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18
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Music Review: Neulore’s ‘Apples & Eve’
Movie Review: ‘Puss in Boots’
by Becca Powlus
L
iking the concept of a concept album
is easy. Neulore’s EP, “Apples & Eve,”
is even easier to admire. Hailing from
Nashville, Neulore is a folk/indie band that
formed in 2009. “Apples & Eve” was their first
fully-produced work.
The album consists of seven songs writ-
ten to Eve from Adam’s perspective. Beginning
with the track “I Will Come Alone,” the work
is a raw expression of shame, detachment, be-
trayal and loss of innocence.
On the band’s website, an explanation of
“Apples & Eve” is provided: “Something hap-
pened when Eve accepted the fruit from the
serpent. Something more than the proverbial
fall, something more than the rift between God
and man. The bliss of the garden spiraled into
accusation, desire and heartbreak.” Thus, the
album explores what that downward spiral
meant to the first man and woman.
The second track, “Eve,” depicts the emo-
tion Adam felt upon discovering what Eve
had done by taking the fruit from the serpent.
Lines such as “I caught you wielding serpents
’round your thighs” and “Tempt me, tempt me,
fallen bride/Take the apple from my eye” reso-
nate with a haunting sense of honesty.
Neulore furthers Adam’s personal re-
sponse to Eve in the song “Rib,” in which
Adam declares, “I gave you my body/Now my
bones are rotting,” alluding to the rib that was
taken from his side to form Eve.
It’s not just the lyrics that portray these
emotions of shame and regret. The music it-
self tells the story, and you can almost envision
the scenes of the original man and woman tak-
ing the fruit, hiding and eventually leaving the
beautiful Garden of Eden.
“Apples & Eve” concludes with “Garden
Gates,” sending Adam and Eve out from the
garden. The song leaves the audience ponder-
ing the dread the pair faced as they were forced
to leave the garden. These words ring in the
mind long after the final note: “As we departed
garden gates/And stared into the sun/How
much longer shall we wait/’Til walk becomes
a hurried run?”
From start to finish, “Apples & Eve” draws
the listener in and keeps a tight grip on atten-
tion. With beautiful piano solos blended into
a mix of compelling melodies and lyrics and
vocals full of depth and authenticity, this first
work by Neulore is a well-crafted concept al-
bum that will not be easily forgotten.
by Tina Neely
P
uss in Boots, the beloved sword-fight-
ing sidekick from the Shrek franchise,
has finally starred in his own animated
film. “Puss in Boots” is a prequel to the Shrek
films, showing us what it was like for Puss be-
fore getting tangled up with the famous green
ogre.
Similar to Shrek in its unique retelling of
familiar fairytales, this film revolves around
Puss in Boots’ relationship with his childhood
comrade Humpty Dumpty and their mission
to set right past wrongs. Together, they and
a third outlaw named Kitty Softpaws take on
Jack and Jill in a battle for the magic beans.
The goal of the two groups is to steal eggs from
the golden goose in the giant’s castle, but Puss
in Boots wonders if he can trust Humpty, who
betrayed him before.
At the beginning of the film, I felt the hu-
mor was written for a younger audience, but
some of the insinuations were adult to say the
least. This mixing of age-appropriate and ma-
ture humor happened in the Shrek movies as
well, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Still,
I was startled at first, thinking of the kids in
the crowd. Regardless, the witty dialogue and
situational humor made me and the other five
Cedarville 20-year-olds laugh out loud here
and there. The whole audience was prone to
chuckling. “Puss in Boots” is definitely a movie
to watch if you want to smile, but not so much
if you’re in an intellectual mood.
The plot isn’t deep or cunning, but if en-
tertainment is what you seek, consider watch-
ing this delightful animated film to pass the
time. It had an overall fun atmosphere and is
great for any awkward couple couch date. But
a warning to the highly critical: don’t watch
it if you expect the best of the best. Overall,
“Puss in Boots” scores three out of five stars.
It was good, but not excellent. It was funny,
but I could think of 100 other movies I’d rather
watch if I want to laugh.
A side note: My favorite character is the
random cat that says, “Oooh!” If you watch it,
I’m sure you’ll agree.
The plot isn’t deep or cunning, but if entertainment is what you seek,
consider watching this delightful animated film to pass the time.
‘Apples & Eve’ draws the listener in and keeps a tight grip on attention.
December 2011
