This up and coming country starlet is a double threat. Before going the country route, Laura Bell Bundy was also an actress. Her first album, Achin’ and Shakin’, is a combination of sultry and sassy country songs.

In a gomoxie.org press release, Bundy describes her album as having both of her personalities mixed in one.

“I have two different sides of my personality,” she said. “I have a crazy, wild, humorous, outspoken personality, and then I have a depth that only opens up when I am alone or with one other person, and that is captured with this album. I really couldn’t do one without the other.”

Bundy moved to New York at age 18 and got noticed for her acting chops more than her singing.

“I moved to to New York,” she said, “and my intention was to have a music career, not to do Broadway.”

Bundy had a recurring role on The Guiding Light from 1999 to 2001 and starred in Broadway plays. She was Amber von Tussle in Hairspray and Glinda in Wicked. Bundy was nominated for a Tony Award for her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. She’s also been credited in movies such as Dream Girls, Jumanji, and The Adventures of Huck Finn.

Bundy credits Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton as her idols, but her main influence was her grandfather, who was a radio DJ and introduced her to Frank Sinatra and Patsy Cline.

Achin’ and Shakin’ is a collection of experiences throughout her Broadway and music career.

“Songwriting and recording is my passion; this is my love,” Bundy said. “There’s a part of myself that has come out that I really like and it’s very important to me.”

Bundy wrote all songs but one on her new album.

“This is a dream,” she said. “It has been a dream since I was a kid.”

Three students received honorable mentions for their performance in “The Man Who Came to Dinner” April 1 at the UIL One-Act Play District Competition at Conroe High School: senior Michael Mendoza for his character Sheredon Whiteside, junior Paige Parker for her character Lorraine Sheldon, and junior Emily Weaver for Best Technician.

“I was so excited about my mention,” Parker said. “It was my first award and I’ve worked really hard.”

The cast competed against the five district schools and are proud of their performance.

“I think we did really well,” Mendoza said. “It was the best performance we’ve ever done and we had a lot of fun doing it.”

The play was the last one of the school year, and Mendoza said he is really proud about his mention considering it was his first year to do theatre.

Though the play did not advance, director Cay Billingsley said it was a good learning experience.

“It was really great watching the students learn about the event and really get into the competition and enjoy watching the other plays,” Billingsley said.

Clash of the Titans, released April 2, was an upsetting remake of the original 1981 film. It had very few memorable scenes apart from those in the trailers broadcast all over the world.

This is a very brief and rushed retelling of the story of Perseus. The plot line is very simple: Zeus’ demi-god son, Perseus, is mad because Hades killed his parents and sister so he wants to kill him. Wow, if only it had been original. This movie differs from the original in not just script but quality as well. Through either acting deficiencies or a poor director, the film was very up-and-down.

First there is 20 minutes of action, then there is a slow point, and back to the action as possible, etc. etc..

Either it is Sam Worthington’s acting or the way all directors want his performances to resemble every other piece he has done; a man who dose not know who he is or has an identity crisis (Avatar 2009) and later goes on to “find himself”. It seems as if Worthington has caught a case of Damon’s (Matt Damon), the inability to play any other roll than one you are comfortable with.

Overall, this is a perfect guy movie. Lacking in the storyline but has so much action it makes up for it, but for the avid film viewer or movie buff, waiting for the DVD would be advisable.

Rating: 4/10

When most tweens hear this heart throb’s name, it sets off a wave of ear deafening shrieks.

Justin Bieber is only 16 years old and is already a new obsession. Bieber first got his start when he started posting videos of himself on Youtube singing songs made famous by Usher and Ne-Yo. His videos soon racked up over 10 million views. Among one of his main viewers was his future manager.

“He saw me on Youtube and contacted my family and now I’m signed!” said the young artist in a press release by gomoxie.org.

Bieber was flown out to Atlanta to meet with studio heads but instead got a surprise when he ran into one of his favorite artists, Usher. who was amazed by Bieber’s online following he decided to give him a shot.

“I sang for him and his people and he really wanted to sign me then and there but I still had a meeting with Justin Timberlake who also wanted to sign me.”

In the end, Bieber decided to go with Usher because he offered a better deal. In October 2008, Bieber was officially signed to Island Records.

His second album, My World 2.0, was released on March 19, 2010 and quickly grabbed the top spot on Billboard’s top 200 album sales. He is only the second youngest male singer to take number one. The first was Stevie Wonder back in 1963.

You might recognize Australian native Orianthi from Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” tour or maybe from strumming along side guitar legends like Steve Vai and Carlos Santana.

She has also done background guitar on two “Idols” albums–Carrie Underwood and Adam Lambert–and at 24, Orianthi is one of the top female guitarists. Orianthi is breaking free from just being known as Michael Jackson’s guitarist and starting her own music career.

“Believe”, her debut album, was released in late 2009. The first single, “According to You”, reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Last month, Orianthi released her new video, “Highly Strung” featuring her hero, Steve Vai. Her powerful guitar solos and catchy lyrics will have you rocking out with your imaginary guitar. Orianthi is truly talented and will prove playing guitar is not just for guys anymore.

“CD’s are such a hassle,” she said. “One scratch and the CD is ruined. I get most of my music from iTunes. The last CD I bought was probably about two years ago. I hated having to buy the whole CD just because I liked a couple of songs.

Last week, “American Idol” judge and creator Simon Cowell announced season nine would be his last. This surprising announcement comes months after Paula Abdul decided she would not be returning due to contract disagreements. Cowell’s reason for leaving the hit show was to focus more on his other show “The X Factor,” which discovered Leona Lewis. He would like to bring the British TV show to the United States. In an interview with the New York Post, Cowell said he doesn’t feel his departure will be “the death of Idol.”

Fred Silverman, former head of FOX networking programming, summed up American Idol’s future to The New York Post.

“He’s the voice everybody wants to hear,” Silverman said. “It doesn’t mean the show will fail without him. But it will be nowhere near as successful as it was in its heyday.”

Rumors are already flying about who is going to replace Cowell on the judge’s table. Elton John and “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest are a couple of the names being discussed.

The latest judge’s shake up has junior Marissa Turcios saying she doesn’t think she will continue watching next season.

“Simon was the only one who spoke his mind and didn’t pretend to like their auditions. He tells them straight up what they are going to hear in the music industry. I don’ think I am going to be watching next season.” Turcios said. “They already lost two entertaining judges. There is no one who can replace Simon. Replacing Paula Abdul with Kara Dioguardi wasn’t a good idea and it didn’t go over with well with me. They should just go ahead and end it after this season.

Senior Meagan Adams agrees with Turcios. Simon was the one judge who spoke his mind and when he leaves she will no longer be watching.

“I think that his opinion is the only one that matters and the show will not be good without him. American Idol will not be the same.”

Adams says, ” I will only watch the show next season depending on who they choose to replace Cowell, but anyone who is chosen to replace him will always sit in his shadow.” “American Idol” should be canceled after this season unless the show is completely reconstructed and changed. It won’t ever be the same with two out of the original three judges gone.”

Senior Karina Villanueva speaks for the few who are happy Simon Cowell is leaving.

“The show will be a breathe of fresh air,” Villanueva said. “Yes, he did speak the truth but he shouldn’t have been so rude. He did really kill people’s dreams. I think anyone who has a good background in music should replace him, maybe a retired singer or someone who is the head of a record label.”

Villanueva said she doesn’t think the change will keep views from tuning in to Idol.

I’m positive people will continue to watch even though Simon and Paula are gone,” she said. “They are going to want to compare the judges.”

Despite losing Paula Abdul this season, “American Idol” had a strong season premiere. It brought in 30 million viewers, a one percent increase from last year. It is still too early to tell how Simon’s departure will affect the show’s future, but expect people to be tuning in for the latest “Idol” drama.

If you have seen James Cameron’s latest billion dollar hit, “Avatar”, you know it’s filled with great CGI and 3-D effects. It’s a breathtaking adventure from beginning to end. Believe it or not, some movie goers are feeling depressed after walking out of the three-hour flick. Forums have been popping up over the Internet with many saying they feel “depressed” and even “suicidal” after realizing the imaginary planet and people are not real.

The 1982 film “Annie,” based off of an early 1900 comic strip called Little Orphan Annie, will be put to action in the Lufkin Middle School auditorium. Many members from Lufkin High School will be on stage playing the roles of the cast of “Annie” for  people awaiting the performance.

Members of the cast have been preparing for this play since the beginning of October following auditions. Auditions for “Annie” were held early in October in the choir room. The play is put on by the Theatre Department at Lufkin High School.

“I believed Annie would be a good fit for my actors,” Cay Billingsley said about why they are to perform “Annie”.

Bilingsley is the director of the play assisted by student teacher, Chad McElveen and student director, Emily Weaver.

Mike Tyer is in direction of the music performed throughout the play and he is expecting a great performance from all the cast.

“This is a very energetic group and they have put many hours of hard work into this play. They are all very involved and we’re very excited. It’s going to be a great show,” he said.

The Role of Annie will be played by junior Megan Yeager whose natural red hair is just a plus that will add to her character.

“I was excited and couldn’t believe it at first,” she said about being cast as Annie.

Megan is also enthusiastic about the play in itself.

“We are all different,” she said about the cast members, “So it brings a wide variety to the play. There are lots of good dance numbers and the singing is great, so come and see it!”

In addition to performing on Thursday and Friday, on Wednesday the 18th the cast performed “Annie” from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the students of Lufkin middle school.

“We attend their school to perform for them to give them a taste of high school,” Cay Billingsley said.

Tickets will be available for $5.00 at the door on Thursday the 19th and Friday the 20th before the show, which will begin at 7 o clock p.m.

Emma Mills
Managing Editor

The Fray, the Denver-based quartet who captured our attention and hearts with their chart-topping single ‘Over my Head (Cable Car)’, has recently released their second album, a self-titled diamond in the rough whose first single, ‘You Found Me’, is quickly climbing the charts. But the piano-rock group may have played it too safe this time, begging the question – will they be able to win the battle of the sophomore slump?

The Fray lends nothing new this time around to their massively successful first album, ‘How to Save a Life’, which went double-platinum and garnered two Grammy nominations almost over night after ABC’s hit medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ plucked them from obscurity and made the song of the same title their unofficial anthem.

‘You Found Me’ sounds the closest to the award-winning hit, a moving, catchy ballad that focuses on two central, slightly spiritual themes: redemption and confusion.

Not since the likes of Switchfoot and Coldplay has a contemporary, popular band stepped outside of the box lyrically, bringing deep, soul-searching lyrics to the table without going so far as to be labeled under the category of Emo, which is perhaps why the band has developed such a cult following.

But the lyrics on this mid-tempo light rock album are not the only thing that will draw the listener in. Tracks such as ‘Syndicate’ will have fans ready to whip out their lighters in teen-anthem style, while other momentarily poignant songs such as ‘Never Say Never’ will stir the senses. Introduced as a solemn piano number that flows with fluidity and grace, it develops into an affecting track complimented by lead singer Isaac Slade’s emotive and gnarled vocals and an aching guitar solo that would be enough to make a Metallica fan melt.

But because of it’s predecessors popularity, the new record falls victim to the classic sophomore mistake: Despite promises of the opposite from the band, the album simply duplicates the same winning formula as the first. Every track on the album is a copy of the last, all relying on insightful, mournful lyrics, climbing melodies, and climactic modulations driven by heartfelt piano rifts.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, these are the types of songs that made us fall in love with The Fray in the first place. But the band will need to bring something new to the table for their next installment if they want to keep the public’s interest and prove that they can be just as successful in their versatility in order to earn that third Grammy nomination.

But, even on repeat, The Fray is still touching.