:

#4 Kentucky
#3 UCONN
#11 VCU
#8 Butler

According to espn.com the site had 5.9 million people fill out a bracket and only TWO had all FOUR of the final four correct!!!!

1,093 people had three of the four but only two picked all four! That is crazy!!

jspearlman 1 is leading the 5.9 million people. He/She has VCU vs. Kentucky in the final game.

Only time will tell if jspearlman 1 is correct. Make sure to watch the final four games starting Saturday at 6:20pm!!

Have a good week!!

A Fugitive Kind (1960)

2010-10-25T12:58:00.003-04:00

A Fugitive Kind is a remarkable film about a washed up musician named Val Xavier (Marlon Brando) who drifts to the outskirts of New Orleans to avoid a potential arrest. Reluctantly, he finds work at a small five-and-dime store owned by an increasingly bitter woman who goes by the name of Lady Torrence. Xavier begins to find out that Torrence's vicious husband named Jabe is dying of cancer in the room above her store and that many of the affiliates at Torrence's store are beginning to grow a little to fond of his charm and good looks. These include both alcoholic, nymphomaniac, Carrol Cutrere( Joan Woodward) and individual housewife Vee Talbott (Maureen Stapleton). In addition to all the chaos of attraction over Xavier, he falls for the materialistic promises of Lady Torrence stating that she will in fact give him a refreshment bar if he decides to mingle with her amongst her competition. However in the midst of lust and desire,a local town sheriff as well as Torrence's husband, Jabe, are becoming lividly jealous of Xavier's actions which leads to many serious problems in Xavier's future.

Marlon Brando gives an excellent performance using his unique "method acting" style to give real life qualities to his character. In addition, that fact that Marlon Brando is so good at playing these "Bad Guy" roles enhances and illuminates the seriousness of Val Xavier character.

Woody Allen's Manhattan (1979)

2010-09-27T15:04:00.004-04:00

Hello everybody my name is Jake Smith. I have just been added to the Capvision family and I am extremely proud to be here at Capital University. I will usually post blog discussing old movies from the early 40s to the late 70s. The first film on my list to discuss is Woody Allen's Manhattan. First I would like to give you a brief insight into Allen's humor. He uses many psychoanalytical references in his works. This is particularly due to the fact that he has undergone this psychological practice for nearly 30 years. In addition, many of Allen's works stick to what are called, "pure comedies" which Allen has gained from the influence of the Marx Brothers and other 1930's comedy routines. Manhattan is extremely witty and clever. Starring Woody Allen, Meryl Streep,Diane Keaton, and Michael Murphy; Manhattan brings to life the glamour and unprecedented feel of an uptight New Yorker whose goal is to be a successful television writer but is blundered by his ex-wife's attempt to publish a novel dealing with Issac's(Allen) and Jill's(Streep) relationship. In addition, Issac's new relationship partner, a young, talented 17 year old high school student named Tracy(Hemingway) becomes more and more intimate and regular. Issac feels that Tracy should wait to live her life before becoming more involved with the older, 42 year old Isaac. Just to add to the mix of drama, Issac's best friend Yale(Murphy) falls in love with an extremely critical ,egotistical, Philadelphian named Mary(Keaton) who officially becomes his mistress. Both Issac and Mary meet at an art gallery in Manhattan and the rest is for you to find out.

Manhattan was beautifully shot in 2:35:1 wide screen. This allows for the total experience of New York's Manhattan side and prevents the blown up"pan and scan" leaving out key elements for New York's wide shots. In addition, the props and overall scenery are executed and placed perfectly. The cities lights and planet exhibits that Isaac and Mary tour are absolutely beautiful. But don't take my word for it, go see the movie for yourself. You can preview videos of Manhattan at the bottom of my site.

Radio Club

2010-04-29T22:24:00.003-04:00

Hi Guys!

So it's a thursday night here at good ol' Capital University and where am I you might ask?

Sitting in the radio studio and the basement of Huber Spielman with one of my sisters and best friends Kaitlin and usually we're stuck with the same stream of music that is handed to us.....

BUT tonight one of the guys in the studio had 2 burned cd's with some old school 90's music!

I'm talking boy bands, will smith (before he was a big shot actor), third eye blind, vertical herizon, even some spice girls. Now why a college man has these songs on a cd is a beyond me but I'm enjoying it. I would say that we all are and it's a good flashback period since this is our last show!

I even busted out some dance moves to some sugar ray and the spice girls so it's a shame you all aren't here hanging out in the studio with us because it's a blast.

Almost done crusaders so keep on keepin on! :)

Kristen.

Aftermath!

2010-04-29T22:18:00.002-04:00

So the Phi Psi Blacklight Formal in the Mezz was this past Friday night!

Having being in attendance, I can say that I had a good time! They had 2 different Dj's that spun for awhile and took requests which I enjoyed a lot! :)

Me and some of my sisters went out and had a good time with dancing and food!

The brothers of Phi Kappa Psi are hoping to make the blacklight party an annual event so look out for it again next year! :)

FINAL Season

2010-04-27T22:33:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!

The final season opener of The Hills was not very entertaining. I am disappointed and frankly Hedi looks plastic. She looked so much better in the previous seasons. I feel like Hedi is about to fall apart and her mom made some cruel jokes about blending her food.

The girls need to leave Kristen alone. If she wants to stay out til 8 a.m. let her! She's a big girl even if I'm not a fan.

Go to MTV.com to see the show and judge for yourself =)

Whitney

New Season

2010-04-26T23:10:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone!

The new season opener to One Tree Hill leaves me with quite a few worries for this season. Haley had a pregnancy scare! After her mother dying I'm not sure whether she wants another child. Nathan sure does but Haley may need some time on the subject.

Clay is having issues with his dead wife's "twin." I must say I am hoping for something to happen there. The show needs a little bit more drama with Clay's character in my opinion. Great way to keep viewers watching =)

Julian needs to stay away from the sex tape movie star. Better yet lets just write her off more together. Anyone agree? She's going to ruin Brooke and Julian's life together if she stays.

Next episode we'll see!

Whitney

Kendra on Sundays

2010-04-26T22:56:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone! I hope you're more into reality shows then I am.

Kendra was on E April 25th looking to furnish her new home. It's nice to be able to sit back and watch celebrities acting "normal." Kendra does not filter her mouth and what I mean by that is her quote "I have to poop first." Not every celebrity would be announcing this on television the whole world watches. What's even more crazy is Kendra getting down and dirty with her husband, Hank, while in the furniture store. CRAZY! I suggest watching more crazy episodes on E to catch a little bit of blonde humor.

Looking forward to next weeks episode =)

Whitney

Phi Psi Spring Fling/Blacklight Party

2010-04-21T12:59:00.002-04:00

Hey Guys and Girls! Me Again!

So this Friday Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity is putting on a Spring Fling and Blacklight Party in the Mezz! It starts at 9 pm and goes til 1 a.m. so you and friends can come out and enjoy a good time. There will be 2 DJ's food and prizes awarded for the best spring costume.

Tickets are $2 right now in the P.O. Lobby and $3 at the door!
So go get your tickets now and have an awesome time Friday night with the brothers of Phi Kappa Psi!

On that note! The end is even closer now that it was last time! I'm even more in rush with presentations and papers but I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel and then we'll be out of here!

I'm very excited to move into my new house in Bexley at the beginning of June with some of my friends, it's going to be awesome! I hope everyone got a good housing lottery number for this evening and they all get the rooms they hoped for! I have yet to participate in the lottery process and am not sad at all! :)

Keep up the good work guys! It's almost summer!

Until next time,
Kristen! :)

School!

2010-04-07T16:41:00.002-04:00

Hey there boys and girls! So the end of the year is coming closer and I'm super excited! I really hope you guys are feeling the same.

And even though the year is almost over, as in a month left basically, I have SO much left to do!

So many speeches left to write, papers to do, and tests to study for. It's a lot to handle right now. Basically what I've been hearing from everyone, they're all feeling the same.

It's going to be an interesting month to see if I can handle it and if all my friends can too.

But I wish all of you the best of luck in your school and anything else life throws at you!

Til next time!

Kristen :)

"The Last Song" Review

2010-04-06T17:00:00.003-04:00

My review of the movie "The Last Song" is to take a lot of tissues. Based on the trailer you would never know the movie had a sad part in it but indeed it does. My mom, sister and I all were crying to the point where we needed tissues to wipe away our tears.

I came into the theater thinking Miley Cyrus was going to be a horrible actress but she did a very good job playing the role she was given.

Overall, I give the movie an A.

I recommend everyone see this movie that needs a good cry and that is into a good sappy love story with a few twists.

"The Last Song"

2010-03-29T19:12:00.003-04:00

Hi my name is Sara Pruett. I am a junior Communication major, Radio/TV minor here at Capital. This is my first blog so I hope you enjoy!

I am really excited to see the new movie "The Last Song" that premiers Wednesday March 31st. According to the Touchtone Pictures website "The Last Song" is, "Based on best-selling novelist Nicholis Sparks' ('A Walk to Remember', "The Notebook") latest novel, Last Song is set in a small Southern beach town where an estranged father (Greg Kinnear) gets the chance to spend the summer with his reluctant teenage daughter (Miley Cyrus), who'd rather be home in New York. He tries to reconnect with her through the only thing they have in common-music-in a story of family, friendship, secrets and salvation, along with first loves and second chances. The film is directed by Julie Anne Robinson from a screenplay by Sparks & Jeff Van Wie."

If you want to watch the trailer visit: http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=joCwQ2pjfjw

Do not worry I will give you my full review of the movie on Wednesday! Feel free to tell me what you thought as well.

Until my next post, I hope everyone has a great week and a great Easter!!!

March Madness

2010-03-17T16:41:00.007-04:00

It's that time of year again, let the Madness begin! March Madness is here and the brackets are out!

I wanted to create a blog with my inside bracketology knowledge. I will answer anything and everything you need to know about this years tournament, teams, and players so get out your brackets and lets begin!

My Regional Rankings (Toughest to Easiest)

1. Midwest

The Midwest region in my opinion is by far the hardest region in the tournament. The overall No.1 seed Kansas highlights the group, but the road for the best regular season team in the nation isn't so easy. Also in the Midwest region is Big Ten Tournament Champion Ohio State, Big Ten co-champion Michigan State, ACC co-champion Maryland, and Big East tournament finalist Georgetown. Other teams that can also make runs are Tennessee, Oklahoma State, and Georgia Tech. I would love for the Buckeyes to make the final four, but my gut is telling me to go with Kansas because of the amount of depth the Jayhawks have. Like I said this region is a nightmare!

2. East

The East region is packed full of solid basketball teams with many rising star players. Freshman sensation John Wall hopes to lead Kentucky to Indianapolis for the Final Four but could be knocked off. West Virginia is one team I believe is capable of knocking Kentucky off, the Mountaineers just won their first ever Big East tournament championship and have won 8 of their last 9 games. Other teams that could knock one of the top 2 seeds off are, the Mountain West champs New Mexico, the 5th seeded Temple Owls, or the Texas Longhorns who match up well against both teams. I think Kentucky and West Virginia will surpass less talented foes and meet in Syracuse for the regional final.

3. West

After running through the West region I noticed Syracuse if healthy may have an easy road to the Final Four. Kansas State received the No. 2 seed in the West but didn't get so lucky, after the first round they play the winner of BYU/Florida. If the Wildcats win they will then duel it out with the Panthers from Pittsburgh if all works out. Several teams from this region could make runs that will all eventually lead to the orangeman. Look for teams like Florida or Minnesota to pull of early upsets!

4. South

No offense to Duke fans, but seriously the south region is a joke! This is the weakest of the four regions simply because the top seeds in the South region have faded away at the end of the year. The No.2 seed Villanova is a solid team with a good backcourt but has ended the year 6-6, coming off a first game exit in the Big East tournament. Another team that is struggling as of late is the No.4 seed Purdue, without Robbie Hummel I don't think much of the boilermakers and could possibly smell a first round upset in the mix. Two teams that I think could make some noise are No.6 Notre Dame and No.3 Baylor. With Harangody healthy and other starters stepping up, the Irish could get lucky in March. Since Duke hasn't made it past the sweet sixteen since 2004, I believe several teams could come out of the South region.

My Final Four:

Midwest- Kansas
West-Syracuse
East-Kentucky
South-Villanova

My National Championship:

Kansas vs Kentucky

My National Champion:

Rock, chalk, Jayhawk! Kansas wins the 2010 National Championship

Make sure you fill out your bracket in time as the games begin Thursday 3/18 at 12:20pm!

Goodluck!

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

Valentines Day

2010-02-22T00:58:00.003-05:00

Hey Guys!

So I'm back! Don't let the title fool you; I didn't suddenly get the urge to write about the holiday that usually ends with me claiming my independence. This blog is about the movie, "Valentines Day".

The movie revolves around 10 different characters all spending their holiday in different ways. One man proposes to his girlfriend, one juggles his girlfriend and his wife, the women seem to enjoy my version of the holiday, having an anti-valentines day party and celebrating being alone. The movie pans out in many different ways and there are several different twists that make it interesting.

Before I had actually seen it myself I heard several mixed reviews ranging from "I loved it!" to "It was such a dumb movie." Many people seemed to feel that there were way too many characters and too many story lines. This movie explored all different aspects of love. I saw young love, old love, new love, family love, and confusing love. If any of you have ever seen "He's Just Not That Into You" this movie is very similar to that, not just in that some of its characters are the same. There may be many different story lines, but in the end they all connect in different ways. For those twilight fans out there, Taylor Lautner has a cameo, sadly not shirtless.

This movie was cute, funny, and lighthearted. So to make a long story short, because I could tell you the whole plot here, if you aren't into chick flicks you probably won't enjoy it too well. But if you can put up with a few guys from the cast of Grey's Anatomy and some beautiful young actresses with a comedic edge then you'll enjoy this movie.

Well, that was my weekend guys, one more week til Break! I'm pulling for you!

Until next time,

Kristen. :)

Giving Back Smiles Radio

2010-02-21T20:47:00.002-05:00

So my buddy Dave Norris apparently started a talk radio station recently and I just found out about it. I thought I would use this blog to let some more people know about it.

I just finished listening to the station's newest session and really dig it. I wouldn't necessarily call it all talk radio. I mean there's a lot of talking but they had a band in the studio in this session and played some tunes. If you live in Columbus (which you probably do because I'm guessing only Capital students know about this website), then you should check out the band Hurt People Hurt People.

So, if anyone wants to check out a locally run internet radio station, do so here. Its pretty much just some dudes talking about a bunch of random stuff (much like all talk radio stations) except they have some good tunes on there and I know the founder of this thing and he is a really cool and talented dude. Help out a local station and check this radio station out. Become their fans on facebook, twitter, myspace...whatever. Go to the website and subscribe to the stations so you can find out whenever they do a new show. I dig it, I hope some other people do too. Show some support for the local guys.

More Snow

2010-02-09T12:30:00.002-05:00

Another big snowstorm hits Central Ohio, leaving a think blanket of fresh powder on Capital's campus.

School administrators say they're closing the campus at 2pm today.

What are you doing with the extra time? Any big snowball fights? Send us your comments.

Junius - The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist

2010-02-08T22:08:00.001-05:00

BAND: Junius - Myspace

ALBUM: The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist (2009)

LABEL: The Mylene Sheath

RATING: 9/10

FAVORITE TRACK: A Dramatist Plays Catastrophist

SIMILAR: Constants, The Cancer Conspiracy, City Of Ships, Immanu El

REVIEWER: Zach Roesch

I first heard this band a few years back. After the first listen, I knew I would be a fan for a long time. Junius combines and puts an interesting spin on several genres of music. The fact is, if you want to hear something completely new and unique, you’ve come to the right place.

Junius has had a unique musical career to match their distinctive style. After forming in 2004, the band really never had a full-length album. They released a couple EP’s and that was about it. Listeners, I’m sure, were waiting a long time for this album. Even though the album was written in 2006, an almost 4 year recording process caused the release of The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist to be delayed heavily.

In short, this album is a masterpiece. It is musically stunning and, thematically, extremely interesting. With everything based on Immanuel Velikovsky’s beliefs, the lyrics do not disappoint. The lyrical content and music are both aided by frontman, Joseph Martinez’s beautifully droning voice. With tracks that range from lush soundscapes to powerfully crushing post-rock, this album has something for everyone.

Bottom Line: An album that takes four years to release had better be a great one. Junius definitely did not disappoint with this one. After only hearing a couple EP’s by the band, listeners like me have been waiting for a real CD for a long time and the wait was well worth it. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another four years for the next one.

Pelican - What We All Come To Need

2010-02-01T16:47:00.003-05:00

BAND: Pelican - Myspace
ALBUM: What We All Come To Need (2009)
LABEL: Southern Lord Records
RATING: 9/10
FAVORITE TRACK: The Creeper
SIMILAR: Isis, Russian Circles, Rosetta, Baroness
REVIEWER: Zach Roesch

Hailing from a city where most bands are ahead of the musical curve, Chicago natives, Pelican, do not disappoint. There was once a time in metal and rock where a vocalist was the primary aspect of a band. Pelican disregarded that notion a long time ago and their unique brand of instrumental sludgy rock has laid the foundation for many bands to come.

After a comparatively disappointing release (City of Echoes), Pelican has returned after switching labels and they did so with style. What We All Come To Need is a much sought after step in the right direction. This record doesn’t focus too much on the need to be post-rock and unique. They return to a musical style more centered on catchy, heavy, riffing. The enticing guitar melodies invite the listener and keep them coming back for more.

Bottom Line: There is really not all that much that I can say needs to change on this record. It is an amazing musical work that steps back into the bands early days. Returning to a style of record like Australasia was a great idea in this listener’s mind. Keep the awesome riffs coming.

Track Listing:
01. Glimmer
02. The Creeper
03. Ephemeral
04. Specks of Light
05. Strung up from the Sky
06. An Inch Above Sand
07. What We All Come to Need
08. Final Breath

Struck By Lightning - Serpents

2010-01-25T17:26:00.002-05:00

BAND: Stuck By Lightning - Myspace
ALBUM: Serpents (2009)
LABEL: Translation Loss Records
RATING: 8/10
FAVORITE TRACK: Becoming Earth
SIMILAR: Mastodon, High On Fire, Disfear
REVIEWER: Zach Roesch

Columbus natives, Struck by Lightning, come with no hidden agendas or strings attached. If you want fast and heavy music, you’ve come to the right place. Drawing influence from early Mastodon and High on Fire, the band’s musical chops are not beating a new path. However, they are certainly tearing that path to shreds. With a mix of sludgy and intelligent guitar riffing, their punk infused anthems make listeners want to sing along.

The debut album is an amazing start; something not many bands can say. This is most likely due to singer/guitarist Greg Lahm’s presence. As a previous member of fellow Translation Loss band, Mouth of the Architect, musical success is nothing new. It is also obvious where Struck by Lightning got their sludgy side; seeing as Mouth of the Architect is the new wave of slowed down metal.

The only down-side to this amazing album is its lack of depth. Pretty much all of the tracks give the same feel. They only venture into new fields in a couple tracks (Becoming Earth/Collection of Teeth). Everything else is fairly similar. If Struck by Lightning could somehow find a way to keep their full-force metal driving and change things up every now and then, they would accomplish a perfect 10.

Bottom Line: Struck by Lightning have showed what they are made of. Their debut album “Serpents” is a huge first step. The album drives with its d-beat anthems and sludgy choruses. However, if they could find a way to make things more interesting, they will strike musical gold.

Track Listing:
01. Silent and Still
02. Nothing Sacred
03. The Watchful Eye
04. Supercell
05. Widowmaker
06. Tightening the Noose
07. Becoming Earth
08. Bottomless Pit
09. Collection of Teeth
10. False Hope
11. The Herd

Back To School!

2010-01-20T00:30:00.002-05:00

Hey Capital, how's it going? Well I hope good. So it's the second week of school and I'm wondering if the rest of you out there are busy or stressed out yet. Are you? good because I am. While it's very exciting to be back at school with all my sisters and friends it's not very nice to be this stressed out already. :(

Formal Recruitment officially starts this week and I couldn't be more excited for it! My big isn't in the sorority currently and seeing as she is Sr. Rush, Kaitlin who is Jr. Rush has stepped up. I offered to help her out and this explains my busy life. It's unfortunate to be this busy but it's also really cool to be on the other side of things this year for recruitment.

In addition to rush, classes are already starting to get ridiculous as well. Seriously, is it really that necessary to learn five different ways to tally up votes for an election result. I personally don't plan on going into a field that requires that. But nonetheless, there I sit in Batelle every tuesday and thursday hitting myself in the head with a pen.

Even though I am extremely busy and I'm sure lots of you are feeling that second semester pressure to either continue to do well or to bring up your GPA, I hope that you're doing well or at least doing your best. If you have free time or any interest at all you should check out Greek Life Kickoff Night this wednesday night starting at seven pm in schneider lounge. Or if you can't make it out pickup a registration sheet in front of the Student Activities Office and turn it in by thursday at 10 am. Thanks Capital, Enjoy your week!

New Record 3

2009-11-30T17:05:00.003-05:00

Russian Circles- Geneva

Other Albums by this Artist: Enter, Station

Similar Artists: If These Trees Could Talk (Ohio), City of Ships, Tera Melos, Do Make Say Think, This Will Destroy You.

Assassin's Creed 2

2009-11-30T17:00:00.002-05:00

So I started my long thanksgiving break last Monday because I had no classes on Tuesday. So began the long journey into video game heaven. I picked up a copy of Assassin's Creed 2 and Modern Warfare 2 last week. to give you a peek into my personal life, yes I beat both of them in one week.

Assassin's Creed 2 is a direct sequel to the 2007 game Assassin's Creed 1 (as it now must be known.) You start the game again as unlucky bartender and all around nice guy Desmond Miles. Desmond is, as before, an unwitting pawn in the corporation Abstergo's plan to find all of the old relics of the world. Of course this is the Assassin's Creed universe so there is always a dual story.

This time around Desmond has to relive his ancestor Ezio Auditore's memories. Desmond does this in order to learn to be an Assassin in his own life because Ezio is not an assassin when the game starts. ezio is forced to become and assassin after he, an his family, are betrayed and his father and two brothers are murdered by the Templar order. The only problem I had with the story is that, besides the begining where there is a lot of expostition about Ezio taking revenge and what he plans to so next, the plot is very loosely strung together. It is very hard to follow. Also the large amount of italian names threw it off. I don't think the developer should apologize for the italian names, but I lost trak after the first few names that were spouted off. the story is good though. It is extremley well written and every character feels unique in their own right and you get to see historical characters and places in full 'Motion capture' technology.

As with the first game, there are two main parts to the game. There is the free running parkour exploration part of the game. Then there is the assassination/combat portion. The whole game has gotten a revamp in the terms of design. There are side quests now that actually branch off from the main story. There are also more ways to navigate the environment now that you pick up along the way. The combat has also had a small revamp. You now actually have a reason to fight with your fists this time around. I have to say that the disarm/counter kills were the best part of the combat. also you can fight with the hidden blade this time as well instead of just using it for assassinations. you can buy weapons and armor as well and choose the weapons that you want to use. There are also upgrades to the hidden blade that you recieve that include getting a second blade (get it? Assassin's Creed 2.) as well as using poision (my personal favortie) and also a gun. Going back to the side quests for a brief second. Yes, the assassination's are the most fun. be careful though. you'll be going about each one differently.

The biggest revamp this time around is of course the mission structure. You won't be doing the same three things for every assassination this time around. The mission structure is more story based this time around and you won't know what to expect next when it comes to the missions. you'll be taking out guards that are watching positions, you'll cause hell in the street with street brawls to clear the street, and rescue VIPs just to name a few. You also have a home base of operation that actually works for you this time and there is reason to actually go back to your villa. If you pour money into the right buildings at the right times, then you'll have more money than you'll know what to do with.

Closing Comments: So its been two years since the first Assassin's Creed and the series is better for it. Assassin's Creed 2 is better in every way from its predecessor. If you love stealth kills, jumping from high places, and running on roof tops, then get Assassin's Creed 2.

Final Verdict: Must Own

New Record 2

2009-11-30T16:58:00.003-05:00

Baroness-Blue Album

Other Albums by this artist: Red Album

Similar Artists: Converge, Mastodon, Shrinebuilder, Torche

New Record

2009-11-30T16:45:00.006-05:00

Pelican-What we have come to need

Other Albums by this Artist: Australasia, Fire in our Throats will beckon the thaw, City of Echoes

Similar Artists: Isis, Baroness, Russian Circles, Jesu

Looney's Tunes

2009-11-30T16:31:00.008-05:00

Heavy Stuff:
The Great Misdirect - Between the Buried and Me
This album gets better with every listen. Each song has its own individual kind of feel to it. Starting with the pretty mellow Mirrors, then moving through all sorts of crazy goodness from Obfuscation and Disease, Injury, Madness. Then they move into the evil carnival beginning of Fossil Genera: A Feed From Cloud Mountain, a song that morphs into the progressive heaviness that Between the Buried and Me does so well. Then comes the great misdirect of The Great Misdirect: the acoustic ballad Desert of Song. This moves into the epic Swim to the Moon which really defines the album. Swim to the Moon is itself enough to make the whole album worth buying. It has all the great characteristics of an epic BTBAM creation. It's got the intricate scale work with a double-guitar approach that I find something new that I like about every time I listen to it. With the solo trade-offs, great bass backing, keyboards, intricate drumwork, and of course the epic breakdowny section, Swim to the Moon deserves the Prog-Song of the Year Award.

I think its pretty apparent, but just to be clear, overall, The Great Misdirect is another triumph from Between the Buried and Me, one of the most influential metal bands of the last 10 years.

Recommend? MOST DEFINITELY

Not So Heavy Stuff:
Phish - Joy
Phish is back in action, finally. Their new album Joy has all the makings of a great feel-good folk, blues, jam album. They definitely have not lost their touch for their style.

Recommend? YES, if you like Phish

Modest Mouse - No One's First and You're Next
Modest Mouse's new album is very Modest Mouse-like. After a few listens through, I'm not too impressed. Modest Mouse definitely sticks to their style with this new album, venturing not at all from their safe zone. Although a couple songs are worth listening to for some new type of Modest Mouse sound (The Whale Song, King Rat) it seems like they filled the majority of this album with fluff.

Overall: Worth listening to, not worth buying.

Dragon Age: Origins

2009-11-16T16:59:00.006-05:00

So its come to my attention that there is a new fad that is sweeping the nation. This fad is apparently called "gaming." Now I've had the opportunity to play many new games over the past few months. The one I am diving the deepest into right now is a new game from famed developer Bioware. The game is called "Dragon age: Origins." Its a good ol' fashion fantasy RPG complete with creepy British accents and lustful milk maids. I have had the opportunity to play both console version and PC version and I can whole heartidly say, as most will, that if you want this game, and you do, you need to get this game on the PC. The control work much better and combat is much simpler on the PC than on the console. As far as story goes, its your standard Old Age, fantasy RPG. There's an evil force that wants to destroy the world and you are apart of a slightly secret order of warriors and mages that have the ability and the will to take on this evil. The plot does a great job of pulling you in at the beggining but there is a lack of exposition towards the middle. It really takes a lot of the player to stay engaged. Luckily though Bioware thought ahead and that's why the combat it is so viceral and fun. For warriors there are an array of weapons to choose from such as axes, swords, maces, bows, crowbars, puppy dogs, kittens and carrots (but seriously there are a lot of weapons). For rouges combat is much less simple. They don't stand up well in a fight so you need to plan ahead. Mages are even less effective than rouges in straight up combat. Bring a healing potion. Character progression is, of course, another thing done sublimly in Dragon Age. There are the three main calsses to choose from, all of which have 4 unlockable specializations. Each class specialization feels different from the next and each has a well fleshed out way of recieving learning each one. Some seem a little easier to attain than others, such as becoming a bard by asking a party member while Champion you have to beat an entire segment of the game, but this doesn't detract from the reward you feel from gaining each one and unleasing some truly kick ass special moves on some baddies.

Closing Comments: Bioware is known for making games that have expansive worlds, deep plot, and interesting characters and with Dragon Age: Origins the developers haven't dissappointed. They have made a totally unique fantasy world with its own history and its own problems. Dragon Age: Origins is a shinning example of what can come when a developer takes the time to make the experience for the player worth their money.

Final: MUST OWN

No Break for Cap Sports Teams

2009-10-18T16:58:00.004-04:00

While most Capital students enjoyed a long weekend, Crusader athletic teams were busy on the court, the pitch, and the gridiron.

The Capital football team beat John Carroll University 28-20 in an OAC contest at Bernlohr Stadium Saturday. The Crusaders took the lead early, but had to fight off several comeback attemps from the Blue Streaks. Lots of highlights on the CapVision Sports page.

Capital is now 5-1 (4-1 OAC) and heads to Westerville for a big showdown with arch-rival Otterbein this Saturday. Cap is ranked #16 in the nation, while Otterbein is #13.

In Volleyball action, the Crusaders went toe-to-toe with nationally ranked Heidelberg, losing a close match in three sets (23-25, 22-25, 23-25). We also have highlights of this match on the Sports page.

Both the men's and women's soccer teams were also in action. The women blew past Marietta 4-1, while the men beat also beat Marietta 3-0. In the men's game, senior Steven McCarthy became the top offensive player in Ohio Athletic Conference men’s soccer history, notching a goal and an assist in the victory.

The Capital men's and women's cross country teams finished strong at the Wilmington Fall Invitational, with the men placing 16th and the women finishing 13th out of 25 squads. Check the Capital Athletics Department page for full results.

Fall Semester Break Get here ASAP

2009-10-14T18:17:00.003-04:00

Midterms, papers, cold weather. LAME, Things are starting to get a little crazy at this point in time during the semester, but the well-anticipated break is just around the corner. Although I'd love to drive back to Pittsburgh to see some family and friends I'll be here in Columbus catching up on school work, audio mixes, and fraternity business. It's all good though, the best advice I can give is to stay busy so that apathy and procrastination are less likely to consume you, even though chances are they probably already have. Check back for updates on what's happening in Columbus if you're unable to go home over break!

-Dan

Looney's Tunes

2009-10-12T17:10:00.003-04:00

Some albums I've been checking out lately:

Horse the Band: Desperate Living (new album)- nintendocore
Irepress: Sol. Eye. Sea. I. (latest album) - madness
Converge: Axe to Fall (new album) - heavyness
Grails - space jams
Jesu: Opiate Sun (new album) - sludge fun

For samples, Click on any band name to link to their MySpace.

Tell me what you think.

If Anybody Wants To Talk NFL....

2009-10-05T17:03:00.004-04:00

This is an invite to check out my personal blog which is essentially my musings on all-things NFL (and I guess, football in general) present and past. Just click on my profile, look under "My Blogs" and click on "TheDood's Super-Duper Blog of NFL Footballness".

NEW BRAND NEW

2009-10-05T16:19:00.007-04:00

Brand New does it again! With their new album Daisy, Brand New delves deeper into their musical prowess. Compared to their teeny-bopper pop-punk debut Your Favorite Weapon, Daisy is weird, maybe even "heavy" to some...but more precisely: mature. Daisy seems like a fitting next step after their last release The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Songs like "Vices" and "At the Bottom" teetering on the edge of screamo, moving into slower more melodic tunes like "You Stole" and "Bed" make Daisy a roller coaster of music that somehow keeps its catchiness (in a good way), but doesn't get wore out.

CHECK'EM OUT HERE Then post a comment and tell us what You think!

Music Technology

2009-09-21T16:47:00.012-04:00

Look for some new videos and tutorials from the music tech department coming soon.

New videos on CapVision

2009-09-21T14:00:00.004-04:00

Just added highlights from Capital's football win over Heidelberg on Saturday. Check our Sports page http://capvision.capital.edu/sports.html

There's also a new virtual tour of the Music Technology program at Capital. It's on our home page. The video was directed by Pete O'Hare, a third-year student majoring in Music Technology. It looks great. Pete did a fantastic job shooting and editing the video!