Lancer Spirit Online

The greatest film ever made

Isaac Owens, Broadcasting Manager
April 1, 2016

Most notably in the performances given by Wiseau and especially Haldiman, in his role of Denny, are we given some of the film’s greatest moments. Frequently bringing light and humor to the often times dark screenplay, Denny proves to be one of the more memorable characters in such a timeless film. It is the greatest shock of all that the career of an actor as young as him was unable to skyrocket into success.

Don’t need your help: The unlikely resurgence of cassette culture

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
March 31, 2016

Even back when they were all the rage, it was hard to explain what made cassettes popular. Quality-wise, they were terrible. The ultrathin, wiry spools of tape could tear, knot, or burn out with ease. But they were cheap, and they were portable. As such, the cassette tape ruled. It has lain dormant since the advent of the compact disc, but with the popularity of vinyl, what's to stop a slowly-growing movement of entrepreneurs and self-starting indie outfits from mounting a tape comeback?

‘Batman v Superman’ does no justice

Isaac Owens, Broadcasting Manager
March 26, 2016

The problems do not necessarily lie within the movie's excessively violent protagonists or adult themes but rather in its unintentionally silly way they’re carried out.

Commentary: The nebulous possibilities of virtual reality

VR has gone from sci-fi dream to (expensive) reality. Now what?

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
March 24, 2016

The simple truth is that the layman - that is, the average consumer that hasn't spent the last few years playing around with Oculus devkits and browsing industry forums - knows next to nothing about the raw technical differences between, say, Google Cardboard and Samsung's Gear VR. The idea that a typical consumer would so readily drop several hundred dollars on something they know so little about is more than a little absurd, and is VR's biggest problem going forward to mainstream use.

Iggy Pop and Josh Homme merge art-rock with Detroit punk on ‘Post Pop Depression’

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
March 14, 2016

Taking in the bold new sonic directions that Iggy Pop has taken his decades-honed sound in is a heady task. It's a puzzling trend, considering the relative success the reunited Stooges have had in the last half decade, but in an odd way, it suits Iggy. He embraces his elder-statesemanhood with all the grace the man responsible for "I Wanna Be Your Dog" can muster, and Josh Homme is the perfect muse for Iggy to experiment on/with.

’10 Cloverfield Lane’ an unexpected thrill ride

Isaac Owens, Broadcasting Manager
March 11, 2016

...rookie director Dan Trachtenberg proves his is a name to keep an eye on. Surpassing the original film in every way, 10 Cloverfield Lane is exactly the simple and fun white knuckle thriller it needed to be.

‘House of Cards’ underwhelms with fourth season

Isaac Owens, Broadcasting Manager
March 9, 2016

Unlike how seasons one through three are heavily influenced by the clockwork of Washington, season four sheds the spotlight on the facade surrounding presidential election seasons. Obviously Underwood’s campaign is important to the show, but House of Cards has become more about corruption than politics. Some of the shows greatest highlights come from scenes when Frank delegates tasks throughout the political spectrum, and that is the biggest qualm there is to be had with season four. Losing much of the shows politically technical intrigue, its smarts are replaced with the gossipy campaign zeitgeist that is seen by the public eye.

‘This Unruly Mess I’ve Made’ a well-intentioned dud

Isaac Owens, Broadcasting Manager
March 8, 2016

Part of the reason TUMIM doesn’t work is its rapidly varying genre types. Lyrically and musically the songs contradict the image Macklemore wants to produce. From soft political tracks to upbeat straightforward rap, the styles switch with almost every new track. That being said, while much of the album sounds like basic Macklemore some very welcomed changes were made to his routine. Bringing more and better features than his previous album, The Heist, the new record includes hooks from Chance the Rapper, Leon Bridges, YG, and other rappers of yesteryear. By itself Macklemore’s frail vocals have rarely brought many positives additions to the music, but with these features added to the production, some of the songs are surprisingly catchy.

‘Painting With’ an enjoyable experiment in retrofuturism

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
March 3, 2016

Painting With is one of Animal Collective's most accessible releases, with tracks like the sublime reggae-accented "Floridada" or the sitcom ode "Golden Gals" being among their most danceable and radio-friendly songs. That isn't to say AnCo has lost their edge; Painting With remains singularly abstract and ofttimes inscrutable.

Kanye West’s “album of the life” discordant, triumphant

'The Life of Pablo' lives up to its lengthy release schedule. Mostly.

Conor Battles, Editor-in-Chief, Arts & Entertainments Editor
February 15, 2016

'The Life of Pablo' lacks the distinct, unifying sound that underpins past releases. Rather, West takes up a more abstract, harder-to-define sonic palate, blending orchestral gospel, murky R&B, and trap-influenced beats to create a sound as unique as it is derivative. Kanye trades in his unabashed sense of perfectionism for a distinctly broader brush, and The Life of Pablo can feel more than a little disjointed at times. There are soaring, anthemic moments on 'TLOP' that fit in well on an album once known, briefly, as 'So Help Me God,' and there are goofier, mindless moments befitting an album formerly known as 'SWISH.'

‘5th Wave’ presents a heroine who can get things done

Lizy Stubbs, Opinions Editor
February 10, 2016

This film does follow the trend of other dystopian novels like The Hunger Games and Divergent, but what it lacks in originality it makes up for in heart. There are several touching moments, not limited to Cassie herself, and these moments prevent the movie from becoming just another alien horror flick. There are also a few one liners, and while they don’t make the film a comedy, they do bring some lightness to an otherwise heavy tale.

Classic Review: Queens of the Stone Age – ‘Songs for the Deaf’ (2002)

Joe Conry, Reporter
February 4, 2016

While the majority of this album is made up of the hard rock/desert rock jams that Queens is best known for, it's the songs where they go offbeat from their normal style that really stand out. The best example of this being the closing track “Mosquito Song”, an eerie folk ballad featuring a multitude of instruments including accordion, brass and string sections, piano, and of course acoustic guitar. Clashing symbols, quivering vocals, and a false ending give “Mosquito Song” an epic feeling unlike any other track on the album.