Issue 193 | February 3, 2011

VOTE Kliesing
Best of BCS ready to
NOW!
page 26
lead
page 7 page 18
2 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com
News & Views
Fuego is making its mark early
Photos by Valerie Clark
By Erica Pitman time at all, Fuego was opening its
doors on June 1, Moler said.
Texas A&M University and the surrounding
area of Bryan/College station is a community In the short time that Fuego has
with core values. As such, one of the newer been open, business has been
restaurants in town, Fuego Tortilla Grill, booming.
exemplifies these values to a T.
“It has been incredible. We have
“We are all about the food, quality and value,” grown in sales every month, but
Co-Owner and Founder Paul Moler said. more than that, we have set a
standard. We have the freshest
The food served in most Mexican restaurants food we could find and with quality,” Moler community and embraced the Aggie Spirit.
is usually a Tex-Mex version, nothing like real said.
Mexican food. With the creation of Fuego, “I bleed Maroon now; it was very easy for
the idea was to bring out some quality With 24 hour quality service, Fuego has me. The community is so embracing,” Moler
Mexican authenticity. quickly become a popular place for many said. “We built the restaurant for students
college students, and it has become a part at A&M. When I moved down here, I really
“The restaurant has been something in my of the Aggie community. Even on Monday got to learn about the community and the
head for about 8 years,” Moler said. “I got the nights, which are typically slower nights for spirit. We hire a lot of students, and we work
idea in Mexico while playing golf. It was all restaurants, Fuego has good business. Being around their schedules. The A&M students
about the street food they serve in Mexico, open all the time is also a plus, especially in really are a cut above. We are thrilled about
with the grilled meats. The more I started a college town where many students are where we are, and we could not be in a
thinking about it, the more I liked the idea. looking for a place to eat late. better place for the first Fuego restaurant.”
We have the taco trucks here, but that was
the closest thing to the food you get when “You get the same exact product at 3am that In addition to loving Fuego food, college
you go to Mexico.” you would get at 1pm. At Fuego, you will students and the surrounding community
never get left overs,” Moler said. “We prepare have embraced the restaurant partly due to
Wanting to serve real Mexican food, Moler food as we need it. We don’t take the meat its affordability.
along with his business partner David off of the rotisserie chicken until we are
Lovelace set to work on the Fuego creation, ready to prepare it, and we crack fresh eggs “What is great about Fuego, you can come
Moler said. Together with the General as needed. We believe in freshness.” in on a budget and walk away full for close
Manager David Girela and Jerry Mansera, to $5. But we are not the cheapest in town
a wonderful chef, they made an excellent On a good Saturday, Fuego can have up to because we believe in value. We cater to
team. 1500 customers, many of them students, everyone; some people can come in there
and throughout the whole day, have and spend $15. We really fit everyone’s
“Every aspect of the business, David helped excellent fresh food served in a reasonable budget, no one is left out.”
me with. From the colors to the design, he is time frame.
very much involved and tuned in to Fuego, With the possibilities of more locations and
and we are having fun with it,” Moler said. “In this organized chaos, we have served franchising, Fuego’s future looks bright.
“David Girela is the guy who really held us more than 1500 people with 80 seats and a
together, and we owe a lot to him, and Jerry drive through, and I still haven’t seen anyone “Our goal is to continue to get better, to not
Mansera is the man who perfected our menu. have to wait more than 15 minutes for their to be stagnate, Moler said. “We would like to
He really brought the quality of our food up, food,” Moler said. see many Fuego Resturants, but right now it
and our food is now on a whole new level.” is one Fuego at a time.”
Moving to College Station for four months
The actual restaurant was in the works for in preparation and for the operation of the For Fuego Tortilla Grill, the sky really is the
just under 18 months, and in practically no restaurant, Moler quickly became a part of the limit.
www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16 MAROON WEEKLY | 3
 News & Views

Publisher
Mick Maynard
Meet and Greet: Arab Students
Caviar Dreams: Font
Business Manager
Andrea Maynard
Association
Editor in Chief
Chris Shepperd
By Joshua Howell important positions and sub-Committees, are many cultures and celebrations in the
MANAGING EDITOR which take part. The Association consists Middle East that are very wonderful and
Chris Zebo
The Arab Students Association, only recently of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, once people get to know them, they will
Design/Layout founded in the Fall semester of 2010 by Secretary, Event Coordinator, Public love them; from food, dancing, singing and
Cara Matocha, C2-Studios Inc.
four of its current members Diana Zubeidi, Relations Officer, Education Officer, and a much more,” Zubeidi said.
writers Ameer Al Dagher, Ahmed Almoaber, and Community Service Officer.
Kassie Cessna Sherrill Mogonye Isaaq Alshaikh, actually began work on the However, as previously mentioned, the
Autumn Dawson Gabrielle Nguyen
Turner Dawson Brandon Nowalk association as early as the Spring semester Like the previously mentioned African Arab Students Association is still, for all
Mallory Dykowski Erica Pitman of yesteryear. During this time, elections Students Association, one does not have intents and purposes in its genesis. Though
Josh Howell Megan Roiz
Nichelle Jaeger Ian Soares took place to determine all the requisite to be Arab or of Arab descent to join the they have many goals, their first semester
Sarabeth Lacy Ryan Stone
Mara Minsberg Joey Trevino positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Association. The Association welcomes all in existence was primarily devoted to
etc. who are interested in learning about the properly organizing their association and
Photographers
Valerie Clark many Arab traditions, lifestyles, and cultures, determining exactly what it is they wish to
The current president, Diana Zubeidi was and neither pushes nor supports political do. This semester they plan to initiate their
Distribution
Kyler Dillon
elected Vice President during the election. agendas or policies. community service plans by taking part
Andy Nguyen However, being as the President-elect had as a group in Big Event and Relay for Life
Becca Nelms to withdraw before the A&M recognition “We would like to expand our knowledge respectively.
interns process began and, according to their and culture to many other interested
Vladimir Amador
Association’s constitution, the Vice President nationalities. We will be giving basic Arabic As for now, they are making progress. They
Maggie Dotson
Ryan Frische becomes the President in such situations, classes, and we will have events that will have participated in The Cultural Celebration
Cameron Gott
Lana Rothe
Zubeidi had to step up, and began the allow non-Arab members to explore the of the Middle East Event held by Qatar Texas
approval and recognition process at the different Middle Eastern cultural events,” A&M University Office in the fall semester of
commencement of the Fall 2010 semester. Zubeidi explained. last year.
The group was founded with the idea of
forming a social organization, which could There is also an often-held misconception, “We are normal people just like anybody
Maroon Weekly is an independent, student-owned bind Arab Aggies as well as represent the similar to misconceptions about Africa, that else that not just thrive for education, but
publication and is not affiliated with A&M University.
Maroon Weekly receives no student fees Middle East with a responsible face. Together, the Middle East is culturally monolithic. also love to celebrate our culture [and]
or university funding. they attempt to remove the “blind fold” music,” Zubeidi said. “Our part is to bring all
Opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily conceptions of the Middle East, conceptions “We also would like to portray all the that fun stuff along with our education and
reflect the views and opinions of the editor, publisher
or the newspaper staff. Maroon Weekly is not liable for that are fostered by poor representations in different cultures that occur in the Middle blend it in[to] this amazing society.”
omissions, misprints to typographical errors. No part of the news media. East because it is not just one culture. There
this publication may be reproduced without the
express consent of the publisher.
1st copy is FREE, additional copies
are $0.50 each
“Our association brings in all the different Once a year,
Maroon Weekly
cultures in the Middle East into one place.
Our focus is to bring in things that people
we becOme experts
110 Lincoln St. #107
haven’t seen or experienced before and to
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make people change the way they perceive
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other Texas A&M organizations go about

achieving theirs: community service. In order
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4 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com

1/6/11

Say hello to a
familiar face:
Stover returns
By Sherrill Mogonye
Everyone loves a story of redemption and
luckily for local restaurateur, Charles Stover,
this may be the beginning of his tale. Unless
you’ve been living under a rock, you know of
Stover’s history within the Brazos Valley. He
was the recent owner of two buzz worthy
eating spots in the area, Stover Boys Burgers
and Square One Bistro. And despite diners’
acclaims, both businesses closed within the
last six months due to the owner’s unwise
investments and a malevolent protest. It
seemed like a scenario that had no happy
ending, but Stover is now making amends
and it appears there may be a light at the
end of the tunnel.
Village Foods, located on Briarcrest Drive,
is the only grocery store in the area that
committed to supporting local business
owners and keeping money within the
community. Jim Lewis, owner of Village
Foods, has partnered with Stover and is
currently opening a new dining spot called
Stover Bros. Café, within the grocery store.
The new eatery will likely merge the flavors
of Stover Boys’ mouth-watering take-out
and Square One’s refined home-style food.
Lewis’s generosity will help Stover redeem
his reputation. Stover’s supporters will once
again get to savor his food and his zestful
nature. Whether you love or loathe Mr.
Stover’s sarcastic and outspoken nature,
you cannot deny his passion to make good
food and deliver quality service. I, for one,
think his food has been as soulful as a
mother’s Sunday dinner and cannot wait to
see what’s in store at the new café.
“Our menus are different, our approach is
different,” Stover said.
On the mybcs.com forum, which he
frequents, Stover goes on to explain that
there will be meatloaf sandwiches, burgers,
lasagna, catfish and even chicken and
buttermilk dumplings. Since the location is
shared with the Village Foods deli, there are
endless possibilities for soups, salads, and
lighter fare. He mentions that they intend
to serve up southern food, hand-made
lunches, breakfast options, specialty burgers
and sandwiches, and affordable take home
dinners for the family.
The café is currently doing trial runs on
menu items and altering their recipes. They
plan to be open Monday through Saturday
from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during their
first month or two. Their hopes are also to
feature desserts and other items not seen
from either previous menu. I’m confident
the food will not be a letdown.
Help support this local business and stop by
for what is sure to be a lip smacking lunch
or take home dinner. It may seem like an
unconventional locale, but Charles Stover
is determined to redeem himself and this is
certainly a window of opportunity.
Village Foods and home of the new Stover
Bros. Café is located at 1760 Briarcrest Drive,
Bryan, TX 77802.
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onweek
On campus clubs:
Matthew Gaines
Initiative
By Joshua Howell
Currently, at our beloved school, there
are two historical mahatmas whose
names are spoken with a distinct tone
of reverence: Lawrence Sullivan “Sul”
Ross, whose statue, the last hope for
students who have improperly prepared
for their midterms or finals, can be found
in Academic Plaza and John J. Koldus,
who currently has a building named in his
honor. However, both of these paragons
of A&M spirit are somewhat marred with
controversy.
“Sul” Ross, while being a Governor of Texas,
a President of A&M, and one who saved it
from the brink of closure, was also a general
in the Confederate Army (a particular
sticking point amongst minorities). John
Koldus, famous for allowing women into
what was then an all male school, can
be analyzed under a slightly different
light when historical context reveals it
was either the admission of women,
or serious problems with the school’s
finances. In short, the school’s closure was
a legitimate possibility if women were not
allowed into the institution.
There is another figure of A&M history,
however, who has yet to be aggrandized
in a similar manner, whose history is not
tainted by the aforementioned foibles,
and whose service to the state of Texas
and A&M make him, at the very least, as
equally an important a figure as the likes
of both Sullivan and Koldus.
Matthew Gaines, a former slave, born in
1840, who rose to become a Republican
State Senator, was also integral in
establishing free public education
in the state. It was he who signed the
appropriate legislation that allowed Texas
A&M to take part in the Morrill Land
Grant College Act. To put it as simply and
bluntly as can be put, without the efforts
of Matthew Gaines, no matter the efforts
of Koldus or “Sul” Ross, Texas A&M would
have never been founded. The Matthew
Gaines Initiative is a student organization
www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16
News & Views
seeking to rectify his absence in the
campus statuary.
The Matthew Gaines Initiative, an
“ad-hoc Committee to the Carter G. Black
Awareness Committee” according to
Gabrielle Royal, consists of three sub-
Committees: Outreach, Design and
Finance, and is lead by Royal, Valecia
Battle, and Amber Briggs.
“We are interested in installing an icon
on campus. We have been brainstorming
several ways to do this, including a statue,
a mural, or perhaps a monumental rest
area on campus. We feel having this
visual will honor the efforts of leaders
that created a foundation for A&M. Many
of those historical leaders have been
forgotten,” explained Royal.
If the Initiative were to be successful, A&M
would have its first statue or memorial
of a person of color. At a school where,
according to education-portal.com,
white non-hispanics make up 79.8% of
undergraduate enrollment, having some
visual icon of a figure of color would shed
light on the diversity of A&M’s history.
Similar initiatives have been more
successful at UT, most likely because of
their much more diverse undergraduates.
In 1999, where before the only statues
on the UT campus were four prominent
confederates (including Robert E. Lee and
Jefferson David), the school unveiled a
statue of Martin Luther King Jr.
“An acknowledgment of the diversity of
our past will aid the diversity of our future.
For minorities on campus it would allow
for some sense of belonging. Yes, we’re
all Aggies, and we ‘Bleed Maroon,’” Battle
said. “But we have to see representations
of men who would not stand for some
of us being Aggies, and we know this
because we know the history. Having
these representations here and nothing
to combat them reaffirms that Texas A&M
is a ‘white space,’ and we’re just visiting
scholars.”
MAROON WEEKLY | 5
 News & Views

Taco Tuesday’s at Ozona Bar and Grill

Rosa’s are bueno delights the senses
Photo by Mallory Dykowski By Megan Roiz
Photos by Valerie Clark

Ozona Grill & Bar,

despite being named
after it, does not have
a location in Ozona,
Texas. Lucky for us
Bryan-College Station
folk, we have our very
own taste of West
Texas on Harvey Road.

Ozona Grill & Bar

is named after the
unincorporated city of Ozona, Texas, a small, West Texas town nicknamed “The
Biggest Little Town in the World.” Much like the rather isolated town, the restaurant is
quite independent and unique, and it offers the same hometown warmth.

By Mallory Dykowski “Seriously, I think they are the best tortillas I A diverse menu and large selection of drinks are what draw patrons to Ozona. The
have ever had.” restaurant boasts a rather impressive, award-winning Bloody Mary bar (from which
Everyone knows Tuesdays in College Station non-alcoholic Bloody Marys are also available) and dollar margaritas on Mondays.
is the best time to eat out. Many places like They offer anything from single items, family
Fazoli’s, and Double Dave’s offer great meal feasts, and even desserts. When you place Lunch specials are
deals. your order at Rosas, they take your name inexpensive, given
and call you when your food is ready. There portion sizes. From
Probably the most popular special is Taco is always a staff member roaming around Monday through
Tuesday, offered at Rosas Café. Taco Tuesday cleaning tables or asking how they could be Friday, every week,
includes your choice of three beef or chicken of assistance. from 11am to 4pm,
tacos, crispy or soft, with rice and beans for diners can enjoy
only $3.69 all day. Pricing and nutrition facts for all items are a thick-cut pork
available on the website. chop served with
Tacos, however, are not the only their only cranberry relish,
specialty. Rosas doubles as a Tortilla Factory. Weiser said their prices are pretty decent for garlic toast and a
Rosas Café is located on 710 East University the quality of food that you get. choice of salad,
Drive in College Station. or two Tacos Al
“They don’t have a dollar menu or anything Carbon with sides
“Rosas is really nice because it is a high like that. It’s definitely a step above Taco Bell, of Spanish rice and
quality Mexican food in a fast food format,” so as a result the prices are a little higher refried beans for less than $10.
Emily Weiser, a Senior at Texas A&M said. than Taco Bell.”
The restaurant hours are 10 am to 11 pm For the weekend brunch crowds, Ozona has a good selection of hill country dishes,
Sunday through Thursday and 10 am to The restaurant is a casual one, but it is all served with rosemary potatoes and fresh fruit. Brunch is served from 8am to 2pm
midnight Friday through Saturday. decorated very colorful and in Spanish- on Saturdays and Sundays.
themed items.
”They have great food even if you pull There is always a crowd
through the drive-thru, but if you feel like Weiser said she loves Rosas because it is a and fun to be had at
having a sit-down meal instead, you can great place to sit and chat with friends while Ozona. With familiar,
do that there also,” Weiser said. “My favorite enjoying satisfactory food. hometown meal
is their chicken fajita burritos with queso. choices and a comfy,
Yum!” You can register on Rosas website for their warm atmosphere,
VIP membership, which includes special Ozona is the place to
She said their homemade tortillas are offers for joining and on your birthday. be. For more menu
amazing and that is a main reason the information and a
burritos are so delicious. But don’t take Weiser’s word for it. With chance to join the
great food, prices, location and hours of Ozona Grill & Bar staff,
Tortillas can be sold separately in fresh packs operation, why not check them out today? check out OzonaGrill.
to take home and enjoy. com!

6 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com

 Arts & Entertainment
Hunter McKithan and the Offenders at Church Street Feb 9th
By Chris Zebo
We’ve chosen Hunter McKithan and the
Offenders as February’s Artist of the Month
for two reasons. First, frontman Hunter
McKithan is what you’d call a “musician’s
musician.” Over the past 7 years, when he
wasn’t performing with his popular 4-piece
band at gigs all over Texas, he shed the
Offenders and played solo practically every
week in the Greater Houston area. He’s
spent quite a lot of time on stage, refining
his music, and he’s paid his dues connecting
with his fans.
The second and most important reason
the group was chosen is squarely a critical
one. When you’re judging local acts, you
gauge their growth and the evolution of
their sound by listening to their albums
chronologically. And with the group’s latest
release, Not Broken Yet, Hunter and the
band have shown what seven years of
writing, gigging, recording…and starving
can do to an artist. In their case, it made
them good.
The group has only released three albums-
-the most recent dropped only two weeks
ago. And that’s not an awful lot of records
for a band that’s been around for a while.
But according to McKithan, they’d rather
take their time preparing great albums
rather than release many poor ones hastily.
Consequently, over the years the band has
forged a solid sound that McKithan describes
as a balanced mix of “rock, southern
rock, blues, alt-country and a little soul.”
McKithan’s personal songwriter influences,
such as Ryan Adams, Mike McClure, and
Ben Harper have also lent the group a more
personal appeal up front.
For the group’s recent release, Not Broken
Yet, McKithan and the band got the chance
of a lifetime in the recording studio. One of
McKithan’s musical heroes, Mike McClure,
sat behind the sound booth as producer
and even sat in on a couple of songs,
contributing guitar tracks and backing
vocals. McClure, the producer of Cross
Canadian Ragweed and numerous other
Red Dirt artists--including Stoney LaRue
and Jason Boland--kept the band focused
throughout the recording of the new album.
“I’ve always looked up to him,” McKithan says
of McClure. “He’s one of the reasons I started
writing songs.”
On the new album, the group comes across
fuller, focused and sounding produced by
someone with experience. “No Prisoners”
sounds like a fusion of today’s Texas
Country with hard rock and blues--the
more contemporary blues rock you’d hear
in groups like The Black Crowes. It’s also got
a southern rock roadhouse punch that’s
heavy-fisted but won’t leave any holes in
your walls--it’s just the right marriage of grit
and grace. “Hey Little Girl” leans more in the
soul and blues direction but doesn’t lose any
of the album’s momentum (and the album
really doesn’t take a slow-song breath for
longer than a track or two). Throughout
“Hey Little Girl”, T. Ray Porche’s guitar shreds
a background track and sounds so smooth
and effortless you might think he’s picking
with his eyes closed (although you know
it took years and years to learn how to play
that well).
The album’s title track, “Not Broken Yet”, is
a quasi hard rock number that teases the
www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16
boundaries between rock and soul. There’s
an organ in there (it returns in other songs,
too) that adds a dimension of soul that
sounds right out of a Deep South Church
(minus the choir). It’s a nice sound that looks
good on these guys, and hopefully they’ll
play around more with the organ in future
recordings.
“Not Broken Yet” is as polished and produced
as every other song on the album, which
is probably owed in part to McClure’s
production effort, but not completely. It’s
obvious from the level of musicianship and
songwriting on this new release that Hunter
and the Offenders are now self-sufficient
and ready to take the reigns of their own
destiny.
Hunter McKithan and the Offenders will
be celebrating their new record release
and playing a show in College Station in
the beginning of February. You can find
out more about their music by visiting the
band’s website at huntermckithan.com. To
hear a sneak peak of what their latest album
sounds like head to www.maroonweekly.
com and download their latest single.
MAROON WEEKLY | 7
 Arts & Entertainment
Fashion Sense:
Dressing to the nines
By Sarabeth Lacy
Those who relocate to Bryan/College station
for either school or work often meet with
surprise and relief upon the realization
that numerous nightlife destinations exist
despite big city rumors. One can enjoy
the conflicting vision of cowboy boots
stomping to pop rock and techno at one of
many Northgate clubs, peruse the creations
of local artists at the Village Downtown, or
enjoy a serene dinner at the Republic.
With more nightlife options than potentially
expected, many girls consequently approach
the timeless question: “What am I going to
wear?” I am so glad you asked!
I completely understand and support
women who hope to avoid matronly or dull
wardrobes. Having said that, I grow weary of
witnessing the obligatory weekend group
of girls traipsing from La Bodega to Gatsby’s
all wearing identical satin miniskirts and
five inch spike heels purchased at Charlotte
Russe. This is not the set of Pretty Woman,
Ladies, and we will not attract honest
intentions if we insist upon wearing such
items.
Moreover, we do not exude originality or
individuality when donning what I shall now
refer to as the “club uniform”. The greatest
attribute of a wardrobe is the ability to
exude self expression without speaking a
word, and two girls standing next to each
other wearing the club uniform quickly
dissolve into white noise.
What attire is appropriate for which setting,
and where can a penniless college student
or a money conscious post-grad pick up a
few novel items?
If Northgate bars and clubs prove appealing,
Forever21 in Post Oak Mall carries plenty
of affordable options that run the style
gambit. Flouncy tops adorned with vintage
8 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com
patterns or flowers can transform a pair
of good jeans into “have you lost weight?”
jeans when paired with heels. If you prefer
a more structured look to boho chic, pencil
jeans and blazers are always in stock. Avoid
Forever21’s collection of actual evening
dresses unless you weigh less than 120 lbs.
and are shorter than 5’5”. Otherwise, you will
make a style u-turn and arrive right back at
our Pretty Woman scenario.
Dinner dates present a more complex series
of options. The same outfits previously
described can work for casual restaurants,
but let us assume this is a step up the
glamour ladder. I am a huge proponent of
T.J. Maxx, as designers from Max Azria to Ellie
Tahari crowd the dress racks at extremely
modest prices, and various styles and
silhouettes prevail.
An LBD (little black dress) exudes an inviting
sophistication but also presents a necessary
decision. Do you prefer to show a bit more
décolletage or a bit more leg? Exposing
everything all at once flings sophistication
right out the window. In fact the same rule
should apply to a more romantic, feminine
dress or a structured vintage piece.
After you settle on the skin factor, choose
a silhouette that hugs the smallest part of
your waist and flows away from your less
than toned parts; we all have them. Parading
around in a dress that is two sizes too small
or shrouding yourself in something too
large will both produce the same effect;
you will look heavier than you are. On the
other hand, sporting a dress tailored to your
specific shape can create the illusion that
you lost ten pounds.
Most importantly, wear something that you
love because it speaks to you and about you.
Do not copy the cover of People Magazine
or your roommate. Let people know what
you think about fashion by showing them.
Trust me, you will turn more heads.
 Arts & Entertainment

Artist Sp tlight
By Joey Trevino

As the years go by one thing

is always certain, bands may
come and bands may go.
Some bands have to break
up for whatever reason;
some band members can
go on to the busy world
of eight-to-five jobs and
some might have another
path to find. Whatever the
case might be the bands
that stick through the good
times and bad always seem to find their niche and continue to bring their talents to the
fans that want them.

Although the original line up may have changed, Clairmont is one of those bands that
have withstood the test of time.

The band formed in College Station in 2004 with the idea of bringing fresh and
entertaining music to audiences in the BCS as well as across the state of Texas. Later that
year, the band was featured as the title track to the Esotype Records compilation entitled
“The Real Life Threats of You and Me.”

In 2005 the band released their debut EP, “The Dweller,” which they feel showcased the
wealth of talent, creativity and intensity that the band offers their listeners.

After their first release, Clairmont went through a change in line up as well as a
change in style. They began testing the limits of samples and programmed loops as an
accompaniment to their sound. In 2008 Clairmont went back into the studio, “Strength
Like Lions,” the bands second album and first major release was a testament to the way
they had evolved as musicians yet kept what audiences enjoyed about their original
sound.

“The same clean-cut, driving electricity was present but electronic samples were added
to construct additional layers to the sound,” said Josh Taylor, vocalist and guitar player for
Clairmont. “The samples consisted of synth leads, ambient pads, drum loops and tones to
develop our music as a tonally-rich powerhouse.”

According to the band, Clairmont is currently developing ideas for a third release, which
is tentatively scheduled to drop sometime in 2011.

“The third album will play host to an exciting culmination of new ideas, fresh sounds, a
unique mixture of styles, while retaining the same thoughtful, encouraging and powerful
sound that the band has developed through the years,” said Taylor.

Clairmont, currently a two-piece group, features Taylor as well as Ben Love on Bass,
samples and Vocals. You can see them live on stage Feb. 11 in San Antonio with Hawk
Nelson. You can also check them out on Twitter, @clairmont, their website, www.
clairmontonline.com, on iTunes or by visiting www.freeclairmont.com for free music and
a sneak peak of their new album.

Although they say that no one can see the future, they hope to still be making music for
years to come.

www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16 MAROON WEEKLY | 9

 Arts & Entertainment
B u s h L ib r a r y
Sojourner:
By Mara Minsberg
Whenever I move to a new city, I always find
that it takes the motivating force of a visiting
friend or relative to get me to check out some
of my local attractions. With the hubbub of
daily life, I tend to focus more on getting
acclimated and finding the things I need on
a regular basis instead of venturing out in
search of cultural sites or museums.
The term “new” is relative here, of course;
I have lived in the Bryan/College Station
area for over six months. With the occasion
of my parents’ visiting, however, I finally
have my long-awaited excuse to investigate
some local must-see tourist sites. Their first
request is to visit the George Bush Library
and Museum, an admittedly short trek I am
unlikely to make without their suggestion.
As one of Aggieland’s most prominent and
historically significant attractions, though, my
parents justifiably feel it should be a part of
their time in College Station. We decide it
is the perfect indoor choice for a dark and
rainy afternoon and embark on a visit to
the George Bush Presidential Library and
Museum.
10 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com
With the help of some very friendly and
knowledgeable docents, we map out our
plan for seeing the museum. As a group,
we delve into The Heart Truth’s Red Dress
Collection exhibit, a heart-disease awareness
campaign display featuring red dresses worn
by contemporary celebrities and former first
ladies. While the political weight of the exhibit
is certainly negligible, it is a fun concept and
a worthy cause for attention. Though my
father and fiancé breeze through this one
with barely a glance, my mother and I enjoy
an opportunity to pass judgment on the
wardrobe choices of bygone first ladies like
Lou Hoover and Mamie Eisenhower.
Moving into the main museum, we examine
endless personal photos and artifacts detailing
the former president’s early life and family
experiences. The exhibits and displays are
well-laid out and organized in an interesting
and visually pleasing manner; even if you enter
the museum with relatively low curiosity, it is
difficult not to let the information draw you
in and pique your attention. We browse a
thorough account of George Bush’s parents’
lives, childhood, early stirrings of romance
with a young Barbara, and even a makeshift
wedding album detailing the couple’s
nuptials. I had never previously felt a major
interest in this particular president, but the
engaging exhibits make me curious to learn
more about Bush not only as a politician but
also as an individual.
We explore the ups and downs of Bush’s
political career, observing relics from his time
as an ambassador in China and reading
accounts of his rise to Vice President and
President. While the content of the exhibits
is generally value neutral, its expository tone
is usually more informative than politically
persuasive. Our group particularly enjoys
exhibits featuring remnants of the Berlin
Wall, the Gulf War theater, and the public gifts
received from various heads of state. Though
clearly not the educational high point of our
trip, we all also get a kick out of a chance
to pose in a replica of the Oval Office (for a
price, of course) and to receive an allegedly
“personalized” auto-signed letter from the
former president or first lady.
Whatever your personal political affiliation,
the George Bush Presidential Library and
Museum is a compelling experience because
Photos by Stephen Heger
it affords an opportunity to view history
through the focused perspective of a single
person. You have a chance to browse a
relatively wide span of our nation’s history
from the lens of a single individual. Seeing
his personal family photos and artifacts
arranged in a manner conducive to weaving
his personal narrative makes me think what
my own plotline might look like in fifty or
sixty years. Though it is unlikely the majority
of us will ever achieve such fame or political
prominence, it is gripping to consider the
sort of legacy we will live behind. I am fairly
certain a museum will never be erected
in my honor, but its impact leads me to
consider my own daily actions and decisions
in the context of leading a life worthy of
examination.
The George Bush Presidential Library and
Museum is located at 1000 George Bush
Drive West in College Station. Hours are
Monday through Saturday 9:30 AM to 5:00
PM, Sundays 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Adult
admission is $7; Blinn and TAMU students
are eligible for free admission. For more
information, visit their website at http://
bushlibrary.tamu.edu.
 Arts & Entertainment

New Dining Delights find their way to BCS

By Nichelle Jaeger
Photos by Stephen Heger

No college town would be complete without

great restaurants and with a name like College
Station, you can guarantee there are a few
places that specialize in satisfying your hunger.
Several new restaurants have made their way
to the BCS area and a few are already open
for business.

The most anticipated new restaurant, Chuy’s,

opens its doors on Feb. 1. All of the self-
proclaimed Mexican food coinsures will not
be able to resist this restaurant. Chuy’s menu
is jam-packed with variety. It has all of the
traditional dishes like burritos, queso and
margaritas and unlike several Mexican food
restaurants, Chuy’s has New Mexico style
green chili. Aside from the great food, Chuy’s
has great parking. It’s located in the Post
Oak Mall parking lot, so parking spaces are
abundant.

A great restaurant for date night is Tony

Roma’s, which will open soon in Bryan, next
to the movie theater. This restaurant features
a gamut of dining delights, including seafood,
steak and their signature ribs. Tony Roma’s has
over 200 restaurants and located in 17 states
six continents, making it the largest casual
theme restaurant in the world. Including the
Bryan location, there are six Tony Roma’s in
Texas.
If everyone in your group is hungry for
something different, check out Knockouts
Grille House. From burgers and buffalo wings
to steaks and salads, this place has it all.
Knockouts recently opened on University
Drive and they invited people to come out
for a new experience. They open every day
at 11:00 a.m. and are open until at least 11:00
every night.

Newk’s Express Café is another new restaurant

in the BCS area and is located at 1613
University Drive. The founders of McAllister’s
Deli started the Newk’s franchise to provide
customers with a faster dining experience,
while maintaining the high quality of food.
Newk’s menu is similar to McAllister’s offering
fresh sandwiches, pizzas and salads. If you are
ordering lunch at the office or just want to eat
something on the lighter side, Newk’s Express
Café has what you are looking for.

Typically, more students at Texas A&M means

fewer opportunities for families to eat out,
but with new restaurants coming to the area,
there will be plenty of tables for all. Be sure to
check out all of the new restaurants. You may
find a new favorite!
www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16 MAROON WEEKLY | 11
 Arts & Entertainment
book review
matched by Ally condie
By Gabrielle Nguyen
With the increasing use of dating websites
such as eHarmony.com and Match.com and
the decreasing stigma attached, it makes
you wonder: can a computer algorithm
really help you find love? In Ally Condie’s
Matched, the Society does just that for each
and every citizen.
Matched is a young adult novel set in a
dystopian future in which the reigning
entity, known as the Society, controls every
single aspect of life, from what job you have
to whom you are Matched with to marry
and even when you die. The leading lady
of the story, Cassia, is content to live in the
only world she has ever known. When a
fateful mistake shows two different guys as
her Match, though, she begins her journey
in questioning and discovering the true
potential of a life with choices.
Condie details a horrific future in which every
choice is limited in order to better“appreciate”
what is offered. Citizens are allowed to enjoy
from a selection of 100 poems, 100 stories,
100 movies, 100 paintings, etc., while the
countless remaining are destroyed. Rules are
also applied to maintain fairness among the
people. Uniforms are mandatory at all times,
and officials confiscate family heirlooms in
order to create equality among all.
Amongst all of these regulations, Condie
intensifies the suspense with every page
turn. Each citizen is also required to carry
a container of three pills: a blue pill with
enough nutrients to survive for a few days
without food as long as there is water; a
green pill which acts as a sedative, calming
12 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com
any anxiety; and an ominous red pill, whose
purpose is unknown.
All the while, Cassia is a believable and likable
hero. As she discovers the true nature of the
Society, she rebels. Yet, she is realistically
reluctant to accept that what she has known
and adhered to is wrong. She is ultimately a
good person who has difficult decisions to
make in an unforgiving world.
Beware: Matched ends on a cliffhanger, as it
is the first book in a trilogy. Matched is an
entertaining novel that, if it were summer,
would be on the top of the list of books to
bring to the beach.
The second installment of the Matched
trilogy, Crossed, is slated to be released
in November of 2011. In the meantime,
readers might also enjoy Coraline by Neil
Gaiman (where a young girl discovers a
portal into a seemingly perfect world with
seemingly perfect parents) and City of
Masks by Mary Hoffman (in which a young
boy is transported to an alternate version of
old Italy).
Movie Review:
King's Speech
By Brandon Nowalk
It was the best of times, it was the worst
of times. Considering how great most of
its shallow, middlebrow awards bait was,
2010 was an outstanding movie year. Black
Swan is a fun psycho ballet picture that
vaults right over its tired duality motif, The
King’s Speech is a grand uplift that leaves
its historical significance to the intertitles,
and The Fighter is a jolt of ‘90s energy
anchored by hilariously big performances.
Unlike 2009 (Precious, Up in the Air), 2008
(Milk, Slumdog Millionaire), 2007 (Michael
Clayton, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly),
and practically every other year, the prestige
pictures of 2010 thankfully don’t wallow
in self-seriousness. If we must have these
flighty golddiggers, the least they can do is
provide a fun entertainment. Danny Boyle’s
127 Hours, recently nominated for Best of which features prominently in the trailer,
Picture and Best Actor at the Oscars and and by the end you just want to give Franco
playing a special engagement at Cinemark, the Oscar and call it a night.
may not have much on its mind, but it sure
is a grand, ole time. The problem, as I already suggested, is that
the film is basically a motivational poster.
That’s not sarcasm. 127 Hours is a stirring You can just see Franco’s one-and-a-half-
little picture, helped by AR Rahman’s big, armed figure in a sea of sandstone on a
triumphant score, not to mention the true black background with the serifed words
story. James Franco plays Aron Ralston, an “Never Give Up” emblazoned on the bottom.
adrenaline junkie in Utah who finds himself Boyle tries to dramatize Ralston’s plight with
pinned to a boulder in a deep crevasse and, a half-baked backstory about his selfishness
after five days, summons the courage to cut isolating and ultimately endangering him,
but Franco’s so charming and the script’s so
his trapped arm off with his pocketknife.
disinterested that we never really buy it.
The reenactment’s already legendary for
inspiring fainting spells, but reports of gore
are overblown. That’s not to say it’s an easy Worse, 127 Hours promotes two epiphanies
sit—there’s at least one image and one that were erroneous when they showed up
sound that still have me cringing—but the in Into the Wild a few years ago. The first is
sequence clocks in at less than five minutes, that isolation is meaningless. Thoreau might
and Boyle’s constant cutting softens the disagree; we’ll call it a draw. The second is
blow. that we in civilization take too much for
granted. We should all genuflect before our
Franco commands the screen for an hour dripping faucets and lie prostrate in the
and a half, juggling Ralston’s mischievous face of computers or something. Sorry, but
humor, resigned melancholy, and teeth- wagging fingers and inspirational messages
gritting determination. In the film’s best are cinema spam, cheap, temporarily
scene, sun-drunk Ralston is pretending to satisfying imitations of substance that make
you truly appreciate the real thing.
interview himself on a morning show, part

book review:
Unearthly by Cynthia hand
By Autumn Dawson
Cynthia Hand’s debut novel, Unearthly, is full
of unexpected surprises and delights, and
angel books are by no means my genre du
jour. But this one surprised me, grabbed me,
and refused to let go until I’d turned the last
page well into the wee hours of the morning.
Our story opens with Clara, a young girl
with abilities that must be kept tightly
leashed, for the cost of being discovered
is not something she can afford. But that
becomes more difficult than she would
have imagined, when her family moves and
she meets the boy from her dreams. The boy
she knows she must save; the boy from her
visions of a forest consumed by flames.
The most intriguing aspect of Unearthly
is the author’s unparalleled development
of characters. The main character, Clara, is
trying to balance life as a teenager while
dealing with the fact that she’s one-fourth
angel and slowly coming into her powers.
Unlike other supernatural reads where the
protagonist is perfect and powerful, Clara
struggles with life in a way we can all too
easily relate to. She klutzes out, gets red-
faced in front of the boy she likes, has
to learn how to be good at something
like flying, and is faced with tough, life-
altering decisions. It’s unusual, especially for
a young adult novel, that characters live on
to dance through my head long after the
story is read, but that is precisely what Hand
accomplished with this stunning debut.
The second surprise in this novel was the
unexpectedly enjoyable love triangle.
Normally—and I mean, ninety-nine percent
of the time—I detest love triangles! So when
I initially realized that’s where we were
headed, I groaned aloud. It was all typical
at first: Girl falls for the unattainable high
school superstar, and remains oblivious to
the cute, adorable guy who really likes her.
But it changes. Oh, how it changes! While
Clara is definitely torn between the two
main guys, it‘s never your typical “Ugh!I love
them both,” story. Instead, she had one love
born of a sense of duty and honor, while
the other, well, the other…is more along
the lines of a true love that’s impossible to
anticipate, control, or understand. Despite
that, my opinion on who I wanted her to
end up with altered more frequently than
one of the Greek God’s bed partners.
Fellow bookworms, this is one of those
books you’ll want to give a permanent spot
to in your library. It’s the first of a trilogy in
which I’m impatiently awaiting the next
novel. The characters are unforgettable,
the plot uniquely woven, and the ended
something I never saw coming. All in all,
this would have to be one of my most
highly recommended YA books, and I hope
everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
Thursday, February 3
events
Ben Morris and the Boxcar Chorus @ La
Bodega
Original College Night @ Texas Hall of Fame
Singer/Songwriter Night @ The Village Café
Party on the Patio @ Ozona Grill and Bar
Karaoke @ Schotzi’s
One Red Martian @ Stafford Main St.
Friday, February 4
First Friday in Downtown Bryan
Claire Domingue @ La Bodega
Ryan Beaver CD Release Party @ Texas Hall
of Fame
Emory Quinn and Push Water @ Schotzi’s
Wade Bowen @ Hurricane Harry’s
SMUT and Possessed By Paul James @
Stafford Main St.
Saturday, February 5
The Pan-Ams @ La Bodega
Texas Unlimited Band @ Texas Hall of Fame
Salsa Dancing @ The Village Café (10pm)
Strawberry Jam and A Formal Affair @
Schotzi’s
Soldier Tread, Saints of Valory, Flawless
Escape and Sounds Under Radio @ Stafford
Main St.
Sunday, February 6
Obannon’s Pub Quiz @ Obannon’s Taphouse
John Evans Band, Aaron Kothmann, Geoff
Spahr @ Stafford Main St. (7pm)
Tuesday, February 8
Absolute Karaoke @ O’Bannon’s Taphouse
FM 2865 @ Schotzi’s
Purple Haze and Kosmic Bluez; the best Jimi
and Janis covers @ Stafford Main St.
Wednesday, February 9
Salsa Lessons @ The Village Café
Comedy Night @ Schotzi’s
Karaoke with Tyler Cannon @ La Bodega
CD Release Party w/ Clayton Gardner @
Hurricane Harry’s
Check out maroonweekly.com for more info!
Make sure to submit
your events at
www.maroonweekly.com
www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16
Arts & Entertainment
Thursday, February 10
Tyler Brown @ La Bodega
Original College Night @ Texas Hall of Fame
Singer/Songwriter Night & Lone Star Love
Potion @ The Village Café
Party on the Patio @ Ozona Grill and Bar
Karaoke @ Schotzi’s
Sabrosa Union @ Stafford Main St.
Friday, February 11
Tyler Cannon @ La Bodega
Aaron Watson w/ Jon Wolfe @ Texas Hall of
Fame
Will Johnson @ The Village Café
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and Meagan
Moseley CD Release Party @ Schotzi’s
Brandon Rhyder w/ Scooter Brown @
Hurricane Harry’s
Saturday, February 12
Ramoth Giliad @ La Bodega
Crossroads @ Texas Hall of Fame
Salsa Dancing @ The Village Café (10pm)
Brad Copper Band and Aqua Jones @
Schotzi’s
Rocky Horror @ Stafford Main St.
Sunday, February 13
Obannon’s Pub Quiz @ Obannon’s Taphouse
The Selfless Season, Eric Fisher, J. Goodin @
Stafford Main St. (7pm)
Tuesday, February 15
Absolute Karaoke @ O’Bannon’s Taphouse
Wednesday, February 16
FM 2865 @ La Bodega
Comedy Night @ Schotzi’s
Casey Donahew Band @ Hurricane Harry’s
MAROON WEEKLY | 13
14 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com

Fashion Sense:
H&M Comes to Texas
By Sarabeth Lacy
“Why, oh why, does H&M refuse to exist in
the Texas market?!” I dolefully lamented after
flipping through last December’s Vogue
and spotting a voluminous tulle dress
created by none other than Lanvin for the
Swedish based store. Memories of my first
encounter with my would-be staple retailer
flooded my mind, and I recalled walking
down Berlin’s Kudamm in the summer of
2001 with my fellow high school exchange
students. One of my close friends and I made
an educated assumption that H&M stood
for “Hoch” and “Möglichkeit”, which would
literally translate from German to English as
“High” and “Possibility”. Okay, perhaps it was
not the most educated of assumptions, but
we frequented multiple locations scattered
throughout Berlin during our three week
sojourn so the nickname stuck.
Fast-forward to August 2006, and one would
find me raiding the 5th Avenue location in
New York, only to repeat such antics the
same month in 2009 whilst honeymooning
in San Francisco. My appetite for H&M could
never fully be satiated, as the elusive store
provided fashion forward wardrobe staples
along with statement pieces at astonishingly
affordable rates. Even the men’s department
captured my new husband’s heart that
summer.
So why has my beloved chain stubbornly
eschewed Texas? Such was the question I
posed on my blog, shoesandtattoos.com,
and one of my readers delivered a beacon
of hope with great, great Christmas tidings.
“H&M is opening a store in Dallas!” Sherrill
Mogonye exclaimed. “My friend works at
NorthPark Mall and said there is a pop-up
H&M open now!”
It was a Christmas miracle! After establishing
approximately 2,200 stores in 38 different
markets, based on info gathered at H&M.
com, Hoch & Möglichkeit had arrived in a
forum not thousands of miles and days away
from me; in fact, it was in close proximity to
Arts & Entertainment
my hometown and destination for the
Holidays!
I spared no time in hustling my husband,
mother, sister, and her two-week-old
son into a crowded NorthPark Mall on
December 26th. Actually, “crowded” is
quite an understatement; swarming and
slightly claustrophobic may be more
appropriate, but I was woman on a
mission.
The temporary pop-up location near
Dillard’s proved a bit underwhelming,
but both my husband and I departed
with a bundle of sweaters and tops as
well as exciting information regarding
the permanent two-story location set to
open still within NorthPark this coming
October. I suppose a location in Houston
would better accommodate a potential
day trip from B/CS, but beggars cannot,
in fact, be choosers.
Should you attempt a pilgrimage to one
of my personal fashion Meccas, allow me
to more appropriately educate you on
the store’s background. As it turns out,
H&M is not an abbreviation for “Hoch”
and “Möglichkeit”. Shocking, I know.
According to Wikipedia.org, in 1947
Swedish businessman, Erlig Persson,
founded a store exclusively for women
entitled Hennes, which translates as “Hers”
in the establisher’s native tongue. In
1968 Persson obtained Mauritz Widforss,
a hunting equipment store, and merged
it with Hennes, thereby creating a retailer
for both men and women appropriately
dubbed Hennes & Mauritz.
The currently abbreviated name seems
to be ever expanding; autumn 2010 saw
the extension of online sales from the
Nordic countries to the UK. We can only
hope that the online retail option will
soon be made available to us Americans,
but for now, we Texans can enjoy a
tangible shopping experience in Big D.
www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16 MAROON WEEKLY | 15
 Brandon
Rhyder
Texas Country mainstay Brandon Rhyder is ready to bring his signature
Texas alt country sound to the Hurricane Harry’s on Friday, February
11. Doors open at 8:00 pm. For ticket information, please visit http://
harrys.bcsclubs.com/.

Many people have come to know Brandon Rhyder’s name and music
over the last few years. Regionally he’s definitely a staple of the Texas
scene. Brandon Rhyder is different. When you hear the voice you know
it’s unmistakably him. When he comes out with a new single you
never know what you’re going to get. Brandon Rhyder loves to take
you to the top and then jerk the rug out from under you and start the
process all over again. Brandon Rhyder doesn’t write for a genre, but
rather for the inspiration he receives.

‘I take pride in the songs that I write and want to be able to sing many
of them for years to come. I still have a lot to learn and as life presents
itself I’ll continue to strive to get better,’ says Brandon.

The album Head Above Water, available now on iTunes and www.
brandonryhder.com also includes a bonus DVD featuring an exclusive
behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of this disc.

Produced by longtime friend and mentor Walt Wilkins, Head Above

Water is Brandon’s sixth full-length album and is the follow-up to Every
Night. To date, Brandon has delivered 3 Top 20 singles, 2 Top 10 singles,
4 Top 5 singles and now 2 No. 1 singles with “Rock Angel” and “Before
headed to I Knew Your Name.”

Hurricane
Whether it is in his writing, performing or everyday life Brandon is
always striving
to get better. And his unerring dedication continues with the release
of the Don

Harry’s
William’s cover, “Lord I Hope This Day Is Good” to radio on January 17,
2011. The single will be featured as a bonus studio track on Brandon’s
upcoming Live at Billy Bob’s Texas album, scheduled to record on
February 25, 2011. This marks a historical event, as this will be the first
time that Smith Music Group has released a bonus studio track before
the Live at Billy Bob’s recording has taken place!

To learn more about Brandon Rhyder and upcoming tour dates, log on
to www.brandonrhyder.com.

16 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com

Sports
Aggies sliding fast in wrong direction
By Turner Dawson
 
It was a rough week for the Aggie basketball
team as they dropped two games against
Nebraska on the road and Texas at home.
After the fast start that the Aggies had to
conference play, the Aggies seem to be
cooling off a little bit as of late and some
of their weaknesses are beginning to be
exposed.
 
Both games this past week were quite frankly
an embarrassment. Nebraska is a much
improved team this year over last season but
the Aggies are far superior in terms of talent.
But Nebraska beat the Aggies in virtually
every aspect of the game. The Aggies had a
lower field goal percentage, they were out
rebounded by 8, they had twice as many
turnovers, fewer assists, fewer blocks, fewer
steals, and obviously fewer points. It was a
bad night for the Aggies.
 
Dash Harris played his worst game of the
season and he’s had some bad ones so
far. Dash finished 2-7 from the field, 0-2
from three and 0-2 from the line with four
turnovers and just three assists. I’m baffled
as to why he continues to shoot the ball.
It’s like a turnover every time he puts it up.
There is no reason for him to take a shot
that is not a lay-up. I cringe every time I see
our 17% three-point shooting point guard
putting up a jump shot. Dash was far from
the reason we lost this game, but his play
certainly stood out.
 
As if that wasn’t enough, the Aggies returned
home for their ESPN Big Monday match-up
with Texas and laid a big egg on national
television. The Aggies got exposed from the
very first possession and Texas just ran away
with it. The Aggies shot 30% from the field,
8% from three, they were out rebounded
and had 9 shots blocked.
 
Did I mention that every time Dash takes
a jumper it is the equivalent of a turnover?
He took 5 three pointers. I’ll let you use and their defense is severely lacking. The tough defense on Dunn, I like the Aggies
your imagination to figure out how many only chance they have against most above chances in this game.
of those he made. And yes he did lead the average basketball teams is if Dunn gets  
team in three point attempts. extremely hot from three. This game is the start of trying to get things
    back on track this season. The Nebraska
Another shocking stat was leading scorer The key for the Aggies is obviously going game was a bad performance on the road
Kris Middleton going 0-9 from the field and to be shutting down Dunn. I wouldn’t be and Texas is just plain better. This is still a
being held scoreless for the first time all surprised to see the Aggies opt for a little good basketball team that can cause other
season. It was obvious he was pressing to try box-and-one defense in which four players teams some problems. Coach Turgeon has
and get his team back into the game, but he play a box zone with one player shadowing shown that he can keep a team focused
could not get a ball to go in. It was an ugly Dunn everywhere he goes. Nobody else has even after a bad stretch in past years and
night for the whole team. stepped up for Baylor a consistent threat, there is no reason to think he won’t get this
  although they have several guys that are team back on track. But they need to do it
Two things were obvious after the Texas dangerous, and they are also easily rattled. soon.
game: 1. Texas is a very good team, I’m not With a rowdy crowd at Reed and some
so sure they couldn’t beat the Cleveland
Cavaliers. 2. The Aggies have a lot of things
that must improve if they hope to make any
sort of run in the tournament.
 
The Aggies have built their identity around
defense and rebounding and getting points
where they can. The problem is, the Aggies
have been doing an extremely poor job of
rebounding in the last couple of games,
their defense has been average at best, and
their offense looks like a middle of the road
high school team. The Aggies have some of
the worst guard play in the entire Big 12 and
the big guys have been non-factors lately.
 
The Aggies will have an opportunity to
rebound from this rough week as they will
be hosting the Baylor Bears on Saturday.
Baylor is a talented team that is lead by their
star player and leading scorer Lacedarius
Dunn, who is less than popular among
Aggie fans after his off-season activities.
Baylor has become a team the Aggies have
loved to hate over the last couple of years.
Combine that with Baylor’s hatred of us and
how well they always seem to travel to Reed
Arena, and it should be an exciting game.
 
Baylor has the talent to compete with
anyone in the country but they have proved
to be a very undisciplined team. They still
have yet to beat anyone worth mentioning
www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16 MAROON WEEKLY | 17
 Photos courtesy of Glen Johnson/Aggie Athletics

Kliesing takes high

expectations into
senior year
By Ian Sores

It’s a typical January evening. There’s an all too common chill in the air and
although it’s barely half past 6 o’clock, the sun is well on its way down. For all
intents and purposes, it’s still winter. However, as I approach the Aggie Softball
Complex and walk up into the bleachers, something begins to change. While
watching the Texas A&M Softball Team wrap up evening practice; I am suddenly
overwhelmed by the sensation that spring is just around the corner.

There’s a definite energy and excitement on the field that hints of warmer days
to come. But that’s not all. There is also something else. There is an unmistakable
seriousness of purpose and high expectations.

Following practice, as I sit in the clubhouse and prepare to discuss the

upcoming season, I can think of no better example of this wide range of
emotions (excitement, energy, and seriousness) than Rhiannon Kliesing. As one
of the team’s leading hitters, she’s earned a reputation for making clutch plays
when they count the most. But this soft spoken player also allows her exciting
play to speak for itself.
When Rhi walks into the room a few minutes later, I fully expect the 5 ’10 senior
from Pearland, TX to bring that intensity with her from the practice field.

To my surprise, the very first thing

that we discuss is her love of all things
Spongebob. “I have the shirt, I have the
hat. My rooms decorated with it. I have
every episode on DVD,” she says with a
laugh, “honestly, it’s probably more like
an obsession!”

That being said, when we do move on to

the subject of the upcoming season, she
becomes all business. She makes it very
clear that she has high expectations for
her senior season.

“My goals for this season are that I want

to win the Big XII Championship. I also
want to make the WCWS, College World

18 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com


Series.” She says with a look of absolute
determination. She then goes on to add, “I
think we have the talent this year. If we can
stay focused and take care of the mental
things, then I think we can be great.”
The team is currently ranked No. 19 in the
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25
Preseason Poll, so they certainly have a good
chance to accomplish those goals. But they
also have one of the most difficult schedules
in the nation this year. When asked about
the key to overcoming such a tough
schedule, she simply responds by saying “I
think that having our freshman step up and
become confident in their abilities, will be
the biggest factor. It’s a really talented class
and we are going to need them.”
Rhi has quite a bit of expertise when it
comes to freshman stepping up when it
counts.
“I didn’t come in as a freshman expecting
to start, but things fell into place and I was
able to make the most of them.” She says
modestly.
And by making the most of
things, she fails to mention that
early on in her freshman year,
she pitched her first no-hitter
and then recorded a home
run in the same game. When
asked about that game, she
takes a moment to think back
and then recalls, “That was
against Texas State. That was an
exciting game and it was kind
of what got my playing time
started. I had the opportunity
and I was able to make the
most it.”
A&M Softball team eventually continued on
to the championship game and closed out
the season as the runner-up in the WCWS.
This year’s team has one of the largest
freshman classes ever, so if they are going
to have that kind of success, then one or
more of them will most likely have to step
up similarly this year.
When asked about the impact of such a
large incoming class of freshman, she has
nothing but great things to say about it.
“It’s actually nice having the extra people.
It gives us more depth. It gives us more
options for substitutions, and we won’t have
to be worrying about filling spots if people
get hurt or injured.”
The large freshman class will also help
counter the fact that there are only five
seniors on the team this year. Rhi is also
prepared to step up fill a leadership role on
the team.
“I was team captain last year
during my junior year, so I
already have that experience
under my belt. Now that I’m
a senior, I think I’ll be more
confident in that role.
Besides working towards a
Big XII Championship and a
shot at the WCWS, Rhi has
many more personal plans
Sports
for her senior year. This year she hopes to
continue focusing on hitting.
“I love hitting. It’s my favorite thing to do. I’d
hit all day if I could.”
This emphasis on hitting has also resulted in
her spending less time at pitching.
“I’m focusing more on hitting and as a result,
I’m finding myself more comfortable playing
1st base; so those two things are what I’m
focusing on. I’ll continue to pitch in a relief
role, but we’re counting on Mel [Dumezich]
and Lindsey [Sisk] to be our two aces.”
She just recently ordered her Aggie ring and
is expecting to graduate next December
with a degree in Sports Management.
“It would be a really cool experience to get
drafted to play in the NPF [National Pro Fast
Pitch] league.” But if that does not happen, will be a manager for the softball team.
she is already lined up attend graduate
school at Texas A&M, and will remain with The Texas A&M Softball Team will begin
the team as a grad assistant. Her sister season play on February 11th. Their first
Adrienne is expected to enroll at Texas A&M home game will be on February 18th, when
as a freshman next year as well, where she the Aggies host the Aggie Classic.

This statement was followed by a

brief silence as everyone in the room
took a moment to reflect on how
truly remarkable an accomplishment
that was.

Finally, it just had to be said, “You were

given the opportunity to play as a
freshman, and all you did was pitch
a no hitter and hit a home run in the
same game!”

At this point, she simply flashes a

large grin and begins to laugh.

Rhi’s strong abilities as a pitcher and

as a batter earned her many more
achievements during her freshman
year; one of which included batting
in the winning score during the semi
finals of the College World Series. The
www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16 MAROON WEEKLY | 19
 Sports

Sports Calendar
Be on the
Friday, Feb 4
6:00 PM
Wednesday, Feb 9
8:00 PM
12:00 PM
Track & Field, Cross Country
look-out for
Men’s Tennis Men’s Basketball vs Texas A&M Challenge
vs Texas
at Houston, Texas
ESPNU HD
vs Colorado
at College Station, Tx this sticker
TBA
Men’s Swimming
at Boulder, Colo.

7:00 PM
1:00 PM
Women’s Tennis
vs TCU
around town:
vs Texas Women’s Basketball at College Station, Texas
at Austin, Texas vs Oklahoma
at College Station Sunday, Feb 13
TBA 10:30 AM
Track & Field, Cross Country Friday, Feb 11 Softball
vs New Balance Collegiate Invitational 3:00 PM vs Bradley
at New York City, NY Softball at Tempe, Ariz.
vs Cal State Fullerton
Saturday, Feb 5 at Tempe, Ariz. 1:00 PM
1:00 PM Men’s Tennis
Men’s Basketball 5:30 PM vs SMU
ESPN Softball at College Station, Texas
vs BAYLOR vs Oregon
at COLLEGE STATION at Tempe, Ariz. 6:00 PM
vs St. Edward’s
2:00 PM Saturday, Feb 12 at College Station, Texas
Women’s Basketball 12:30 PM
vs Texas Tech Men’s Basketball Monday, Feb 14
at Lubbock, Texas vs Texas Tech 8:00 PM
at Lubbock, Texas Women’s Basketball
1:00 PM vs Baylor
Women’s Tennis 7:00 PM at Waco, Texas
vs LSU Women’s Basketball
at College Station, Texas vs Kansas Wednesday, Feb 16
at College Station 7:00 PM
TBA Men’s Basketball
Track & Field, Cross Country 10:00 AM vs IOWA STATE
vs New Balance Collegiate Invitational Softball at COLLEGE STATION
at New York City, NY vs BYU
at Tempe, Ariz. 2:00 PM
Sunday, Feb 6 Softball
11:00 AM 12:30 PM vs Stephen F. Austin
Women’s Soccer Softball at Nacogdoches, Texas
vs UTSA vs Arizona
at College Station - Soccer Stadium at Tempe, Ariz. 4:00 PM
South Field Softball
5:00 PM vs Stephen F. Austin
1:00 PM Women’s Soccer at Nacogdoches, Texas
Women’s Soccer vs Stephen F. Austin
vs Rice at College Station, Texas All Day
at College Station - Soccer Stadium Men’s Golf
South Field 11:00 AM vs John A. Burns Intercollegiate
Women’s Equestrian at Wahiawa, Hawai’i
3:00 PM vs BAYLOR
Women’s Soccer at BRYAN
vs Sam Houston State
at College Station - Soccer Stadium
South Field

20 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com

 Randy Rogers Band Steal You Phil Hamilton & the Backroad
21 36
Away (Mercury) Drifters Nine Mile (Winding Road)
Django Walker Young Enough to Seth Candan/Mike McClure Al-
22 37
Run (DW) right (SC)
Jake Kellen If Love Was A Road Mike Ryan Slow Hand (Rock and
23 38
(Horny Toad) Soul)

ch a rt 24

25
Granger Smith 5 More Minutes
(GS)
80 Proof Band Tonight (Smith Ent.)

Mike McClure Band Halfway Out

39

40
Gary P. Nunn Taking Texas to the
Country (Guacamole Records /
Campfire Records)
Kelly Kenning Nothin’ But Smoke
(Davis Group)
Cory Morrow Brand New Me Kevin Fowler Girl In a Truck (Kev- 26
1 11 (BooHatch)
(APEX Nashville/Write On) in Fowler) Rankin Twins Headaches and
41
No Justice Just Get Going Kyle Park All Night (Winding Road) Jason Cassidy Sounds Like an Heartbreaks (RT)
2 12 27
(Carved) Angel to Me (JCB) TJ Broscoff Jamie’s Heart (BGM)
42
Josh Abbott Band Oh, Tonight Bart Crow Band Should’ve Stayed Deryl Dodd You’re Not Lookin’ For
3 13 28
(PDT) Away (Smith Ent.) (Smith Ent.) Charlie Montague Tomorrow is
43
Scott Wiggins Band Best Dress Rio Grand I Love Beer (Curb) Gone (CM)
Brian Keane I’ll Sing About Mine 14 29
4 (SWB) Bill Rice Friday Night (Aaron Ave)
(Independent) 44
James Lann Every Kiss Goodnight Jamie Richards Easier By Now
Turnpike Troubadours 7 & 7 (On- 15 30
5 (Ari-Tex) (Winding Road) Steve Helms Band Coast of Colo-
ward Music) 45
Stephanie Urbina Jones Gracias rado (Winding Road)
Wade Bowen Red Headed Woman Jeff Allen Can’t Trust Myself (Sav- 31
6 16 (Texicana) Brandon Rhyder Lord, I Hope This
(Smith Ent.) vy Recordings) 46
Jerry Audley Never Say Never Day Is Good (Smith Ent.)
Jon Wolfe Let A Country Boy Love Rosehill Midnight America (Cy- 32
7 17 (JA) Bo Phillips Band Never (Smith
You (Fool Hearted Prod) press Creek) 47
Chuck Allen Floyd Good On the Ent.)
Fred Andrews/Honeybrowne Jason Boland & the Stragglers 33
18 Outlaw Band (APEX Nashville/ Inside (Chief Tecumseh) Ben Danaher Perfectly in Two
8 Beautiful Waste of Time (Smith 48
Proud Souls) Brandon Rhyder Battery (Re- (Ambiance)
Ent.) 34
Mark McKinney Home (Winding serve) Sean McConnell Lie Baby Lie
Bleu Edmondson No Room for 19 49
9 Road) Kristen Kelly & the Modern Day (SM)
Mercy (American Saint)
Sunny Sweeney From A Table 35 Drifters Lost In Yourself (Winding Tommy Alverson Texas One More
Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Re- 20 50
10 Away (Republic Nashville) Road) Time (Blue Boot)
ward Guitars (Smith Ent.)

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www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16 MAROON WEEKLY | 21
22 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com
Diversions
BCS for Less: Smart Shopping
By Mara Minsberg
I recently saw a television program that
detailed the lives of self-proclaimed
“Extreme Couponers”—these men and
women, through their own comprehensive
couponing efforts, were able to leave the
supermarket with several carts full of food
for less than I might pay for a small basket
of groceries. While I certainly do not need
to assemble large stockpiles of food as the
people on this program were wont to do,
I was inspired by their general mission: to
save money on basic necessities.
The less we spend on edible essentials, the
more disposable income we have at our
discretion. While standing at the checkout
watching my total cost climbing with each
scanned item, I often feel a mounting sense
of panic as I realize I am spending upwards
of $100 for what I had mistakenly assumed
was a week’s worth of essentials. With a
few simple tips in mind, however, it can
be easier than you may think to save a
substantial amount on your grocery bills.
Look at Prices
It sounds simple, but many of us are guilty of
simply seeing an item we want and tossing
it into our cart. Appealing packaging can be
a major factor in our decision-making while
shopping for food. Most grocery stores list
price per quantity in small font on their
shelf price labels. Take a look at how much
food you are getting for the price you are
spending. Do not be afraid to buy generic
items—they are often made with the same
ingredients as brand name products.
Clip Coupons and Check for Sales
Coupon clipping can save you money on
each grocery shopping trip. Local chains
such as Kroger, HEB, and Albertsons all offer
online coupon services that you can access
through their websites to virtually “clip” and
print the coupons you want. At stores like
Albertson’s and Kroger, you can also bring
along your club card for additional savings.
For those who do not want to comb the
stores’ website listings, coupon compilation
websites can be an easy way to sort out
which grocery store may have deals that
interest you. Websites like Coupons.com,
ValPack.com, and SmartSource.com offer
sortable coupon lists by category and
location. If you want an even less labor-
intensive solution, sites like Penny Pincher
Gazette (PPGazette.com) further compiles
the aforementioned coupon sites, giving
you a comprehensive list of local deals.
Don’t pay for something you can do yourself
Most new grocery products appeal to
our sense of convenience and the basic
principle that we are willing to pay a higher
price to do less grunt work. Pre-cooked,
pre-seasoned, or pre-cut meat, poultry,
fruit, and vegetables often cost significantly
more than their more basic counterparts.
If you are willing to cut up a cantaloupe or
watermelon on your own, you can get up to
three times as much fruit versus the price of
pre-sliced melon. It may be more work, but
over the course of a year, small savings can
add up to more money in your pocket.
Plan a Menu
When you are short on time, it may seem
like a serious effort to have to decide which
meals you would like to eat for a full week.
However, some simple advance planning
can save you a lot of money over time. Think
of how many meals and snacks you will
reasonably eat in that week, and buy just
enough items for that plan. It may take a few
weeks to get it right, but it will cut down on
wasted food and more importantly, wasted
money.
For those who live with roommates, try
whenever possible to coordinate or share
basic grocery items. When each person has
his or her own stash of food, your fridge
may be crammed with three separate milk
cartons—an amount that forces you to race
against the expiration date and often to
throw out spoiled unused items. Even if you
have trouble agreeing on things, sharing
basic perishable items will save you a lot of
money and keep you from having to toss so
much food.
Always Bring a List
This is probably the most important tip for
grocery shopping savings, but it is the one
many of us are most guilty of breaking. Even
if we come in with a list, the supermarket
experience can be disorienting; we often
end up with items in our cart we throw in
on an impulse. Just like with the previous
menu planning tip, the most important part
is to stick with your plan. It may seem boring
and less than spontaneous, but you will
4.29
be pleased to find fewer surprises during
checkout. &
Consider an Online Budgeting Tool
If you are still struggling with your budget,
4.30
you may want to check out free online
budgeting tools like Mint.com. These
services can be set to automatically email
or text you when you exceed your preset
budget for the month in any given category,
including groceries. While they cannot stop
you from spending the money, a reminder
can help put you back on track with your
financial plan.
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www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16 MAROON WEEKLY | 23
 Cheap and easy
Penne in Homemade
Vodka Sauce
By Autumn Dawson

This week’s delicious meal for the non-gourmet

chef, on the average broke college student’s
budget: Penne in Homemade Vodka Sauce

Yes, I’m aware the title of the dish sounds

a little overwhelming—“homemade” usually
falling into the Shudder-Inducing-Category that includes words like Finals,
Organic Chem, and Cops after 2am—but I promise this is an exception.
Although, I would recommend that you actually like vodka, as it’s the
most expensive ingredient and by no means will you use the entire bottle
preparing this dish. So give it a shot, worst case scenario, you have a nearly
full bottle of vodka that needs to be consumed.
Serving Size: 3-4 girls, or 1-2 guys
Preparation Method: Stove (oven optional)
Preparation Time: 35 minutes
Total Cook Time: 35 Minutes
Difficulty Level: If you graduated from middle school, I’m sure you can
handle it
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup Vodka
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 1 can of diced tomatoes.
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
• 1 pound Penne pasta
*Optional: 1/4 cup Parmesan (freshly grated preferred), 1 Tablespoon fresh
chives (minced)

Directions
1. Pour oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat (Add about a
tablespoon of butter if you have it to hand). Add onion and sauté until
translucent and slightly browned. Add tomatoes and cook until almost
no liquid remains in pan, stirring frequently.
2. Add cream, vodka and red pepper and boil until thickened to sauce
consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Sauce can be
prepared 1 day ahead, covered, and refrigerate.)
3. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still
firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain well.
4. Transfer to a large bowl. Bring sauce to a simmer. Pour over pasta and
toss well. (Optional: place dish in oven for 5-7 minutes)
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan and chives, serve, and enjoy!

24 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com

 Diversions

Nightlife attractions in February

By Kassie Cessna available at the Hall in Bryan or at Cavender’s If these things aren’t your cup of tea, Messina entertaining, and is a new scene for some
Boot City next to the mall. Be sure to get one Hof offers wine tours for $5 and it includes of us who don’t get away from Northgate
If you come across a night where you can go in advanced, because these shows will most several tastings of wine, and a nice tour of enough.
out and don’t have classes the day after, you likely sell out. the vineyards. It’s a nice evening out that’s
might not know what to do. Well living in a relatively cheap. There’s always plenty to do in College
college town there are plenty of things to do If country music isn’t your thing then Station and Bryan, so there’s something out
at night. Let’s take a look at some of them. downtown Bryan offers alternative Halo in downtown Bryan has drag shows on there for everyone! Get out and enjoy the
things to do with alternative music. On Saturday night. So there really is something many things to do this month!
Country music is the biggest type of music Wednesdays at Revolution’s in Bryan they for every genre. Downtown Bryan is very
here in College Station and there are plenty have open mic at 10 pm and a wide
consider these
of concerts coming to town this month. variety of artists play. A personal favorite consider these

DEALS DEALS
On February 4th, this Friday, Wade Bowen is their poetry night on Sunday night at
is at Hurricane Harry’s. On the 16th, Casey 9 pm.
Donahew Band comes to Harry’s, and on
the 18th Josh Abbott Band comes to Harry’s. Also The Village and Art979 Gallery
Tickets are available online at bcsclubs.com displays local artists, and serves Texas beer.
and at the door. a holiday after-party
Murphy’s Law in downtown Bryan also has a holiday after-party
save up to $90 on smartphones local bands that play periodically and the save up to $90 on smartphones
Down the road at the Texas Hall of Fame on Stafford plays a lot of alternative music and
the 11th, Aaron Watson is in concert and sometimes hosts poetry slams. Be sure to
on the 18th Reckless Kelly plays. Tickets are check out those as well.

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Rate plan contains a 1GB data usage level. Once you reach your usage level your speeds will be reduced. Visit
mycricket.com/fairuse for details.
Coverage not available everywhere. We may limit or terminate your service without prior notice if you no longer reside and have a mailing address in a Cricket-
owned network coverage area or if a majority of your voice and/or data usage is on a partner network during the previous month. Device: Limited time offer;
subject to change. Cricket Visa® Prepaid Cards are issued by MetaBank™ pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. This card does not have cash access
and can be used at any merchant that accepts Visa debit cards. Card valid through date shown on front of card. Terms, conditions and other restrictions apply.
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Excludes sales tax. Comparison based on AT&T’s Unlimited Nation Plan plus DataPro smartphone package and Verizon’s Unlimited Nationwide Plan plus
smartphone data package. BlackBerry is a registered trademark of Research In Motion Limited and is registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around
the world. Android™ is a trademark of Google, Inc. © 2011 Cricket Communications, Inc.
Recycle your old cell phone at your local Cricket store.
Rate plan contains a 1GB data usage level. Once you reach your usage level your speeds will be reduced. Visit
mycricket.com/fairuse for details.
Coverage not available everywhere. We may limit or terminate your service without prior notice if you no longer reside and have a mailing address in a Cricket-
owned network coverage area or if a majority of your voice and/or data usage is on a partner network during the previous month. Device: Limited time offer;
subject to change. Cricket Visa® Prepaid Cards are issued by MetaBank™ pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. This card does not have cash access
and can be used at any merchant that accepts Visa debit cards. Card valid through date shown on front of card. Terms, conditions and other restrictions apply.
Excludes sales tax. Comparison based on AT&T’s Unlimited Nation Plan plus DataPro smartphone package and Verizon’s Unlimited Nationwide Plan plus
smartphone data package. BlackBerry is a registered trademark of Research In Motion Limited and is registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around
the world. Android™ is a trademark of Google, Inc. © 2011 Cricket Communications, Inc.

www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16 MAROON WEEKLY | 25

26 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com
 stress FREE
vs. LIVE MORE,
stress FULL COMMUTE LESS
Sleep longer... Save the Environment...
Burn more calories... Smell the roses...

Whatever your reason, choose to walk

vs. r ide to class. Located across the
street from Texas A&M, T he Tradition
is j u s t a 5 m i n u t e wa l k to campus.

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C A L L : ( 8 8 8 ) 8 5 9 . 6 9 7 9 O R V I S I T: L I V E T H E T R A D I T I O N . C O M TEXT “TRADITION” TO 47464

Gorillaz Christmas Gift Doesn’t Need

Repackaging
By Chris Zebo
Gorillaz, riding on the heels of their successful
third studio release this past March, Plastic
Beach, dropped a free 15-song album
into our virtual stockings Christmas Day.
Recorded and mixed completely on an iPad
by front man Damon Albarn while on the
North American leg of their recent tour, “The
Fall” (named after the season, not the Biblical
event) strays far away from the hip-hop funk
of Plastic Beach and deep into the realm
of…(hold your breath)…easy music (now
exhale and scratch your head).
“I literally made it on the road in America
over a month,” says Albarn. “I didn’t write it
before; I didn’t prepare it. I just did it day by
day as a kind of diary of my experience in
America.”
Unfortunately for Albarn, there are very few
(if any) peaks on this road-trip album full
of valleys. And though critics and bloggers
are decrying it as “experimental” easy music,
it can be called easy music in more ways
than one. It’s “easy music” in the genre
sense because it’s mostly smooth and down
tempo. It could soundtrack a dentist’s waiting
room or the inside of a crowded elevator (if
those waiting rooms and elevators existed
in a hipper alternative universe). But it’s
also “easy” music for the lack of inspiration
and effort that must have gone into almost
every song--what some listeners on the
interweb have started calling “lazy” music.
“Detroit” is an upbeat, quirky, electronic
dance track that doesn’t seem to be
portraying anything palpable from the city
landscape it’s named after. In fact, most
songs--many named after places in the
country--don’t seem to capture any real
essence of the places they’re named after.
No cows mooing in “Amarillo”, no rusting
factories rotting in “Detroit”, no wind or
verticality in “Shy Town” (a lesser-known
nickname for Chicago). Only “California
and the Slipping of the Sun” in its wistful
atmosphere of lethargic organs and Albarn’s
droning voice drowning in a synthesized
smog really suggests the Golden State sun
setting.
The road Gorillaz traveled on this album
is certainly inward, not outward. The
geography, the cities and the people of
America are all crammed into the backseat
of this road trip album. It seems another
affect of being on the road takes the wheel
in this conceptual voyage. It’s that feeling
of mental fogginess you get from passing
through numerous places without ever
stopping long enough to figure them clearly
in your mind; the fatigued of the well-
traveled road, of the mundane transactions
of checking in and out of hotel rooms,
of unpacking and repacking your bags, of
watching the world pass by in an ethereal,
www.maroonweekly.com February 3– 16
monotonous blur through the car window.
Like staring into the streaming blur out
the window, nothing on this album really
captures your attention. It all just passes
by and the songs amble along listlessly
from one place to another. You can’t help
but wish they would have pulled over long
enough to reflect for a minute.
Gorillaz have humored the idea of a physical
release of The Fall in coming months. But why
bother with the repackaging of a mediocre
album when people can download it for
free?
MAROON WEEKLY | 27
maroon weekly gamepage

answers

28 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com

maroon weekly gamepage

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30 | MAROON WEEKLY February 3 – 16 www.maroonweekly.com
 LIVE HERE!
LIVE THE DISTRICT!
UPGRADED FLOORING AND
FLAT SCREEN TV’s
LIFE HAPPENS HERE!
COMMUNITY AMENITIES
• Fully Equipped Fitness Center
RECEIVE
A
$250
• Pool Tables and Air Hockey Table
• Game/Activity Room with
Playstation 3 CON
CESSION
• Resort Style Pool OR GIFT
• Lighted Basketball, Tennis and WITH A NCARD
Sand Volleyball Courts EW
• Personalized Roommate Matching LEASE! *

• Active Residence Life Program

• Computer Lab and Study Rooms

APARTMENT AMENITIES
U R
O ASE
• Individual Leases in Two, Three,
and Four Bedroom Apartments
with Private Bathrooms
H
48 LE
OK & WAIVE
LO
• Furnished and Unfurnished
E’LL
*
Apartments Available
S
• Full-Size Washer and Dryer in N D W
N FEE
A TIO
Every Apartment
LICA
• Electronic Keycard Access APP
• Individually Locking Bedroom Doors
• High-Speed Internet
• Cable TV

601 LUTHER STREET WEST

COLLEGE STATION, TX 77840
“Luther” to 47464 for 866.557.0070
information* on Luther WWW.THEDISTRICTONLUTHER.COM
*standard text messaging rates apply
*Some restrictions may apply

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