The News Review:
- … Is A Superpower In New Cartoon – News Story | Music…
- “Plush Safe He Think”: Shaping the Black Modern Rocker
- “If You’re Going Through Hell” by Rodney Atkins
… Is A Superpower In New Cartoon – News Story | Music…
MTV.com – Jul 17, 2006
addEntry({} {button:true} );Jewel’s yodel isn’t just some vocal-gymnastic thing she does to show off — it’s a secret power. Her rebel yell can shake people out of their complacency. “Punk Rock Angel Girl or PRAG she’s just a teenager” Jewel explained. “She’s a punk rocker but what I call punk rock is getting angry with a cause. A lot of the show is about anger as a transformational useful tool. There’s a difference between pent-up aggression that’s randomly expressed — that’s just confrontational with no thought behind it — versus positive anger thinking for yourself and making tough decisions… “Punk Rock Angel Girl or PRAG she’s just a teenager” Jewel explained. “She’s a punk rocker but what I call punk rock is getting angry with a cause. A lot of the show is about anger as a transformational useful tool. There’s a difference between pent-up aggression that’s randomly expressed — that’s just confrontational with no thought behind it — versus positive anger thinking for yourself and making tough decisions. Jewel created the concept wrote the script and drew the title character — whom she also voices — for the Nickelodeon short set to air this fall. The former art major thought the cartoon would be a fun way to use parables and satire “in an unassuming way” unlike say her “Intuition” video which depicted her becoming an overly sexualized overly commercialized pop star.
“Plush Safe He Think”: Shaping the Black Modern Rocker
PopMatters – Jul 17, 2006
I was in 11th grade when I learned that Jeffrey Wright a graduate of my high school was in a film called Basquiat. To support him we were told to see the film which painted a mesmerizing impression of the New York 1980s art scene. It also featured a strong period soundtrack of new wave and post-punk music. I was immediately attracted to Basquiat or rather Wright’s portrayal of him. It was the way he moved and talked with quiet impressive confidence; the way he put his art before everything else; and the way he would swoon lovers into his arms by saying the right words at the right time. Although he was a visual artist Basquiat worked the scene like a rock star. He could have been a Lou Reed or a Mick Jagger.
“If You’re Going Through Hell” by Rodney Atkins
New York Times – Jul 17, 2006
Since 1997 neida has followed repetition into various styles that revolve around it: psychedelic drone-rock classical Minimalism dance music art-punk. Lately the band has glanced even farther back hinting at medieval and Renaissance music in songs that double as neida’s rigorously structured take on hipster Brooklyn’s current infatuation freak-folk. “Happy New Year” is a virtual summation of neida’s first decade from the disco beat and jabbing guitar and organ of “Up With People” the triumphal relentlessness of “The Adversary” and the Minimalist pulse of “The Misfit” to the acoustic delicacy of “Reckoning” and “Busy Little Bee. ” The album is a perfect introduction for latecomers to this essential New York band. Now neida layers in a new element: vocal counterpoint.