. MU [wo great albums by our favorite Meis Mel C. and Mel E. (a.k.a. Melissa Turn to You" was designed especial- REVIEWS Etheridge) have produced two awe- ly for a 20-minute long mega-mix at some albums, so mer- Club Oz. ited for completely dif- Although the diversity of the tracks ferent reasons: respec- on Northern Star is great, maybe Mel tively, they contain C. should stick to her dance power- energizing pop and pop style. That's what works best for soulful rock. her. The end of the album really dies Mel C. (formerly down. Sporty Spice) has a Mel E. uses the following formula sporty new image: in most of her music: estrogen+ rela- muscle tanks, short tionship issues+ fundamental rock hair and lots of close approach + guitars = ups. This writer could- good music. Her earthy n't help but notice the voice and acoustic instru- Spice Girl album cov- mental sounds are pure, ers where Miss Sporty hearty, raw and evoking. seemed to be repeat- And while her major edly outdone by her themes are generally lim- spicier counterparts. ited to desire and lust, But remember those they rock, and they are power kicks? Mel C. beautiful. was just waiting to On her new album break out into utter Breakdown, Melissa cov- greatness. ers a couple of new deep It's not an accident areas on tracks such as that William Orbit, "Into the Dark" and Madonna's RayofUght "Truth of the Heart." magic maker, is Lyrics like "There is a mE rttoro responsible for con- time we all Mel C and veying Melanie's know /There's a place melodramatic power. where we must go/Into MATTHEW CARDINALE Melanie has graduated from Britney the soul/Into the contributinl( writer Spears pop to almost-Madonna pop heart/Into the dark" and with her new album, Northern Star. "There is no magic/There Mel C. Catchy tunes like "Go!" and "Never are no secrets/We all Northern Star Be the Same Again" are likely candi- begin this race at the Virgin dates to play default in your head. start/But I have come . "Go!" is her break free call to action. this far with a truth of the Mel C. goes In fact, this album is a lot about her heart" sure do ring true. solo to show emancipation from the pop bour- Everything works real- ｯ ｾ ｦ some real{ "' geoisie, and from bad boyfriends. "If 1y well for Melissa on girl power. • That Were Me" discusses homeless- Breakdown. She's a great ｾ .Mel E stnk1n9 the exctet s.1m' pose We didn't pJ,1n this. we Jf ness and inequality. "Never Be the artist who has a tremen- SWedf ｾ ｾ6Ｌ ｉ Same Again" features the rapping of dous fan base that appre- Lisa Left-Eye Lopes. And finally, "I ciates her soulful lyrics. • New Bush release lS not an exact Science

DJORDJE NIKOLIC a disappointment. A handful of songs Add to this the fact that, apart from staff writer are truly rock, and present what Bush the idea of creative innovation on a does best: sterile rock created by com- couple of techno-influenced rhythms, bining the pounding rhythms, raging the whole record sounds as if it has After a three-year absence and a major guitars and simple lyrics with which been cut from the same stone as Six- argument with their label, Bush has an angry bunch can easily associate. teen Ston' and Razorblade Suitcase, and finally released their long awaited third Apart from "The Chemicals Between you have a circle that the band is roam- album titled The Science of Things. Since Us," other highlights include the open- ing in. their first two albums sold over 14 mil- ing track "Warm Machine," "Prize- It's a shame that a band certainly lion copies in the U.S., it is no wonder fighter" and "Dead Meat." The rest of capable of making a gr at record has that The Science of Things was one of the the record ... well, to put it nicely, is not not done so yet. Let's hope they will most highly anticipated releases of the that good. finally break the formula and deliv- year. The first single " The Chemicals The Science of Things is about fash- er something of a wholesome quali- Between Us" is probably the best song ion, boredom, fatigue, empty spaces, ty, and not just a few good songs here Bush has ever made, which further lack of communication and a whole and there. raised the expectations. bunch of other things. One cannot help All this said, Science comes across as but be overwhelmed with all these ideas at least somewhat of a letdown, if not that are being thrown around. 18 december 3, 1999 arcade •