Andrea Hauser

For studying, working or just zoning out, there is nothing so relaxing as David Gray’s recent album, “White Ladder.” I had heard Gray’s first release, “Babylon,” earlier in the year, but realized how wonderful the whole album was during my weekend trek home this summer. In three days I went from Valentine, Neb., to my hometown of Edgewood, Iowa, and back to work in Omaha, Neb., with two stops in Ames. Driving at least three hours every day for four days, “White Ladder” was on continuous play in my CD player as the only thing keeping me from falling asleep at the wheel.

Another group I’ve recently started listening to is the Gypsy Kings, a Spanish group singing modern flamenco music. The album “Somos Gitanos,” or “We’re Gypsies,” is great anytime, whether I’m writing a Spanish paper or just feel like dancing.

And when I feel like dancing there’s one place I’ve gone to all four years at Iowa State – the Boheme Bistro, 2900 West St. This place is great not only for its all-ages policy and eclectic crowd but also for its World Beat and techno nights every week. I always know I’ll find a good time there, even if the cover is a little pricey.

Andrea Hauser is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Edgewood. She is editor in chief of the Daily.

Michelle Kann

During this summer, I heard the best new voice in the music industry. Alicia Keys’ “Songs in A Minor” is my pick for album of the year. Her thought-provoking lyrics mixed with expert blues piano playing has been on repeat in my CD player for months. Every song has a new musical element giving the album a variety of musical styles. My only complaint about this album is that it has been unappreciated by the music world while the single “Fallin’ ” has been overplayed on the radio.

Movie of the year was a no brainer – “Shrek.” This humorous and creative full-length cartoon appealed to all audiences. It showed that family entertainment can still exist in today’s society. The script was so well-crafted that the references to fairy tales creates a new story with fresh jokes. The spitting gingerbread man when he yells “eat me” is just one of countless examples.

My favorite Maintenance Shop concert for the year was Eddie From Ohio. This folk band has clever lyrics combined with blending voices. I’m hoping they will return to Ames soon, so more students can enjoy their style.

Michelle Kann is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Guttenberg. She is newsroom managing editor of the Daily.

Wendy Weiskircher

I love pink. It’s been my favorite color as long as I can remember. And when I look for entertainment, I look for pink.

I might be the only person on the ISU campus who actually likes Britney’s new song, “I’m a Slave 4 U.” It’s not the most wholesome song on the FM airwaves. It’s not very thought-provoking. But it’s absolutely impossible to sit still when it’s on. What Britney lacks in vocal talent she makes up for with style. The girl can dance, and it’s a contagious phenomenon.

My favorite movie of the year isn’t much more intellectually stimulating than the music on Britney’s new CD. But I can’t help it – I loved the movie “Legally Blonde.”

The movie, starring Reese Witherspoon as a Cosmo-savvy sorority girl who finds her niche at Harvard Law School, is a little jolt of self-confidence to every goldylocks girl who has been branded a dumb blonde because she likes all things pink, fluffy and sparkly. It’s truth in movie form – blondes know how to mix intelligence with their fun.

Wendy Weiskircher is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Dewitt. She is news editor of the Daily.

Tim Paluch

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent “war on terrorism” made it certain that 2001 will not be a year that conjures up visions of memorable music, movies and television. But that doesn’t mean the year wasn’t packed with entertainment goodies.

In television, everybody loved Raymond and “The Sopranos,” and hated shoddy reality TV clones like “Love Cruise” and “Temptation Island 2.” VH1’s “Bands on the Run,” a look at unsigned bands battling it out for a big-label record deal, was the most intriguing and addictive thing on television all year. Fortunately, we may have witnessed the death of the reality TV craze, seeing as America is getting all the reality it ever wanted on the 6 p.m. news.

At the movies, the box office was dominated by a boy wizard, a planet full of warrior monkeys and of course – “Shrek,” which along with fellow animated counterpart “Monsters, Inc.,” was the most enjoyable time at the movies all year. They may have been cartoons, but both were surprisingly sophisticated comedies.

“Memento,” though made in 2000, didn’t catch fire until early this year, and was one of the more unique movies I’ve ever seen, an absolutely twisted thriller. And for the second time in 60 years, “Pearl Harbor” was an American disaster, a horrid melodrama written for hopeless romantics with an insatiable thirst for weak acting and even weaker scripts. All puns intended, it bombed.

In music, Gorillaz, the anonymous cartoon clan, pumped out the goods, an alt-indie-hip-hop-funk-pop orgy of unique melodies and experimental anthems. From there, vintage rock `n’ roll took over. While wily veterans Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger all released some of their most acclaimed albums to date, Weezer released its highly anticipated album, a 28-minute ear candy pop masterpiece that didn’t disappoint, even with all the hype. But the pinnacle in the year in music might have been the superb debut of The Strokes – part Ramones, part Stones and all attitude. They provided quite a relief from the macho angst of radio whores Staind, Bizkit and P.O.D.

Tim Paluch is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Orland Park, Ill. He is opinion editor of the Daily.

Jon Dahlager

Call me a sucker for boys on broomsticks, but I was blown away by the motion picture presentation of J.K. Rowling’s worldwide phenomenon, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” With solid, as-if-they-were-drawn-from-my-head actors and enchanting special effects, Warner Bros.’ book-to-movie crossover succeeded in bringing to life wizards and muggles alike.

Fantasy seems to be 2001’s strong point, as reality seems a little too explosive over the last few months. “Shrek” was the summer hit that deserves best picture, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring” looks to continue the epic fantasy films trend, rivaling “Episode One” in hype.

I kept a running tab of my top five music picks for 2001 on my AOL Instant Messenger profile, and albums from artists such as Missy Elliot and Gorillaz to Air and The Sheila Divine climbed their way up and eventually fell off. But the final results reveal that I’m really just a whiny rocker boy at heart:

1. “Bleed American,” Jimmy Eat World – The Arizona boys’ DreamWorks debut is the perfect meld of emo(tion) and memorable, grunge-like guitar licks. Although not as intricate or moving as 1999’s “Clarity,” “Bleed American” (now retitled “Jimmy Eat World,” post Sept. 11) is both solid and moving, from the grinding title track to the gorgeous “Hear You Me.”

2. “The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most,” Dashboard Confessional – Chris Carrabba, the solo musician who is Dashboard Confessional, makes all of his audiences his backup band both on CD and in every concert. His crystalline voice sometimes shatters in almost Kurt Cobain-like fashion, and his lyrics are the hopeful sermons for legions of relationship-impaired youth.

3. “Is This It,” The Strokes – Contrary to popular belief, Weezer did not save rock `n’ roll with the Green Album – New York’s The Strokes did with the Velvet Underground-tinged “Is This It.” Lo-fi production, danceable songs and casual, too-cool-for-school vocals courtesy of Julian Casablancas makes “Is This It” the truest rock record in years.

4. “Tenacious D,” Tenacious D – Jack Black and Kyle Gass made the funniest record in the world (tribute). Technically intricate stoner metal guitar work and pounding guest drumming by Nirvana alum and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl back up the humor.

5. “Full Collapse,” Thursday – As was evident in its intense show at the M-Shop, Thursday is the flipside of acoustic emo. Melding hardcore with with melodic poetry, the band offers a bit more hope and energy than most frowny emo acts.

On the local scene, Bi-Fi records proved that Ames is just as viable a music scene as Athens, Ga. or Seattle, Wash. New records by Poison Control Center, Frankenixon and Keepers of the Carpet rival my national top five list. The Bi-Fi showcase also introduced Ames’ impressive Radiohead equivalent – the Envy Corps. Check out this band. Go to all of their shows. Now.

Jon Dahlager is a junior in journalism and mass communication and sociology. He is arts and entertainment editor of the Daily.

Bethany Kohoutek

Best Music of 2001

Unfortunately, the mainstream musical landscape hasn’t shifted out of the stodgy slump it has been stuck in lately. The testosterone-saturated cock-rock genre – a la Kid Rock, Staind, Puddle of Mudd, etc. – still hasn’t fizzled out, Britney is still dashing the self-image of young women to bits and Carson Daly still thinks “giving a shout-out to my peeps at home” is hip.

But the indie circuit offered refreshing options. Albums by artists like The Shins, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Built to Spill, Alejandro Escovedo, Tindersticks, Stereolab, Low, The Beta Band, The Apples in Stereo and Guided By Voices have renewed my faith in an otherwise drooping music scene.

Best Ames Hangouts

The Maintenance Shop is the best place to see live music in Ames. M-Shop Coordinator Eric Yarwood and Director Squire Boone have done an outstanding job of bringing diverse national and regional acts to campus. My personal M-Shop favorites this semester include Jack Johnson, the Alkaline Trio and the Bi-Fi Records shows.

The Boheme also provides an escape from the norm with its ambient European atmosphere. Although I loathe sucking in secondhand carcinogens, I do respect the Boheme for having the guts to fly in the face of authority and finding a way around Ames’ smoking ordinance.

This is a college town, after all. It’s invigorating to see that anti-establishment attitude finally come through.

Peeples Music is Ames lone independent music store. You can find treasure, like indie albums and rarities, buried within the CD racks that you’d never find anywhere else in Ames.

In the visual art world, Brunnier Art Museum is a highly underutilized artistic mecca for us as students.

Take, for example, Brunnier’s latest exhibit, a collection of ultra-realistic sculptures of everyday people. The figures are so lifelike, it’s almost creepy – something you have to see to believe.

Best Local Music

Bi-Fi Records has certainly been the most active local music force this year. Within the last 365 days, it has released stellar albums from Pookey Bleum, Poison Control Center, Keepers of the Carpet, Joe Terry and Frankenixon.

Just a few weeks ago, I picked up a copy of “Heaven and Hell,” another 2001 Bi-Fi release by Organ Donor. This nine-track album is chock full of piano-driven laments to unrequited love and tender, yet reverent lyrics.

I can always tell when I’ve found an album I’ve really fallen for – I have to make more trips than usual to Wal-mart to get batteries for my Discman. “Heaven and Hell” is one of those records.

Finally, from the buzz these newcomers have already generated, the Reno-based Paragraph is another band to keep an eye on.

Most Disappointing Example of Music Journalism

Rolling Stone. No surprise here. I was both offended and infuriated when I opened the mailbox to find Britney Spears spilling out of her miniscule bra top on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine not once but twice in the last six months.

It’s no secret that the magazine that started as an alternative pop culture and political tabloid has morphed into the corporate mainstream, but it seems it has sunk to a new low by appealing to the lowest common denominator of music consumers.

Bethany Kohoutek is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Shueyville. She is assistant arts and entertainment editor of the Daily.