Thursday, September 29, 2004
AGGIELI
THE BATTALIA
TICKET FOR
"Coffee & Cigarettes" on DVD
Starring Bill Murray, Steve Busm
Cate Blanchett
MGM Studios
ROBERT SAUCEDO
Reviewer
IMAGE COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL RECORDS
Ryan Cabrera got a boost towards fame by appearing in "The Ashlee Simpson Show."
RLTEANIITIVE-©
Ryan Cabrera
Take It All Away
Universal Records
CARRIE PIERCE
Reviewer
A few years ago, Dal
las native Ryan Cabrera
was knocking on sorority
house doors in College
Station, offering to play
songs for whoever would
listen. Now, he is touring
from coast to coast as his
hit single “On the Way
Down” climbs the charts. How exactly does a
21-year-old go from a drop-in sorority house
performer to an overnight sensation? By dating
the right girl, touring with her sister and then
releasing an album with 12 catchy songs.
In 2001, John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo
Dolls coproduced Cabrera’s independent re
lease “Elm Street.” After notable local success,
Cabrera decided to quit school (he was enrolled
at the Dallas branch of t.u., so good move on
his part) and became a full-time solo artist. He
then got together with Joe Simpson, manager
and father of pop-star Jessica and signed a re
cord deal with Atlantic. Cabrera’s big break
may have been his appearances on “The Ashlee
Simpson Show” during their brief romance. He
then started touring with Jessica.
Cabrera’s debut album is full of the heart and
raw emotion expected of a college-age man. Ca
brera wrote and played guitar on all of his songs,
with Rzeznick supplying back-up guitar and vocals
on three tracks. Although he sounds like a mix of
John Mayer, Howie Day and Graham Colton, Ca
brera said his biggest influence was listening to
Dave Matthews.
The album begins with “Let’s Take Our Time,”
a song any college man can relate to and any col
lege woman would think is a ploy to get her in
bed. Singing, “When you whisper in my ear/ All
the things you wanna do/ This sensation starts to
grow,” Cabrera shows there is more to him than his
ex-girlfriend and a goofy hairdo. Cabrera can write,
sing and play well.
The album continues with Cabrera’s first single,
“On the Way Down.” Currently on the Billboard
charts, this radio hit never gets old. If it does,
however, skip to track 12, where the live version
blows away the radio release. With its catchy lyr
ics and lively background beat, this song defines
the album and guarantees that Cabrera will not be
a one-hit wonder.
Cabrera continues his lover-boy lyrics with songs
such as the mournful “She’s,” the tearful “40 Kinds
of Sadness” and the emotionally packed “Take it
All Away.” It seems as if this guy has survived a
lot of heartbreak for a 21 -year-old. Cabrera croons
sadly, leaving one to wonder if he wrote these songs
before or after dating Ashlee.
The most enjoyable song on the album could
easily be the sexy “Shame on Me.” With its
slightly scandalous message, Cabrera sings
“Shame on me wanting you/ The way I fanta
size about/ What I’d give, what I’d do/ I just
want to work you out.” Mixing these racy lyr
ics with Carlos Santana-styled guitar riffs, this
track shows Cabrera’s musical maturity.
This is definitely a fun, catchy album that any
one should give a chance. Although men may be
turned away by the image he portrayed on MTV
and the fact that he thanks “Nick and Jess” in the
liner notes, “Take it All Away” is a relatable al- [
bum by an artist with a lot of potential.
Y OU CAN STILL HAVE YOUR
group's picture taken for Texas
A&M's 2005 Aggieland yearbook.
Space is limited, so turn in your
contracts today. Follow these easy
steps: (1) Download a contract from
http://aggieland.tamu.edu or pick
one up in room 004 Reed McDonald
Building. (2) Fill out your contract
and return it with payment to room
015 Reed McDonald. Questions?
Call 845-2682 for details.
2005
Texas A&M University
If there was ever a
movie that could be
called an “art house”
flick, it is “Coffee and
Cigarettes.” The lat
est film from acclaimed
director Jim Jarmusch,
the film features a se
ries of short films strung
together by a unifying
theme of, well, coffee
and cigarettes. A collection of conversations
ranging from the absurd to the insightful, the
film’s vignettes feature some of Hollywood’s
greatest contemporary actors and a musician or
two discussing the trivial things in life that are
often the most entertaining.
Difficult to classify, the film’s shorts are a
broad assortment of topics and styles. Even
though not all the shorts work to their fullest
potential, even the dullest of the shorts is far
more entertaining than half the sitcoms ruling
the airwaves today.
The first segment was filmed more than 17
years ago and features Roberto Benigni and
Steven Wright meeting in a small cafe to dis
cuss coffee addiction and dentist appointments.
Quickly setting the stage for the following 90
minutes, the short seems to be an awkward con
versation between two people who don’t seem
to know each other, yet share an extreme fond
ness of coffee and cigarettes.
For the next 17 years, Jarmusch would film 10
more short films, shelving them away until one day
he would have a finished collage in his hands.
Among the standouts of the film is
Blanchett doing double duty in her short as
plays not only herself but also her cousin,fc
ing with jealousy at Blanchett’s career,
short, rockers Jack and Meg White discuss!
genius of Nikola Tesla.
The finest part of the collection isthehilanj
conversation between Alfred Molina andSi
Coogan as they discuss genealogy andpol
cal correctness. The film features converse
after conversation of insanely comedic one
ers and thoughtful insights into the dailylii
of the famous people who inhabit Jarmusii
black-and-white world of coffee andcigarei:
The DVD features a lackluster collection
extras, all the more disappointing wheni
learns of the film’s 17-year journey to theD 1
format. Nary is there a commentary ordocum!
tary to be seen; instead, audiences are “treat
to a short music video entitled “Tabletops"
features, of all things, a collection of footag
the tabletops seen throughout the film.
Also included is a short and rather unftii
Bill Murray outtake, a pointless interview*;
actor Taylor Mead and a theatrical trailer,
such an entertaining film, the DVD is a letdo
Unless the film accumulates an incrediblyii
fan following in the home video market,do
expect a better version any time soon.
Fans of any of the film’s actors or the direa
are highly recommended to pick the film up,
“Coffee and Cigarettes” is a high point ir
career of everybody involved.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED Ml
In "Coffee & Cigarettes," rappers RZA and GZA (left, middle) discuss alternative medicine with Bill Murray,
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SENIORS.
Aggieland yearbook portrait sessions
extended by popular demand.
Graduation portraits for Texas A&M University's 2005 Aggieland
yearbook will be taken through Friday Oct. 8, in MSC Room
027. There is no sitting fee required to be photographed for the
yearbook.
To make your appointment, go to www.thorntonstudio.com.
Go to Scheduling, then click New User, and complete with
Registration Password: tarn
Or schedule by calling Thornton Studio at 1-800-883-9449, or
see the photographer.
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