Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 28, 2012

9

ARTS & ENTERTAIMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, April 28, 2012 


SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS: 


The Book Report

By Jeff Brown

Review By Sean Kayden

WE ARE SERENADES

I’ve always been a fan of the Swedish indie-pop band, Shout Out Louds. 
So when I heard frontman Adam Olenius was teaming up with Markus Krunegard form 
the band Laakso to form a side-project, I expressed much interest. The duo has created 
the music entity, We Are Serenades. Both artists share vocal duties, which give the debut 
record, “Criminal Heaven” a great balance. While these Sweden natives already have a lot of 
experience as musicians, it was safe to remain hopeful this new project would be solid. For all 
intents and purposes, “Criminal Heaven” is pure springtime bliss, but even within spring, the 
forecast isn’t always consistent with utter beauty. 

We Are Serenades hone their joyful sound 
to the utmost degree. However, the band 
is at their finest when they’re not slowing 
down the tempo into boring lullabies. 
“Birds,” the second track off the album, is 
a downright terrific pop tune. With lush 
melodies, a mellifluous sound arrangement, 
and harmonious vocals, “Birds” is not only 
the best song off the album, but one of the 
better pop songs of 2012. “Come Home,” which reminds me the most of Shout Out Louds, 
has this 80s background flair with a touch of twangy guitar riffs that simultaneously and 
surprisingly work well together. “Oceans,” another lasting gem, is buoyant and uplifting. We 
Are Serenades often do sound absolutely great. Despite some tremendous songs presented 
here, the mishaps do occur. “Daydreaming” is a slog that is quite monotonous. To give it some 
credit, it does display a very soft side to We Are Serenades, but it interrupts the record’s lively 
tempo. The title track is another one that just sucks the life out of not the only album, but the 
listener. I understand the allure to make songs like this because they try to touch your heart, 
but unfortunately they’re just coming off maudlin and uninspiring. “Weapons” is a song that 
inexplicably feels out of place, but it’s quirky and tons of fun. It comes as a surprise and while 
it may not feel an authentic part to the record, it stands alone as a true dark horse type of song. 

All in all, the debut is a satisfying listen in spite of some less-than-stellar tracks. Olenius 
and Krunegard’s vocals are often in unison and the blending of their two voices makes for 
a truly distinctive vocal resonance all itself. “Criminal Heaven” is not life changing, but an 
exceedingly fine pop record. Once again, under the radar pop rock is still better than what 
the mainstream affair has to offer. “Criminal Heaven” may not spin heads or rock the boat too 
much, but its existence is worth looking into if you’re feeling a little gloomy during these days. 

Key Tracks: “Birds”, “Come Home”, “Oceans”
Grade: 7.0 out of 10 

ENEMIES: A HISTORY OF THE FBI by Tim Weiner

Enemies is the first definitive history of the FBI’s secret intelligence operations, from 
an author whose work won him the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. We 
think of the FBI as America’s police force. But secret intelligence is the Bureau’s first 
and foremost mission. Enemies is the story of how presidents have used the FBI as the 
most formidable intelligence force in American history. Here is the hidden history of 
America’s war on terror. The FBI has fought against terrorists, spies, anyone it deemed 
subversive and sometimes American presidents. The FBI’s secret intelligence and surveillance 
techniques have created a tug of war between protecting national security and 
infringing upon civil liberties. It is a tension that strains the very fabric of a free republic.

LEGACY OF ASHES: THE HISTORY OF THE CIA by Tim Weiner

For the last sixty years, the CIA has managed to maintain a formidable reputation in 
spite of its terrible record, burying its blunders in top secret archives. Its mission was 
to know the world. When it did not succeed, it set out to change the world. Its failures 
have handed us, in the words of President Eisenhower, “a legacy of ashes.” Now author 
Tim Weiner offers the first definitive history of the CIA and everything is on the record. 
It is based on more than 50,000 documents, primarily from the archives of the CIA itself, 
and hundreds of interviews with CIA veterans, including ten Directors of Central 
Intelligence. It takes the CIA from its creation after World War II, through its battles in 
the cold war and the war on terror, to its near-collapse after 9/ll. The Wall Street Journal 
called it “truly extraordinary . . . the best book ever written on a case of espionage.” 

Presence: The Intimacy of All Experience Vol.2 by Ruper Spira

 All that is known is experiencing and experiencing is not divided into one part (an 
inside self) that experiences and another part (an outside object, other or world) that is 
experienced. Experiencing is seamless and intimate, made of ‘knowing’ or Awareness 
alone. This intimacy, in which there is no room for selves, objects or others, is love itself. 
It lies at its heart of all experience, completely available under all circumstances. “Rupert 
Spira Presence is one of the most exciting and illuminating books on non duality I 
have encountered and its precision, articulateness in naming the nameless, unparalleled 
depth and ability to inspire were constantly appreciated. This book succeeds in taking 
the reader beyond concepts and into the experiential level. The irony is that this work, 
which is so advanced and sophisticated in its use of language, thought and conceptualization, 
is inexorably directed towards pure experiencing. It is a brilliant and lucid work 
carrying great strength and authority suggesting it is an indisputable source of Truth. “ 
Victoria Ritchie, Editor for Eckhart Tolle.

Artist: We Are Serenades 

Album: Criminal Heaven

Label: Cherrytree/Interscope

Release Date: April 17th, 2012


Doo Dah Jumps the Shark

Pasadena, CA- Arguably the world’s largest known man eating fish, the great white shark, 
will take to dry land this Saturday swimming high over this year’s 35th occasional Doo 
Dah Parade. Equipped with a wireless camera the 5 foot inflatable remote controlled 
shark will, for the first time, live stream aerial footage of the parade.

Now in its fifth year, doodahlive.com, working with event organizers Patricia Hurley and 
Tom Coston, the Pasadena Community Network and the Mountain Views News, has 
been able to catch all the zany, wacky fun that is Doo Dah — known as the twisted sister 
of the conventional Rose Parade— in real-time as it happens.

“The shark sounds really cool,” said this year’s Doo Dah Grand Marshal Ann Erdman. 
Hurley added, “Oh my gosh, this is all way too fun!!!”

The Doo Dah Shark Cam will use the “Air Swimmers” remote controlled, helium filled, 
balloon shaped shark. The balloon is made from a printed “ultra-durable nylon” that is 
thicker and more damage-resistant than normal party balloons. More information about 
Air Swimmers can be found at x-zylo.com.

The shark will be equipped with a mini wireless color camera about the size of a postage 
stamp. The camera uses a 2.450 GHz output. The shark will be capable of reaching a 
height of 40 feet, although it is not anticipated to go over 15 feet. The balloon will also be 
tethered to assure it does not fly away. 

For more informtion, contact Dean Lee 818-288-8361 


“Morning’s at Seven.” March 30- May 12.

Aaronetta and Ida Gibbs have lived next door to each other most of their lives and along 
with Esther, all of the Gibb sisters are an open book to each. Husbands not included. Into the 
fray comes Myrtle Brown, perpetually engaged to Ida's son Homer. But Homer can't seem 
to pop the question. Taking matters into her own hands, Myrtle finally gets a proposal by 
compelling Homer to fly the nest. Sort of. This perennially charming portrait of small town 
America was first produced on Broadway in 1939 and revived in 1980 and in 2002 to critical 
acclaim. By Paul Osborn, Directed by Bob Hakman

 Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 
91024. Ample free parking behind theatre. Tickets: $25. Seniors (65+) and students (13-17), 
$22. Children 12 and under, $15. Musicals: $25 all seats. Reservations: (626) 355-4318. Online 
ticketing: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org