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Album review: Raphael Saadiq – "The Way I See It"

Temptations disciple Raphael Saadiq just beat out 007 and ice cubes in a cool contest. His throwback style has more soul than a shoe factory. Soda fountains think this guy has retro down pat. You get the point - the man is fly, and on "The Way I See It," he channels a radiant, doo-wop-era rhythm and blues that tips a suede top hat to Berry Gordy and Phil Spector. "Keep Marchin'" reconnects with the effortless groove of early Motown classics, exuding a lighthearted confidence laced in tambourine percussion and backing falsetto. "Just One Kiss" pops with orchestral flourishes and female harmonies, but neither element matches the zeal of the show-stopping lead vocal. How does one account for Saadiq's silky delivery? Like satin pajamas and other sides of pillows, some things are naturally smooth.

Unicorn Hill christmas tree farm

Florida university system gets low marks in report

Florida's State University System got its report card, and the returns aren't pretty.

Progressive? CLAS firings reflect bias, not diversity

Here at the Editorial Board, we have noticed that the repeated appearance of a few key factors in the Alligator has actually presented us with a defined cycle.

Wilson leads Crimson Tide with game management

All the hype in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game around quarterbacks may be surrounding Tim Tebow's all-time greatness, but the quarterback from Alabama is no slouch either.

Coming to America: LaCaze makes fast friends in first year away from Austrailia

As the women's cross country team exited its plane in Indianapolis two days before the NCAA Championship, Genevieve LaCaze dashed to the front of the crowd.

UF holiday traditions continue

Santa Claus is still welcome in college towns.

A walk on the dark side

Bryan Poole, guitarist and singer for the indie-pop band Of Montreal, said the band recorded its latest album with the help of Georgie Fruit, a "64-year-old black she-male who's been in and out of prison a couple times."

Alligator lacks editor applicants

Newsrooms across the country have been hit hard by the nation's troubled economy, and the Independent Florida Alligator is not immune to the industry's dip in morale.

Local Christmas tree farmers keep up tradition

No snow, sleds or Santa Claus are required:for John and Cathryn Gregory, it's always Christmastime.John, a former UF professor, and Cathryn, a former Spanish teacher, both 64, have been growing trees at the Unicorn Hill Christmas Tree Farm since 1981.Unicorn Hill, at 3605 N.W. 69th St., is the only Christmas tree farm in Gainesville.

Dorm rent increase not a surprise

This spring, on-campus residents will pay a midyear increase in rent.

Album review: Belle & Sebastian – "The BBC Sessions"

From the first endearingly fragile a cappella notes of classic "The State I Am In," a bashful Stuart Murdoch symbolically declines an invitation from England's prying radio ears: No thanks, we're staying in today. You see, back in the mid-90's, Belle & Sebastian was the would-be prom queen still too shy and self-aware to realize her own beauty. "The BBC Sessions" dusts off a snapshot of the sleepy collective in their formative years, before Isobel Campbell fell for the bad boy, and when the singer nervously laughed at himself just in case you thought he was a joke. These tracks are unnervingly intimate, even for this band, and that's why this rare look-in is so special - because B&S, a bedroom act if there ever was one, was never meant for the light of day.

Harvin's status still undecided for Alabama

The Percy Harvin watch continues.

Album review: Valencia – "We All Need a Reason to Believe"

The cover art of Valencia's "We All Need A Reason to Believe" features five guys striking contemplative poses in the middle of the desert, no doubt asking themselves, "How can we make our predictable emo shtick appeal to people with ears?" Unfortunately, this fleeting practical thought escaped into the cool evening air, and our skinny-jeaned friends promptly built a ceremonial bonfire to summon the spirit of Pete Wentz. Perhaps taking mushrooms with Vince and Ari would have been a more constructive wasteland endeavor because "Free," "Holiday," "Safe to Say," etc. prove that there are three certainties in life: death, taxes and the shameless pairing of soft, gut-wrenching bridges with loud, bombastic choruses. The sun can't set on this band fast enough.

Residents turn to gardening as food prices rise

As a result of rising food costs around the world, some people have resorted to growing their own food as an affordable alternative to grocery shopping.

‘F’ is for fail

Congratulations college students of Florida (the state, not the university of), your state's educational report card isn't refridgerator-worthy.

'Four Christmases' more full of bad jokes than holiday cheer

Right around Thanksgiving it begins to happen. As we mindlessly stuff ourselves with turkey, the world outside transforms in a majestic way; front lawns become biblical light shows, toy stores become parental battle grounds, and repetitive, peppy music infuses every store, car and restaurant in America. Behind all this snowy wonderment, Hollywood plays a sinister trick, and all over the country cliché, sentimental family films pop up like blemishes on the face of the movie industry. One of these blackheads, "Four Christmases," smiles at you while you writhe in pain and feel the urge to punch someone out of boredom.

Indian student group holds vigil for Mumbai victims

About 200 students stood silently at the Reitz Union Amphitheater on Wednesday night in the midst of flickering candlelight.

Tebow's degrees of separation

I owe Tim Tebow a big thank you.

Do yourself a favor and don't

There are categories of people you just shouldn't sleep with, ever.