Am now a main writer for a cooking section in the school paper...

Pumpkin Pie Mug Cake

Fall has arrived, my fellow MU students. This can only mean one thing: pumpkin pie. Glorious, glorious pumpkin pie. I know the difficulties of having to wait until Thanksgiving break for a piece of that succulent deliciousness. But to ease to your pain and sorrow, I have come up with a recipe for a delicious alternative that just might blow your mind: Pumpkin Pie Mug Cake. As you can tell from the name, it is indeed a cake inside of a mug. Mind blown yet? All you need is a few ingredients and access to a microwave and you will be dining in pumpkin pie heaven in less than two minutes!

Ingredients:

1 egg 2 tablespoons of milk 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin 6 tablespoons of flour 1/4 cup of sugar 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract Whipped cream for topping (optional)

Directions:

Combine all of the ingredients into your largest coffee mug and mix them together with a fork. Mix them together long enough so there are few to no lumps in the batter. Once thoroughly mixed, place mug into microwave and cook on high for one minute and 30 seconds (cake will tend to overflow — if so, just wipe off). Once the microwave is finished, check if the cake is done by inserting a toothpick in the middle of the cake. If it is done, nothing should be on the toothpick when you take it out. If the cake is not done, cook on high for another 20 seconds. Be careful to not cook it too long, as it will become rubbery. Once done, take the mug out of microwave, add whipped cream and enjoy!

Link:

http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2012/10/2/pumpkin-pie-mug-cake/

Album Review: Green Day's 'Uno'

Green Day – ‘Uno’: 1.5 out of 5 stars

It’s easy to target Green Day as a sell-out — it comes with the punk territory that got the band its start. In punk culture, mainstream success is a sin, and Green Day has been a sinner ever since its release of Dookie in 1994. Green Day has done nothing but go its own way, not constricting itself solely to its punk roots. So what if a lot of people have taken notice?

That being said, Green Day’s Uno, the first of a trilogy planned to be released throughout the next year, is no Dookie or even American Idiot, for that matter. In a clear attempt to stick to the punk/pop platform that has brought Green Day to the surface of American popular culture, Unofalls short in living up to those past successes.

The lead single, "Oh Love," shines like a diamond on an album chock full of fillers. It blends catchy syncopated guitar riffs with perfectly placed and timed vocals, adding a gritty, delightfully sloppy rock ‘n’ roll guitar solo as the icing on the cake. The key to Green Day’s long-term success has always been its ability to mix the rawness and pure abandonment of punk music with the hooks and melodies that make up today’s pop music. "Oh Love" is no exception.

An exception is made, though, with the second single, "Let Yourself Go," which leans heavily toward its punk roots. "Let Yourself Go" rids itself of the prettiness of pop and divulges into the hell that is pure, unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll. This track brings longtime fans back to the days of “39/Smooth” and “Kerplunk,” flushing the band's "sell-out" status down the toilet. This is a headbanger from start to finish that never lets up.

"Kill the DJ" and "Troublemaker" are where the album starts to roll downhill. Both are experimentations not warranted on such a hard-rocking set. "Kill the DJ" has mindless lyrics matched with nightclub-esque instrumentation — though the song tries so hard to be catchy, it just comes out desperate and annoying. With "Troublemaker," Green Day tries to put on its best Sublime makeup, attempting to mix relaxed beats of reggae with rock, but utterly fails.

Though “Uno” does its best to mimic past albums' success with two lead singles and even the track "Rusty James," an acoustic jam that sounds like a tribute to the late punk great Johnny Thunders, it unfortunately falls flat with the amount of filler and the unjustifiable experimentations it contains. If you are looking for the next American Idiot, stay clear — Uno is one to forget.

Link:
http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2012/9/24/green-day-uno-15-out-5-stars/

Album Review: Slash's "Apocalyptic Love"

ARTS | PUBLISHED SEPT. 18, 2012 | 0 COMMENTS

Slash - 'Apocalyptic Love': 4 out of 5 stars

By Pete Colman

PUBLISHED AS A PART OFMANEATER V. 79, ISSUE 8

Many people now recognize the man who is Slash as the “guy with the top hat” on the cover of "Guitar Hero."

However, years before he graced the cover of any kind of video game, Slash was idolized by fans all around the world and has been the cover boy for Rolling Stone and numerous other music publications, touted as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

His legendary status comes from the culmination of his work with recently inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Guns N’ Roses, as well as Slash’s Snakepit and Grammy award-winning Velvet Revolver. In other words, the man is a music god, and his godlike status has continued into his solo efforts.

With the dissolution of lead singer Scott Weiland in early 2008, Velvet Revolver, Slash’s main band as of late, has since taken a break from music, setting the stage for a Slash solo project. His first efforts came in 2010 with the self-titled rocker Slash. Two years later, Apocalyptic Lovesurfaced.

With the help of Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge) and the Conspirators, Apocalyptic Love delivers every single rock ‘n’ roll taste one might crave. From the howling screams of Slash’s signature "wah" sound on the title track "Apocalyptic Love" to the sinister riffage of "Shots Fired," Slash and Co. combine the sheer raw energy of Guns N’ Roses with an AC/DC simplicity complimented by Kennedy’s smooth yet soulful vocal melodies throughout the entire album, a feat not conquered every day in a world of rock now dominated by the likes of Nickelback and Green Day.

The lead single "You’re a Lie" is a ferocious love story gone wrong that is felt within every word Kennedy croons. It further sizzles with a bluesy/metal solo only Slash could create. "Hard and Fast" plays just as advertised and sounds like the creation of Guns N’ Roses circa 1985.

The heyday of rock ‘n’ roll in the ‘80s and early ‘90s is brought back with tracks such as "No More Heroes" and "Halo" with blistering guitar solos and anthem-esque choruses, that even Steven Perry and Axl Rose would approve of. Well, maybe not Axl Rose.

One thing this album falls short on is variety. Apocalyptic Love rips from beginning to end and doesn’t ever really slow down. "Not for Me" is the closest song that comes to being a ballad but quickly turns into a rocker within less than a minute.

Even with this shortcoming, it’s hard to downgrade this album much more than a star — it’s just too good. If you want a real rock 'n' roll record, look no further than Apocalyptic Love.

Link:

http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2012/9/18/slash-apocalyptic-love-4-out-5-stars/

Interview with Lord Huron

» 

Q&A with Lord Huron

On the verge of releasing their first album, these Michigan musicians return to the Midwest for a spell.

By Pete Colman

Published Sept. 7, 2012

• 
  Ben Schneider/Photographer

(View large image browser)

When: 10:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21 Where: Mojo's Roots 'N' Blues Afterparty

If you were to ask random passers-by if they'd heard of the band Lord Huron, you might find the answer “no” to be a commonality. However, as this rising American folk/rock band makes its way to Columbia, Lord Huron’s name is destined to become a familiar one.

From a small town in Michigan to the bright lights of New York City and Los Angeles, Ben Schneider and his band, Lord Huron, have been on their fair share of adventures, with their next being a show Sept. 21 at Mojo's.

Before he hits the stage, however, lead man Schneider shares insight on the band's debut album, Lonesome Dreams, reflects on the tour and even throws an R. Kelly reference into the conversation.

[MOVE]: You're only into your third date of the tour, but how has it been so far?

[Ben Schneider]: It’s been good, you know. I mean the couple of L.A. shows were kind of a warm-up for the rest of the tour, but it’s been nice being able to try out the new material. It’s our first chance to test out the new songs from the upcoming album, so that’s definitely exciting.

[M]: You're from Michigan — is it nice to come back to play to smaller midwestern cities, such as Columbia, as opposed to L.A. and New York?

[S]: Definitely. Growing up in a small town in Michigan, we never really got any necessarily big acts to come through, so it's something that hits home with me. It's always special to have a chance to play for fans that don’t have the same opportunity to see the artists and bands they want to see, as opposed to people who live in bigger cities. I’ve only been able to play in Michigan once before, so that’s something I’m really excited about for this tour.

[M]: You’ve released music before (the Mighty EP), but what's special about your first full-length album?

[S]: It’s our first chance to show a complete body of work. This was our first time working with a label (IAMSOUND Records), and it has given us a lot more muscle when you consider being able to record in an actual studio, along with good band promotion.

[M]: Albums take a while to release. Is it hard for you to wait?

[S]: It definitely gets frustrating at times. It's like, you’ve worked so hard and so long on a project and when you finally finish it, you want to show people what you’ve done. It’s exciting to see people’s reactions, good or bad, and I’m used to releasing something the moment I get it done. So yeah, it has definitely been a little frustrating. But it’s all about learning how to play the game when it comes to working with a label. They know when the best time to release something is, so you just gotta trust the process.

[M]:Speaking of your album, what can we expect from Lonesome Dreams?

[S]: Mostly just a continuation of past projects. We really worked hard refining our sound and with a bigger production budget, the sound quality is much better. Getting a chance to record live together in a real studio helped shape our sound a lot. It was also our first time working with an engineer so that was nice. You can definitely expect a western sound to our songs — real traditional American folk music with our own twist.

[M]: Your music and lyrics seem to suggest a portrayal of travel and discovery. Is this what you go for when writing your music?

[S]: Absolutely. Traveling is an important theme in my life, going from a small town in Michigan to Los Angeles. I’ve actually been getting a little restless in L.A., so the touring helps. It allows me to get into the world, and my want to do that is definitely reflected in my music.

[M]: Who are your biggest influences musically?

[S]: I’d have to say artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen have had the most impact on me. Even someone like Paul Simon. They aren’t just great musicians, they are storytellers, and that’s something I connect with.

[M]: What has been the best part of being able to release a record and tour across America?

[S]: The best part so far has been able to see family at shows. It’s a pretty cool thing to see your friends and family out in the crowd watching you do what you love doing.

[M]: If you could create your own super band, who would be in it?

[S]: To be honest, I would have to pick all the guys that are with me right now (Mark Barry, Miguel Briseno, Brett Farkas and Tom Renaud). They are all great players, and we have great chemistry. We are all good friends, and I don’t think there is one thing I would change.

[M]: What’s something embarrassing that I would find perusing your iPod?

[S]: (Laughs) Uh, you know I don’t really think there is anything embarrassing on my iPod. I’m pretty comfortable and open with the garbage I have.

[M]: Come on, everyone has something that’s even just a little bit embarrassing.

[S]: If I had to throw out an artist, I’d probably say, maybe, R. Kelly … although that’s not too bad. Lately I’ve been going through that phase of listening to all the crap you listened to in middle school.

[M]: That’s something we all go through.

[S]: Yea. I mean some of it was pretty good, but for the most part it was all pretty bad.

[M]: Anything you want to say to your Mizzou fans that will be coming out to see you?

[S]: You know, just come ready to have a good time! I’m really looking forward to gettin' down with y'all!

Link:

http://move.themaneater.com/stories/2012/9/7/q-lord-huron/

Pretty Lights Preview

» 

Pretty Lights headline Midway Music Festival

By Pete Colman

Published Aug. 24, 2012

• 
  Maneater File Photo

(View large image browser)

Some see Charlie Sheen as the go-to guy for an insane party. Derek Vincent Smith might have something to say about that.

As Smith, a Colorado-born producer and DJ, makes his way to the Columbia in the form of Pretty Lights, near-by ravers rejoice. The reason? Pretty Lights doesn’t just put on a show, he brings a party unlike no other and invites everyone to join.

“Pretty lights can set a mood," student A.J. Grathwohl says. "They say, ‘we’re here and it’s time to rage!'”

His music is one with a high-octane energy that is made from raw emotion. The sounds he creates reverberate through the walls, to the floors and into your veins. You don’t just listen to the music — you experience it.

Smith laces his tracks and his interaction with the crowd. His keen ability to mix an assortment of thunderous broken beats with warm yet assertive synth textures creates an atmosphere many strive to achieve. He is also not just a man behind a computer pressing buttons, either. Using a stage stacked with blindingly fluorescent lights and colored fog, Smith does his part by actively engaging with the audience. This is the separation that Pretty Lights puts on others in his genre. While others might put on a good concert, Lights creates one super-sized house party.

Pretty Lights' visit to Columbia comes by way of his proclaimed “Illumination Tour” to help support an upcoming album that he plans to release soon. Fans will be eager to catch a live glimpse of Lights’ newly released single, “I Know the Truth,” a song that is a concept backtrack to his latest album, “Passing By Behind Your Eyes”, released in 2009 as a free download at the Pretty Lights official website.

“With the track ‘I Know The Truth,’ I wanted to try to fuse the emotion of dark 60?s soul music with the energy of raw bass heavy dub-step,” Smith says in a news release.

“Passing By Behind Your Eyes” helped Smith venture to new musical heights.

It received 4.7 stars by Amazon Music and is highly regarded as Pretty Lights’ best album to date in the minds of his passionate fan base. While it continues to have the energy that has helped Smith stand out, it also touches on some slower, mellower sounds creating a nice progression from track to track. Smith successfully integrates a mixture of old-school samples from different genres, including hip-hop, jazz and soul, with futuristic tones creating a sound only Smith could envision.

“The way Pretty Lights is able to mix two things that normally wouldn’t go together is the main reason I’m such a fan,” freshman Jake Duckworth says. “No one does it better.”

Although the main purpose of this tour is to promote his unreleased album, you would be amiss if you thought Smith wouldn’t be blasting out past hits. A good portion of the set will consist of the aforementioned “Passing By Behind Your Eyes”, as well as other beloved tracks that make up Pretty Lights’ past. We all love good music, and we all love a good party, so why not experience both at the same time? Pretty Lights assures a show that will appease an appetite for raging. An event even a Charlie Sheen type would approve.

Link:

http://move.themaneater.com/stories/2012/8/24/pretty-lights-headline-midway-music-festival/