Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 16, 2013

B5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, March 16, 2013 

SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS: 

JASMINE’S CORNER

Book Reviews by Jasmine Kelsey Williams 


BEACH 
FOSSILS

 A few things have 
changed since Beach 
Fossil’s last record. This 
time around bandleader 
Dustin Payseur acquired three new members, 
including drummer Tommy Davidson, to replace 
the use of a drum kit in previous material. What 
once started as a solo bedroom project of lo-fi 
songs has been reincarnated into a full fledged 
band. 

 This time around, Beach Fossils find themselves 
heading into a studio with a producer to craft a 
more polished, higher production sounding 
record. In the process of doing so, the band’s 
unique qualities could have been completely lost 
with the transition but, instead, a sense of drive 
and determination has now been found. Beach 
Fossils now have a true equilibrium as distinct 
from the lo-fi edges on their first album and the 
dream-pop movements on their follow-up EP, 
“What A Pleasure”. They’re now combining the 
two sounds into what is now known as “Clash The 
Truth.” Despite the lost of two original members, 
who have pursued their own projects (DIIV and 
Heavenly Beat) and taking a leap in a somewhat 
different, off the beaten path direction, Beach 
Fossils are far away from hitting that “sophomore 
slump” and honing their craft with an album that 
genuinely doesn’t disappointment. 

 The songs here are quick and bursting with 
energy. No track is longer than three minutes 
and twenty five seconds and the shortest is thirty-
three seconds. Those jangly guitar riffs are still 
intact, and are now preceded by Payseur’s clearer 
vocals. A sense of maturity has left its influence on 
both vocals and lyrics. Instead of being deemed 
just another surf-pop meets garage-rock fly-by-
night summer band, Beach Fossils are clearly 
the real deal. They’ve become stronger and quite 
simply better over time. The opening, and title, 
track is a solid example of this with angst lyrics 
and Payseur chanting along the second half of the 
song. Another gem is “Careless,” that’s viciously 
catchy and demonstrates a powerful sense of 
urgency. It’s easily the best song of this “best of 
Beach Fossils” in their reasonably short career. “In 
Vertigo” provides the vocals of Kazu Makino of 
Blonde Redhead and it’s a sure winner. This one 
is a sprawling, darkly sweet sound with Makino’s 
restrained vocals to boot. The combination of 
that, along with heavy-reverb, fit hand in hand . 
You will easily be clamoring for more songs of this 
duo. The only real problem I have with this album 
is the three useless instrumental tracks. “Clash The 
Truth” is already short in duration and the added 
three minutes and twenty five seconds are out of 
place, needless material definitely disrupts the 
flow of the record. 

 In the end, “Clash The Truth” is the work of an 
artist who has developed a sound richer and more 
intricate than previous work had indicated. The 
evolution between the first two records reminds 
me a lot of Beach Fossils’ label mates, Wild 
Nothing. Both musicians started their careers as 
solo bedroom pop artists and now find themselves 
in communal projects, respectively. Plus, in 
relation to this, Beach Fossils’ resonance has 
improved with the higher production values found 
in professional recording studios. Nonetheless, 
Payseur and co. take some risks, most of which pay 
off greatly. With 2013 still ahead of them, Beach 
Fossils just may become bigger than they ever 
imagined. I know for starters their new material 
has definitely become so. 

Grade: 8.2 out of 10

Key Tracks: “Clash The Truth,” “Shallow,” 
“Taking Off,” “In Vertigo” 

STARGIRL By Jerry Spinelli

For this next selection, you readers will want to keep an 
open mind because this one will not only want to make you 
smile, but is also perfect for sharing with other potential 
readers of many ages. Jerry Spinelli is a recognizable 
author here, and “Stargirl” is proof of his excellently 
and sweetly written work which involves themes of 
adolescence and early adulthood. The story focuses on 
protagonist Leo Borlock, a 16 year old teenager with a shy 
demeanor whose life is greatly affected when he meets the 
eccentric and unusual Susan Caraway but whom everyone 
calls “Stargirl”. Readers will notice that the themes of 
nonconformity, individuality, and acceptance come into 
play here as Leo, and other classmates at his school are 
at first surprised by her unique personality and follow by 
imitation, but are quick to shun her when they believe 
she has done something wrong in their eyes. Readers who 
can sympathize with Leo may be mildly surprised at how 
certain events play out for Leo once Stargirl comes into 
the picture, and how they may react when Leo becomes 
Stargirl’s romantic interest but unfortunately is shunned 
himself for being attracted to her. 

 Stargirl (aka Susan) takes the story and its plot by storm, 
always expressing a quirky surprise or a trick up her 
sleeve, even when others are not so kind (one example 
is how she carries a ukulele to school and sings to students on their birthdays). Leo also affects 
the pacing of the story, starting from an observational perspective before opening up to Stargirl 
and trying to comprehend her perspective, and then wanting to revert to his former nature when 
he tries to break away from her. Jerry Spinelli creates wonderfully fantastical characters and a 
smoothly paced story, which can echo real-life events and provide readers with an opportunity to 
think back on similar experiences which may have happened to them, including myself, and to 
allow themselves to become completely immersed in the world of “Stargirl”. Although “Stargirl” 
might be considered an older selection as it was copyrighted in 2000, “Stargirl” has received praise 
from booklovers and critics alike, such as Chicago Tribune, Book Report, and Publishers Weekly, 
and is also a New York Times Bestseller. And to also add to its charm, Spinelli has also produced 
a sequel, “Love, Stargirl”, which will not only add a sense of completion to any reader’s bookshelf, 
but one that will bring a sense of memories, nostalgia, youth, and the joys of setting your own path 
and following your heart.

http://www.csuchico.edu/~pkittle/102/stargirl/stargirlcover.jpg
Artist: Beach Fossils

Album: Clash The Truth

Label: Captured Tracks

Release Date: Feb.19th, 2013


SIERRA MADRE 

WISTARIA FESTIVAL

Sunday, March 17, 2013

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY 
FOR THE WISTARIA SHUTTLE

www.wistariafestival.com

www.wistariatickets.com

Tickets are available online at www.sierramadreplayhouse.org or by calling 626-355-4318

THE CROWN CITY SYMPHONY 
PRESENTS TWO FREE CONCERTS 

Rossini --- “The Silken Ladder” 

Haydn ---- Cello Concerto #1 in C

Beethoven ----- Symphony #7 in A

 Marvin Neumann - Conductor 

Maggie Hummel Strong - Cello Soloist

 

2:00 pm, Saturday, March 16, 2013

Altadena Senior Center

560 E. Mariposa, Altadena

 

2:00 pm, Sunday, March 17, 2013

First Baptist Church of Pasadena

75 N. Marengo, Pasadena

Validated parking in the stacked parking on Holly

 Made possible in part with funds received through private donations and sponsored by the Tuesday 
Musicale of Pasadena Call (626) 797-1994 for more information. Web site: crowncitysymphony.
org Find us on Facebook at Crown City Symphony, Pasadena 


- Free Estimates- High Rise Replacement- Store Fronts- Windows Alum. & Wood- Patio Doors- Shower & Tub Enclosures- Mirrors (All Types)
- Wardrobe Doors- Fine Crystal Repair- Leaded Glass Repair- Tempered Safety Glass- Thermal Insulated Glass- Laminated Safety Glass- Wire Glass- Window & Plate Glass- Beveled Glass- Picture Glass- Obscure Glass- Table Tops 1/16” - 1”
SIERRAGLASS & MIRROR CO.
“If It’s Glass We Fix It”
One of the Most Complete Glass Companies AnywhereLicense #627218Showers, Mirrors, Storefronts(626) 355-3407 | (626) 795-4201 | Fax (626) 355-8396347 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. | Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com