Waiting for Superman

"Either these kids are getting stupider each year, or there's something wrong in the education system."
-Geoffrey Canada.

A documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim, "Waiting for Superman" focuses on the failing public school system in America that will leave those who attended public schools feeling like a statistic, those who experienced this system within an urban area pissed off, and everyone else wanting to go home and do their research. The statistics that the film brings to attention are startling as it examines every cliché that has ever been blamed for the poor education of America: Tenure, drop outs, politics, funding, and neighborhoods. Guggenheim  interviews parents and their young children, those who have been influential in education reform, and the superintendent of Washington D.C., the dumbest city in the U.S. ironically.

 "Waiting for Superman" is a broad look at the flaws in the public school system that is informative but it fails to offer any type of solution. A main point made in the film is that education reform has become more about the adults involved as oppose to the education of young children. There are five children who were periodically interviewed throughout the film, all in middle school. Guggenheim does a good job of supporting this point with facts but is flawed in that he doesn't focus the film on the five children he chose to interview. If education reform is about the children, why not include more of them in the film? There is a particular scene towards the end where all of the children are waiting at their charter school's lottery, hoping that their name is called. A charter school is their last hope for a decent education. All but one make it in. This scene is hard to digest as all of the children portray strong looks of disappointment.

 Also hard to digest are the facts presented in the film. Less than 40% of 8th grade students in the whole U.S. are barely up to par with their math and science skills. American students place last in every subject compared to other countries, but are number one when believing we are smart. Guggenheim portrays these statistics visually to his audience in cartoon form with quirky sound effects. It all seems cute until you comprehend what it being presented to you. Portraying such facts in this manner seems like a  tactic used to lessen the blow that the people of America are not as smart as we all thought. The termonolgy coined by some professionals are quirky yet tragic as well, such as describing public schools as "dropout factories" and "academic sinkholes."

"Waiting for Superman" has its gray areas in that it can be jumpy and lacks some details, but it is still a brilliant film. It is a strongly emotional film that will jumble your head with your own thoughts. Those who received a decent education and are now in higher learning will be appreciative. What is beautiful about this film is that Guggenheim isn't only trying to bring awareness, but also trying to create reform. They say Americans are the dumbest, but this film will get us all thinking.

Kid Cudi- Man on the Moon: The End of Time

Kid Cudi's debut album is split in to five different acts, all depicting a long dream sequence and individually representing a different phase throughout. The purpose of these acts is to illuminate Cudi's own imagination and thoughts. Some tracks make mention of his own night terrors and paranoia's. His mind must be a terrible place to get lost in because having to sit through the entirety of this album felt like an awful nightmare.

 The acts are narrated by Common which gives a listener hope along with opening tracks "Soundtrack 2 My Life" and "Simple As." By track 4, "Solo Dolo," the pace is changed as it is the weakest track and  unable to hold its own. The half-assed lyrics fail to keep your attention and Kid Cudi's monotone voice puts you to sleep. The track itself creates a doom-and-gloom feel, but what do you expect, he's from Cleveland.

 "Solo Dolo" is monotone, but "Enter Galactic" is creepy. This is the only track on the album that is directed toward a love interest. I wouldn't want to be that girl due to Cudi's comparison of her anatomy to a moist towelette. How endearing.

 The album as a whole is whiney as Cudi is complaining about his childhood or the whirlwind that his life has become. The most promising tracks are "Day N Nite" and "Pursuit if Happiness," which explains why they are the only songs ever to be played on the radio. Not even the likes of Lady GaGa or MGMT can help this Kanye West wannabe.

Gold Motel- Gold Motel EP

 If you're looking for music that is aggressive, loud, and fast, Gold Motel isn't quite for you. However, if you prefer a sound that is simple yet won't put you to sleep, then Gold Motel is a pretty decent match. An EP with only five songs makes it a quick listen that is easy to get through. Gold Motel reminds you of an open mic band that mixed contemporary pop music with Smokey Robinson. It's quaint. The themes created in each song match their titles such as "Who Will I Be Tonight?' which speaks of a girl who molds herself to her lover's preference. If you're not paying close enough attention, you can get lost in between the first two tracks. Luckily, tracks 3 and 4 change things up with a more mellow pace and the last song, "Don't Send the Searchlights," picks it all up again.

 Gold Motel is the side project of singer Greta Morgan from The Hush Sound.  Her voice adds a feminine touch to the music that isn't self righteous. She not only lends her singing but her piano skills as well. Unfortunately they are not always the highlight of the song and can be drowned out by the rest of the band.

 Gold Motel doesn't compose the kind of music that you would necessarily hear being blasted at a house party, but it is still fun. It leans more towards the kind of music that your little sister likes to listen to and that you surprisingly enjoy as well. You won't be listening to them incessantly, but every so often you'll come across a song when your iPod is on shuffle and be reminded that you know who the band is and what they sound like. It's clean. It's easy. And it's upbeat.