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The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2002/10/30/forward-march-2/)

October 30, 2002

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Forward March

By wpengine | October 30, 2002

For the Red, quality comes in a large quantity.

Although the Red does not boast a single 20-goal scorer from a season ago, it has one of the most talented groups of forwards in the country. Led by senior captain Stephen B

Chapman Rains Supreme

By wpengine October 31, 2002

Tracy Chapman is the type of artist who has achieved the critical and commercial success countless others have dreamed of without having to grace the covers of numerous magazines or flood the airwaves with #1 singles. She didn’t have to drastically change her image or style to sell millions of records and win four Grammys. (Her non-rockstar, anti-celebrity style is actually part of her appeal.) Chapman just wrote great music, a point duly noted with her new CD, Let It Rain. It offers some of the original folk fare devoted fans have grown to love, but also brings in new elements that are just as pleasing. Where her previous album, Telling Stories had an upbeat and fast tempo, Chapman opted for a mellow and reflective tone with her latest. The album is mostly about relationships and reflection; a departure from the socially aware lyrics Chapman is known for, but a welcome change nonetheless. The first song, “Let It Rain” delivers a powerful message of hope amidst a hopeless situation. “Give me hope/ That help is coming/ When I need it most.” “You’re the One,” also the album’s first single, is pure bluesy folk about a love that no one could ever understand. “Let ’em talk you down/ Call you names/ My mind’s made up/ it ain’t gonna change/ you’re in my heart/ you’re the one for me.” It has the right sound to ensure plenty of radio play, but is also a really good song to listen to. There’s also “Broken,” probably one of the most thoughtful and heartfelt songs on the album, is about the idealistic picture we all seem to form in our minds of what life should be, shattered by brutal reality. “The picture makes a promise/ the flesh let’s it be broken.” Following is “Happy,” in which Chapman wonders if a love is real. The album concludes with a dramatic ending, “I am Yours.” The slow and simply orchestrated song has alarmingly honest lyrics about having nothing yet wanting someone to love. “I stand before you/ my hands are empty/ I am yours/ If you are mine.” But the album does have its missteps. Some of the songs had lyrics with the most obscure meanings that couldn’t be deciphered. “Another Sun” had some gospel background vocals going on that I just couldn’t get into, and it sounded like Chapman was incessantly moaning on “In the Dark.” “Almost,” a song about a missed opportunity at love, repeated the title so much it was almost
From the Horse's Mouth

By wpengine October 31, 2002

On Saturday I saw Beck and The Flaming Lips at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse. It was a terrific show, save one incident that I’d like to relate. During the car ride I remarked that Beck is an artist that, in some sense, epitomizes our generation. He is one of the few artists that remains artistically merit-worthy while achieving a popularity that transcends cult-like status. Like it or not, Beck is a star. His popularity coupled with his artistic innovation gives him cultural significance beyond my beloved indie geniuses. Arriving at the Landmark proved my point. The nucleus of our generation was heartily represented. Some interesting people, some that only appeared so. The Landmark is one of the most lavish and beautiful theatres I’ve seen. An interior of carved wood, gilded mosaics, and lavish paintings — like a lost treasure discovered in an old section of Vienna. Person after person entered the lobby and froze in astonishment. It was a beauty that everyone recognized. Throughout the building were signs requesting people not to smoke due to damage caused to the restored ceiling art. I was surprised, because it seemed like a point that was too obvious to make. Sure enough, a girl sitting in front of me lights up. I’m an ardent supporter of smoker’s rights and believe California’s laws banning smoking at bars are absurd. I hold the somewhat insensitive belief that in most situations non-smokers complaining of second-hand smoke should “tough it out” (what’s next, a ban on burritos since the fumes from the arse of the consumer will surely offend some patron and might lead to choking?). This situation was different. It was appalling for her to have so little respect for what was so beautifully surrounding her as to not step outside. Imagine a person sitting at the Metropolitan Opera and lighting up during La Traviata, or even better tapping the diamond-clad lady to the right and asking for a light. Even more disturbing was that this didn’t bother many; in fact many others followed suit. Now I am certain that the life of this girl was worth far less than the beauty she was helping destroy. Most lives aren’t — cynical, but true. If this was the nucleus of our generation, the part that will impact the future, where was the embrace of art and beauty? In a generation dreadfully obsessed with individuality, where was respect for it. The Landmark is an individual irreplaceable artifact. Judging by the wisps of smoke rising around me, I realized that most people aren’t the irreplaceable individuals they brand themselves as. Peace, “the dark horse” Archived article by Maxim Pozdorovkin