Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 29, 2015

11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, August 29, 2015 

Jeff’s Book Picks By Jeff Brown

SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS:

ATLAS GENIUS - ‘INANIMATE 
OBJECTS’THE GIFT

By Sean Kayden


THE POPE AND MUSSOLINI: THE 
SECRET HISTORY OF PIUS XI AND 
THE RISE OF FASCISM IN EUROPE 

by David I. Kertzer 

From Pulitzer Prize winner David I. Kertzer 
comes the gripping story of Pope Pius XI’s secret 
relations with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. 
This groundbreaking work, based on seven years 
of research in the Vatican and Fascist archives, 
including reports from Mussolini’s spies inside the 
highest levels of the Church, will forever change 
our understanding of the Vatican’s role in the rise 
of Fascism in Europe.The Pope and Mussolini tells 
the story of two men who came to power in 1922, 
and together changed the course of twentieth-
century history. In most respects, they could 
not have been more different. One was scholarly 
and devout, the other thuggish and profane. 
Yet Pius XI and “Il Duce” had many things in 
common. They shared a distrust of democracy 
and a visceral hatred of Communism. Both were 
prone to sudden fits of temper and were fiercely 
protective of the prerogatives of their office. 
(“We have many interests to protect,” the Pope 
declared, soon after Mussolini seized control of 
the government in 1922.) Each relied on the other 
to consolidate his power and achieve his political 
goals.In a challenge to the conventional history of 
this period, in which a heroic Church does battle 
with the Fascist regime, Kertzer shows how Pius 
XI played a crucial role in making Mussolini’s 
dictatorship possible and keeping him in power. 
In exchange for Vatican support, Mussolini 
restored many of the privileges the Church had 
lost and gave in to the pope’s demands that the 
police enforce Catholic morality. Yet in the last 
years of his life—as the Italian dictator grew 
ever closer to Hitler—the pontiff’s faith in this 
treacherous bargain started to waver. With his 
health failing, he began to lash out at the Duce 
and threatened to denounce Mussolini’s anti-
Semitic racial laws before it was too late. Horrified 
by the threat to the Church-Fascist alliance, the 
Vatican’s inner circle, including the future Pope 
Pius XII, struggled to restrain the headstrong 
pope from destroying a partnership that had 
served both the Church and the dictator for 
many years.The Pope and Mussolini brims with 
memorable portraits of the men who helped 
enable the reign of Fascism in Italy: Father Pietro 
Tacchi Venturi, Pius’s personal emissary to the 
dictator, a wily anti-Semite known as Mussolini’s 
Rasputin; Victor Emmanuel III, the king of Italy, 
an object of widespread derision who lacked 
the stature—literally and figuratively—to stand 
up to the domineering Duce; and Cardinal 
Secretary of State Eugenio Pacelli, whose political 
skills and ambition made him Mussolini’s most 
powerful ally inside the Vatican, and positioned 
him to succeed the pontiff as the controversial 
Pius XII, whose actions during World War II 
would be subject for debate for decades to come.
THE EXPATS: A NOVEL by Chris Pavone


Chris Pavone is an award winning author.Can 
we ever escape our secrets?In the cobblestoned 
streets of Luxembourg, Kate Moore’s days are 
filled with playdates and coffee mornings, her 
weekends spent in Paris and skiing in the Alps. But 
Kate is also guarding a tremendous, life-defining 
secret—one that’s become so unbearable that it 
begins to unravel her newly established expat life. 
She suspects that another American couple are 
not who they claim to be; her husband is acting 
suspiciously; and as she travels around Europe, 
she finds herself looking over her shoulder, 
increasingly terrified that her own past is catching 
up with her. As Kate begins to dig, to uncover the 
secrets of the people around her, she finds herself 
buried in layers of deceit so thick they threaten 
her family, her marriage, and her life. The book is 
stylish and sophisticated, fiercely intelligent, and 
expertly crafted.

In 2013, Australian band Atlas Genius, featuring 
brothers Keith and Michael Jeffery, exploded onto 
the scene with the infectiously catchy, “Trojans.” 
The hit song had percolated through the minds of 
many listeners of the course of the following year. 
Now the band is back with their next intoxicating 
single, “Molecules.” Easily just as appealing, the 
indie-electronic summer jam, “Molecules” has 
major hooks giving Atlas Genius a run for having 
the hottest summer song of 2015. I don’t think 
the band has strayed too far off their signature 
sound, but that’s a good thing. Inanimate Objects 
is out on August 28th via Warner Bros. Records 
and serves as the suitable follow-up to their debut 
record, When It Was Now. After hearing the pure 
ecstasy “Molecules” has gracefully delivered, does 
Inanimate Objects match up to its hot single? You 
know, there’s not a single song here that tries to 
imitate “Molecules,” and surprisingly, that’s utterly 
refreshing as a whole album. 

 Inanimate Objects differs greatly from Atlas 
Genius’ introduction album. There’s something a 
little richer, a little darker here. They aren’t going 
full-blown gloomy by any means of the imagination, 
but these musicians are growing up. Atlas Genius is 
cultivating their artistry with more substance than 
style. The approach they are taking begins with “The 
Stone Mill,” a stunning, transfixing track. Keith’s 
smooth vocals are comforting over the soundscape 
that keeps building as the song progresses. Throw 
in some great guitar work half way through, you 
start to realize this isn’t the Atlas Genius you once 
knew. Atlas Genius is stacked with solid tracks 
on this record as “Stockholm” rolls in with much 
vitality. Keith Jeffery pours everything he has in 
the delivery of his vocals while brother Michael 
intermittently rocks hard on the drums. The hard, 
driving rhythm differs from the first tracks of the 
album, but once again Atlas Genius are taking 
some risks on their sophomore release. “Refugees” 
is a mighty jam, especially when kicked into high 
gear. The downright addicting chorus is beautifully 
distributed by Kevin’s attractive vocals. The track 
is certainly multi-layered; it has a lot going on and 
quite a bit going for it. “A Perfect End,” which ideally 
would have been the quintessential closer, really 
catches on about half way through. Atlas Genius 
simply as a convincing way to pull you in even when 
you’re unsure if it’s worth being pulled into it. In the 
end, you’re happy they did. 

Artist: Atlas Genius 

Album: Inanimate Objects

Label: Warner Bros. Records

Release Date: August 28th, 2015

“Friends and Enemies” slows the album down in 
the best possible way. A careful approach is taken 
here. The vocals and lyrics take the forefront, the 
background music is subtle but noticeable. This 
soothing rendition takes the listener by surprise 
that the band traveled down this road. With 
eleven tracks on Inanimate Objects, “Friends and 
Enemies” is a welcoming to shift in direction. The 
detour stays on course with follow-up track, “Where 
I Belong.” It’s another reflective tune, but adds a 
little downbeat synth work to give it an extra push. 
“The City We Grow” brings the excitement back 
with a catchy beat, something that reminds me of 
The Airborne Toxic Event. There’s this intrinsically 
elevating quality to it. As the song grows deeper, the 
listener feels more attached to it. “Levitate” closes 
out the record and it’s the most stripped down song 
off the record. A stimulating change of pace as the 
band find themselves to be contemplating a lot 
more for this go around. You have to admire where 
their heads are at, where their heart has taken them. 
Inanimate Objects gives Atlas Genius another run 
at a banner year into 2016. The deeper rhythmic 
sound, diversity found within each track, and 
improved lyrics, gives Atlas Genius an edge over 
their peers within the genre. The sound of Atlas 
Genius you thought you knew before has ripened 
into something worth holding onto for longer than 
you could have ever anticipated. 

Grade: 8 out of 10


On the Marquee: Notes from the Sierra MadrePlayhouse


THE BOTTOM LINE … PART ONE

By Artistic Director, Christian Lebano

Always…Patsy Cline 
continues to sell-out. 
This show is doing 
business unlike any 
other in our history. 
And still…we haven’t 
yet broken even on 
the show. The cost of 
presenting this show is 
very high – between 
the royalties for the 
show and the songs, 
the cost of the band, 
the performers and 
the crew and all the 
amortized costs of 
mounting the show 
(personnel, costumes, 
sets, programs, etc.) 
it will be a couple 
more weeks before we 
are in the clear. I am 
not complaining. I 
couldn’t be prouder 
of this production. 
And we knew what 
we were getting into 
when we decided to 
do it. Happily, it is 
bringing in so many 
new patrons who are 
telling me that they had 
no idea we existed, but 
that now that they do – 
will be back! So many 
good things are coming 
out of it.

Arts organizations 
generally operate on 
a 60/40 unearned 
income/earned income 
(ticket sales) ratio. 
We have managed to 
survive with a much-
greater dependence 
on our box office. But 
as we’ve increased the 
per show expenses – by 
hiring more established 
artists and raising 
production values - our costs have gone up as well. We are working on developing strategies to raise 
the additional funds from our loyal supporters, but understandably not everyone is in the position 
to make donations.

There is one way that everyone can help – make us your Community Charity of choice through 
Ralphs and Amazon. This adds no cost to you but can net us several thousand dollars (depending 
on how many people sign up) a year. EVERYONE must sign up each September for the Ralphs 
contribution – your current choice expires on the last day of August. Unfortunately, you MUST 
wait until September first to re-enroll. Personally, with a 10-year old son, and knowing how high 
my grocery bills are, it takes a little of the sting out knowing that some money is coming back to the 
Playhouse. Easy to follow instructions can be found on our website or at ralphs.com – our code for 
Ralphs is #83942.

We are hoping to build foundational support through grants and underwriting. We have a 
Development Professional working with us now to outline strategies and a way-forward. We are 
incredibly grateful to all of the loyal patrons who have generously given us donations over the years – 
we wouldn’t be poised to keep growing without you. For those of you who have considered donating 
or making us your charity for matching grants at work and have any questions or concerns – I would be 
happy to speak with any of you. I can always be reached at ArtisticDirector@SierraMadrePlayhouse.
org.

Always…Patsy Cline is now closing on September 27 – and sales continue strong. If you think a 
show may be sold-out it is still worth calling Mary Baville in our box office and getting on the waiting 
list for the show you want – we sometimes get cancellations and Mary will call you and let you know. 
But book ahead – shows are selling out rapidly. Remember we give 20% discounts for groups of 10 
or more who purchase their tickets ahead of their attendance date. Please call Mary at 626.355.4318 
to arrange your purchase. 


Cory Cable Kidder as Patsy Cline Photo by Gina Long