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The 52nd Annual Shammy Awards

By Jehad Choate
Contributing Writer

When musicians think of a Grammy, they think of the highest and oldest honor available in their career. I’m a musician, and I knew nothing of the Grammy Awards growing up because I was more entertained by the MTV Video Music Awards, and was never as interested in a bunch of stuffy professionals in coats and ties, spreading religious propaganda and shooting out 27 names in every thank-you speech. If I wanted that, I would have stayed awake during my high school graduation ceremony. Since MTV stopped playing music and started promoting fist-pumping, and CBS has finally gotten to their earring-wearing, convertible-driving mid-life crisis enough to play contemporary acts in scandalous clothing, I would like to thank the academy, God, my wife, those producers in the corner, and the actual writers of this album for the great honor in recapping the Grammys, because let’s face it, what else is on TV these days that doesn’t make you want to pull your lip over your head and swallow?

The Grammy’s officially state that their awards are the “only peer-presented award to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency, and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position.” Ironically, these nominees are the same people with the highest grossing album sales and positions in charts. Now I would be fine and dandy with that information, if their credo didn’t include the criterion technical proficiency, and overall excellence. Because of those two not-so-ambiguous terms, I can completely understand why I never watched the Grammy’s before, because it doesn’t honor music of merit as much as it honors the press and egos of artists.

The performances were entertaining, kicking off with Lady Gaga. I am completely fine with admitting I love her. Most coverage completely overshadowed the meaning behind her entire act with the sudden musical cameo appearance of Elton John. I was impressed by her entire show, how she portrayed herself as a monster created by all the people in direct responsibility over her fame. She performed “Poker face” in a revealing, alien-like suit, and then was immediately thrown into some kind of machine, where the MC said she had to leave because she was a monster and she turns everyone who likes her into monsters. the music paused and then the doors of the machine opened to reveal a dirty and disheveled Lady Gaga and Elton John playing on a double-faced piano with arms all over it, where they sang a medley of both his and her music.

For those who retained any sort of metaphorical value in what they saw, it was a scoffing laugh towards the music industry, and far more exciting than the Green Day-meets-Broadway act. All we need now is Avenged Sevenfold singing songs off Rent, and rock, as we know it, can die along with anything else of merit passed down by our predecessors.

Speaking of death—there was yet another tribute to Michael Jackson (as if we didn’t get enough of it from his funeral and movie), followed by a not-so-surprising acceptance of his lifetime achievement award from his kids. I thought I was having an acid flashback when I watched the whole performance because I was not warned about the necessary 3-D glasses. Congratulations Mikey, your kids might not really be of your conception, but the idea of Captain Eo will live on, as your great music is linked with irrelevant 3-D graphics and odd shots of children sleeping in places they shouldn’t (in this case, a forest). Beyonce sang about wanting to be a boy and briefly covered “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morrisette, because man-hating karaoke and penis envy apparently go hand in hand. Pink performed too, but no body cared until she got naked and soaked, as usual.

With all the visual confetti flying through the air, it’s easy to forget that this show is about…um…what is it about again? Certainly not the merits of good music. I had to sit down and listen to all the ‘Album of the Year’ nominees just so I could know where we stand in pop culture; and much like watching all three Lord of the Rings movies, I can’t get back the time I wasted. The Black-Eyed Peas were up for best album, entitled The E.N.D., a title I find suiting if it refers to the use of natural vocals in a production. I thought musicians were supposed to progress with time, but it seems the Peas get worse with every album they’ve put out since Elephunk. Their lyrics are meaningless, their beats are conventionally cookie-cutter, and now with their sudden fascination with the Auto-tune plug-in, they are just pulling off a glorified version of what any amateur musician can do with a few hundred bucks. Dave Matthews Band was also up for best album, but that was just a sympathy screw from the academy, since everyone knows the worst part about Dave Matthews Band is, well, Dave.

That left Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift. Now, after sitting down and listening to these three artists, I could see why Beyonce’s I am…Sasha Fierce album was considered: the hooks are great, the beats are solid, the words have shape to them, and her voice, although pretentious most of the time, is still powerful. Lady Gaga’s Fame had a similar vibe, and I kind of wanted her to win because her music is more infectious, even if you’re not a fan. But the winner of ‘Album of the Year’ went to Taylor Swift’s Fearless. I particularly enjoyed Taylor’s reaction to all her winnings; I would be shocked too if I won all those awards and knew my music sucked so bad. The entire Fearless album sounds like a banal Avril Lavigne singing on top of leftover Faith Hill tracks. Every song has a droning power ballad vibe devoid of any real dynamic contrast, perfect for your everyday Nashville reject soundtrack behind a chick flick starring Ashton Kutcher. Fearless. Her music is only fearless because it’s naïve and inexperienced.

I learned something while heavily critiquing the Grammys though. I learned that I do have the professional ability to put my particular tastes aside and evaluate contemporary music for what it is, even if it’s mostly crap. I also learned that I am still a musician, and if ever the opportunity came up where I could obtain a Grammy, I’ll take it, not because it’s an honor, but because I could probably pawn it to pay off my insane amount of music school loans. I’m going to go watch the newest episode of Jersey Shore. Congratulations Grammys, you’ve officially encouraged me to change my passion to accounting.

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Re-Up, Sex!, and DJ Tava Luv Host & Promote Halloween Bash

By Owen Ross
Contributing Writer

Let me start out by saying that we have put together an awesome event for this Friday, October 30. Read the full story

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Why are you doing a career in music, when you could be making money with a real job?

By Jehad Choate
Contributing Writer

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Jehad is a second semester guitar principal.

How many of you made your life decision as an artist with no support? How many of you had to scrap every cent of milk money you had as a kid to buy your first guitar? How many of you had a girlfriend who was fed up with your late night gigs, or a mother who constantly thought you were on drugs (even on days when you weren’t) and ruining your life with art? I’ve been there before. The life of a true artist is walked shoeless on rough terrain. No matter how much you want to protect yourself from getting injured your constantly baring your self to critique, hoping for a knowing glance or a tapping toe for assurance. Read the full story

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Healthcare Abyss for Berklee Graduates

stethoscope_binaural_Rappaport_Sprague_Hewlett_Packard_1207By Rebecca Perkins
Contributing Writer

When you graduate from Berklee, how are you going to get health insurance? This is a question I have asked myself since I started school here 6 semesters ago. I had been out of college for nearly 2 years and had been living without medical insurance, paying for prescriptions out of pocket, and relying on extended refills to avoid doctor visits. I had been afraid to go snowboarding with my girlfriend’s family in Australia because I knew if I were injured it could ruin my financial future. In fact, I thought about it every time I got in my car or rode my bike to the store.

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Why Rep. Joe Wilson is Wrong, and Why it Doesn’t Matter

Yet again, our media and politicians have fixated on a meaningless sound-bite as a way of marginalizing health-care as an important debate in this country. Two words, shouted by Republican Rep. Joe Wilson at President Obama during a speech to a joint session of congress, have become a touchstone in the national fight over healthcare: “You lie.” The outburst was sparked by Obama’s affirmation that his reforms would not apply to illegal immigrants. Wilson, who appeared to disagree with this, voiced his opinion and has taken over the news cycle for the past week. First he apologized to Obama and his chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel, and then he refused to apologize on the house floor, after which he was officially “disapproved of” in a resolution voted on by the House.

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Back Bay Top 10: Ten Essential Eateries, Stores, and Random Places You Need to Know in Order to Survive

By Ann Driscoll

Associate Editor

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1. Best Convenience Store: Symphony Mart Hemenway/Boylston. 

What sets Symphony Mart apart from the rest is the uniformly friendly staff, the cleanliness, the absence of bums, and the quick service. Symphony Mart also goes beyond most convenience stores in providing a selection of essential groceries, including lunchmeat, eggs, cheese, ice cream, toiletries, and frozen dinners. Between Trader Joe’s and Symphony Mart, you’ll never have to make the trek to Shaw’s.

100_02632. Best Cheap Asian Food: Pad Thai Boylston.

You can’t beat $7.25 for a huge noodle dish, from chicken curry to lo mein to its namesake dish. Pad Thai has plenty of room for seating, the staff doesn’t make you feel like an alien, and again, the prices are unbeatable. Teriyaki House has sushi, true, but for all other basic Asian food needs, check out Pad Thai, and steer very very clear of Nan Ling on Mass Ave. I have heard first-hand accounts of extremely unsanitary behavior.

 

3. Best Indian Lunch Buffet: Bombay Cafe Mass Ave.

Bombay Café is a neighborhood classic, providing an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet from 12 to 5 for just $7. The chicken curry, plentiful nan and rice, not to mention the charm of the two gentlemen who run the place, make this an essential eatery.

4. Best Dessert:The Otherside Mass Ave/Newbury.

The atmosphere of the Otherside may be too stiflingly hipsterish for some, what with the unreliable service (sometimes great, sometimes awful, always surly), loud music, and all the ironic facial hair plastered on the faces of the wait staff. But their desserts are unquestionably and universally regarded as delicious. From their pecan pie to their peanut butter blast, the affordably priced and scrumptious desserts of the Otherside are truly hip. 

5. Best Bar: Bukowski’s

Too many of the bars along Boylston are populated by frat boys, nascent yuppies, and bleached-blonde tanorexics. Likewise, TC’s, though conveniently located right across from the 150 building, is straight up creepy, featuring unsavory characters that seem to have walked off the set of a David Lynch movie. So where does the average, fairly pretentious (though not hipster-identified) 21+ Berklee student go to grab a beer? The answer is Bukowski’s, located near King’s bowling alley. The bar features a lengthy draft beer selection, from imported beers to domestic to local, a fun wheel you spin for a random beer, a low-key environment, and most importantly: an enormous $1 hamburger, grilled and prepared fresh on a buttery roll.

6. Best Sushi: Shino aka: Snappy Sushi Newbury St.

Many Newbury eateries are upsettingly overpriced. I can barely set foot on the street without feeling pangs of class envy that ignite a whole host of existential questions, including: Who am I? Why am I at music school, not law or business school? Why will I never be as wantonly rich as that woman with the fur coat shopping at Rugby? Is a beet salad really worth $17? (Stephanie’s). Thankfully, some places fall through the cracks. Shino, located near Dartmouth, is delicious and inexpensively priced—even cheaper than Teriyaki House for their basic rolls. The quality of the sushi and rice is consistently top-notch, and they provide both high-sodium and low-sodium soy sauce. Just make sure the person you’re going with you know really well—or want to know really well; the underground, cavernous East Village-style feel is intimate.

7. Best Place to Buy DVD’s: Newbury Comics Newbury St. (Duh).

The most revered is also the best. The breadth and inexpensiveness of their used DVD collection is unparalleled. I can—and have—spent hours perusing the stacks upon their walls. From Criterion Collections to dramas to new releases to the horror section, Newbury Comics is the best and cheapest way to expand your DVD collection.

100_0265 8. Best Local Bookstore: Trident Newbury St.

Trident, a restaurant as well as bookstore, features a large selection of paperbacks and magazines, and the best part is, you can hypothetically sit at the bar and read a book or magazine cover to cover for free. However, why not treat yourself to their coffee drinks, shakes, teas, and bizarre health-conscious juices (wheat-grass shots, yum!) while you’re at it? The menu as well as the bookish atmosphere has made the Trident a celebrity hotspot. Giselle, Tom Brady, David Sedaris, Ben Kweller, Hilary Swank, and Breckin Meyer (aka: the stoner from Clueless) have all chilled at the Trident over the past year. Your best chance of having a mellow night-out as well as running into celebs and being one of the bystanders pictured in an US Weekly paparazzi photo is the Trident.

9. Best Bagel Sandwich: Espresso Royale Newbury St./Symphony. The Tequila Sunrise breakfast sandwich with jalapeno cream cheese is perhaps their most famous bagel sandwich, providing a spicy, delicious jolt to start the day. Their turkey avocado club sandwich is also to-die-for. In fact, as long as you arrive early enough in the day before their bagels run out (before 3 pm) any of the bagel sandwiches provide a hearty, filling meal.

10. Best Sit-Down Pizza: Woody’s Bar and Grill Hemenway St. The topic of best pizza-by-the-slice place is quite contentious. Crazy Dough’s, Little Steve’s, Supreme’s, and Cappy’s all have their champions and their detractors. However, if you want to sit down and enjoy a fresh pizza, as opposed to grabbing a quick bite, Woody’s is the best. Boasting an actual neighborhood vibe and wood-fired pizzas, including a chicken sausage and ricotta pie (my favorite), Woody’s is an essential part of the Back Bay milieu.

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Milk: A Reminder of Progress Achieved and Enduring Injustices

By Ann Driscoll
Associate Editor

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to U.S. political office. He was charismatic and self-deprecating– a born leader who became a vessel into which gay activists poured their frustrations about injustice and their hopes for a better future. Though Milk’s life and political career have been brilliantly explored in the 1984 Oscar-winning documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk, Gus Van Sant’s recent Oscar-nominated biopic, Milk, has brought the leader and, furthermore, the subject of gay rights to a broader audience. The inherently political film serves as a reminder of the progress made since Milk’s assassination in 1978 and the inequality still afflicting the gay and lesbian community.

Gay rights activists have certainly made tremendous gains since 1978. In the past thirty years, gays and lesbians have achieved full marriage rights in Connecticut and Massachusetts, civil unions in Vermont, New Hampshire and New Jersey, and domestic partnership protections in Maine, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii. Hate crime statistics were not collected formally until the early 90s, so it is hard to concretely state that hate crimes since the 1970s have declined. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of fear and danger in which gay men had to wear whistles around their necks to signal violent threats seems to have dissipated, at least in large cities. Mainstream acceptance of homosexuality in pop culture has also increased, and Milk is an embodiment of that.

On the other hand, the startling parallels between the injustice of Milk’s day and the injustice of today remain sobering if not enraging. Archival footage of anti-gay demagogue Anita Bryant serves as a main antagonist in the film, and her contemporary parallels are clear: Focus on the Family’s James Dobson and The Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins. What these two contemporary figures share with Bryant as well as bigoted California Senator John Briggs is an attempt to systematically detach gays of their rights in all spheres of public and private life.

In terms of legal protections, Congress has consistently failed to pass a law banning workplace discrimination against homosexuals. Though President Obama unequivocally promises to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) these unfair laws still exist. Most recently, California citizens passed Proposition 8 this past November, banning gay marriage.

By virtue of the example of Harvey Milk, the film also demonstrates the sad state of gay leadership in America. Out of 535 members, Congress only boasts two openly gay members (Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Massachusetts’ own Rep. Barney Frank). Out entertainers like Melissa Etheridge, not civil servants, are the public voices for gay rights, and it’s a shame.

By inhabiting a specific historical era, Milk enables audiences to compare past and present, which a film about a contemporary subject could not do. By telling the story of an impressive, dynamic leader, Milk reminds us of the achievements possible when leadership is present. Hopefully, the men and women of our generation will fill the void, and achieve full civil rights for gays and lesbians while attaining a fairer society for minorities at large.

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Face It

By Dan Palmere
Contributing Writer

One of my first resolutions this New Year was to delete my Facebook account. There’s a fine line between networking and spending an unhealthy amount of time checking status updates. I think I crossed it last semester. My decision came after a lot of reflection on how I was using my time on this social networking site. True, I had met people through it before my move to Boston—but it became increasingly easier to form “relationships” behind a wall, rather than actually talking face to face.

As a musician and bandleader, developing social skills is an important skill. It’s something I’ve accepted I need to work on. Facebook was not helping in a positive way. So, I took the contact information I needed, birthday dates, and let everyone know how to keep in touch if they wanted.

I’m not having withdrawal symptoms, like everyone claimed I would. It’s more like a breath of fresh air. In terms of business and networking, maybe it’s time to go back to the roots: “Hi, I’m Dan Palmere. Pleasure to meet you.”

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