Vox Humana ... The WTUL Music Guide Volume 7, Number 2 New Orleans, Louisiana March 1992 Editorial: Upcoming show: Whatever Happened to "Alternative?" L7: More Than Just Grungy Women Former college radio darling, R.E.M.' s last three albums have Do women have a place in the nebulous "grunge rock" genre gone multi-platinum. The band is now considered one ofMTV's of music? Hell, yes!! L 7 is a band that delivers a no-hold-barred biggest superacts, and six Grammy nominations have solidified this onslaught of intensely thrashy guitar work and bludgeoning newfound reputation. Jane's Addiction, a band that four years ago drum beats. maintained cult status among a devoted and limited fan group, Hailing from California, Jennifer Finch, Suzi Gardner, Dee headlined last year's star-studded Lollapalooza extravaganza. This Plakas and Donita Sparks give new meaning to the word "over­ tour has been described as one of the most successful alternative bearing." The term "foxcore" has been coined to describe bands concert promotions ever and was the most popular package show of predominantly female make-up who play heavy music about last summer (although Clash of the Titans rocked). For years, Top little talked about issues. But L 7 does not sing about issues, they 40 radio all but ignored the quirky B-52's, but with the release of sing about raw, unadulterated feminine attitude. Cosmic Thing, the band found stardom, and three different cuts Signed to Sub-Pop, L7 released a six-song EP entitled Smell from the album became frequent sing-a-longs at Audubon Tavern II. The Magic in 1990. The album was an immediate hit with many Nirvana, a band long adored exclusively by college DJ's and loyal WTUL DJ's (me being one of the leaders of the pack) and Sub-Pop heads, have risen to megastardom and achieved the received a generous amount of airplay. Last October on a trip to position of "number one album" on the Billboard charts as a result Houston to see Nirvana, I spotted the long awaited CD press of of one well-shot conceptual video on MTV. Why are so many Smell The Magic in a local record store. The CD contained three bands that fall under the alternative umbrella suddenly hitting the extra tracks, and I snagged it immediately. Three of the songs on big time? What explanation could there be for this incorporation of the vinyl version of Smell The Magic were recorded by Seattle a progressive edge into.the mainstream market? Will there still be guru Jack Endino and the benefits of his influence show. Ru­ such a thing as alternative music when the smoke clears? mored to be hounded by a couple of majors, L 7' s intense sound For the past six years, pop music has consisted of tame solo is nowhere near commercial accessibility. Their home is on acts, generic dance tracks, and carbon-copy glam rock/metal bands. college radio and in small smoke-filled clubs. Top 40 fans are tired of the latest music news being the shape of Speaking of small smoke-filled clubs, the R.C. Bridge Madonna's newest piece of underwear. Yearning for something Lounge will be hosting L7 on Tuesday, March 3rd. Yes, you different, something new, something near the edge, but not too heard me correctly. L7 will be playing in New Orleans on Fat close to the edge, fans are flocking to alternative sounds which Tuesday of all days. Can you think of a better way to spend an satisfy this desire for diversity. But at the same time, they remain evening swilling draft beer and making loud noises? If you can't, unwilling or unable to enjoy music that is truly of unique and then go check out these relentlessly intense guitar-toting women. alternative origins. Hence, we have seen the uprising and popular­ You will not regret it. Listen to WTUL for more details about the ity of light alternative rock exemplified by such bands as R.E.M., show and also for music from L7. If you do not hear it, feel free 10,000 Maniacs, the Soupdragons, Happy Mondays, Cowboy to call in and request it. Junkies, the Sugarcubes, and the Smiths. -Kevin M. Logue Major labels do of course monitor these "market trends," and reflect them in their strategies. By now, corporate rock has grown "discovered." expert at "discovering new sounds" to satiate their audience. Of course, slick production and hit singles are not the only Alternative bands are now being signed to majors only to be sanded symptoms of the commercialization of alternative music. The down, polished up, and refinished for public consumption. Rap bands themselves are getting softer and less focused. A frequent music has received equally bad treatment. Acts with harsh militant excuse is a band's desire to "branch out," "diversify their music," lyrics such as Eazy-E and Boogie Down Productions have been or "experiment with a different sound." The adoption of these deemphasized in favor of insignificant prattle from M.C. Hammer ideals typically leads to two or more slow songs on an album and and P.M. Dawn. To make rap even more accessible to a mass a general toning down of vocal and musical intensity on a major audience, white performers like Vanilla Ice and 3rd Bass have been (continued on page 2) Inside Programming Schedule ...................................... Rear Henry Rollins ........................................................... 3 Play list ..................................................................... 2 Rap in New Orleans, Ice-T ...................................... 6 Record Reviews ....................................................... 4 Sonic Playground .................................................... 7 Editorial. from pa2e 1 WTUL's Top 40 label release. VoxHumana But this is not always the case. Many 1. Green Day - Kerplunk Henry Rollins, The WTUL Music Guide bands are able to make the jump to a major 2. Afghan Whigs- Congregation label without compromising their integrity. 3. Howard Shore and Ornette Coleman Then and Now: Soundgarden, Sonic Youth and Hole all - Naked Lunch Soundtrack Published as a guide to programming maintain creative control over their music in 4. Bongwater- The Big Sell-Out on WTUL, 91.5FM. (right): Henry Rollins was the lead their respective major label deals. One could 5. Lou Reed- Magic and Loss singer of Black Flag from stan argue that these bands have even improved 6. Rollins Band - The End ofSilence Kevin M. Logue, Editor In Chief until breakup in 1986. The photo the effectiveness of their sound since going 7. Social Distortion - Somewhere Be- James Levick, Assistant Editor at right shows Rollins on tour to majors. Despite what the elitists say, tween Heaven and Hell with the band in 1984. (Photo Nirvana can also be categorized in this group 8. Superchunk -No Pocky For Kitty All articles in the Vox are credit: Ben Skillman) of bands. Though not as stalwart in main­ 9. Earwig- Subtract prepared by the staff of WTUL taining their principles of heaviness and 10. Cranes- Wings ofJoy -"' (below): A haircut and several years grunge as Sound garden, Nirvana refutes criti­ 11. Uncle Tupelo- Still Feel Gone later, Rollins and his band played cism that they have sold out. Granted, 12. Dramarama- Vinyl in the Lollapalooza tour of1991. WTUL Administrative Staff Nevennind is more refined than Bleach, and 13. Reverend Horton Heat- Smoke 'em Backstage at Atlanta's Lakewood "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a little bit catchy, if You Got 'Em Amphitheatre, Rollins (center) John Maraist, General Manager but so be it. ''Teen Spirit" is still uncompro­ 14. Llamasaurus- Llamasaurus poses with Dave and Dean, two misingly heavier than any single I have 15. Love Battery- Dayglo WTUL radio geeks who wanted Jessica Anderson, Classical Director heard in a long time (excluding speed metal 16. Ween- The Pod us to print their picture. David Blankenship, Education Director cuts like Megadeth' s "Hanger 18"). 17. Bum Version- "Viva La" Jeff Bromberger, Sponsorships Nirvana's popularity is more of a freak oc­ 18. Polvo- "Vibracobra" seven-inch The Rollins Band has recently re­ Kerry Chausmer, Community Events currence than a planned marketing maneu­ 19. Hole- Pretty On the Inside leased their new album, The End of Kelly Gilmore, Assistant to the ver, and Nevennind is still a grungy album. 20. Ministry - "Jesus Built My Hotrod" Silence, on Imago Records (see re­ General Manager Listening to it, one would not hear anything 21. Nitzer Ebb - "Godhead" view, lower right). J.C. Glenn, Public Relations even remotely reminiscent of Jane's 22. Various Artists- Until the End ofthe Dave Sanford, Music Director Addiction's big dance hit, "Been Caught World Soundtrack David Straite, News Director Stealing" or The Cure's whiny "Just Like 23. Various Artists- Psychic TV Pres­ Rollins Band Carol Swedlow, Program Director Heaven." It is refreshing to know that as ents: Ultrahouse The End of Silence Carr Wilkerson, Technical Director people buy the whole album like hotcakes 24. Various Artists- Guitarrorists Com- (Imago Records) Todd Wilkinson, Jazz Director just for the MTV single, less mainstream pilation In 1973IggyPopsangaboutRawPower, work such as ''Territorial Pissings," "Breed," 25. Grotus- Brown but throughout the American Hardcore Ron Engel, Sports Director and "Endless Nameless" (the untitled track 26. Cop Shoot Cop - White Noise movement there has been no one individual Eleni Polopolus, New Orleans Music following "Something in the Way" on more 27. Coffin Break - No Sleep 'Til the who exemplifies raw power more than Henry Lester Sullivan, Editor of the recent CD pres sings) has just as much chance Stardust Motel Rollins. First as the lead singer of the semi­ Classical Listeners' Guide to be heard as "Teen Spirit." 28. God Bullies - War On Everybody nal punk band Black Flag, and later as the So, where does all this leave bands still 29.