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Jesus Freak Album Review

Written By: Nate Newcomer (’28)

Are you a Christian? Do you like music? Do you possess a pulse? If you answered yes, you should check out the 1995 album Jesus Freak by DC Talk. Back in the ’90s, when rock ruled the world of contemporary Christian music, one of the biggest names in the game was DC Talk, consisting of TobyMac, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max. In 1995, they released Jesus Freak, which many (including myself) consider the greatest Christian rock–nay, the greatest Christian music album of all time. Just ask your parents–if they were Christian teenagers in the ‘90s, they probably knew about this album.

Jesus Freak starts strong with “So Help Me God,” a straight-up rock song asking God to help us put our faith in Him instead of the world. Next is “Colored People,” which observes the “beauty in the tones of our skin,” and calls for a turn from ignorance and toward God. Following this is the titular song “Jesus Freak,” a rock song that takes pride in rebelling against the world and following Jesus no matter what people say. The album slows down musically with “What if I Stumble?”, a ballad that will resonate with anyone questioning their faith. It picks up again with “Day by Day,” a plea to grow closer to God, before taking a break for “Mrs. Morgan,” a brief anecdote from a woman who lived next to DC Talk’s recording studio. After this interlude is “Between You and Me,” a melodic, acoustic guitar-driven song about repentance and forgiveness. The album returns to rock with “Like It, Love It, Need It,” a song declaring that we can only find peace of mind in God, not the things of this world. The goofier side of the trio shines through in “Jesus Freak – Reprise,” a cover of “Jesus Freak” that will catch you off-guard on your first listen. Next is my personal favorite song not just on the album, but possibly of all time, “In the Light.” This acoustic song is a passionate cry to be like Jesus but and be with Him someday too. The album winds down with “What Have We Become?”, a darker, moody song examining the hate, greed, and hypocrisy that has befallen the world. “Mind’s Eye,” the final song on the album, explores faith in an unseen God and imagining being with Him. The album closes with “Alas, My Love,” a poem written and spoken by Kevin Max with neat, almost orchestral background music accompanying it.

From the first song to the closing poem, Jesus Freak is flawless. Lyrically, this album is clever, honest, amusing, raw, and insightful. (The titular song in particular has some of the most clever lyrics I’ve heard on this side of Steve Taylor. Go listen to him, too.) Its themes of racism, sin, and shamelessly living out the gospel still apply as much today as they did nearly thirty years ago. Stylistically, this album was (and in my opinion still is) unprecedented. Songs such as “So Help Me God,” “Jesus Freak,” and “Like It, Love It, Need It,” expertly fuse elements of hip hop/rap with rock and roll– an unheard-of combination at the time, and one that I have still yet to hear anywhere else. In addition to its rock/rap hybrid songs, there are a few acoustic songs sprinkled in with “What If I Stumble?”, “Between You and Me,” and “In the Light.” There truly is something here for everyone. Musically, this album is sensational. Grungy electric guitar, soulful acoustic guitar, funky bass, peppy drums, and even a solid mandolin solo can all be found here. Vocally, Jesus Freak is similarly unmatched. TobyMac, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max all have fantastic voices (the latter two especially) and they let none of their talent go to waste. The three singers harmonize excellently and two-to-three-part harmonies are frequent on the album. Psalm 33:3 instructs us to “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” And boy, did DC Talk live out that verse with this album. Jesus Freak offers 13 new, groundbreaking, and extremely skillfully crafted songs. So the next time you’ve got an hour of spare time, I highly encourage you to listen to DC Talk’s Jesus Freak. From its timeless lyrics to its excellent sound and everything in between (and I do mean everything), this album is simply amazing and unlike anything else in the world of Christian music. ★

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Anime Critique

Written By: Julian Veley (’25)

In my experience, people are quick to hate anime, and honestly, it makes sense. The majority of the fanbase is cringe-worthy children or weirdly obsessive adults. The plotlines can be corny, the characters are over-the-top in expressing everything, and the English voiceovers are laughably hard to take seriously. However, when you give anime a chance, you have to put those qualms aside and approach it similarly to how you would approach a newly released movie. If you’re watching an action movie you can typically expect cool special effects with plenty of deus ex machina– a cheap writing trick used to ensure the main character survives. In a romantic film, you can usually expect to watch the protagonist’s relationship grow during the first half, just for things to temporarily break apart, before the finale when everything gets fixed. When you approach anime, you have to embrace the breathy, exaggerated lines, and characters that come with it and appreciate the unique art and storytelling styles it has to offer.

In this review, I will be discussing a show I am currently in the process of watching called Black Clover. The show is the animated adaptation of the manga, released on TV Tokyo in October 2017.  This series follows two young boys named Asta and Yuno as they compete against one another to become the wizard king of the Clover Kingdom. The world in which they live runs on magic. Mana is “the force” in this world, and some people are given more of it while some have weaker connections, and your level of mana determines your strength as a magic user. Yuno is born with an abnormally strong connection to the mana of the world and demonstrates incredible potential in his youth. Asta is born unlike any other, with no connection to magic whatsoever. Without any magic, he trains from his childhood up to the day we meet him, making himself physically stronger than any magic user since there is no need for physical strength. In every village in the kingdom, there is an annual ceremony for those who have turned 15 to receive their Grimoire (Grim-Wahr). This Grimoire is the spellbook that they will have for the rest of their lives. During this ceremony, Yuno receives the “Four-Leaf Grimoire,” the very same that was used by the first and most powerful wizard king. Asta is the only one who never receives his book, leaving him crestfallen as he is sure his magic will develop once he receives it. After the ceremony, Yuno is jumped by someone seeking the four-leaf grimoire for themselves. Asta comes in, fighting to save Yuno with nothing but his raw strength, and is defeated. When all seemed lost, a Grimoire like no other appeared before Asta, one containing anti-magic: “The Five-leaf Grimoire.” 

The show has a balance of comedy while also taking itself seriously when necessary. The majority of the humor in this show is simple but amusing and goes back and forth between being childish and mature. It has, so far, been entertaining and one I recommend to anyone interested in starting an anime.

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Alien: Romulus Review

Written By: Caleb Tiedeman (’25)

Color me surprised. It’s no secret that the last couple of films in the Alien franchise have been questionable in their quality. Even the director of the original 1979 movie, Ridley Scott’s return to the franchise resulted in lackluster films. With that in mind, I was excited when I heard rumors of a new Alien movie. Alien: Romulus is a sick name, and upon seeing the trailers, I became even more excited and hopeful that this movie would turn out great. After watching it, I am so happy with the final product. 

Fede Alvarez’s take on the Alien franchise connects to both the original story and Scott’s prequels marvelously. Not only does it expand on the original story, but also adds more depth to previously established characters, monsters, and events. Despite this movie being the seventh movie made about the titular creature, in the universal timeline this movie is number four. With a smaller cast, the movie harkens back to the original Alien without repeating the same narrative. Each member felt important and relevant to the plot in some way. Despite getting killed off, each character added something of benefit to the overarching narrative. The standout was David Jonsson as Andy. He not only pulled off a believable performance as a bit of a buffoon, but a very convincing cold android one as well. I loved the homages to the original movie and the prequels as well. I rewatched the series, so I was ready for any name drops or references. 

The cinematography was excellent. Alvarez’s hand behind the camera highlighted the beauty of the natural world, or in this case, space. He also recaptured the tension and claustrophobia of the original film well. The use of space itself was impressive, utilizing zero-G to create new and tense action sequences, and introducing water to add a new level of horror to the already terrifying face-hugger—both excellent decisions. The lower lighting, with the flashing strobe lights of the Romulus and various flashlights, did wonders for keeping the Xenomorph shrouded in mystery. 

Both the score and sound design were excellent as well. The tense sections of the film that relied on pure silence were some of the best. The drop into complete silence followed by a piercing scream was a great way to build tension before a kill. I have to say I was very impressed with the finale. It was fresh and added a new horrifying creature to the franchise’s repertoire. The human-Xenomorph hybrid was miles better than the one from Resurrection. It retained its human form but was gangly and distorted, highlighting the skeletal structure of the Xenomorph. The scene where only its silhouette is seen was chilling! It was very reminiscent of Dead Space, and anything that can capture the quality of such a well-made game deserves praise. It will probably be the closest thing we Dead Space fans will get to a Necromorph. 

I can’t wait to see this again and spot all the small details I missed. Alvarez’s contribution to this franchise is a great one and certainly should not be missed. ★

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Andor Season 1 Review

Written By: Anna Sumner (’25)

At first glance, Andor seems like yet another Disney+ spinoff based on a semi-important character from another movie that few people have seen. If you were to make assumptions based on this formula, Andor would be mildly entertaining mediocrity. Andor is not that. Andor is a refreshingly mature take on the Star Wars universe that probes and deepens the franchise’s conventions by adding much-needed nuance. It is a prequel to Rogue One and acts as part political drama and part spy thriller. The only foreknowledge required for this viewing is familiarity with the Original and Prequel Trilogy. Andor follows the titular character Cassian Andor, played by Deigo Luna (reprising his role from Rogue One), and the rise of the Rebellion. It takes a closer look at the lives of (relatively) ordinary people under a totalitarian government (The Empire), and dives into the ultimate fragility of totalitarianism. Andor presents the Empire and the Rebellion less straightforwardly than the Original Trilogy. The Rebellion consists of disconnected acts of resistance, with the characters being just as much terrorists as freedom fighters. None of the characters feel cliché–they are grounded, nuanced, and conflicted. Even the characters on the same side experience a range of motivations, from the idealistic manifesto-writing Nemik to the cynical, do-what-must-be-done Luthen. The Empire is still portrayed as evil, but its oppression is shown in such personal and frightening ways that the writers must have drawn from history. The Imperial (or adjacent) characters span a similar range of motives and backgrounds. While all the characters are compelling, I would like to especially highlight the characters of Syril Karne and Dedra Meero, and how their desperation for power because of their youth and lack of status makes them especially frightening in their cruelty. In general, the Empire feels frightening and oppressive, in a way that few other Star Wars media captures. One particular highlight is the scene where the TIE Fighter flies overhead the rebel group. It created more anxiety and tension over a single TIE Fighter than I’ve felt with entire space battles in other Star Wars media. As with the rest of the Disney+ catalog, the visuals are stunning, but I’d like to complement the art direction, as things feel gritty, lived in, and have a certain weight to them. Another profoundly good aspect is the writing and dialogue, there are some truly breathtaking monologues. It’s realistic and carefully crafted, giving each character a unique voice. The pacing can be slow, especially in the first two episodes, as characters and the world are established and developed. However, this results in multiple climatic payoffs, and a deep understanding of the characters and world, with an incredible finale. As this is only the first season, some character arcs are left unfinished, but even as-is, the show is certainly worth a watch.  ★

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Biblical Lessons from Title IX Training

Written By; Timothy Murray (’28)

Biblical Lessons from Title IX training

When most people hear the phrase “Title IX training” they do not have fond feelings of the experience, rather they usually remember that it was long and uninteresting. For a class I read an article about how we should be trying to make work more fun, and I decided to try and apply that to Title IX training by looking for biblical narratives during the videos. This made the whole training not only go a lot faster, but it also helped me find interesting things about Jesus. 

Firstly, Jesus loves us unconditionally even before we choose him over the ways of the world. This is important to remember when we feel like we have failed God after becoming Christians, because even when we sin, we are welcomed back with open arms by Jesus. Another big thing about our relationship with Jesus is that, unlike our earthly friends, He will never let us down and He is always with us.  

Something very important about our relationship with Jesus is that it lasts eternally. We get to walk with Jesus every day and that means we should be spending time with him and getting to know him better. I think it is very important to enjoy the moments we have with Him, because our relationship with Jesus should be the most important one. We should remember that He died for us and loves so much more than we can even comprehend. 

When we are spending time with Jesus we don’t have to be afraid to talk to Him and have hard conversations, because Jesus is always willing to listen with us and give us comfort in times of need. He is also always watching over us and cares about us more than our closest friend on earth could ever do. Another very good thing about Jesus is that there is always more of Him to discover. Our relationship with Jesus never ends until we die and get to spend eternity with Him. 

When we choose to follow Jesus, we also choose to follow His plan for us. When we decide to follow Jesus he gives us a guide which is to follow His plan for you. The best thing we can do is to fully surrender to His plan for our lives. Even though it can be hard at times, His way is the best and will bring you the truest joy and satisfaction. Throughout the journey of life, Jesus is with us in our good and bad moments and we should praise him throughout all of them. He is working all things together for our good. The more we pursue Him, the more we will get to know him.   

These are only a few of the lessons that I found during training, and I found the whole process very uplifting and edifying as well. I would highly encourage everybody to do this!

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Why Women Are Terrifying!

Written By: Samuel Cobb (’27)

Look, let’s be honest here. Some people are afraid of heights, others of spiders. Then there’s me— bravely navigating the treacherous waters of a female-dominated university. Yes, the irrational fear of women, but I’m not talking about the cartoonish run-away to the Arctic type of situation. I’m not afraid they’ll hit me with their purses or yell at me for wearing socks with sandals (though it has happened). No, my fear is a bit more subtle, a little more nuanced. The truth is, women make me nervous in the most awkward, bumbling ways. 

You see there’s something about their mannerism, their mastery of small talk, that leaves my hands clammy and my tongue to swell up in my mouth. Either I end up talking too much or too little. “You like cats? I liked a cat once. He got run over by a car.” Wait, there are women at the homecoming dance? I guess I’ll hide by the punch table and snack on goldfish and fruit snacks. 

It doesn’t matter if it’s an after-class chat or just a casual encounter in the dining hall. Even if I knew them for my entire college career, the results are still the same. I freeze up like Shen Pond in December. I scramble to find something meaningful to say, something that they will look back on and think “Wow, that guy is cool.” Instead, the words that come out are not cool guy words, but “So.., you like…uh, weather? … Snow good?”

And don’t get me started on group scenarios. It’s like standing in front of a firing squad made up completely of charm and intelligence. I laugh nervously at jokes I don’t get, make a few comments on the snowfall, and pray they don’t ask the dreaded haircut question. The weather app is oftentimes my companion and friend in these situations. Whenever I manage to survive one of these encounters I have to drown my pain in a glass of Upstate New York low-fat Chocolate milk to clear my head (Current count: 85 glasses). 

Before you state the most obvious solution —therapy?— I have considered it. But I am sure that it is not that big of a problem per se, and can’t people keep their little quirks? Some people are afraid of clowns, which is valid, and I am afraid of the person who can read my very soul. And I already participate in therapy, albeit a little homebrewed version (I have an unopened Lego box in my dorm room). 

So while my soul is being read like an intriguing novel by Mary Shelly, I’ll do my best to survive the fast-approaching homecoming party. I’ll be fine as long as the opposite sex doesn’t ask me too many questions, or make eye contact for too long. Because even though women are frightfully scary I might eventually build up the courage to say “hi” before I die.

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Madame Web Review

Written By: Caleb Tiedeman (’25)

Madame Web is a genuine abomination to filmmaking. Like a ruined spider’s web, the entire movie is ridden with plot holes and the tarnished carcasses of all the cast’s careers. Half of the movie sounds like a table read, with uncharacteristic monotony in voice and action – I’ve seen animals give better performances. Most of the actors lack actual character, voice inflection, and human emotion, while the villain is the most single note character whose voice sounds like it’s been dubbed in English. It’s truly impressive that studio executives decided to greenlight a project THIS appalling. Cheesy dialogue, random plot conveniences, terribly laughable special effects, and a budget that appears to have consisted of two nickels. Genuinely cringey, silly, horrendous, dumb (pick your adjective) in every degree.

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Dune Part 2 Review

Written By: Caleb Tiedemann (’25)

Dune Part 2 was my most anticipated movie of this year. At the moment of writing this, I have seen it three times in theaters. When it was first released I got the privilege of seeing the movie in IMAX, and I was so enthralled, that I went and saw it again the very next day.

I can confidently say that the stereotype of “sequels being worse than the originals” does not even remotely apply here. Despite my love of Dune Part 1, I can admit that it is slow and long. However, I find beauty in that. Part 2, takes what the first movie did and improves on it in every way. Is it slow? Not at all. Does it manage to find that sweet spot between world-building and action? Yes. 

The movie focuses primarily on the spiritual aspects of the Dune universe. The author of the Dune series based the spiritual elements loosely on Islam, and even though I am no Islamic scholar, from what I do know, it has a fascinating sci-fi representation. The juxtaposition of believers and non-believers in the “Lisan Al-Giab” (Messiah), creates a tense religious atmosphere among the inhabitants of Arrakis – The Fremen. As Paul becomes accustomed to the Fremen ways he is worshiped by some and scoffed at by others. 

In the first movie, I scoffed at the idea of Timothee Chalamet playing Paul, who is supposed to grow into a powerful messianic leader, but I can say that Chalamet pulls the role off beautifully, being equally emotionally resonant and powerfully dominant. Zendaya plays Chani well; a skilled and capable fighter who falls in love with Paul as he ascends. Rebecca Ferguson plays Lady Jessica wonderfully, hiding so much calculating intelligence behind her eyes as she manipulates others for her and Paul’s benefit. Javier Bardem plays Stilgar, a believer of the Fremen tribe in the Lisan Al-Giab, who comes off as an intelligent warrior, intensely spiritual man, and loyal follower, almost to the point of being funny. However, the main standout is Austin Butler’s portrayal of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen: a devilishly psychotic Harkonnen warrior, equally thirsty for both power and blood. Butler plays the role magnificently. Every time he comes on the screen he commands it with menacing gravitas. 

Dune Part 2 is one of the most beautifully shot movies that I have seen in a long time. Cinematographer Greig Fraser captures the beauty and simplicity of the dunes. One would think it hard to capture beauty in a sandy environment but through twilight, eclipse, and natural lighting the color palette of Dune is surprisingly varied. At one point in the film, certain scenes are filmed using an infrared camera. I have never (to my knowledge) witnessed the use of one of these cameras in a film before and it crafted the scenes it was used in beautifully. The pale soft white is utilized to film a particularly brutal scene so the contrast of color and content was an odd but tasteful choice. Hans Zimmer’s score is immaculate. It captures an almost tribal feeling in its use of drums, unorthodox instruments, and sounds. Yet, at the same time, it is a beautiful composition, brimming with emotional resonance and profound meaning.

The last half hour of the movie is one of the most impressively shot, incredibly well-acted, and beautifully lit, endings. As I said, I have seen it three times and every time the ending’s technical aspects just floor me. You don’t have to love the first movie to enjoy the second. I strongly recommend the movie. One of the easiest 10/10 movies I have ever seen.

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Americans are Weird: A Cultural Comparison

Written By: Limat Takale (’27)

Americans are weird. From their weird ways of measuring things to their habit of smiling at strangers, engaging in small talk, acting entitled, and not putting taxes on price tags—plus the confusing array of coins—there is a lot that is different here. Like the way they measure things here—why can’t they just use the metric system or Celsius like the rest of the world? And the coins—why do they have so many? Why are dimes smaller than pennies and nickels? Why are the bathroom stall doors so short, and why are there gaps between them? Why are taxes not included in the price? Americans are just weird. Adapting to a new culture is never easy. I knew that I was going to struggle with many things when I came here, but greeting people was not one of them. Back in Ethiopia, saying hello is a big deal. It is not just a quick thing. It is a whole ritual, showing respect and connection.But here in America, greetings are so casual. They say, “How are you?” but they do not really mean it. It is just a way of saying hello. It is like they do not care about really talking to you. In Ethiopia, when you ask, “How are you?” you mean it. You are ready to have a real conversation, to connect. And you have to know that you have at least 20 minutes free before you ask someone how they are doing because they might want to share everything that is going on in their life. Ethiopians go through the whole family tree—they ask about your day, your mom, your dad, your siblings, and even about a distant cousin you have never met in your life.It is weird how different it is here. Saying hello should mean something, shouldn’t it? It is a small thing, but it shows a significant difference in how we communicate. It makes me miss home, where greetings are more than just words—they are a way of showing you care.Americans are weird, from the way they interact with each other to the way they handle everyday things. It has taken some getting used to, that is for sure. But hey, maybe one day I will get the hang of it and be as weird as the Americans, or maybe I will make the Americans around me less weird. ★

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Cyberware Review (April Fools 2024)

Written By: Caleb Tiedemann (’25)

With all the talk lately regarding human life expectancy, it’s ironic that the biggest breakthrough has been made. After Elon Musk’s Telsa company was disbanded due to a shortage of electricity, his company has made a breakthrough in the cyberware industry. We’re all familiar with cyberware; our bionic limbs and Neuralink transmitters that communicate with all forms of technology have been around for a few decades. But as Tesla delves deeper into research, the general public has been let in on the various updates. The most recent being Apple’s acceptance of Neuralink’s compatibility with their devices. Disgraced Apple CEO John Cena previously called Neuralink “neanderthal technology that would die off in a couple of years.” Two decades later the CEO has been forced to eat his own words. It has also made waves in the political realm as Neuralink has reportedly made Congress actually do the jobs that citizens have been paying them to do. That being said, I, your humble news reporter, am here to give you the first in-depth review of Neuralink 1.0. With this technological advancement, Musk has promised a variety of in-depth features such as “self-flushing toilets, turning the lights on and off, and of course, worldwide genocide,” That last Neuralink comment/promise came from the practical jokester Musk himself. With that being said, as I write this review, I have successfully flushed my first toilet just by looking at it. Turning the lights on and off has proven to be something of a challenge, however. The implant allowed me to trace the electric current from my devices to the source by some form of X-ray vision. By simply blinking at it, it cuts the power line. It has arrived with some other challenges, especially when it came to finding all the bugs placed around my house. Since destroying those the mafia has been leaving dead fish on my doorstep. As someone who dislikes seafood, this has caused a rivalry between myself and the mafia. Whenever I find that worldwide genocide button, I shall be sure to utilize it. That being said, Elon Musk’s Neuralink technology has made my life far easier. Instead of exerting small amounts of effort in my everyday life, I am now able to save that physical strain for more important things like watching football or Tweeting on X. ★