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Dorm living complicates back-to-school shopping for incoming freshmen MEG MOORE/THE GAMECOCK Wal-Mart, Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond have become shopping hot spots for college students because of their wide selections and low prices. ■ As dorms open for the year, students discover more must-have items By BRITTANY BULLINGTON THE GAMECOCK This year an even wider range of supplies are recommended for incoming freshmen. Beyond pens, pencils and paper, supplies to accommodate the college-bound’s new living situation are essential. For many, a television, stereo and computer will top the list of needed items. But it’s the smaller, less obvious necessities that are often forgotten when scanning the aisles. According to second-year biology major Melissa Kimbrell, “A husband pillow, ear plugs, lots of snacks and playing cards,” proved important in her dorm room. Second-year Spanish major Traci Norwood said a vacuum was essential. “I don’t know about males, but females staying in a dorm room with carpet or rugs of some kind need a vacuum.” Many freshmen believe they have everything they’ll need on move-in day, only to discover later in the year that some of those things deemed non-essential are indeed crucial. Stacy Long, a second-year music education student said, “I have often needed additional power outlets in my room so I bought some surge protectors.” Kimbrell added that she was “in terrible need of a fan, due to lack of air conditioning in our building. I ended up giving in and spending 20 dollars at Wal-Mart for one.” Although dorm rooms are generally smaller spaces and most relaxing time is spent on a bed, Norwood said she “always needed a chair, recliner, couch or whatever that was high enough in the back to rest my head on it. 1 never got anything like it my first year in a dorm, but my sophomore year, I will definitely have a comfy place to sit besides my bed.” There are plenty of places to stock upon low-priced supplies. Target is a great place to buy all materials. “You can finding anything from bedding to notebook paper at a great price,” Long said. Norwood sticks to Wal-Mart for her shopping needs. And Bed, Bath & Beyond is a great place to shop for dorm room supplies: “The employees always seem to give me 20 percent off of everything,” Kimbrell said. Long offered this advice to those new to dorm life: “1 think it is fair to warn any incoming freshmen to prepare for midnight fire alarms. The first time my fire alarm went off, I grabbed my violin — my life — and ran outside. On another occasion, I was awakened by my roommate and ran outside only to find out someone had burned their popcorn.” Shopping for college usually proves to be completely different than normal school shopping. The answer to the question “Do I need this?” is usually yes. However, if you do forget something, Wal Mart and Target are a short drive away. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu The USC Connection Owned and operated by USC students for USC students and others who want the latest styles and hottest brands. 7 for All Mankind • Blue Cult • Earl Ben Sherman • Juicy Couture • Lacoste • Kasil and much more! 9 T ^ ,v - 1633 Main Street (across from the Tapps Building) CD REVIEW Malin heats up sophomore effort “THE HEAT” Jesse Malin ★★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By MEG MOORE THE GAMECOCK Punk-turned-troubadour Jesse Malin knows what it takes to tell a musical tale. He doesn’t need the weathered cowboy hat and southern drawl to sound authentic —- his tunes have ache smeared all over them. Rather than reveling in melancholy, however, Malin crafts upbeat rock tunes and streetwise ballads that strum your heartstrings without ripping them to shreds. On his sophomore solo effort, ‘'The Heat,” Malin brings the down-and-out into the spotlight, singing about the plight of prostitutes and drug addicts — and yes, the requisite heartache. He may be the former front man of NYC punk outfit, D Generation, but on “The Heat,” his new-found sensitive side shines. Taking over the production reins from partner in-crime, Ryan Adams, Malin depicts the street-hardened with a rootsy eloquence on his latest release. The album’s lead-off track and first single, “Mona Lisa,” evokes the harried bustle of New York life, stringing together lines and characters into a montage of images. Malin immediately shows that he isn’t afraid to tell it like it is — “Steven’s selling marijuana uptown to the prima donnas,” he sings. The upbeat “Arrested” discusses “the world’s oldest profession” with an equally blunt approach. From naming “A married man with an estate / a hairdresser that swears he’s straight” as common customers to noting that “the undercover makes a bust / but not before he gets a touch,” Malin refuses to wax over the reality of the world he’s portraying. For all of his brutal honesty, Malin also has his moments of poetic panache. With lines such as “Buddy Holly told me you can’t' save rock ‘n’ roll / It’s only for the lonely boys and girls” and “I’m too scared to dance / on those broken hearted beaches of romance,” Malin can write winning lines with the best of them. “The Heat” is laden with its share of mournful ballads, from “Silver Manhattan” to the country sounding, at least in name, “Out West.” The brooding “Since You’re in Love” dwells on jealousy spawned heartache — “Since ^ you’re in love / I’m still sad over you” — without slipping into any of the usual cliches. The CD also has its radio-worthy rockers. “Scars of Love” and “Hotel Columbia” stand out as fun-but not-frivolous efforts. Echoes of airy 60s pop even surface in tracks such as “About You.” This is the punk’s version of pop rock — no selling out allowed. With its distinctive sound and twisted sort of sentimentality, “The Heat” solidifies Malin’s place as NYC’s unofficial balladeer. He evokes the urban underworld with all the truth of a back porch troubadour. His tunes maintain a humanity that the typical crooner would likely deem impossible from a city boy. With unique, earnest imagery and an unmistakable voice, Malin has gone from punk front man to sensitive singer- I songwriter without sacrificing any of his edge. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu ■ IDOL AUDITIONS Continued from page B1 Some waiting for their chance at fame and fortune used the downtime to keep their vocal cords warm. One woman began singing Alicia Keys’ “Failin’” to no one in particular. In the first round of tryouts, contestants were asked to sing a chorus and verse from their song of choice for a producer. Those who pass the first round will tryout today in front of “Idol" executive producers. Second-round survivors get to sing for “Idol” judges Cowell, _ Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul in Washington on Friday or Saturday. 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