NAB Turns up Heat on Low-Power FM
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
MUST HEAR NAB Turns Up Heat On Low-Power FM The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has intensified its campaign against the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) plan to license non-commercial stations of up to 100 watts. The NAB is waging awar on two fronts: in Congress and the courts. The organization is pushing ahouse bill that would take away the FCC's power to issue licens- es to low-power broadcasters. The bill has drawn 113 co-sponsors, most of whom are Republicans; about adozen of them are Democrats. Meanwhile, the NAB is also seeking to overturn the FCC's ruling in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia before April 17, the date on which the ruling will be eacted. NAB leader Eddie Fritts said in astatement that "the plan to cram in hundreds if not thou- sands of low-power FM stations will create unacceptable interference across the radio dial." This is afact disputed by the FCC, whose research proves otherwise. The FCC believes that separating sig- nals hv at least two channels will prevent 100-watt stations from causing (Continued on page 67) YO LA TENGu MTVi's Streaming Use RIM Boasts Questioned Steady Industry M IVs Internet division, MTVi, revealed in afiling with the SEC for a planned IPO that they are currently Growth In '99 embroiled in conflict with at least two major labels over According to the Recording MTVi's streaming activities. The Wall Street Journal identified Industry Association of America EMI and Sony as the two music companies mentioned in (RIAA), manufacturers of record- the filing as having sent cease-and-desist letters requesting ed music saw a slow but steady reimbursement for past use. The majors want MTV to stop increase in both units shipped and 4 broadcasting their videos on the Internet. MTV, however, ge: the value of those shipments dur- :e e contends that under its video (Continued on page 67) ing 1999. The (Continued on page 67) ez P•1 it 177! e «* q 0 Spring.Heel Jack Re-emerges • uxu,,U w gam THIS ea'gz)otmm With New U.S. Label, Outlook WEEK'S 9 LADO 4 cc By M. Tye Comer ready to chop on March 21, ce iimmum‘ 12 CMJ RAD:0 200 In the fall of 1999, band members John Coxon MORPHINE The Night acclaimed drum 'n' bass and Ashley Wales are pre- 19 CORE RADIO duo Spring Heel Jack, pared to put their past MORPHINE The Night which had been releasing behind them and, once music through again, play a trend- 20 COMMERC AL ALTERNATIVE Island Records setting role in the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS "Otherside" since its 1996 U.S. rapidly changing 22 INTERNET BROADCAST debut, became world of drum 'n' BECK Midnite Vultures one of the most bass music. 22 INTERNET RETAIL unfortunate casu- RE"Spring Heel Jack ZUCO 103 SANTANA Supernatural alties of the PolyGram- incorporates quite avariety 30 RPM Universal merger. Thirsty of genres into their music, GOLDIE INCredible Sounds Of... Ear Records, seeing that the including free jazz, dub, stateside future of the inno- and modern classical," says 31 TRIPLE A vative outfit was in question, (Continued on page 67) SHELBY LYNNE IAm Shelby Lynne quickly began negotiations 32 BEAT BOX with Spring Heel Jack CANIBUS *2000 B.C. (Before Canibus)" before the ink on the 34 NEW WORLD Universal merger contract VIRGINIA RODRIGUES Nos had even dried, and official- 35 JAZZ ly signed the outfit in January 2000. Now, with its NICHOLAS PAYTON Nick © Night new label and a new full- 36 LOUD ROCK length album, Treader, Spring Heel Jack SNAPCASE Designs For Automotion GIANT SAND ET' GOING FO tAqTAI.* ,e ORAL INFO: JON MEOLA (212) MEOLA@ROAD ECO ' «401.LEGE INFO: PHIL Kás am) 2 KASO @ROADRUMERRECORDS.00 w e ,LET'S GET IT ON AGAIN!" METAL RADIO W SAMPLER ON YOUR P ROADRUNNER 2000 Roadrunner Records Inc. www.roadrunnerrecords.com www.stepkings.com Artwork 2000 W " ' "' Worldwide Management: Jeff Jampol for Jampol/Atencio Management. Produced & Mixed by Machine MUST HEAR THE ESSENTIAL RELEASES OF THE WEEK YO LA TENGO DEAD PREZ ZUCO 103 GIANT SAND And Then Nothing Turned Itself Let's Get Free (Loud) Outro Lado (Six Degrees) Chore Of Enchantment Inside -Out (Matador) Fueled by the inspirational fires of Tying '60s psychedelic Rio-pop (Thrill Jockey) Over the years, Yo La Tengo has Marcus Garvey, Bobby Seale, Gil mutations to a post-'90s trip-hop Beginning with 1985's Valley Of revealed its influences in the man- Scott-Heron and the I-Ching, Dead feel, Outro Ladro finds Amsterdam Rain, Giant Sand has released an ner of friends enthusiastically shar- Prez comes strapped with some of trio Zuco 103 delving into the album about every eight months ing their favorite records. The trio the most politically charged beats grimy nooks and crannies of big- for nearly a decade, capturing its of singer/guitarist Ira Kaplan, and rhymes this side of Public city life with apotent Caipirinha in wide-open Arizonan surroundings singer/drummer Georgia Hubley Enemy's feared black planet. The hand. Prior to forming Zuco 103, with a seemingly haphazard amal- and bassist James McNew has always Brooklyn duo's phenomenal full- German classical jazz pianist Stefan gamation of thunderous rock, been forthcoming about what length debut is an intensely charged Schmid, Dutch drummer Stefan serene country and heartfelt folk. inspires them musically, but they've collection of songs that aims to Kruger and Brazilian vocalist Lilian Recorded in Tucson with John never put their hearts on their shake up its audience and educate it Viera worked together with the Parish, in Memphis with Jim Dick- sleeves lyrically, preferring to be coy to the varying degrees of injustice electro-jazz Dutch ensemble SFeQ. enson, and in New York with Kevin collagists. On And Then Nothing inflicted by the American institu- Here, Viera's elegant, R&B-fla- Salem, Chore Of Enchantment is the Turned Itself Inside-Out, the band's tion. With an enraged, knowl- vored crooning and rapping about trio's first studio album, and it follow-up to 1997's stylistically edgable vocal attack reminiscent of sexual politics and adehumanizing proves that abreak from the assem- sprawling but masterful ICan Hear the late-'60s Black Panthers move- urban culture sets in motion the ,bly line can make for measurable The Heart Beating As One, the Hobo- ment, Suc.man and MI tear two Stefans' electronica—styled artistic evolution. The band's ken, New Jersey, threesome draws through a laundry list of issues bossa nova, tropicatismo and samba ragged glory has now been inspiration from its members' per- plaguing our nation today. "Police grooves; her alluring Portuguese replaced with songcraft and subtle- sonal lives rather than their vinyl State" expresses anger and frustra- purr adds amischievous poignancy ty. The chemistry between collection. With knowing attention tion with the abusive mindset of the to the narratives. Though upbeat singer/guitarist Howe Gelb, bassist to lyrical detail, the husband-and- law in contemporary America. enough for the dancefloor, alisten Joe Burns and drummer John wife team of Kaplan and Hubley "They Schools" expresses the duo's to the lyrics reveals Outro Lado as a Covertino remains safely intact, but touchingly shares the story of two concern with what they feel is the stiff drink that hands out a throat the three are joined by an ensem- people who have chosen to spend twisted version of U.S. history taught burn after the buzz. In the bitter- ble of famous and not-so-famous their lives together. Although the in the country's classrooms. Just sweet, Billie Holiday—like "Tome musical guests who add everything lyrics unabashedly celebrate love, about every track on Let's Get Free Total" ("Hunger For Love"), Viera from acoustic guitar to Wurly piano the music is, for the most part, com- screams for revolution in govern- sings about love's devastating pow- with wah-wah. As always, Gelb is at paratively shy and subdued. The ment, the ghetto or the hip-hop ers. In trio's cover of Gilberto Gil's the center of the proceedings, writ- songs are comprised of eerie, sus- game. The beats on this album are "Maractu Atómico," breakbeats are ing and singing the songs, but he tained keyboard chords, imagistic as staggering at the words they sup- added to the musical framework of doesn't sabotage their beautifully guitar and percussion — only the port; the rhymes become even more the 1970s political anthem. The honest quality with overly rambling feedback-driven "Cherry Chapstick" potent when tied to live instrumen- contemplative poem "Cujo & Cuja" lyrical tangents or half-finished kicks up some dust. The trio has tation and a thunderous fusion of employs drum 'n' bass to relay its melodic structures. Well-heeled truly turned its muse inside out Afrocentric samples created by the tale of two doomed street kids. The and well-behaved, Giant Sand here, creating awork of magnitude masterful production skills of sonic band members describe "Zuco" indeed puts its best foot forward on and heart. With all of the talk of Upstarts Hedrush, Brand Nubian's (derived from the Portuguese ...Enchantment. — Tad Hendrickson couples on this album, perhaps And Lord Jamar and the Prez them- word suco, which means "juice or Then Nothing... should have borne selves. Let's Get Free is a confronta- drink") as a 103% pure musical For Fans Of: Calexico, Dinosaur Jr., Neil its predecessor's title. tional masterpiece that is not for the cocktail. We raise our glasses and Young, Thin White Rope — Tad Hendrickson closed-minded soul.