Everyone has a truth to tell in August: Osage County, but not everyone is willing to share. The dark comedy, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tracy Letts and directed by John Wells, pulls back the curtain on a dysfunctional southern family as they attempt to aid their narcotic-addicted mother during an unusually hot August. The story ... [Read More…]
Switchfoot makes waves with new sound
After several years off, Switchfoot has reemerged with a documentary, tour and a new album, Fading West, which was released this week. The album reflects the year Switchfoot members spent exploring the world's best surfing spots and redefining their identity as a band. The result of this journey is a breezy album that occasionally dips ... [Read More…]
Cornerstone musical is nowhere close to ‘Normal’
The ACU Theatre Department has never let controversial subject matter prevent it from putting on a play, and this years' Cornerstone production, "Next to Normal," is no exception. The musical won the Pulitzer for Best Play in 2010, dazzling audiences with its story of the effect of mental illness on a family. "Next to Normal" tells the story of ... [Read More…]
John Legend changes tune
John Legend returned this week with his fourth studio album "Love in the Future." Displaying an effortlessly cool vibe and his signature twist on R&B, Legend has created arguably his best work yet. Inspired largely by his relationship with fiance Chrissy Teigen, the album veers off the path of his usual tales of female conquests and, as the ... [Read More…]
Performances that ‘stand still’
Each year, the freshmen Cornerstone classes are required to attend a play put on by the ACU theater department. This year's Cornerstone production, "Time Stands Still," is much more than an entertainment piece, it is an invitation to discussion. The play tells the story of Sarah (Rachel Faulkner), a photo journalist who was injured while on the ... [Read More…]
New restaurant opens downtown
Abi-Haus, one of Abilene's newest restaurants, finally opens its doors to the public Friday evening. After months of preparation, co-owners Jim Jackson and ACU design professor Ryan Feerer will begin serving their "honest American food" to patrons. During the past week, Abi-Haus has offered soft openings to its fans on Facebook. Previews of their ... [Read More…]
‘King’ succeeds through cast and craftsmanship
I grew up with the best of Broadway - The Sound of Music, West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera and countless others have all been etched into my mind since childhood. As such, it pains me to admit this, but I had never seen The King and I. However, my lack of prior exposure allowed me to view the ACU production with fresh eyes and no preexisting ... [Read More…]
Album Review: St. Vincent’s “Strange Mercy”
St. Vincent is full of contradictions. Take for example the mastermind behind the project: Annie Clark. A native of Dallas, Texas, Clark has collaborated with many artists including Bon Iver, and was part of Sufjan Stevens' touring band. First impressions of the female songwriter would lean towards "adorable," given her small stature and ... [Read More…]
Album Review: Neon Indian’s “Era Extraña”
Neon Indian's newest effort, Era Extraña, released Sept. 13th, makes yet another big splash in the burgeoning "chillwave" movement (also known as "glo-fi") that is dominating the indie-pop scene. Puns aside, it's a solid and fun album. Chillwave is a weird cross between '60s psychedelic (think late Beatles and fringe jackets) and '80s new wave ... [Read More…]
Review: I Do, I Do promises genuine laughs
By David McMichael Can all of the love, the hurt, the song and dance, the random foolishness and the exquisite moments of a fifty-year marriage be squeezed into the two-and-a-half hour confines of a play? ACU's fall musical comedy, I Do! I Do!, answers with a strident "yes." Carlee Cagle, senior theatre major from Arlington, and Jefferson ... [Read More…]