Page 4 Retriever features Smiths protest steak on new LP by Tony Sclafani airplay. Could it be listeners are actually seeki- lations of personal experience that most would ing them out due to their music? cringe at revealing. Unlike another gay activist, There is no such thing as "new music." There After just one listen to their new import com- Tom Robinson, the Smiths are not just backing are only revivals, and revivals of revivals. Once pilation LP Hatful of Hollow, and their second for Morrisey's statements. These are songs in a while, someone takes a new approach to U.S. album Meat is Murder, the answer is a proper, not backing tracks for righteous music but what usually occurs is each genera- definite "yes." polemics. tion just revives parts of the old one for people The Smiths' formula is simple enough: the Meat is Murder, the "real"second album, too young to remember. standard guitar, bass, drums, and singer does not contain so many songs proper. Many Although this is a natural cycle with any form combo, it is what they do with this setup that of the tracks seem to be intended as atmosphere of entertainment, it inevitably results in shal- makes them worth a listen. Morrisey's whiny, pieces. "Barbarism Begins at Home," although lowness of form over content, style over melodic vocals twist around Johnny Marr's gui- almost seven minutes in length, contains only substance. tar, which often plays a combination of lead ten lines. The also-lengthy title track opens and A prime example is a band like U2. U2 is and rhythm patterns simultaneously, similar to closes to the sound of screaming animals! considered political, yet few realize their flag- the guitar work of REM's Peter Buck. The Which brings about the next point, the entire waving stance rings of shallowness and stupid- guitar and vocals lie on top of Mike Joyce's top concept of Meat is Murder. ity. They show remorse for the death of Martin heavy drums, and Andy Rourke's funky bass "The flesh you so fancifully fry is Luther King in their most recent hit, yet is this lines, which run both rhythmic and melodic MURDER!", "You savor the flavor of really political or radical? What normal human patterns (often employing a combination the- MURDER," are two gems in particular from A piece of art from Baltimore Museum of Art. would not feel regret over useless bloodshed? reof in a single song). This blends into either an the lyric sheet.The song they are from is, Like Reagan, U2 is just telling its audience what easy going dance groove with a message, or a obviously, the title track, not an ode to ham- it wants to hear. If they're so "Christian," why dreamy, depressing dirge-like sound. Often it burgers and milk shakes at the Tastee Freeze. not write songs against premaritial sex or sounds like both. While it is good to see Morrisey branch out into drugs? Because they are a watered-down Clash Stupidity fever cured or Joy Division for people who were too young to experience the original wave of punk. They also epitomize the style-over-substance at Baltimore Museum attitude of second-wave bands. U2 waves a white flag on stage in Aspen, Colorado. Yeah by Scott White in the exhibit. guys, no more wars in Colorado!! You're really Art Deco probably did not last long as a putting something on the line there. Even if U2 Record-breaking stupidity levels have been movement since most of the furniture was more were getting across their "Peace" message, how recorded among students, according to a recent for show than for practical application; I can't many people in the audience are more worried study. More than just the ordinary lack of intel- imagine some of it actually being used in a about what to wear to the show than what war ligence found among most students, this sudden house. The style is interesting for at least a look to protest. rise of stupidity is known as "Spring-break or two, but I can't say that I was overly thrilled As rebellious as bands like U2 appear to be, anticipation," according to an anonymous by the exhibit and we soon wandered away they are as much a part of the system that they source, and is quite common among universi- towards other areas of the museum. "rebel" against as Abba or the Osmonds. ties across the country. The antidote usually We meandered through an impressive variety Behind U2's hip facade lies a typically middle- prescribed is a good dose of culture; however, of art in their private collections on permanent of-the-road band. Ever see these "rebels" speak due to recent budget cuts in the arts and human- display at'the museum. There are quite a few out against their record company or take any ities departments, the university itself might not beautiful Rodin sculptures throughout the dares with their lackluster music, or make a be able to correctly facilitate this student need. gallery, numerous Renaissance and Old Mas- statement that just might not be accepted by The Baltimore Museum of Art might well be ters, and a few Impressionist pieces that we their trendy adolescent following? Of course the solution to this growing problem. Located spent most of our time browsing through. not. In that sense, Barry Manilow attempting one block south of Johns Hopkins University, Going downstairs, we passed through a fairly disco with "Copacabana" was a more radical the Museum offers many interesting exhibits extensive collection of Arts of Africa, The move than U2 ever took, or ever will take. and works of art that make it well worth the two Americas and Oceania, a rather popular exhibit Had enough? I have. You see, bands like U2 dollar admission. that I personally went through as quickly as are the inevitable cross of any revival, but they Traveling north on Charles street, my friend possible. do serve the purpose of making the bands who and I noticed a banner overhead advertising an It was after exiting this exhibit that we do stand out from the crowd that much better. Art Deco exhibit at our destination, The Balti- stumbled on a new exhibit on the photography Take the Smiths, for instance. They are more Museum of Art.Our interests were piqued of Imogen Cunningham. As one of the more lumped in with the recent revival of homosex- as we missed the turn reading the sign, but two famous artistic photographers and a pioneer of ual bands, (Frankie, Bronski Beat) but offer U-turns later we reached the museum. I was her craft, Cunningham's photographs are to say more than an invitation to dance with someone amazed at being able to park on the street the least interesting. I found them fascinating. with the same sex. The Smiths are less bold than directly in front of the building. The 100 photographs featured mainly portraits either Bronski or Frankie, because they are not The Smiths. Left to right: Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce. My friend was saying how much she liked the of city life, but also included some abstracts, overtly homosexual, but in execution the style of Art Deco, but my mind had a rather plant forms and still-life. Many of these photo- Smiths seem like the band whose music will The Smiths would just be another dance other song topics besides the adolescent gay vague picture of it. I liad always associated Art graphs have, according to the museum, rarely stand up the longest, because it is not dance band if it were not for Morrisey's tortured sing- diatribes, I have to wonder if the whole band is Deco with anything mildly artistic out of the or never been shown or published before, so it music (dance music is usually forgotten first, ing and lyrics. Morrisey's psycho-social/sexual pro-vegetarian. That seems about as likely as 20's, like something out of The Great Gatsby. might be worth your while to check it out. care to remember "Staying Alive?"), and dilemmas make up virtually all of the Smiths' the Ramones really being brothers. So what are Once we were inside, I found that I was basi- Before leaving we went through the Museum because of their honest, often too realistic songs lyrical concerns, but he doesn't come off we to conclude form this track (and LP title no cally correct in my assumptions. Art Deco was gift shop where my friend pointed out a lot of of sexual confusion, and/or frustration (frus- preachy or self-righteous. Morrisey is compara- about how I pictured it: stylized furniture often genuine and imitation Art Deco jewelry on sale. tration and confusion dealing with the same ble to Lou Reed, because he delights in juxtap- low to the ground, iridescent glassware, jewelry She seemed impressed by them while I bought a and the opposite sex). osing mundane concerns, next to disturbing Could it be that listeners are and cosmetic paraphenalia that borders on couple of postcards of Peter Lorre and Woodie The impact of the Smiths' music is stunted ideas. "I was looking for a job, and then I found gaudy but possesses a little more thought Allen. because they are trendy right now, but they are a job," he sings. "And heaven knows I'm mis- actually seeking The Smiths behind the creation; all designed in what For anyone interested, the Art Deco exhibit not to be blamed.