The highly anticipated event was preceded by dramatic controversy, as French swimmer Alain Bernard promised to “smash” the Americans. “The Americans?” Bernard said. “We’re going to smash them. That’s what we came for.”

Not quite.

The American time of 3 minutes, 8.24 seconds set a new world record. Although Phelps set an individual 100m record during the relay, it was 32-year-old Jason Lezak whose anchoring performance sealed the victory, besting Bernard by mere hundredths of a second.

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Dan Treul
Editor

Although Colehour’s album debuted in 2004, his relative commercial disappearance cannot be reasonably attributed to a lack of critical acclaim. “Straight to the Highway” was written entirely by the artist, and was both produced and engineered by Mike McCarthy of Patti Griffin and Spoon fame. Also contributing to the ten-track album’s raw and edgy production is David Grissom, known for his work with the Dixie Chicks and John Mellencamp. Much of the Dixie Chicks’ “Taking the Long Way” and Mellencamp’s recent “Our Country” and “Life, Death, Love & Freedom” can be heard here, with Colehour’s sparse lyricism tackling the darker corners of Midwestern life head on. In “Quarry Town,” Colehour channels Springsteen’s “Youngstown” and “Born in the U.S.A.”:

In the name of God and country

We buried our friends in the ground

We never knew any better

In our quarry town

Although Colehour doesn’t achieve melodies as immediately catching as Springsteen (can you really blame him?), “Straight to the Highway” does not disappoint fans of the country rock genre with the undeniable promise of its production team. The tracks “Father’s Son” and “The Likes of Us” are prayers delivered to the Midwest at seventy miles an hour out a rolled-down window, and the stripped-down acoustics of “My America” meander like the Mississippi as the narrator rediscovers a sense of belonging in the land.

Colehour’s voice itself is a perfect fit with the album’s changing moods - raw and self-assured at its peaks, wounded with yearning in its valleys. The strength of his range is particularly apparent in “This Time,” a narrative on feeling trapped in small town America and, yes, the escape of the highway:

Just lie and listen to that engine burnin’

Turnin’ those four wheels just as fast as they can go

And roll down the window and you might just feel the morning

Blowing in from someplace that the likes of us will never know

Do yourself a favor and check out Dan Colehour’s “Straight to the Highway.” The album may not prove to be the needed commercial break he’s obviously deserving of, but if these ten tracks are any indication, this guy’s born to run.

Rating: 5/5

If you are interested in writing for The Saint, please e-mail editor@aqsaint.com. Enjoy the rest of the summer. We look forward to seeing you in the fall.

Sincerely,

Dan Treul, editor

As Obama departs for his first high profile international tour, the Democrat’s status as a political rock star is beginning to seize Europe as well. European newspapers, the AFP notes, have already called him a “John Kennedy of our time,” and political leaders in Germany and Italy “have adopted Obama’s ‘Yes We Can’ slogan for their political speeches.” The new Spanish prime minister has even gone so far as to publicly endorse the American candidate - breaking the unspoken diplomatic neutrality observed during most foreign election seasons.

For many in Europe, Obama appears a fresh alternative to years of tense relations with the outgoing Bush administration, who has overseen plummeting confidence in and respect for the United States abroad. Europeans are particularly weary of U.S. military intervention overseas.

“I think there’s a pretty certain feeling on this side of the Atlantic that any Democrat would be an excellent alternative to Bush because they would be much more outward looking, listening more to European allies,” said Trevor McCrisken, associate professor of U.S. politics and international studies at Warwick University in the U.K.

In the run-up to the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dismissed the concerns of such allies as France and Germany as those of “old Europe.”

Nothing lasts forever / Your best efforts don’t always pay / Sometimes you get sick / And you don’t get better / That’s when life is short / Even in its longest days

“Life, Death, Love and Freedom” isn’t, as the title suggests, Mellencamp’s next “Rockin’ in the USA” or “Little Pink Houses.” And you won’t find cutesy Americana like Jack and Diane here, either. Instead, the album is raw, unrelenting, and dark. The standout track “A Ride Back Home” underscores Mellencamp’s weariness of age:

Hey Jesus can you get me a ride back home / I’ve been out here in this world too long on my own / I won’t bother you no more / If you can just get me in the door / Hey Jesus can you get me a ride back home

This is an album of blacks and whites and all the gray areas in between. It’s an album of stark contrasts - high hopes and bitter disappointments. Mellencamp, who in 2004 joined the Vote for Change Tour in support of John Kerry’s presidential campaign, makes no secret of his contempt for what has become of the America of his youth. In one of the album’s most political songs - “Without a Shot” - Mellencamp accompanies a stark mandolin and haunting field organ:

The distant sleeping shadows / That lie out in the yard / The wind that distorts the meaning / Of who we really are / Saluting of ourselves / As we pass by our mirrors / This show of phony adulation / Just masquerades all our fears … So the hole gets dug deeper / With every wedding bell / And we sell each other down the road / ‘Til there’s nothing left to sell / And slowly but surely / We disappear without a trace / We point our fingers at each other / Say what the hell happened to this place / Without a shot / Without a shot / Without a shot

This is without a doubt one of Mellencamp’s finest albums, and even newcomers to the rock legend will recognize the sound of a master at the top of his artistic game. Complementing the album’s harsh lyricism is a voice that time has weathered into prophecy. In “Jena,” the album’s most controversial track, Mellencamp mourns the racial violence that persists in America today, citing the recent intimidation in the Louisiana city:

An all white jury hides the executioner’s face / See how we are me and you / Everyone here needs to know their place / Let’s keep this blackbird hidden in the flue / Oh oh oh Jena … Take your nooses down

In the midst of the darkness, however, “Life, Death, Love and Freedom” offers glimpses of light. On the standout rockin’ track “My Sweet Love,” Mellencamp gives lifelong fans some of that ol’ time rock ‘n’ roll religion, giving such classics as “Jack and Diane” a run for their money. And “For the Children” is as moving a prayer as rock has offered in a long, long time:

I hope you can be a child of life / With big dreams for everyone / And know that dying’s as natural as birth / And our troubles here / They don’t last long / I have worried about many things / Most of which did not come to pass / I hope you find someone to give you love / And that your love will last / I can’t even make a guess or an uneducated thought / All I can do here is my best / And be thankful for what we’ve got / What we’ve got

Most of “Life, Death, Love and Freedom” is concerned with darkness and the struggle to merely hold to life amidst uncertainty. But make no mistake about it: above all, this album is about love and the power of redemption. In the closing track, “A Brand New Song,” Mellencamp sings:

Life is always in motion / New people to count on / Here we find a purpose / To sing a brand new song / Brand new song / To sing a brand new song

In “Life, Death, Love and Freedom,” John Mellencamp has proven himself as much a kind of American folk prophet as an exceptionally talented rocker.

Rating: 5/5

All those facts and more will undoubtedly work to the advantage of Obama in November, and his campaign’s central argument - that McCain is just a third term of George W. Bush - is a strong one. Today, an AP-Ipsos poll gives President Bush an approval rating of just 28 percent - a tie for his lowest numbers ever in the same poll. Such statistics will certainly benefit Obama and the opposition Democrats.

However, the same AP-Ipsos poll holds potentially troublesome news for Congressional Democrats seeking election and reelection in 2008 as well. Public approval of the Democratic-controlled Congress is at a dismal 16 percent. Many see such numbers as reflective of the sluggish economy, and some Democrats are upset by what they see as their party’s unwillingness to confront the lame-duck president.

Ironically, the Democrats’ major Congressional electoral victory in 2006 may work to their disadvantage in 2008. It’s virtually impossible that Republicans will narrow their deficit in Congress in the November elections, but Democrats’ plans to all-but sweep the contest will almost certainly be complicated by public dissatisfaction as evidenced in the AP-Ipsos poll.

As the election approaches, it’s almost certain that Democrats and Republicans alike will seek to distance themselves from the increasingly unpopular president. What is yet to be seen, however, is which party will be successful in pinning the other as responsible for the country’s economic woes.

The McCain campaign today found itself on the defense after its own economic adviser, Phil Gramm, was quoted as saying that America was in the midst of a “mental recession,” and that we have “sort of become a nation of whiners.”

Ouch.

To make matters worse, the McCain campaign initially stood by the comments, and the Obama camp pounced.

“He said we’re in a mental recession,” said Sen. Obama before a crowd of 2,000 in Fairfax, VA. “I guess what he meant was it’s a figment of our imagination, these high gas prices.” But, Obama said, “It’s not just a figment of your imagination, it’s not all in your heads, when people are struggling with the rising cost of everything from gas to groceries…this economic downturn is not in your head.”

Double ouch.

The McCain camp later denounced Gramm’s remarks, and Talking Points Memo’s Josh Marshall is reporting that the Arizona senator’s staff is so concerned about the remark’s ramifications that it has apparently been pushing a YouTube video in which McCain “bashes” Gramm. Gramm, for his part, has defended his comments, saying that “I’m not going to retract any of it. Every word I said was true.”

Will the comments hurt McCain in the long run? The potential is definitely there. But perhaps more importantly, if it’s true that, as the McCain camp says, “Phil Gramm’s comments are not representative of John McCain’s views,” then why is the man serving as McCain’s economic adviser?

Also consistent among the pundits - not a surprise, exactly, but significant - is Michigan’s ranking among the tightest of “toss-ups.” Michigan has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1988, but is now considered by most analysts a pivotal swing state. Expect to see more signs, more commercials, and more candidate visits in the months to come. Good news for political junkies, bad news for those ready to vote yesterday…

Good news for everyone, however: more positive media coverage to distract from what’s sure to be an absolute press feeding frenzy when disgraced Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick finally goes down…

Coming from southern Michigan, even making the drive to Mackinac, provided there’s not infuriating amounts of weekend traffic and construction on I-75 or 131, is really beautiful. The ups and downs of the road increase and lend themselves to breathtaking views of the much greener landscape.

The approach to Mackinaw City – seeing the bridge and all the billboards for Shepler’s and Arnold’s ferry services – is fairly epic. The Mackinac Bridge, absolutely and undoubtedly a modern marvel, ascends into the skyline. It’s difficult not to be impressed. My friends and I, in the true spirit of the adventure, decided to cross the bridge ($3.00 one way for one car when we crossed) and go to Mackinac via St. Ignace, the first and last (only joking) civilization in the upper peninsula.

Taking the Star Line ferry ($25.00 per round trip ticket without a bike) from St. Ignace seemed much less busy than I presume it would’ve been at 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday in Mackinaw City. The ferry ride is fairly short – 15 minutes or so – and you’re treated to some spectacular views of the Bridge and the Island, especially the legendary Grand Hotel.

Downtown Mackinac Island is nearly overwhelming. It is crowded, full of cyclists and pedestrians used to the comfortable organization of stoplights and automobiles. There is a very festive air surrounding downtown however. Every fudge shop – May’s, Murdick’s, Kilwin’s, Ryba’s – all claim to be first. We sampled from almost every shop, and they all win first prize for deliciousness. Some places have ice cream, some have chocolates, some have saltwater taffy, some have an obscene amount of fudge varieties. I believe it was Joann’s that had flavors that included Butterfinger and Kahlua.

Mackinac Island is the embodiment of “tourist-topia.” It overwhelms me to even attempt to describe what there is to see and buy. Let’s make it simple: there’s everything. That makes it easier. The shopping is fun if you don’t mind navigating crowds, and there are some legitimately interesting and cooky shops to poke around in. If you don’t find a souvenir here, you’re never finding one.

There are approximately 150,000 places from which you can rent a bicycle on Mackinac Island. And it is imperative that you rent a bicycle or tandem. The easy, eight-mile ride around the island has been a staple of the Mackinac experience since forever. Most vendors require a deposit. If you use your credit card, this is no problem as they just take the information and then tear it up when you return your rentals. If you’re using cash, we passed a few places that offered no deposit rentals. Most shops charged about $5 per hour for a single speed bicycle.

We got excellent service where we eventually stopped to rent a bike. Everyone was friendly, sociable and helpful. We chose our particular shop because they rented Schwinn’s. We paid $6 per hour to rent 7-speed bikes. The bikes rode beautifully and the attached baskets were really helpful. In the end, we paid $20 for more than three hours of biking fun.

In contrast to our bike experience, lunch was a bit of a disaster. The service was terrible and it was only 11 a.m. On the other hand, the food was decent and less overpriced than, say, Cedar Point. I paid about $8, plus tip, for a large club sandwich, potato chips and a pickle. You could easily alleviate this expense by packing your own lunch. I won’t mention the name of the restaurant for the entire world to see, because I understand that there are perfectly legitimate and unlucky reasons for getting terrible service. If you’re desperate to avoid such a place, e-mail me.

As advertised, the bike trip around the island is fantastic, and really makes the entire experience. For somewhere around $8 you can bring your own bike to the island – you can do the math on the potential savings. My friends and I rode for barely a mile before feeling compelled to stop and scope out the picturesque albeit rocky beaches. The water was crystal clear. Overall, the ride was composed of gentle inclines and declines flanked by water or greenery on either side and filled with many Kodak-inspired reasons to stop along the way. There was a fair bit of traffic, but it was navigable.

Among the sites to stop for along the way, Arch Rock, near the second mile marker should not be missed. The stairs are not for the faint of heart, but the view is spectacular and the rock formation is impressive. Halfway around the island are bathrooms and a snack stop called Cannonball which boasts “famous” deep fried pickles – we just had root beer.

Another highlight of our trip was simply lounging on the pristine lawn in front of Fort Mackinac (which is not free so we opted out). As if the soft lawn and postcard view aren’t perfect enough on a bright sunny day, the abundant lilac bushes were still in bloom as well.

There were many island experiences on the island we missed including the Butterfly House, carriage rides, wandering up to the Grand Hotel, going for a hike, or immersing ourselves in the storied history of the island best appreciated by visiting the fort.

All in all, Mackinac Island seems like a place taken from a book: so well-trimmed and pristine that it’s borderline cheesy. However, my friends and I really appreciated the vacation-esque qualities of the beach – the views, the water and warm rocks and greenscapes. You’ll spend $50 plus, not including gas, to have a non-frugal, yet modest, Mackinac Island adventure. By far, the best part about the island is that such a sense of adventure, festiveness and awe are not at all lost on adults who remember the same fun feeling from when they were kids.