U Monday November 15, 2004 arts. michigandaily. com artspage@rmichigandaily. com ART s 8A inm......... . Pop group Luna still strong on finale By Joel Hoard Daily Arts Writer It's so rare these days to see a band end its career on a high note. Whether it's drugs, death, internal strife or just the inability to know when to throw in the towel and call it quits, music groups have a habit of leaving too early or sticking around past their expiration dates. Unlike so many who came before, indie-pop's favorite sons and daughter, Luna, understand that after 13 years, it's their time to go. While all six of their previous records have been nothing short of brilliant, they've sounded pretty much the same. ____________ And to push it Luna much further is to risk sounding stale. Rendezvous What's differen- Jetset tiated Luna from other dream-pop groups over the years is that they recognizethat there needs to be more than just atmosphere. Unlike their counterparts, Luna built their sound on catchy melodies rather than pure ambi- ance. They combined layers of sound and churning Velvet Underground-inspired guitar riffs with Dean Wareham's deli- cate and airy vocals and pop hooks to create a truly unique style. Wisely, Luna stick to this formula on their seventh and final album, Rendez- vous. From the chugging opener "Malibu Love Nest" straight through to the end, the band proves that it's still in top form. Wareham's voice is as affecting as ever and his lyrics are still evocative of young love and warm summer nights while remaining clever and witty. On standout track "Astronaut," he tells his fictional lover, "I want to plug you in / I want to get you things / Send you a pentagram / Feed you diazepam." While Rendezvous is far from being an earth-shattering record, it does exact- lywhat it sets out to do, which is cap off the career of one of the most talented yet nsung groups of the past 20 years. The gifup foregoes labored farewells and nos- talgic longings and do what it has done for the past decade, which is deliver a handful of finely tuned pop songs. If they sound at all wistful, it's because they've always sounded wistful. Only in fleeting moments does Wareham reference this as the end. They close out their album with the slow and somber "Rainbow Babe," which by no coincidence sounds eerily similar to "Goodbye," from their 1992 debut Lunapark. "Rainbow Babe" opens with the reflective line "Souvenir, soft and sweet," and from there it drifts off into an oblivion of ringing guitars and slow, soft drums. Luna will no doubt be missed by their small yet loyal following, but Rendez- vous serves as a fitting end to a wonder- ful career. From the sound of it, the band probably has another few solid records in them, but in the end maybe it's best to quit while you're ahead. After all, it's better to burn out than fade away. Courtesy of Microsoft GTA's for pussies. A TALE OF Two HALOS' POPULAR SHOOTER FIGHTS By Adam Rottenberg Daily Arts Editor When the Xbox first launched in Novem- ber 2001, Microsoft's console had one game that set it apart from the other systems on the market: "Halo." The revolutionary first-per- son shooter effortlessly added lush graph- ics, nonstop action and a sense of freshness to an otherwise overflowing genre. With "Halo 2," Microsoft and Bungie have gone above and beyond gemers' lofty expecta- tions, easily creating the best gaming expe- rience on Xbox. "Halo"saw the super space marine Master Chief fight off the evil alien aliance known as the Covenant. "Halo 2" continues after the destruction of Halo, a Covenant space sta- tion. Unfortunately, Covenant forces decide it's the appropriate time to bring their war to Earth, forcing Master Chief and the rest of the marines to engage in battle to defend their planet. The plot as a whole remains just as gripping as the original and is propelled through the action sequences and cutscenes between levels. What differentiates "Halo 2" from the origianl are the number of new facets to its almost flawless gameplay. First and fore- most, more weapons are available for use and gamers can also now employ two guns at the same. The double-fisted action that ensues adds a new wrinkle to the well- refined action. Further separating "Halo 2" from its pre- decessor is the inclusion of Covanent mis- sions. Players assume the role of the Arbitor, a Covenant foot-soldier, and fight through throngs of oppossing alien forces. Addition- ally, when playing as the Covenant, gamers can utilize features like cloaking and fight with the plasma sword. While the combat is still extremely similar to the scenarios with Master Chief, it at least adds some variety. The most exciting new ability in "Halo 2" is the skill to steal the enemies' vehicles. By simply pressing the "X" button, a la "Grand Theft Auto," the player can carjack Covenent BACK rides like the Ghost, a hovering speeder. Moreover, with the more powerful vehicles, Master Chief knocks out the driver, and the player can choose to toss a grenade into the hull of the tank. But the vehicular theft is not limited to the good guys, as Covenent mem- bers can just as easily swipe Master Chief's Warthog, a hi-tech Jeep. "Halo's" incredible multiplayer returns to form in the sequel. With even more custom- ization and all of the abilities added to Cam- paign mode present, death matches have never been more fun. The split-screen action is reminiscent of past console shooters, exac- erbating the limitations of the mode. Gamers can spy on their opponent's screen to discern their location, eliminating any attempts at stealth. Xbox Live support might be the most anticipated advancement in the series and it doesn't disappoint. Though there are some graphical issues such as the loss of textures, and the short length of the Campaign mode, "Halo 2" is easily the best game available for Xbox. If only all sequels could live up to the hype. nave carect to d Halo 2 . "halo 2" Offline: ****I Online: ***I still thm Xbox Microsoft nu Atkinson brings back happy fairy-tale feel with latest book' By Bernie Nguyen Daily Arts Writer What happened to the wonder-filled stories of our past? Where did happily ever after and once upon a time dis- appear to? Most of us just seem to grow out of them, losing the map to fairyland once we leave childhood behind. Accord- ing to Kate Atkin- son, however, this the corner. Not the End of the World By Kate Atkinson Back Bay Books map is just around in the real world. Places like London and Scotland are turned into land- scapes where anything can, and often does, happen. "Not the End of the World" revolves around many characters, most of whom are connected in small, seem- ingly random ways. Atkinson fills her stories with sagas of offbeat men and women whose histories are as color- ful as a book of the Brothers Grimm's fairy tales. However, the wide range of characters does not make up for the fact that some of them are lacking in depth. Some are strongly cast and skillfully woven, while others remain somewhat flat. This undercuts some of the stories' effect and results in sev- eral which ,though not without merit, do not provoke deeper thought. One of Atkinson's strengths is her ability to change the tone of each story to match its content and its characters. She writes in clear, descriptive and extraordinarily adap- tive prose that immediately heightens the impact of each individual story. For her, the transition from moody adolescent to precise nanny to angst- ridden orphans is an easy and effec- tive one. In this manner, Atkinson's stories both complement each other and stand alone, just as fantasy and reality are both strengthened when they are put together in combina- tion. Human desires and emotions are investigated through strange phe- nomena. For example, she tells of a childless woman who adopts a very odd cat, a dull man convinced that his doppelganger is more successful and a ghost who comes back to stay with her family. Atkinson walks the fine line between funny and inane with precision. Her writing is never dull: Though some of her plots are cliche and recycled, she polishes them to a bright shine. Atkinson's stories are meant to entertain, and in this regard they succeed excellently. She maintains a sense of easy humor while deal- ing with a few heavy issues, such as orphaning, single parenting and growing up. Though some stories are not as solid, the witty and thought- ful writing sharpens the focus of the book as a whole. It throws into sharp contrast the difference between the staid, dull steps of human reality and the bright, vivid world of imagina- tion. Atkinson cleverly blends the two together. "Not the End of the World" is a imaginative collection and a thoroughly enjoyable romp of whimsy through a familiar world. I I "Not the End of the World," her fanciful collection of short stories, is filled with wonder, mystery and fan- tasy that is enhanced by its setting 1 BIG TEN BURRITO NOW AVAILABLE: LTnnmu C A *,iTbTTC Headachest Michigan ead*Pain & Neurological Institute is conducting an in-clinic research study evaluating an investigational medication for migraine. Participants must be 18 to 75 years old and suffer no more than 2-8 headaches per month. A total of three clinic visits are required. Visit 2 is a three to four hour treatment visit while having an acute headache, Participants must be available to come to the clinic during normal business STEPHEN W. 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