PAGE22 THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY FEATURES October 27, 1998

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Union 13 Gets Frustrated With Same Old Times, Same Old Punk The musical styles of this CO's 13 tracks are Homme. Josh Homme was the guitarbt for the Human Race Although they arc referred to as melodic as different from one another as night and KYUSS. KYUSS was amazing. QOTSA is day. Songs range from old () to good, but nowhere near what KYUSS was. East has tasted many great hardcore in Europe, here in the United States. new (Stevie Nicks with Sheryl Crow) and ll is good stuff, no doubt, but none of the bands and Union 13 comes out of that scene. Millencolin sounds just like straight punk from country (Faith Hill) to classical (The songs are truly epic like KYUSS was. Guitar 1998 brings Why Are We Destroyi11g Our­ with no chaser. Grab your skateboards; here's Michael Nyman Orchestra). work ts prominent here. and the vocals (also selves? from the band which does a few songs some theme music for all you skaters and Oddly enough. I actually enjoyed Faith done by Josh) are good. The riffs are inter­ in Spanish. The album is a compilation of clean punks. Millencolin would not make it Hill's song "This Kiss.'' 1 despise country esting, and overall the album has a nice sound. rants about the streets as well as of the big through a show at The Loft: this isn't politi­ with a passion. Garth Brooks nauseates me: It is a cross between Radiohead, progressive­ picture of America. It took the band six years cal punk or street punk. Wynonna Judd makes my ears bleed. But this rock and , if you can imagine that. It to get out of .. East Los." as they dub it on The absence of politics is evident in Same song, while still slightly country-ish, has a definitely still fits under the "stoner-rock'' their first Epitaph release ( 1997). Old Times first track. "Mr. Clean.'' pop sound which is quite catchy. category that KYUSS pioneered. My only They ask the question again on the title Millencolin (don't mess up the pronunciation. Stevie Nicks, the goddess that she is, is dis­ gripe with the album is that some of the songs track, a rant that includes the deadliness of its derived from melancholy) presses the star appointing with her new song "If You Ever seem to drag and that the bass (or maybe bass­ pollution and the government's need to solve of so many commercials to explain why he Did Believe," but sings an excellent remake ist) is just not good; firstly, it's poorly mixed the problems of other countries. Vocalist Ed­ became so big and dumb. That isn't the only of ·'Crystal" (which was originally released and secondly, it's just nothing special. But ward Escoto's rage comes to a head with the example of Millencolin 's Swedish sense of by her band, Fleetwood Mac. but sung by aside from that, this album rocks. closing lines of"No Time for Learning" with humor: there's "Dance Craze," which makes band member Christine MeVie). Both songs RATING: Get it. Get it if you were a "I'm going postal today. This anger has made fun of ska and the way it has become such a by Nicks are produced by Sheryl Crow, who KYUSS fan and get it if you're not. But if me insane. I feel jealousy towards the dead trend lately. There's "Diznee Time" directed also sings backup. you're not, then buy Sky Valley by KYUSS life. Pressures just fucked up my head and I at the stoners, who'll be pretty offended; the On the positive side, the soundtrack in­ fU'St! -- Martin Shuster believe the meaning of life has been lost." Swedes tell you it's ti!Jle to stop puffin·. cludes an unexpected but funky disco song The band is always honest in their songs. In Same Old 1imes is actually a pretty good by Marvin Gaye and a strange, strange song "Faith" they ask, "The truth is surely out listen for punks like me who stick pretty much Marilyn Manson: Mecluznical emitled "Coconut" which defies explanation. there, but who's in control as destiny un­ to political punk. It's good driving music, Animals The two instrumental tracks performed by the folds?" The band leaves us with a final when Crass get<; a little too deep. This isn't a The new Marilyn Manson album well. above mentioned orchestra are moving. and thought on ''Why?" with "The prophecy of soundtrack for life; don't take it-too seriously. what can one say? You could say it's a far for those of you who have a hard time with annihilation is not nearly enough to stop the I mean.they compare a perfect game of bowl­ departure from thetr previous albums and classical. they are easy and fun to listen to. human consciousness from pressing its own ing to a girl and decide to bowl a perfect EPs. Yes. you could. This album i)o much ·'Is This Real?" a song by lisahall, is the luck." Day after day. they are proven correct game. -John C. Roemer mellower. much less metallic, and more highlight of the entire album. If you like Tori as humanity slill decides to use methods of glam-ish. David Bo.,..·ic comes to mind. more Amos. this song is for you. It can be listened power and laziness that will surely destroy Whale: All Disco Dance Must End so image-wise than musically (but some to exactly 37 times before it begins to lose Earth. In Broken Bones Scary Monsters-music-era inOuences are its effect. Union 13 leaves us with many messages Do you fondly remember the good ole' present!) Lots of electronic elements arc still Elvis is. well. Elvis - nothing new with and warnings. Why Are We Destroying Our­ days of driving your gray Civic while head­ present (drum machtncl> aplenty here). but ''Always On My Mind" and it is perhaps ~n­ selves? isn't anything like Tupac Shakur they arc more in the background. Overall. the banging along to the song Hobo /Jumpin' necessary on this CD. Joni Mitchell is whiny prophesi.ling his own death, but a statement album is more atmospheric and less Slobo Babe with a man named Helga? If so. and obnoxious in her song "A Case Of You:· that rings very true for the entire human race. then you're in for a treat. Whale - the mas­ riff-driven (though there are some nice riffs and ''Black Eyed Dog" by Nick Drake is In the spirit of Operation Ivy. evolution will terminds behind the original Slobo Babe - here). Problems include the fact that many dreadfully repetitive. come; it's time to stand together. What ever have just released a new album! of the riffs are highly unoriginal. Some lyr­ RATING: I've been told by those who happened to human unity? - John C. Roemer Creatively tagged All Disco Dance Must ics are extremely stupid ("I don't like the have seen the movie that the soundtrack is End in Broken Bones. the album's II enig­ drugs, but the drugs like me!''- which is also three times better. However. since I've yet to Vanilla lee: matic tracks of hobo-like music is enough to a direct rip from Joan Jett's riff"l Like Rock see the movie (because of its blatantly incor­ and Roll"). Highlights include some of the Yes, that's right, Vanilla Ice is back, he is keep you humpin' for many times to come. rect and unrealistic portrayal of witchcraft), The eerie sounds of "Crying at the Airport'' riffs and the lyrics ("Mother Mary - miscarry still calling himself Vanilla Ice and he still I cannot make the comparison. I would have was interesting"). So this is an album full of sucks. The obvious question bere is: Wby? start the album off on the right track. Other bought this album for the lisahall song alone, spooky and enticing tracks include ''Into the contrasts, just like Brian Warner himself Why is the subjecting us to the torture that is but if that song isn't your style I'd suggest Strobe" and "Roadkill," which ha'> such origi­ (a.k.a. Marilyn Manson). himself? Is his ego so inflated that he actu­ just waiting for one of your Tori-obsessed ally thinks anyone wants to listen to him? Yes, nallyrics as "your Carhardt shirt's still wet, friends to buy the album and then tape-record apparently so. As all similar talentless one­ a veteran of your nosebleed." Who cares what RATING: Get it, if you really like their it off her.-Tracy Soltesz hit wonders, be turned to drugs after "Ice Ice it means? It's refreshingly different. stuff. You may be Disappointed, as it's not nearly as heavy as previous releases. If you Baby" went off the charts, and now he is back The album has a great mix between softly Queens of the Stone Age: Queens and ready for more. Hopefully he is ready to flowing and harder, moving songs. Best de­ don't like MM, give this a try- it's mellow be booed off every stage he appears on, be­ scribed as bizarre, the lyrics provoke one to of the Stone Age enough for most people to dig it; forget about cause his so-called music is an abomination. ponder - for there must be a deeper meaning For those of you who do not know, Queens all the "hype" surrounding him. - Martin Hard to Swallow sounds like Rage against behind the curt words of "Smoke," which of the Stone Age is the new band from Josh Shuster the Machine meets Wu Tang Clan, if these declare "I know I smoke too much ... my feel­ two bands had no talent, message or any gen­ ings for you is breeding like cancer... share eral purpose in life. Vanilla's dyslexic cha­ my last cigarette." meleon rationale seems to be telling him that To give you an idea of what sleeps in the DisOriented with TheatreCom if he could gain popularity in the past by imi­ minds of members of Whale, here are a few from THEATRE CONCERT, page 16 tating M.C. Hammer, he can gain it just as things they claim to have learned while mak­ the future. well now by (badly) imitating industrial/hip ing the album: Minus three degrees Fahren­ The collaborative work of dedicated mem­ hop. The album's climax is "Too Cold," a heit is cold enough to make you cry, even if came out to support the Arts was The Asso­ bers of the Theatre department and th~e two wannabe- you arc from Sweden. There are very few ciates, with UMBC Theatre's own Tara extraordinary bands put on an amat.ing show industrial re1nake of "Icc Ice Baby." Every­ heterosexual stewards on British Airways and Cariaso singing amazing vocals. Along with for the night, showing incredible dedication thing about this CD is so tacky it makes you those who exist arc not half as nice as their fellow band members Mike Castor, Matt to support Theatre at UMBC. The next play cringe -- even the cover. "'hich sports red­ gay counterparts. Words and phrases like Dickinson, Chuck Beitzel. and Kevin to open in the Theatre department, What the and-black roses and two naked vampire girls ·'night." "street,'' "l remember," "looking out Westin, The Associates rounded off the night Butler Saw. previews November 2 and 3, on a black background. One must try ex­ the window" and "perception" must never with their soulful blues tunes. The two bands with the Mainstage performances running tremely hard to find a positive aspect of this appear in a pop song; "boogie" and contrasted each other wonderfully, as On from November 4th rough November 8 and album, only to come to the conclusion that "rammstein" are okay, however, if used with Edge got everyone up on their feet and The November 11 through November 15. Vanilla is thoroughly deluding himself. and care. Associates toned down the evening to a more Cariaso will appear on the stage in "Top the Universal Records executives arc prob­ RATING: This is smooth and exhilarat­ fluid groove. Soaring vocals and a blend of Girls" which runs from December 4 to De­ ably kicking themselves while preparing to ing. Different-and I like it that way. Go get talented musicians who aU share the same cember 9. Contact the Theatre box office ~t I suffer the losses. this album now sq you will be prepared for vibe make this band one to look out for in (443) 455-2476 for ticket information. RATING: No matter how abysmally ter­ Whale's show scheduled at Bohager's for J rible Hard to Swallow is, we must give Va­ November 18. -Tracy Soltes:_ l nilla some minimal credit for having the cour­ age to show his face in public again.-- Anna Practical Magic: Music from the Write for Features call x126o ask for Christina Kaplan Motion Picture