REVIEW: "Dwelling" Gallery at 33 E. Congress (Revised)

When the viewer walks into “Dwelling,” a new gallery on the first floor of the 33 East Congress Columbia building, the first thing they’ll notice is the red walls. This is clearly not about to be an upbeat or energetic experience. Soon they’ll see a hanging window frame with a line of bed sheets attached to it hanging to the floor. Eventually they'll figure out that this, titled "Escape" by Heather Boaz, is the scene of an exit through a second story window. This is as raw as it gets. The subject matter is obviously difficult and dark but also notably engaging. This will cause the viewer to want to look further and continue into the exhibit as they begin a journey through the mind and the heart. “Dwelling” is truly something worth seeing. It’s hard to explain what the viewer is about to walk into. They’ll see televisions on the wall, both big and small, a large accordion-shaped piece hanging across the ceiling and a few chairs posted in certain areas. There are also some articles of clothing hanging from the ceiling and a series of boxes on the floor clearly leading to something. Without giving away the mystery or the secret at hand, just know what there is something to be figured out by the viewer. The answer is neither specific nor broad. The scenery alludes to something but also leaves much of the process up to the viewer to piece together and decide for himself or herself.
All these pieces put together what seems to go on in a place of dwelling or the feeling of dwelling in the tranquility and emptiness that comes with a small-town home and family. This exhibit is quite scary. The titles of each piece seem to make everything make sense. Each shot is a still life or picture in motion of a life within a home. The scariest part is that there is rarely a face or a voice – everything is done without a formal identity of the character. On the first walls at right we can see Brandy Watt's "Untitled," which features looped footage of people in their homes, whether in the shower or living rooms. Without saying anything that gives it away, it is quickly inferred that the topics at hand are dark and scary. We can already point out unwanted physical touching and uncomfortable situations. Seeing this can help piece together the bedsheet in the beginning. Here is the first of many elements that are connected to each other that makes it exciting for the viewer to place together in their mind.
The artwork on the walls that’s being showcased as part of a story are all incredible. The pieces in progress of this person’s life, like the homemade clothes, are all very well made and well placed. The video footage on the walls was cleverly made. In back, we can see dozens of film grain photos on the walls as snapshots of this person’s life. Each photo was taken with care and talent. This best captured the emotion and intention of the gallery and accented the collection well. A talented group of students set out to prove something when they put together “Dwelling” and what came through was very neat. Whatever hard work made this event happen deserves the best recognition possible, because the chill it’ll send through every person in the room is worth experiencing.

REVIEW: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah "Hysterical"

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah puts up a good fight. Along Hysterical, the band has a clear evolution of the style they’re in right now. We, as listeners, can watch them become stronger within the energy they’ve decided to conquer at this stage in their careers. It’s mostly light and flowing as opposed to their usual. What’s exciting about their change of pace can quickly be compromised for a single-toned sort of safe complexion throughout.

A lot of hype has gone into the release of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s new album. Unfortunately, many of the people placing hope for great music on this album might be let down. Hysterical has no surprises, no astonishments and no incredibility. Only once or twice does it have the listener really going. Aside from that, much of the same work is repeated musically.

The record is a little more pop-rock than indie-experimental and that’s its greatest mistake. The work of the band since their beginning has followed more of an individual indie rock style but it seems that now they’ve settled for a more mainstream tone that we’ve heard before. It’s a shame that CYHSY couldn’t take a bigger risk or even go along with what they’ve produced in the past. This is an obvious downgrade from what we’re used to hearing from them.

Hysterical has got decent craftsmanship and execution of thoughts and ideas. Their greatest moment is at the beginning of the album in “Same Mistake.” It’s unclear whether the song sounds good because it is a legitimately good song or just because it’s new to the listener, and fresh because it’s the first song.
Either way, it’s fun. The sound is much like Two Door Cinema Club mixed with the New Pornographers and a drowsy vocalist. It’s not the most appealing combination but it’s also its own tone. For that, they deserve a bit of credit.

After the leading track introduces the album, we hear the meaning of the album in the title track “Hysterical.” You’d think that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah would put their all into this kind of title. However, their motives lack explanation. “Hysterical” isn’t actually hysterical. It’s more like “slightly laughable.”

CYHSY's songwriting gets its best attention early on during "Misspent Youth," an ode to the shamelessly shameful moments of childhood and adolescence. It's neat how they use the lyrics “the engine was not built to last”as the perfect metaphor for their past.

“In A Motel” is where the album tries vehemently to get creative, impelementing some synth and interesting guitar riffs as it slows down a bit. It isn’t terrible, especially because it finally goes for a newer sound halfway through the album. Yet still, it’s obvious that the band tried a bit too hard to sound edgy and avant garde on the track. It’s just weird.

What’s also weird is the way the band chose to sign off. The song before the instrumental could’ve amounted to something, but instead, the piano vocal track sounded like it had taken a sleeping pill.

From there, the pace picked up into a racing track where every instrument fought for attention, including the vocal. It’s difficult to listen to and not a good way to dismiss the listener.

All in all, Hysterical isn’t what it promises. It may be a play on words, but soon, it becomes a play on the listener, and eventually, a play on the band. Sorry, folks.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down

Today I'd like to give a THUMBS UP to Kleenex Tissues for saving myself and my runny nose not only during the cold & flu season but during my year-round fatigue. Their soft and fluffy squares are a haven to my dripping nonsense.

A THUMBS DOWN goes to getting stared at because I've just come from a very long summer at home and it is probably very uncommon for a person my age to be seen in public with a six-year-old with blonde curls. I'm a nanny, not a predator. Promise!

REVIEW: "Dwelling" Gallery at 33 E. Congress

When the viewer walks into “Dwelling,” a new gallery on the first floor of the 33 East Congress Columbia building, the first thing they’ll notice is the red walls. This is clearly not about to be an upbeat or energetic experience. Soon they’ll see a hanging window frame with a line of bed sheets attached to it hanging to the floor. The subject matter is obviously difficult and dark but also notably engaging. This will cause the viewer to want to look further and continue into the exhibit as they begin a journey through the mind and the heart. “Dwelling” is truly something worth seeing.

            It’s hard to explain what the viewer is about to walk into. They’ll see televisions on the wall, both big and small, a large accordion-shaped piece hanging across the ceiling and a few chairs posted in certain areas. There are also some articles of clothing hanging from the ceilling and a series of boxes on the floor clearly leading to something. Without giving away the mystery or the secret at hand, just know what there is something to be figured out by the viewer. The answer is neither specific nor broad. The scenery alludes to something but also leaves much of the process up to the viewer to piece together and decide for himself or herself.

All these pieces put together what seems to go on in a place of dwelling or the feeling of dwelling in the tranquility and emptiness that comes with a small-town home and family. This exhibit is quite scary. The titles of each piece seem to make everything make sense. Each shot is a still life or picture in motion of a life within a home. The scariest part is that there is rarely a face or a voice – everything is done without a formal identity of the character. On the first walls at right we can see looped footage of people in their homes, whether in the shower or living rooms. Without saying anything that gives it away, it is quickly inferred that the topics at hand are dark and scary. We can already point out unwanted physical touching and uncomfortable situations. Seeing this can help piece together the bedsheet in the beginning. Here is the first of many elements that are connected to each other that makes it exciting for the viewer to place together in their mind.

The artwork on the walls that’s being showcased as part of a story are all incredible. The pieces in progress of this person’s life, like the homemade clothes, are all very well made and well placed. The video footage on the walls was cleverly made. In back, we can see dozens of film grain photos on the walls as snapshots of this person’s life. Each photo was taken with care and talent. This best captured the emotion and intention of the gallery and accented the collection well. A talented group of students set out to prove something when they put together “Dwelling” and what came through was very neat. Whatever hard work made this event happen deserves the best recognition possible, because the chill it’ll send through every person in the room is worth experiencing.