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The news site of UNC Wilmington

The Seahawk

The news site of UNC Wilmington

The Seahawk

Academy Award winners encourage students to pursue creative goals

Hunter Houtzer | Staff Writer April 5, 2013

 UNC Wilmington has seen its share of famous people by virtue of its location in the middle of "Hollywood East," but students were afforded a particularly sweet opportunity when Academy Award-winning...

Justin Timberlake: The 20/20 Experience

Jeff Winkle | Contributing Writer April 2, 2013

Justin Timberlake has made quite the name for himself in the last 15 years.

He has earned six Grammy awards from the work he has done in the music world. He has gained respect by showcasing his silky smooth dance moves and versatile vocal range in live performances. He owns his own record label, multiple restaurants and a clothing brand. Oh--and he also acts as a hobby. He has appeared in 24 TV shows and movies, including lead roles in highly-acclaimed blockbusters "The Social Network" and "Friends with Benefits." His appearances on television shows like "Saturday Night Live" have also added four Emmys to the showcase in his living room.

This guy is talented.

But let's take everything else out of the equation and focus on his music. After achieving wild success as the lead singer of 90s boy band 'NSYNC, 32-year-old Justin Timberlake pieced together a lucrative solo career by refusing to conform to the way every other artist is making music. He has stood out in the last decade by making  a series of unprecedented creative decisions, such as long, wordy song titles ("What Goes Around.../...Comes Around Interlude" & "Sexy Ladies/Let Me Talk To You Prelude") and making his most popular single ("My Love") available only on the deluxe version of the record.

His third and latest studio release, "The 20/20 Experience," is no exception to this trend.

The album contains 10 songs which average just under seven minutes per track. This lengthy style is great for those of us who need to repaint our bathroom and don't want to step down from the ladder and wash our hands to change the track, but for the rest of the world, Timberlake's songs drag on until you are forced to manually switch to the next song.

The beat and the tune of each song is fantastic, but the excessive repetition is a bit hard to handle at times. Timberlake defended his decision on a London radio program, saying, "If Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin can do 10 minute songs, and Queen can do 10 minute songs, then why can't we? We'll figure out the radio edits later."

If we ignore that he fit 20 songs into a 10-track album, there is not a whole lot more to criticize. What really stands out on this album is the versatility we have come to love from Timberlake. "That Girl" takes us back to a jazz club in the 60s, and then we turn around and find ourselves at a tribal gathering in "Don't Hold the Wall" where vocals and heavy percussion can be heard. This creates a new experience for the listener, while traces of his boy-band days are present in songs like "Let the Groove Get In" and "Mirrors."

His premiere single "Suit & Tie" is a good representation of the album. His polished runs compliment the electric-blues backing, and his signature falsetto that drives all the ladies crazy is found everywhere. Due in no small part to this song, the swagger JT is developing has caused many to refer to him as the reincarnation of Sinatra (he's certainly just as well dressed). "Suit & Tie" sold 315,000 copies in its first week and jumped to number one in the iTunes Store just hours after being released.

In the seven years between this album and his last, Timberlake found himself in a position where there were extraordinarily high expectations from his fans, making it hard to blow everyone away. What becomes abundantly clear on this album, however, is that JT has some impalpable quality that makes his audience open their hearts to him. There is a lot of good material, but I would recommend buying only a couple tracks and leaving it at that.

Overall Grade: B

UNCW student plays lead singer in Katy Perry tribute band

Lori Wilson | Staff Writer March 30, 2013

As a freshman at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Kalin Goriup's part-time job is acting like Katy Perry-literally.She's the lead singer of the local group Firework, a Katy Perry tribute...

Author of “Silver Linings Playbook” Matthew Quick visits UNCW

Bridgette Wagner | Contributing Writer March 29, 2013

The author of the highly successful book-turned-film, "The Silver Linings Playbook," had much advice to give students and members of the public at a lecture that took place Tuesday, March 26."If you do...

The Wonder Years

Mary Childers | Contributing Writer March 29, 2013

Philadelphia natives, The Wonder Years, came out swinging at The Soapbox Laundro-Lounge March 25, during their stop in Wilmington on their headlining tour. Their pop punk music is inspired by their northeastern...

Students actors on set of “Frat Brothers”

Lori Wilson | Staff Writer March 13, 2013

Three UNCW students-Quinten Johnson, Josh Cohen and Rickie Smalls - participated in the production of the upcoming feature film "Frat Brothers," produced by local company Swirl Films and starring...

Alumnus turns first novel into a new ABC TV drama series

Shannon McCabe| Staff Writer March 1, 2013

Have you ever had a dream that felt so realistic it stuck with you for days, or maybe weeks? A dream so surreal that you couldn't shake the vivid images harbored in your mind? Well, UNCW alumnus Jason...

REVIEW: “Safe Haven” blends sweet and savory for Valentine’s Day debut

Hunter Houzer | Contributing Writer February 16, 2013

 In case you need a new movie to embarrass your boyfriend when you force him to see chick-flick, "Safe Haven" was released on Valentine's Day. Nicholas Sparks has used his classic formula of love, conflict,...

This week in music: Feb. 11-17

Mary Childers | Contributing Writer February 11, 2013

 2/13 - Papadosio, Dopapod            The Soapbox @ 9 p.m.2/14 - Jazz at the CAM; Julie Rehder and Jack Krupicka Quartet            Cameron Art Museum @ 6:30-8 p.m.2/14 - Jazz...

REVIEW: “Final Gift” restores justice

Hunter Houzer | Contributing Writer February 11, 2013

"The Final Gift," a documentary by Therese Bartholomew, showed recently and followed the murder of the film-maker's brother and the personal form of justice she sought in finding the man who killed him....

Fall Out Boy is back

Mary Childers | Contributing Writer February 10, 2013

Guitarist Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy performs on Friday, April 24, 2009, at Bojangles' Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This week in music: Jan. 29-Feb. 3

Mary Childers | Contributing Writer January 29, 2013

Jan. 29-Feb. 31/29- Letlive, HRVRD, Conditions, This Is Hell, Rescuer@ The Soapbox - 6:30 P.M.1/30- Broadway Calls, Red City Radio, Silver Snakes, Museum Mouth@ The Soapbox - 8:00 P.M.1/30- Jeff Mangum...

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