Rennie Sparks, one half of the alt-folk duo The Handsome Family, visited the U yesterday to give a lecture on the tradition of dark and violent imagery in the lyrics of folk songs. While her husband writes the music, Rennie writes the lyrics for The Handsome Family, whose often-times Gothic and bizarre content follow in the footsteps of the folk tradition. She has also adapted these themes into a book of short stories, titled simply Evil.

Sparks highlighted a number of folk songs, such as “Knoxville Girl”, “Barbara Allen”, “Oh My Darlin’ Clementine”, and “Pretty Polly”, …

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First Avenue dominates this week with back to back (to back!) highlighted shows. October seems to be the month for big names at big prices, and I know the economy is basically depression-lite right now, but gas prices are down, hey? Hit your parents up and you might very well be able to afford some of these indie shows in the $14-20 range:

Monday the 13th in the First Avenue Mainroom, Canadian nineteen-piece Broken Social Scene bring their grandiose sound to the stage (touring, sadly, with only eight members – c’mon guys, can’t afford a big enough van?), …

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On Monday, October 13th, there is going to be a clothing swap held in room 202, the Women’s Cultural Center, sponsored by the Women’s Student Activist Collective! From 10 am ’till 3 pm, there will be treats, a knitting tutorial, and tons of free clothes! Bring your unwanted clothing by room 202 any day leading up to the WSAC Clothing Swap. :) Lots of neat fun!

Today at 5th Element, the great beat writer Jake One releases White Van Music, featuring a truly epic amount of guest appearances: Slug, Busta Rhymes, Alchemist, MF Doom, Brother Ali, Prodigy, Keak Da Sneak, Blueprint, and more. The producer who walks the ever-disintegrating line between mainstream and underground has done beats for everybody from De La Soul and I Self Divine to 50 Cent and E-40. A member of G-Unit’s Money Management Group, Jake One releases his album through Rhymesayers, hence the special 5th …

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In a town with an overwhelming population of singer/songwriters, it’s not easy to stand out from the crowd. Luckily, Jeremy Messersmith clenches a trump card firmly in hand: he’s actually talented. With the release of his second album “The Silver City” on September 9th, Messersmith shines as a purveyor of genuine pop artistry.

Utilizing the aid of producer Dan Wilson, the game has been stepped up considerably since Messersmith’s previous effort, “The Alcatraz Kid.” Though most songs are relatively simple in composition, the space is filled …

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I hadn’t even finished a sentence when the guys from The Dad in Common started cracking jokes. The conversation that followed showed how much this instrument-swapping, name-sharing
union of musical forces feeds off each other’s humor. But strong bonds over a shared love for music underlay the laughs.

The Wake: Alright, so—
Andrew: I’m gonna need that blouse today. (laughs).
Jesse: That’s a good way to start.
Joe: Yeah start recording. (laughs).

The Wake: So you guys are The Dad in Common.
Joe: Oh, and Andy couldn’t be here.

The Wake: Are you serious?
Jesse: There’s another Andy who’s home having his fourth anniversary.

The Wake: Aww…
Joe: He’s …

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Everyone’s favorite on-campus enclave of modern art, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, is currently hosting an exhibit that has everyone—Optometrists and non-Optometrists alike—talking. The show, from the mind of artist R. Luke DuBois, is called Hindsight is Always 20/20, and will be running at the Weisman until early January 2009.

Upon entering the gallery space, one is immediately confronted by a sea of white paper canvases awash in black lettering. Each piece tells a story, however succinct, about one of the men who have held the title “Leader of the People of the Free World” (or, if you …

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The Wake: First off Liam, I would just like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us today.
Liam Finn: It’s my pleasure.

W: “I’ll Be Lightning” is the name of your record. “I’ll Be Touring” is the name of your tour. Has the tour
proved as successful as the record?
F: “It’s been really great for us, we’re having an absolute ball and the shows have been really well attended, so yeah, I guess our goal was just to make sure we had a …

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Ah, New Zealand. A land blessed with unspoiled natural beauty and gentle
weather; where the sunlight melts harmoniously with the countryside. A place where Hobbits and Orcs can frolic gleefully in the meadows, unhindered by global economic collapse or oppressive regimes. A nation so tucked away in solace that, regardless of recent media attention, most people
still think it’s part of Great Britain.

It is here that a wealth of talent exists, just on the cusp of breaking into full-out international envy. Centered on the cities of Auckland and Wellington, scores of musicians are pumping out some of the most inspired and …

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A little nervous.
A little scared.
Maybe, yeah, a little.

I’m dressed in all black. The guy sitting in the next seat is looking at me. I glare at him. He looks away. Dark at eight, in by nine. I get off the bus, hyperalert, slightly sweaty. I’ve done this before but somehow it doesn’t feel like it right now. I start to walk.

When my destination materializes out of the night, I experience my first rush of adrenaline. The thing about abandoned factories is that they’re so dangerous. In their prime, they were able to run efficiently because of the regulations and safety …

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My friend Moxy loves the taste of Opera in her mouth. She took a course this past semester to further tickle her tonsils. She has no delusions of ever becoming a famous Opera singer, herself. She believes only in the pure experience and practice of the art for enjoyment. However, the conundrum that has
roosted on her laugh lines recently is this: that indulging in an art personally, without aspiration, is impractical and unnecessary. To her, Opera is a beautiful waste of time, but it is that word – beauty’ that has plagued her mind. Shouldn’t she forget her …

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A man walks out of the Brian J. Coyle center and is shot to death in broad daylight. His body sits in the unseasonable heat with nary a sheet to cover it for hours. It sits long enough for his mother to come and see it. The police start suspecting “gang violence” before the blood has even dried on the pavement. Finding a suspect is out of the question as this becomes the third mysterious shooting of a young male in the last six months.

This is the story of 20-year-old Ahmed Nur Ali. An enthusiastic, dedicated …

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The best lines in the Dark Knight are debatable. Among the heap to choose from, there is “why so serious,” “Then we’ll see how loyal a hungry dog really is,” “whatever doesn’t kill you simply makes you . . . stranger,” all spoken in that haunting, sardonic smoker’s groan. Heath Ledger’s Joker has
succeeded in being unforgettable, managing to make Jack Nicholson look boring and silly, and a new twist on a familiar character. The best moment is undoubtedly near the finale, when the Joker burns a pile of hard-earned blood money.

As the summer’s best, the film hovers near …

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Why do you like Sarah Palin? “Because she is a good mother,” was one of the many ridiculous opinions I heard during the coverage of the Republican National Convention. What is wrong with the above statement? Let’s look at the question, shall we? “Why do you like Sarah Palin?” was asked by a CBS reporter to random RNC attendees. The question is simple enough, yet there is something hidden there. I bet they were hoping, no, counting on some pretty insane responses. Ask and ye shall receive. The answer: “Because she is a good mother.” What does Sarah Palin being …

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With the current economic slowdown, and the exchange rate at about 1.5 dollars per euro, the closest most University of Minnesota students will come to something French this fall can be found
on the dollar menu alongside le rodeo cheeseburger.

Paris remains the greatest recipient of tourism worldwide; however, an increasing number of students are opting out of the classic study abroad in Europe experience in favor of countries with a lower exchange rate, the National Student Exchange program, or just remaining at home. Paris, the city of love and light, is looking a little less lovely under the shadow of student …

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