Believe it or not, there was a time where the members of N.W.A terrified a good majority of the world’s population. They were called “The World’s Most Dangerous Group,” and for good reason. They kicked ass, took names, and weren’t afraid to tell you about it. Now DJ Yella directs porn, MC Ren has all but disappeared, Ice Cube’s movies are a hit with the family-friendly crowd, and Eazy E (R.I.P.) is a Hot Topic t-shirt staple. And starting June 1st, Dr. Dre will try to sell you Dr. Pepper when you watch TV.

You can say they’ve “sold out” if you want to, but I’d imagine they’re probably pretty content with where they’re at (well … other than E, obviously). After all, wasn’t it Ice Cube himself who proclaimed that “life ain’t nothin’ but bitches and money”? I can’t attest to how many of the former this Dr. Pepper ad will send Dre’s way, but it’ll undoubtedly provide him with the latter.

The real importance of this commercial? Dr. Dre’s supposed final solo album, Detox, has been in the works for almost ten years now, and the mythology that surrounds it only continues to grow.  The song at the end of this spot, “Shit Popped Off” apparently comes from the his upcoming third record. It definitely resembles a Dre beat, but that’s about as much as I’m willing to confirm. To be honest, I can’t really tell what to make of it; it’s just nice to know that music from the album actually exists.

On July 25, Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki will make a rare U.S. appearance to accept a lifetime achievement award from the Berkeley Center of Japanese Studies, joining the likes of Clint Eastwood and Ang Lee as the latest world-class filmmaker to grace the UC Berkeley campus.

In an illustrious career that began in the 1980s (”Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind,” “Castle in the Sky”), prospered through the 1990s (”Princess Mononoke”) and maintains its brilliance through the 2000s (”Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle”), Miyazaki single-handedly redefined the possibilities of film animation. Brimming with inimitable wit and pathos, his works are the embodiment of excellence – labors of love with the power to move audiences regardless of age or cinematic preference.

Bottom line: If you’re going to be around for the summer (unlike myself, regrettably), don’t miss out!

Image Source: Tim Boucher

Okay, I lied. Love is hardly the operative word here, but that shouldn’t stop you from witnessing a pair of absolutely riveting trailers: Lars von Trier’s “Antichrist” and Johnnie To’s “Vengeance,” both screened recently at the ongoing 62nd Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24).

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Welcome back to Study Break, a series of discussions featuring study music picks on behalf of the Daily Cal Arts staff. After a brief introduction in last week’s Thursday print edition, we’ve moved this feature to the online blog for your reading convenience; if you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out Sam Stander’s previous entry and stay tuned for more insightful contributions from our team of writers in the near future.

As an intended Political Economy major, I’ve experienced first-hand the challenges of analyzing and synthesizing under pressure. With this in mind, I’ve prepared some of my own study music choices – namely, artists and albums that have not only influenced my appreciation of music, but also proved huge in my own academic endeavors throughout the years. In the meantime, I hope it can be of assistance to those of you mired in the general bedlam of final papers, all-night cram sessions and the like.

Best of luck, and happy listening!

1. The Mission by Ennio Morricone

I’m proud to say that I’ve conquered all-nighters and vanquished research papers with this album streaming through my speakers. Ennio Morricone is one of my favorite composers; the Italian maestro’s compositions are a testament to the power of music in the cinematic medium, providing countless movies with moments of indelible majesty. His work on Roland Joffe’s 1986 film “The Mission” remains a personal favorite of mine. As a shining example of film music, it’s euphonic and grand, cathartic and pure.

Listen to: Ennio Morricone – “Gabriel’s Oboe”
Listen to: Ennio Morricone – “Brothers”

2. Ratatat by Ratatat

Fueled by an impressive combination of driving guitar riffs and laid-back synths, Ratatat makes for superb study music. The album’s remarkable sense of energy and atmosphere not only helps me maintain my concentration, but also drives out the stress and fatigue that build up during crucial stretches of time. It’s a testament to Ratatat’s prodigious blend of electronica and post-rock (à la Daft Punk) that this gem of electronic music refreshes and inspires the way it does.

Listen to: Ratatat – “El Pico”
Listen to: Ratatat – “Desert Eagle”

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As the countdown to the air-conditioned, popcorn-munching movie season begins, blockbusters are already hitting theaters in grandiose fashion. Last Friday saw the premiere of “Star Trek,” opening nationwide to raves from critics and filmgoers alike. As it turns out, the film’s success may stand as a testament to J. J. Abrams’ skillful handling of the material – revamping an iconic franchise for modern audiences without detracting from its appeal amongst hardcore Trekkies.

Back on planet Earth, Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer) join forces to vanquish a secret society plotting against the Catholic Church in Ron Howard’s “Angels & Demons.” After 2006’s turgid “The Da Vinci Code,” here’s hoping the strong cast and a more viable script will result in a better film; in any case, fans of Dan Brown’s bestselling novel shouldn’t pass it up.

Two more films merit your attention. One is the product of a celebrated iconoclast, the other a reunion of two esteemed actors. Don’t miss:

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Welcome, True Believers, to the inaugural post in our Study Break series, which will feature the study music favorites of several members of the Daily Cal’s Arts Staff just in time for finals (see this feature from the Daily Californian’s print edition for a preview of what’s to come).

I’ll be your soundtracker this evening. The following list of albums (and a couple individual tracks) should encourage any keen mind’s efforts to learn complicated material and then synthesize it, all while hyped up on inconceivable quantities of caffeine (or other substances).

Keep in mind, I’m an English major, so I am most often occupied with reading fiction or poetry and writing essays (and articles for the Daily Cal, to boot). The music on this list is chiefly intended to complement said activities, though hopefully it will help you focus on your problem sets, too.

1. Burial by Burial
The first album by this formerly anonymous dubstep/electronic master mixes ambient oddness, engaging beats, and even some incredibly convincing rain sound effects. I never really thought about how perfect it was for studying till my friend insisted, but I can basically listen to this music anytime. It creates an immersive backdrop, on speakers or headphones, which means fewer distractions–it’s the sort of music where people talking in the next room, sirens on the street, or strains of Guitar Hero from your already-finished-with-finals floormates just seem like part of the sound.

Listen to: Burial – “Southern Comfort”

2. The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place by Explosions in the Sky
This old stand-by always helps me focus. Maybe the only post-rock album I’ve ever really loved. You’ve probably heard strains of EitS’s life-affirming muscle in one or two movie trailers. The rousing melodies will motivate you and the soaring instrumentation will calm your overclocked neurons. I put it on during the home stretch–the last 100 pages of a book, the second half of a paper–and fist-pump as I work. Though when I put it on to plow through the final third of “Paradise Lost” in one night, I think I was a bit too tired to raise my arm . . .

Listen to: Explosions in the Sky – “First Breath After Coma”

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Monday, May 4

8 p.m. “Greek” on ABC Family. SPOILER ALERT. Whoa, whoa, whoa–Max is proposing to Casey?? That seems a little sudden. And considering he’s made all the sacrifices in their relationship, my prediction? She’s saying no. And Evan is going to overdose on whatever drugs he’s doing.

8 p.m. “Gossip Girl” on the CW. Blair gets Georgina to help her scheme,  and Lily covertly helps Dan pay for college. I’m surprised this show is eliminating the whole Dan-as-faux-poor-while-living-it-up plot gambit.

8 p.m. “House” on Fox. A ballerina’s lungs collapse–and then her skin falls off. That sounds hilarious!

8:30 p.m. “How I Met Your Mother” on CBS. The yellow umbrella tease of a storyline comes back in the most frustrating of ways, and Barney approaches his 200th lay. (Click here to read more…)

Zhang Yimou is one of the most internationally acclaimed filmmakers of his generation.

Film industry insiders recently announced that acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou has begun work on his latest film, the two-part thriller-comedy feature “Three Guns.” Several thoughts immediately flashed through my mind, the strongest of which was a desire to rejoice, coupled with an immediate inkling of a doubt. Will this be a Zhang Yimou masterwork in the tradition of “To Live,” or will it follow in the footsteps of the atrocious “Curse of the Golden Flower” instead? Interesting.

Zhang Yimou’s impact on contemporary world cinema cannot be overstated. Since his 1987 debut feature “Red Sorghum,” the Xi’an-born filmmaker has accomplished two things: 1) raised awareness for Chinese cinema on an unprecedented global scale and 2) produced a body of work to rival that of Akira Kurosawa in terms of artistic quality and cultural influence. Take his sweeping period epic “To Live,” focused so intently on the tribulations of tragic souls during the Cultural Revolution; or his stunning “Raise the Red Lantern,” lamenting the repression of women in a prison-like family complex during the 1920s.

To many Westerners, especially those who have followed his career for the past decade, Zhang is mostly known for (Click here to read more…)

One week after my trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, the one play still seared into my mind is Director Gale Edwards‘ “Macbeth.” If you’re planning a trip to the festival, make sure to see it. It’s running the whole season till November 1. This is the sort of production that makes me regret ever giving good reviews to other plays. Sorry, guys, I take it all back. Everything sucked compared to this.

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Oh puberty. You are so ungainly, so unbecoming, and yet so endearing. In a show that promises to “finally answer all of your questions from middle-school sex ed” (not sure if that’s possible…), Impact Theater presents a collection of 10-minute plays, all about that awkward time between the ages of nine and 15 (10 and 17 for boys). “Impact Briefs-Puberty” is the ninth installment in what has become a yearly tradition over at Impact. An “Impact Brief” is exactly that: a brief play around 10 minutes in length coupled with other brief 10-minute plays to form a full length show. Angst-ridden, puberty-stricken, short-attention-span-afflicted theatergoers of the East Bay, rejoice!

“Impact Brief” topics of seasons past have included everything ranging from “Sinfully Delicious” to “From the Gutter”. “Puberty” could potentially be very funny–we all can relate. If anything, “Puberty” should at least be entertaining, as it always is at least entertaining to watch adults run around stage acting like 14-year-old middle schoolers. Impact Theater is located in the basement of La Val’s Pizza on Euclid. As always, tickets are fairly affordable ($12-17), and there will be pizza and beer if your heart so desires.

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