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2B - Thursday, September 6, 2007

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Fall previews continued from page lB

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2. Bjork/M.I.A. (Sept.11 at
the Fox Theater)
It seems we're rarely
afforded the chance to see
legendary artists. The Roll-
ing Stones still tour, but going
to see them is more of a les-
son on midlife crises from the
nose-bleed seats of the Pal-
ace rather than a legitimate
experience. But in a little less
than a week, Bjirk and M.I.A.
will hit Detroit's Fox Theater
for what could easily be one
of the monumental collabora-
tions of our generation. This
is essential.
CHRIS GAERIG
3. Fiery Furnaces, Widow City
As if 2007 hasn't already
afforded us a mountain of
greatrecords, freak-poppow-
2. UMMA Off/Site's "Per-
sian Visions: Contemporary
Photography from Iran"
In a show sponsored by
the Women's Studies Pro-
gram, 20 contemporary Per-
sian photographers present
photographs and films of a
nation with a rich, ancient
cultural history. Contem-
porary Iran is obviously the
center of tense attention.
It's also currently sanc-
tioned against "official cul-
tural exchange" with the
United States, according to
UMMA's brochure on the
gallery's fall showings. The
exhibit stands out as the
first of its kind in the United
States since the 1979 revolu-
tion.
3. Hubbard Dance Street
Chicago
This Chicago-based con-
temporary dance group per-
formed at the Power Center

erhouse Fiery Furnaces will
release Widow City in early
October. Coming off 2006's
Bitter Tea and its breakout LP
Blueberry Boat, this sibling
duo is bound to bring more
of the infectious, schitzo-
pop songs for which they've
become known. Expect
boundless melodies and jack-
hammer lyrics.
CHRIS GAERIG
4. Battles (Nov. 9) and
Menomena (Nov.14) at the
Blind Pig
Each and very year the
Blind Pig pulls in artists
as famous and diverse as
Ghostface and Dinosaur Jr.
Two of the more progressive
indie-rock acts, Battles and
Menomena, will hit the Ann
Arbor venue within a week
last year for their first visit
in five years. This year, the
company provides one of
only two opportunities to
see dance through UMS
in the fall semester. One
standout characteristic of
HSDC - besides its athletic,
high-energy choreography
and commitment to diverse
music choices - is its com-
munity involvement in the
Chicago area. They conduct
master classes and perform
in Chicago neighborhoods,
extending the arm of pro-
fessional performance out
of Chicago's wealthier and
more urbane center.
4. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
This quartet of acous-
tic guitarists draws riveted
crowds to Rackham Audito-
rium'sgorgeousperformance
space. Their 2006 Univer-
sity debut sold out, and
their Nov. 18 performance
is likely to as well. Watching

of each other in early Novem-
ber. Both recently dropped
stellar albums, and they're
sure to display the new mate-
rial - and new songs, too. Get
your vintage clothing ready,
'cause it'll be a hell of a time.
CHRIS GAERIG
S. Chamillionaire, Ultimate
Victory
Admit it - you still don't
switch the station when
"Ridin' " comes on. Cham, the
Mixtape Messiah, is finally
releasing another studio
album, Ultimate Revenge, due
Sept. 18. The album features
producers JR Rotem and
The Runners, among others.
Singles "Hip Hop Police" and
"Evening News" are already
out.
ANDREWKAHN
the musicians build playful
and mind-bendingly intri-
cate pieces is as absorbing
as watching a plot in a heist
movie unravel.
S. Shen WeiDance Arts'
"Return of the Empress"
In its only other perfor-
mance besides its engage-
ment at the Lincoln Center
Festival this summer, Shen
Wei Dance Arts brings con-
temporary dance and tra-
ditional Chinese opera to
the Power Center. "Second
Visit to the Empress," the
brainchild of choreogra-
pher/designer/painter Shen
Wei, is a dramatic first per-
formance of the University's
China theme year. Press on
the show offers varied opin-
ions on the success of all
the elements Wei fuses. The
production value should be
spectacular, and the mate-
rial edgy.
ABIGAIL B. COLODNER

2. "Charlie Wilson's War"
(Dec.25)
It's been three years since
Tom Hanks starred in apres-
tige movie. This year, we
find him in two. The second
of these, "Charlie Wilson's
War," looks to be one of the
most provocative films of the
winter. The film is penned
by renowned writer Aaron
Sorkin ("A Few Good Men,"
TV's "The West Wing") and
directed by Mike Nichols
("Closer"). With a knockout
cast, the film aspires to be the
most penetrating of the many
Iraq movies due this fall.
IMRANSYED
3. "No Country For Old Men"
(Nov 9)
A dead body, $2 million
2. "The Office"season four
Returns Sept.27 on NBC
After almost three entire
seasons of Pam and Jim hid-
ing their feelings, the two
finally seem to be heading
toward a normal relation-
ship - right? I wouldn't bet
on it. While season three's
finale did leave us with Jim
ditching Karen in New York,
creator Greg Daniels has
hinted it won't be that easy.
"The Office" is built on Pam
and Jim's unfulfilled love, so
don't expect them to ride off
into the sunset right away.
The new season is scheduled
to kick off with four consecu-
tive weeks of hour-long epi-
sodes.
MICHAEL PASSMAN
3. "Grey's Anatomy" season
four
Returns Sept.27 on ABC
The third year of "Grey's
Anatomy" was all drama for

and a lot of heroin is cause
for concern as several men,
including a psycho, a deputy
and a doctor chase for con-
trol of the findings. Boasting
the all-star cast of Tommy
Lee Jones, Javier Bardem
and Josh Brolin, Tex-Mex
flavor from the Coen Broth-
ers ("Fargo") and stellar buzz
from the Cannes Film Festi-
val, "Old Men" looks like one
of the fall's true originals.
BLAKE GOBLE
4. "Sweeney Todd" (Dec. 21)
The Tim Burton-Johnny
Depp conceit was old a while
ago, but this is "Sweeney
Todd." Nothing can soften its
entrance. The bizarre musi-
cal involves a violent barber
and a sidekick who makes
human pies. With co-stars
the doctors of Seattle Grace.
The season finale revealed
that George O'Malley failed
his intern exam, that Mer-
edith Grey began to reex-
amine her relationship with
McDreamy and that Chris-
tina Yang was abandoned at
the altar. Season four marks
the start of the interns' sec-
ond year at Seattle Grace and
introduces Grey's half-sister,
Lexie, and a new male char-
acter.
LISA GENTILE
4. "30 Rock" season two
Returns Oct. 4on NBC
Although it debuted as a
lighter afterthought to "Stu-
dio 60 on the Sunset Strip"
last fall, Tina Fey's look
at late-night sketch com-
edy developed into the best
behind-the-scenes TV since
"The Larry Sanders Show"
Headingintoseasontwo,both
Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy
are newly single, and Tracy

like Sacha Baron Cohen and
Helena Bonham Carter and
the Burton-Depp marquee,
something tells me the movie
won't have trouble finding its
audience.
JEFFREYBLOOMER
5. "The Darjeeling Limited"
(Limited Sept. 29, wide in
October)
Adrien Brody, Jason
Schwartzman and Owen Wil-
son play combative brothers
on a train ride through India
in Wes Anderson's new movie,
a premise about as vague as
you'd expect. This being the
guy who made "Rushmore"
and "The Royal Tenenbaums,"
expect methodical eccentric-
ity punctuated by unexpected
geek emotion.
JEFFREYBLOOMER
Jordan has returned to New
York City after fleeing the
Black Crusaders. And no,
Baldwindidnotquittheshow.
He may have tried to after his
infamous voicemail-parent-
ing-ordeal, but the suits at
NBC shot that down. Regard-
less, "30 Rock" is poised for a
strong sophomore season.
IMRANSYED
5. "Friday Night Lights"
season 2
Returns Oct. Son NBC
"Friday Night Lights"
is ostensibly a sports show
drenchedinsoap,butitsunex-
pected undertows of class,
race and familial dynam-
ics make it one of the most
complex shows on television.
Season two opens with a new
coach for the Dylan Panthers
and the arrival of Coach
Taylor's new baby. The show
returns Oct. 5 provisionally
as NBC decides its fate.
JEFFREYBLOOMER

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