A Duquesne Student's Blog

Some reviewers tend to hate this album, giving it as low as 2 stars. I disagree completely and think Allmusic.com's review of 4 stars is on target. This is very simply a perfect summer album. Being the side project of Ra Ra Riot and Vampire Weekend members, it has a very freewheeling pop sound. The only thing is, it's dominated by a heavy synthesizer the entire album. It

Image by fotojennyglasgow via Flickr

sounds like the 808's of Kanye's recent album, except that it doesnt have Kanye singing poorly.

Detractors of the album point to the lack of hooks and decent choruses, but I just don't think they expected this kind of music from these guys. Some of the songs, such as "Orange Shirt" and "Carby", sound like they belong to the world of RnB. Very unexpected from a member of Vampire Weekend. While the hooks might not be singable, they are certainly memorable and fun.

I find the album to be very catchy and hypnotic. It feels like the perfect playlist to your summer pool party. This isn't a deep album and was never meant to be. It just feels fun, and you can tell that members Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend) and Wes Miles (Ra Ra Riot) had a great time making it.

One of the strange gems of the album is a remake of Jackson 5's "I Want You Back". Very well timed indeed, but obviously just a coincidence. My favorite song on the album is "So Insane", a very odd song that wil

Image by Paul Mayne via Flickr

l slow down to almost a halt at multiple points, only just pick right back up. It has a great chorus "Oh baby you got me going so insane and I just don't know what's goin down" and airy falcetto vocals that bleed summer fun.

Your first listen to this album may be somewhat difficult. The synth takes time to get used to and the odd beats may trip you up. Listen to the whole thing through and then listen to it again right afterward. It sounds like gold the second time through. This may be my favorite album of the summer.

Okay I found another song that it is pretty cool. It will make you want to "clap your hands" as the band's title suggests. I haven't gotten a chance to hear the full album that came out June 23rd but it seems to be getting good reviews.

15 to 20 by The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Image by andycarvin via Flickr

The band name links to their myspace site where you can listen to more of their songs. I think this band is making some refreshingly unique music, while honoring all different kinds of music at the same time. The songs I've heard from the album all have a different feel to them.

They are currently touring through Europe but most of the members are from Brooklyn or in the New York City metro area. The band has been around for a while but has added new pieces and recorded this debut album. Original members include Daniel Collas and Sean Marquand began as New York DJ's but decided they would rather make their own music. Check these guys out, you won't regret it.

Here is a review from Okayplayer.com

I Heard this song today:



You better like it. The song is by a band who came out of Spain but are now based in England. They play traditional Spanish instuments and also use alot of synth.

Image via Wikipedia

I have been reading this blog about a guy who is running across Europe. This seems like possibly the coolest thing to do if you can run. Since I only run about 25k a week I don't think I am ready. He runs about a marathon a day. It's pretty cool to see how this guy finds a place to stay every night, makes for some great stories. He is running from Amsterdam to Athens and is currently in eastern France.

Check this guy out:
ryanrunseurope.blogspot.com

Image via Wikipedia

I think it is important to recognize how beautiful the Pittsburgh skyline is. I will be fortunate enough to have a 19th floor apartment in Brottier Hall this year facing downtown and am excited to see my view. While I was looking for some pictures of the skyline I came across a pretty amazing photo tour of Pittsburgh.

Make sure to notice the new PNC Three building (in light green glass). It is a nice addition to the skyline and looks great from the shot on the north shore.

I will be sure to post photos of the view from my window when I move into Brottier Hall in August.

Image via Wikipedia

Here's some advice from a 70 year old sailor of the world in the 1860's. It is from the book Hawaii by James A. Michener (pictured right), an epic tale of the people who came to Hawaii over many generations. The advice is being given to the 13 year old boy Whip Hoxworth, embarking on a sailing trip around the world from Hawaii.

Captain Rafer Hoxworth:

1. "Whip, the two greatest things in life are sailing into a strange port and thinking, 'I can make this city mine' and sailing into the harbor of a strange woman and saying, 'I can make this woman mine'... "

2. "Living seventy years is a tremendous adventure. You're thirteen now. You've probably got fifty seven Christmases left. Enjoy each one as if you would never see another, for by God, the day soon comes when you won't. You've got about two and a half thousand more Saturday nights remaining. Get your self a girl and enjoy her. Never take a girl lightly. You may never sleep with another. Or she may be the one you'll always remember as the best of the lot."

3. "Be on top of the wheel as it turns, not dragging along at the bottom."

4. "You'll apreciate clothes more if you have to work for them"

Image via Wikipedia

5. "Now, Whip, if you get into a fight, and you will, remember one thing. Fight to kill. There's no other rule. And when you've got a man fairly licked and on the deck, always kick him in the face so that when he gets up he can't contend that he almost had you down. Bruise him, scar him, mutilate him so that he never forgets who's boss. And when you've done this, help him up and be generous."

(I wouldn't recommend this)

6. "Whip, you've tasted Chinese girls and Spaniards. There are a thousand more to sample. Try 'em all. That's the one thing you'll do in life that you'll never regret."

Image by emilgp via Flickr

Pizza Milano on 5th Ave is famous on Duquesne's campus for good pizza and low prices. The pizzeria is open late into the night and delivers to all the dorms and around the city. For less than 10 dollars you can get the "College Special" which is either a hoagie and a 1 liter drink or a large cheese pizza and drink.

The pizza is the best I have tried in the Pittsburgh area and is characterized by thick tasty cheese. The pizza doesn't have too much sauce and has a sweet tasty crust. I have found that the pizza actually tastes better when it is delivered because it takes time for the cheese to set on the pizza. The hoagies are also very good. My favorite is the buffalo chicken hoagie, which is especially hot.

The 5th Ave pizzeria also has a bar that is very popular among Duquesne students. It is also a hot spot before Penguins and Dukes games. A Duquesne student band usually plays on Thursday nights to a packed bar.

Orders do tend to get mixed up at this place due to the sheer volume of orders the recieve every night. Pizza Milano is by far the most popular pizza place near campus and empty Milano's boxes can be seen in trash cans throughout the dorms as weekend nights progress.