Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 25, 2012

11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, August 25, 2012 

SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS: 


JASMINE’S CORNER

Book Reviews by Jasmine Kelsey Williams

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

By Ransom Riggs

 I personally recommend this as a 
must read for anyone who has a taste 
for the supernatural, spooky, and 
mysterious. ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home 
for Peculiar Children’ brings the tale 
of one teenage boy and his discovery 
of a strange dimension where time 
has not just stopped, but preserves 
the lives of the peculiar children who 
exist there with their teacher. 

 The hero, 16 year old Jacob has his 
courage and mentality tested when 
he takes a trip with his father to an 
English island, where he discovers 
that an abandoned boarding home 
actually still holds a secret found 
by him as he follows clues left 
by his grandfather who tells him 
stories of children and their unique 
abilities. The story really pulls the 
reader in with Jacob’s calm tone, his 
connection to the other children, 
and the ever present danger that still 
surrounds not just the children, but 
the island as well. 

 As the story progresses, Jacob is 
able to spend more time with the 
children, discover himself, and 
towards the end make a decision that 
will change his fate in life. A story that is one part supernatural, one part mystery, and 
one part adventure, this story really weaves a tale of friendship, courage, and what 
makes oneself unique. 

 Another fine quality is that this is a first novel by Ransom Riggs published in 2011, 
which makes this a fresh and exciting read.

Editor’s Note: Ms. Williams is the latest addition to the Mountain Views News family. A young writer 
alumni of Pasadena City College, she brings a new voice to our Arts and Entertainment section. 

Welcome Jasmine.

Review By Sean Kayden

WILD CUB

 Everywhere you turn these days, it seems yet another synth-pop group 
has entered the already overly-crowded arena. With many imitators and not 
enough innovators, it’s difficult to find something genuinely exceptional. 
Without coming off completely biased with my predilection to this particular resonance, I 
decided to give Wild Cub’s debut album, “Youth” an honest listen. During my first go around I 
noticed how there is something inherently breezy and blissful about this record. Perhaps, I fell 
victim to my own penchant for this style of music. After moderate reflection on this superbly 
produced and studio-like generated compilation, I consider Wild Cub sounding like everything 
else out there, everything that’s more or less good, anyway. At the end of the day or simply at the 
conclusion of the album, you won’t be changed or feel all that much different. However, the time 
spent in the world of “Youth” could be far worse anywhere else, because singer Keegan DeWitt 
and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Bullock bring 
the nostalgic factor to a new high. Sometimes 
the album feels a bit one-dimensional, but when 
the sound of beauty meets melancholy yet again, 
mostly, if not all is forgiven. 

 “Youth” kicks off with “Shapeless,” a slow 
dance tune that speeds up into this anthem of 
recaptured love. The next track is “Colour,” a 
song that should and probably will be featured in 
indie movies and the edgier Hollywood romantic comedies. It’s fast-paced, catchy as hell, and will 
pump you up more than you could ever intend on being. DeWitt and Bullock have this praise 
worthy ability to go from supercharged anthems with a lot of heart and energy to the carefully 
constructed, soulful melodies of slowly measured tunes. This phenomenon begins on track six 
with “The Water” and is followed by “Drive,” a song that inexplicability reminds me of a cross 
between the vocals of Damon Albarn of Blur and Greg Dulli of The Twilight Singers. Regardless, 
“Drive” is a meticulous, slow smoldering, supremely ruminative highlight from the record. It’s 
easily the best song here and displays the talents Wild Cub clearly have in store for the present and 
future material. 

 The first half of “Youth” offers a great blend of swift and leisurely tempo treats. The second 
half, however, feels a bit of a retread. Nothing terribly wrong with it, but by the time halftime 
hits, the listener may become a little restless with the lack of surprises. On a brighter note, there 
are thirteen tracks present, which is more than the ten or eleven songs typically seen on many 
albums from this genre. Fortunately the closing track, “Windows,” another chilled out remedy 
for the daydreamers, is very, very good. If you make it to the end of the album in spite of the 
slightly tedious second half (which could be ignored), Wild Cub does leave you with an all around 
alluring, comforting, and alleviating tune to send you on your way. Wherever that way is will be 
strictly upon you, but at least Wild Cub provides you with the necessary push to get you started. 

Grade 7.7 out of 10 

Key Tracks: “Colour”, “The Water”, “Drive”, “Windows” 


Artist: Wild Cub

Album: Youth

Label: Big Light Recordings

Release 

Date: August 14th, 2012

HEALTH & FITNESS


THE JOY OF YOGA

THE BACK

ene 
Yoga is many things these days. It has become very different from 
how it started out. You can do Hot yoga, Core Power Fusion, Acro 
yoga, and there is even talk of yoga in the Olympics? 

 The bottom line? The physical postures of yoga were developed 
for back strength. The yogis wanted to meditate. They wanted to 
change their prana (energy) so that they would have control of mind 
and be happy. In order to do that, the physical body has to be in top 
working order. One has to be able to sit upright to meditate. 

 

 That’s it, the postures were developed for better physical health. So when you think, “Oh, 
I can’t do yoga, I’m not flexible,” or “Yoga is too hard (or easy),” or “I need a better looking 
booty,” or “I get my workout at the gym,” Remember – that is not what yoga is. Well, real 
yoga anyway.

 Real yoga is a step by step progression of movement with breath. The movement should 
HELP the back and the breath helps the prana. You feel better than when you came in. You 
feel calmer and more of your authentic, wise self. Then you can sit and rest in a peaceful 
mind. 

 A peaceful, wise mind is better than a nice looking booty, anyway. A mind in control, 
beyond the pull of advertising and the social influence of marketing, understands that better 
relationships and a happy life far outweigh being able to put your foot behind your head. 
But if you get there in a step-by-step process and feel great doing downward facing dog, all 
the better. A fit physical body is essential to the journey inward.