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CRINew Music Ile u oft FEBRUARY 7, 2000 ISSUE 652 VOL. 61 NO. 6 WWW. MJ. OM MUST HEAR Time Warner To Acquire EMI 1wo weeks alter it was announced that Time Warner would be acquired by America Online, Time Warner and the U.K.-based EMI Music have announced that they will merge. Combined, Warner Music Group and EMI Music could form the world's largest record company, with an esti- mated worth of $20 billion. EMI is currently the last of five major labels to exist independently of a media conglomerate. The merged company, to be called Warner EMI Music, will be ajoint venture. Time Warner, however, will have six board members to EMI's five. Time Warner plans to pay EMI shareholders a total of $1.3 billion in order to gain [control of the board]. Company executives estimate that 3,000 employees will be laid off. Company officials do not think that the merger will result in the sizable jettison of artists like that which took place when Universal acquired PolyGram in late 1998. Warner is currently ranked fourth in U.S. market share. EMI is in last place at fifth, but the com- pany is ranked third worldwide, due to strong sales in Europe and elsewhere. (Continued on page 6) THE CURE FCC Votes To Allow Low-Power RIAA Sues Radio 111)3.com On January 20, the Federal Communications l'he Recording Industry Commission (FCC) approved the creation of low-power Association of America (RIAA) has non-commercial FM radio stations, which will provide sued MP3.com for copyright churches, community groups, educational institutions and infringement. The RIAA is seeking individuals with the chance to broadcast using signals rang- to halt two features of the Web ing from 10 to 100 watts, covering a radius of about 1-4 - site's upgraded My.MP3.com music miles. The FCC will begin accepting applications for licens- storage system, Instant Listening es in the next few months. Service and Beam-It. The RIAA The National Association of (Continued on page 8) contends that (Continued on page 7) SHELBY LYNNE Smashing Pumpkins Return internal/external To Rock 132-82L1 By Bill Konig after its release in the CMJ RADIO 200 In 1990, a lit- spring of 1991. 13 tle-known rock In July of 1993, BECK Midnite Vultures band from HIGH singer/guitarist Billy 16 CORE RADIO Chicago released C,organ and company BECK Midnite Vultures its first single, "I unveiled their next 17 COMMERCIAL ALTERNATIVE Am One" on local label album and major label debut BLINK 182 All The Small Things Limited Potential. The single Siamese Dream to much criti- 18 INTERNET BROADCAST — as well as the band's cal praise. And music fans BECK Midnite Vultures anonymity — disappeared also embraced the 18 INTERNET RETAIL quickly, as every copy was Pumpkins' combination of SANTANA Supernatural INTERNAL/EXTERNAL sold. After releasing their (Continued on page 11) next single, "Tristessa" on 25 RPM Sub Pop, The Smashing KRUST Coded Language Pumpkins became targets of 26 BEAT BOX an intense bidding war. JAY-Z FEAT.BEANIE ... "Do It Again... Signing to Virgin-owned 27 TRIPLE A independent label Caroline BECK Midnite Vultures Records, the band's first full- 28 NEW WORLD length album, Gish, became a VARIOUS ARTISTS New World Party huge college and modern rock h ' "iimpkins 30 JAZZ 134.0 2.0 ALL FOR ADC 90198 GENE HARRIS Alley Cats 24498 Frederick Stidean 31 LOUD ROCK KUOR -REDLANDS SNAPCASE Designs For Automotion 82 8374 Magnolia Ave. KITTIE Riverside, CA 92504 OrleiWirtle- tour ••••MM, r MUST HEAR THE ESSENTIAL RELEASES OF THE WEEK leerurneeiglerenffleneneent [Lterna7externai THE CURE SHELBY LYNNE INTERNAL/EXTERNAL KITTIE Bloodflowers (Fiction/Elektra -EEG) IAm Shelby Lynne Featuring... (K) Spit (Ng-Artemis) In a recent CM] interview, Robert (Mercury-IDJMG) One of our staffers termed this col- So, you think josie 8c The Pussy- Smith cited Bloodflowers as one of Trying to sidestep the politics of lective the Blind Faith of indie rock. cats are the quintessential chicks The Cure's best and most powerful Nashville's music empire can be as But Paul Schuster's electronica pro- who rock with reckless abandon, albums. Longtime fans' eyes proba- difficult as proving to the world ject may be an even more inspired huh? Well, the teenage babes in bly bulged with both doubt and that John Tesh is really punk rock gathering of scenester superstars, Ontario, Canada's Kittie will anticipation at his lofty statement; at heart. For over adecade, Shelby largely because this digital master- scratch and claw their way into the it's been more than a decade since Lynne's nontraditional country- mind predicated his experiment on darkest recesses of your hearts Smith and his rotating entourage soul has defied the expectations of nothing more than his let's-try-this thanks to their debut, the smash- have made a passionate, poignant the Grand Ole Opry set. /Am Shel- whimsy. Thankfully, this charming ing 'n' stomping spit. Don't let the landmark in gloom like their 1982 by Lynne is very much the self- batch of synth-led tunes is oriented quartet's tattered 'n' torn, baby- album Pornography or their 1989 defining work that its title sug- more toward new wave, Atari sound dominatrix image or its adoles- masterpiece Disintegration. The gests. This relentlessly personal effects, and the swinging '60s than it cent, Courtney Love-style feminist works' melancholy musical recording, the result of nearly 32 is towards the 21st century dance posturing fool you. These dirty demeanor and poetic panache years of experience and tears, floor. Schuster, who plays keyboards grrrls really pounce atop their pri- allowed the post-punk outfit to valiantly reveals Lynn's affinity for in Some Velvet Sidewalk, has per- mal, gnarling riffs. Instead of achieve icon status in the '80s. On '70s R8cB. The opening track, formed on, engineered or pro- growing up to become dope - Bloodflowers, however, The Cure has "Your Lies," roars out of the gate duced recordings by Julie addled strippers, these devil dolls become formidable once more, with a string-heavy blast of classic Ruin/Kathleen Hanna, the Spells, have funneled adolescent angst shelving the slick pop posture of its Phil Spector-style pop redemption and Jason Traeger. Here, he gets into a netherworld of no-holds- '90s material and returning to form, that adds a lightning bolt of emo- vocal and instrumental assistance barred metal. Six-stringer Fallon basking in an introspective lyrical tion to Lynne's recount of a love from his buddies Hanna, Lois, Car- Bowman slings her axe as compe- intensity that's mirrored by abrood- plagued by callous dishonesty. On rie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney), tently as any meathead death met- ing, gritty, guitar-driven dankness. "Leavin'," Ernie Isley-style, quiet- Rachel Cams (The Need), DJ KO. allist, while singer Morgan Lander Familiar themes of lost love, emo- storm wah-wah licks, Memphis (IQU), Justin Trosper (Unwound, hisses and moans with equal skill. tional death and personal transition horns and seductive backing Replikants) and K czar Calvin John- Spit is a bitchin' dose of metal coarse eerily through each long and vocals cushion lyrics penned with son. The record's standouts include that'll leave you delirious with cat winding composition, driven home the intimacy of ajournal entry, "Hope," an R&B number starring scratch fever, while it redefines by Smith's downhearted moans and evoking the spirits of both Patsy Lois, who demonstrates that she your notions of "girl power." Kittie distressed howls. The Cure's mania- Cline and Dusty Springfield. could pinch hit for whichever TLC is the band that your kid sister will cal brand of pop music may have Other cuts summon a somewhat member is on the outs this week; happily adopt when she rebels and broken the band to mainstream Beatlesque spirit, most notably "The Skin," during which Brown- grows outta her Backstreet Boys ears, but Bloodflowers' conceptual "Life Is Bad" and the bluesy "Why stein's guitar makes some appealing- phase. Me-fucking-ow. cohesion and emotional depth Can't You Be?" The occasionally ly spacey noise; and "I Knew Them," — Amy Sciarretto approach the top of the group's jazzy, sporadically twangy and Slim Moon's impressively silly stab at heap of classic records. Let there be undeniably soulful IAm Shelby epistemological hip-hop. Filled with For Fans Of: Babes In Toyland Fontanelle, Coal Chamber, L7 no doubt: Smith has re-endeared Lynne is a transcendent slice of earnest, irreverent spoken wordplay Recommended Tracks: "Spit," "Charlotte," himself to longtime fans who've pop sincerity and artistic reinven- and hooky but never obvious song "Do You Think I'm AWhore'?," "Brackish," kept (or lost) the faith during the tion that's almost too good for structures, Featuring.., gives new "Get Off (You Can Eat ADick)," "Paperdoll" last decade. — M. Tye Come? commercial radio. — Ron Hart meaning to the term "beat poetry." Contact: Smitty; Mark Schapiro — Carlene Bauer Phone: 212.414.1700 For Fans Of: Disintegration, Pornography, For Fans Of: Lucinda Williams. Bonnie Email: [email protected]; Seventeen Seconds, Faith Raitt, Dusty Springfield, k.d. Lang For Fans Of: Dub Narcotic Sound System, [email protected] Recommended Tracks: "Maybe Someday" Recommended Tracks: "Leavin'," "Why Le Tigre, Solex Fax: 212.414.1703 (first single), "The Last Day Of Summer." Can't You Be?," "Dream Some," "Where I'm Recommended Tracks: "Hope," "The Skin," Release Date: January 11; at radio now "39," "Bloodflowers" From" "Ste;pping Up To The Mic" Marketing Data: Currently touring with Contact: Tyson Haller; Mike DePippa Contact: John Rosenfelder Contact: Chris Lyons Slipknot and Will Haven; three-song sam- Phone: 212.275.2860 Phone: 212.603.7871 Phone: 360.786.1594 pler reached #1 on CMJ Loud Rock chart Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] during the December 14, 1999 reporting Release &Add Date: February 15 Fax: 212.603.3965 Fax - 360.786.5025 period.