POP CULTURE PURCHASES

  

The Walking Dead
Robert Kirkman

Robert Kirkman, writer of The Walking
Dead, has provided for his readers

a carefully crafted graphic novel,
successfully balancing blood and

guts with intriguing plots and highly
developed characters. This, coupled
with the novel’s artists’ (initially

Tony Moore; later Charlie Adlard)
unbelievable talent, makes for superior
zombie literature. Rather than focus
solely on the gore and violence that all
zombie lovers adore, Kirkman explores
the dramatic changes occurring within
any human in light of an apocalypse.
Each of the 51 current issues revolve

around the main character, Rick Grimes,

whose small-town, down-to-earth
characteristics allow the reader to relate
with the story fairly easily, making

for an intensely awesome read. For a
graphic novel to tap into topics such as
love, death, misery, survival, familial
connections, and other equally essential
facets of human life all neatly packaged
in a zombie infested world is beyond
me, and surely deserves to be read over
and over again.

—Lisa Bellano

 

One of the Boys
Katy Perry

Who doesn’t love the song “I Kissed
A Girl?” It was the hit single of the
summer, and it will be one of the songs
that defines this year in music when we
look back upon it. But can the rest of
“One of the Boys” measure up to her
irresistible monster hit? The title track
paints the tragic picture of the ignored
teenage tomboy who must convert into
a stereotypical air-headed fashionista
girl in order to get attention from the
object of her affections. The album
follows with “I Kissed A Girl” and
“Waking Up In Vegas,” which further
our heroine’s tragic tale of unfulfilled
needs of affection and attention. Katy
Perry feels the pain of the lonely and
ignored and expresses it with a poetic
grace and wisdom beyond her years.
This album is truly the “Sounds of
Silence” for our generation.

—Mark Fisher

 

West Viking
Farley Mowat -

Where is Leif Eriksson’s Vinland? Is it
in Newfoundland or New England, or
maybe as far south as Virginia? Farley
Mowat, celebrated author of childhood
Canadiana, tackles this and other
questions in West Viking. He doesn’t
claim to know all the answers but spins
a compelling case in his usual folksy
style to suggest that obscure Tickle
Cove in his beloved Newfoundland is
the place where Leif Eriksson saw what
he would have thought of as paradise on
earth. Mowat explores the Norse thrust
westward by reconstructing the Sagas
and using his own seafaring intuition as
he walks readers through Norse culture
and voyages It’s as entertaining as

it is thought provoking and great for
everyone with a passive interest in pre-
Christian Scandinavia, and those who
secretly wish they were Vikings.

—Nikalas Kryzanowski

September 02, 2008

 

’72 Complete

Universal

’72 Complete is an iconic DVD
collection featuring all eight games

of the 1972 Summit Series between
Canada and the Soviets. This is the
first available set to include all these
games, and it also includes an insightful
documentary. It also includes the
Swedish exhibition game that occurred
in between the Canadian and Soviet
leg of the series. The set, through

its documentary and the opening
ceremonies before each game, was
insightful as they allow the viewer

to witness what was happening at

the time. And at hat time, an “us vs.
them” mentality was developed as it
became apparent that the Soviets were
much better than anyone could have
imagined, leaving many to believe that
Canadian’s image of themselves was
shaken.

—Matt Steinbach

 

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Mends hearts of Edmonton Babyboomers after 32 year wait

By Chloe Bach

L might be because I remember dancing around our house as a child to his songs,
it might be because I had had too many bad Molson stadium beers that night, or
it might be because I put my dog down that day and almost anything would seem
better, but I would be lying if I said Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were anything

short of amazing.

On August 12", Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers visited Edmonton for the first
time since the release of their first album in 1976. After a 32-year long wait, the
15,000 fans in attendance astounded the band with their raucous cheers, the band
members actually seemed genuinely overwhelmed by their reception. The whole

stadium was electric.

Steve or “Stevie” Winwood, known for his compilations with Eric Clapton,
undertook the task of opening for Petty with a “folksy,” easy-listening acoustic set.
While the British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist was very enjoyable
to listen to, he was a little bit underwhelming, especially in contrast with Petty.
That said, musically speaking, Winwood is certainly a very talented individual.
“Higher Love” was probably the highlight of his set and as his most recognizable
song, which hit #1 in the States in 1986, there was naturally a lot of singing along.

I didn’t feel particularly compelled to watch the stage show, since the movement on
stage was probably equivalent to a morgue. Overall it was nap-worthy —in a good

way though.

At long last Tom Petty took the stage in his purple velvet blazer with flowing
blonde hair, and all the screaming fans stood up instantaneously and he kicked the
night off with “You Wreck Me,” followed by hit, after hit, after hit. Only a few of
the hits mentioned were “I Won’t Back Down,” “Even the Losers,” “Free Fallin’”
and “A Face in the Crowd.” His brand of music is really a phenomenon in the sense

that even someone with mediocre or little knowledge of the band would find almost
every song recognizable, not to mention a blast to listen to.

My one and only qualm with the lineup was the last song in the finale being
“American Girl” in a Canadian city. As much as I think it’s a great song, I would
have thought that since the finale also consisted of “Mystic Eyes” and “Runnin’
Down A Dream,” they could have switched the order to end off with a song that
perhaps would have appealed more to the proud Canadian type. Just saying.

The Hearbreakers also deserve props for being total top notch musicians. Lead
guitarist Mike Campbell played masterfully on several different guitars including
a double neck guitar. In the meantime, the infinitely talented Scott Thurston, who
has also played with Iggy Pop and the Stooges, switched between the guitar, the
harmonica and piano. The whole band never missed a beat.

The band’s stage presence was strong, the set completely original, and the
musicians unbelievably talented. They rocked the venue on a stage that resembled
a huge chandelier with large cubes hanging from its scaffolding. Around those
cubes a TV screen was actually wrapped showing different parts of the camera shot
on each of the surfaces. The main back screen displayed a variety of backdrops
ranging from shots of the band members to a red and yellow lava lamp inspired
animation. Whatever the backdrop though, they all corresponded to the song and

only added to the memorable stage show.

What more can I say? It’s pretty clear that I loved almost every aspect this
show. Even the most discriminating Tom Petty critic would have to admit they
rocked. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it is easily one of the best concerts I have ever

seen.

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