Tacque Kirksey

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Incorporation Affects Radio Broadcasting

By Tacque Kirksey | January 23

There was a time when commercial radio had its pleasant surprises. It can be said that the only surprise now is whether the song of the moment will be played every hour -- or every other hour. The American radio industry, like many other media outlets, is becoming increasingly conglomerated, with large corporations like Clear Channel Communications owning more of the market than ever.

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Lee Struggles With Scope, Character in '25th Hour'

By Tacque Kirksey | January 23

"25th Hour" 3 Stars Director Spike Lee, for better or worse, has made most of his professional name by cinematically dissecting race relations on film. Easy enough, right? For Lee, yes. With his new film "25th Hour," he tries to dissect a man and a city at once. Easy enough, right? Based on this film, not even for Lee.

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UNC Talent Hits Screen At Sundance

By Tacque Kirksey | January 16

Psychedelic visions do more than make people trip. They can make them famous. UNC professor Francesca Talenti has had her film "The Planets" -- a highly stylized explorative short film -- selected for entry in the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. She leaves today for the event, which starts tomorrow, spans three Utah cities, and ends Jan. 26. The festival is an extension of the Sundance Institute, founded by Robert Redford and colleagues in 1981 to support and enhance emerging American films and filmmakers.

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GZA Serves Spicy Lyrics, Stale Production

By Tacque Kirksey | January 16

GZA Legend of the Liquid Sword 3 Stars It's funny how musical ground-breakers can more or less disappear. Meanwhile, mediocre pretenders and usurpers stick around longer than should be possible by cosmic law. The first half of the '90s set the stage for hip hop's immense commercial success, both sonically and in terms of scope. Yet the Wu-Tang Clan, one of the foremost purveyors of that success, has been largely lost in the undertow of the last decade's trends in rap.

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Grunge Gods Survive Re-Release, Time

By Tacque Kirksey | December 7

Four Stars For some who fall between Generation Post-Punk and Generation Pop, Nirvana's simple mixture of desperate guitar noise, infectious punk spirit and pop accessibility serves as a soundtrack for adolescence. The late Kurt Cobain's unique genius arguably redefined pop music to the extent that loud is the norm in today's rock. The release of Nirvana, a collection of the band's best-known songs, serves as a testament to the group's tremendous staying power and to the mystique of Cobain's music.

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Art, Craft Collide in Carrboro Art Gallery

By Tacque Kirksey | December 3

Craft as art and art as craft. This is what can be found at an exhibition of local artisans and craftmakers' works featured at the N.C. Arts Gallery in Carrboro. The crafts featured are tasteful and inspired and go beyond the standard Pier 1 Imports fare. "It's very hard to find places in the community where three-dimensional artwork can be shown," said Sherri Ontjes, owner and proprietor of the gallery.

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Late Harrison Blends Beatles, Self on Final CD

By Tacque Kirksey | November 21

George Harrison Brainwashed 3 Stars An old adage says nothing lasts forever. Ask Beatles fans and they might agree, considering only two members of the "Fab Four" are still alive. Among the departed Beatles is the late George Harrison, "the quiet Beatle," who died of cancer in November 2001. Before his passing, he was working on his new studio album, Brainwashed. The eagerly anticipated album, produced by Jeff Lynne, Harrison and his son Dhani, features Harrison's trademark Indian-influenced guitar work and transcendent lyrics.

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Eminem Loses Himself in Familiar Ground of '8 Mile'

By Tacque Kirksey | November 14

"8 Mile" 4 Stars There have been many people who have claimed that the art of Marshall Mathers Jr., known to most as Eminem, inspires violence and intolerance. In his new film, "8 Mile," Eminem's character exhibits some traits that fly in the face of those who'd call his art intolerant. But his character does love a good fistfight. The film, unlike many other music movies, does a good job presenting his character as only human.

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Dive Recommends

By Tacque Kirksey | October 24

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BCC Films Show Comedy, Love, Message

By Tacque Kirksey | October 11

For those who don't know -- and apparently that was many -- poet and actor Sirmums, best known as Poet from HBO's series "Oz," was on campus Tuesday night. Sirmums, an internationally renowned poet, has been featured on the Lollapalooza tours and in numerous films. His visit to UNC was part of an independent film double feature sponsored by the Sonja Haynes Stone Black Cultural Center.