Page 6 ♦ A p r il 11 -17, 2001 ♦ heT L u m berjack Two new albums, two new disappointments John Kay's 'Heretics' is nothing to crow about

M ic a h Alpau g h issue road map to life has led them to a dead end," wrote said, "1 didn't speak a word of The Lumberjack Kay in the liner notes, "and are now choosing a different English. 1 couldn't understand what they were singing path." about, but it sent goosebumps down mv spine, because I John Kay describes his album as rootsy and socially But even this doesn't seem to act as a full explanation connected with that }ov and exuberance.'' conscious, as he attempts to take a turn in the dance with of Kay's turn. Steppenwolf, for its now oft-mocked light­ On "Heretics," such a world-view seems to be con­ the ghost of Tom Joad. ness, did add to the social aesthetic and consciousness of spicuously absent. It offers a grim view of contemporary life, singing of the '60s. In and of itself, this is not necessarily a negative the troubles of the nearly vanishing, stereotypical, Dust In its music, the band highlighted the downside of the development. Bowl-revisited, struggling middle-class American. drug culture in "The Pusher," and "The Ostrich" was a The problems arise, however, when the singer loses Kay appears a very poor man's VVoodv Guthrie or strong environmental ode. his authenticity, writing such songs as "I will not be Bruce Springsteen in the process. "Wild," meanwhile, blasted out of the cinema speak­ denied" about his interpretation of the problems of the Yet, he celebrates the album's release by embarking on ers during the opening scene of "Easy Rider/' the count­ common folk. yet another nationwide '60s kitsch tour with er-culture biker flick that helped revolutionize late '60s "Ain't no rest for the weary," he sings. "No mercy for Steppenwolf, the group he led and made famous. and early '70s cinema. the just plain ordinary people." “Heretics and Privateers/' Kay's fourth solo album, Perhaps the dissatisfaction stems from Kav's decision Kay has continually tried to reinvent himself as his suffers from an identity crisis, with the musician attempt­ to dissolve Steppenwolf for the first time in 1972, only to own man throughout the years, as evidenced by his three ing to distance himself as far as possible from a band reunite the band two years later but never achieve the lukewarm '70s solo efforts. At one point, he insisted whose place in history has diminished as the years have same level of success. upon touring as "John Kay and Steppenwolf." progressed. 'He walked the treadmill since '64/' Kay sings on the "Heretics" has its moments, and Kay's voice is well In the liner notes, he ignores any reference to title track. "Now he shows a little gray hair and they suited for the folk-blues. But, beyond his authentic dis­ Steppenwolf, speaking of experiences of seeing Richard show him the door/'all he believed and all he content, lies an ever-present layer of fa ken,'. As w'hen Farina and Bob Dylan at the famous Newport Folk leamed/What made him proud and what he thought he naming the oft-transparent Steppenwolf after one of the Festivals of the mid-'60s and the creation of a generation had earned / Have now become his fears." most layered novels of the century, there seems an unnec­ of social protest. So he continues along the path, playing venues like essary' put-on, as if Kay feels the need to enlarge life into Kay almost seems to regret his decisions for the band the Buffalo Chip Campground in Sturgis, S.D, and the un belie vability. that burst onto the music scene with "Bom To Be Wild.'' Elkart County 4-H. In the end, Kay's work unfortunately comes a point "Some are those who've discovered that the standard "When 1 first heard rock 'n' roll as a young boy," Kay where the listener cannot help but laugh. Aspiring Tempe-based singer offers bland pulp on disc

J im Bo dden ty and excitement. The disc's strongest track, even though it still The Lumberjack press kit labels Lanier as contains the cliches that plague his deliv­ "Alternative Rock," ery. "You can't judge a book by its cover," which is a completely On "Make It Alone," a slow number, the old saying goes. Well, sometimes you meaningless phrase, Lanier summons up every ounce of can. especially when applied schmaltz in his body and directs it into When I received the press kit for Tempe to music as mainstream making this song sound like a bad show singer/songwriter T.J. Lanier (or just as this. tune. "If You Let Me," a mildly funky "Lanier," as he is known), the first thing I The production sees upbeat number, sees Lanier trying to sing noticed was that his 8-by-lO glossy that Lanier's band is like Dave Matthews, complete with some included stats such as hair/eye color , pushed to the back­ ridiculous scatting. And during the entire weight and height. ground, while the vocals proceeding, his band trudges along with This is the kind of trivial information are pumped up, (pre­ little feeling and even less inspiration. that usually is reserved for the pages of sumably) to d r a w atten­ On the whole, Lanier comes across less Teen Beat. tion to Lanier's voice as a rock singer and more as a character in The press kit also gloats of Lanier's dif­ and lyrics. Lanier's voice an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical who is ficulties and hard work as an artist, but obviously has been k ell supposed to be portraying a rock singer. that's pretty hard to take seriously when trained, but sounds just This is not entirely surprising, consid­ balanced with the photos that make him like any number of post- ering Lanier's theater background and the look like a pin-up star. Eddie Vedder singers. ~ ' "”” r 1 ~ fact that Michael Crawford, known for his But 1 resolved not to make up my mind And while lyrics like Lanier is an aspiring singer/songwriter from Tempe. Broadway roles, is listed as one of his about the artist until 1 had listened to the "Maybe things will get biggest heroes. CD. The music is what really counts, isn't better/Maybe they'll change/Maybe competent. "Maybe Baby" sounds like If you're interested and you're 21 and it? they'll stay the same/Maybe baby" are a Matchbox 20 outtake, with trite lyrics over, Lanier's got a gig at Donnie Brasco's Well, it sounds like any number of mid­ benign at best, given Lanier's cheesy about a dysfunctional family. His cur- in Tempe for $5 Friday. But with Fugazi dle-of-the-road soft rock bands of the delivery they make the listener cringe. rent single, " 18," which is receiving air- playing the same night for the same price, Hootie and the Blowfish ilk. This sound is Of the four songs on this EP none have play on KZON 101.5 in Phoenix and in Tuba City, you'd be a fool to head to easily accessible but is devoid of originali­ any spark to them. They are merely KZGL 101.7 in Flagstaff, is probably the Tempe