Page 6, The Retriever, October 8, 1980

Cars keep pace with past recording eff~rts

hy Jay Grubb love with the factory I l' m in love with the BBC I r m in love with your TV I They're so in love with you and me." "lhe 1\I'('he£iu/i(' Furs-Setr Titled CBS I must warn you that this record does take a little getting use to, but so does eating black Don't let the name fool you. This is nojoke, olives, and some people will never learn to no more at least than Pink Floyd, Moby like either. Grape. or ./ he Jefferson Airplane (Airplane Look, I don't want to hear a'ny muttering not Starship). What the Psychedelic Furs are about why the Cars' review is two months doing is psychedelic new wave. later. I just got it, and I'll bet a lot of other So what in the hell does that sound like, you people haven't made up their minds about it ask? It\ not too easily to describe. Imagine either. So cut me some slack, ok? eastern drone music mixes together with The Cars-Panorama Elektra/ Asylum mid-60's rock experimentation. Now propel One Good thing about reviewing an album all this with sharp punk rhythms instead of late is that you get to read the other critics. the muddy heavy metal of most old psy­ They have not been too kind to The Cars this chedlic groups. time, and not without good reason. AS a What P. Furs wind up with is sardonic whole Panurama is a disappointment, chants sung over throbbing music. John however it is not the disaster some local Lydon (nee Rotten) has attempted the same critics have painted it as. Besides, Rick thing in Public Image LTD, with various Ocasek and Greg Hawkes are both originally degrees of success. The difference is that the from Baltimore, so I can't be too hard on P. Furs want to sell this album, so they've them. kept it accesible to a general pop audience. Actually, Panurama contains some of The Luckily, this has not cheapened their music, Cars' best material. In "Don't Tell Me No" but rather saved it from some of the preten­ the brooding hesitancy of the music turns tiousness that weighs down public image. Ocasek's lyrics into a psychotic menacing The Cars The lyrics are quite bitter, even for new rape threat. wave. As in "Fall", a satiricaljobat falling in Another dark and moody cut is "You Wear the come ons/ I get rumbled, I get love, "Marry me and be my wife/ You can Those Eyes." You probably won't hear this crumbled/ ram the american misfit kid / still The Cars have to remember what made have me all your life/Our love will never one on the radio, which is a real shame, wondering what I did." them so well liked by fans and critics in the end/ Parties for our stupid friends ... " because it's Ocasek's best melancholy love Where the album suffers is on the fast cuts. first place. That was taking progressive new In "We Love You" the target is our popular song since "All Mixed Up" on the first Only "Gimme Some Slack" and 'Touch And wave and filling it full of wonderful hooks. culture, ''I' m in love with Sophia album. G?" really work. The others lumber along They represented a bridge between ex­ I' Also on the plus side is" Misfit Kit." Here a Loren/ m in love with Bridget Bar­ WIth a bad case of iron poor blood. In fact, perimentation and mainline rock & roll. To ~ l' ballad like melody is just right to make the dot/ r · in love with the dumb scene/ m none of the cuts have the catchy hooks of The cross that bridge in either direction could be lyrics seem thoughful, "I get cooled out/ 1 get so in love / You know what I mean'? ... l' min Cars gr Can.dY-O. very dangerous.

Come to court during happy hour- Judge's Bench

by Paul Minehart 1 asked Buddy about the name, Judge's prices range from $2.15 to $5.00. The· I have written exclusively on Happy "Order in the court, order in the court. All sandwich menu reads like a legal glossary; Hour, before and after that drinks are rise, please, and come to the Judge's Bench," Bench. he did not come up with the title but believes that it is connected with the old, The Baliff-a juicy hamburger, the Judge-a competively priced. Bar hours are from (especially during Happy Hour). bacon cheeseburger. The Hammer- a polish 11:30 til 2:00 a.m. with steamed crabs, (year The Judge's Bench is located at the upper historic courthouse and jail (constructed of solid granite) that is across the street and up ham and cheese, and the Courthouse Club's, round), served from 4:00 til 11:00 p.m., end of Main Street in Ellicott City, right to name a few. Food prices are moderate and weekdays and 4:00 til midnight on across from the fire station. Some friends the hill. "Any special plans for the future?" I asked. To my pleasant surprise there ~re. I am told that everything is homemade. weekends. told me about this new bar about a year ago, Entertainment at the Judge's Bench has a When you try the Judge's Bench, be sure where the dnnK's were good and the prices Buddy, a friendly country music lover, sporting blue jeans and a beard, announced coun~ry flavor. There is a sound system ~ith to order their specialty, fresh fruit Daquiris. were low. That was good enough for me, I a vanety of tapes from Led Zepplin to Willie You might want to pick up one of the three am always willing to try a new establishment the addition of an open crab and beer garden Nelson, Unless otherwise requested, tnuu~lI, types of Tshirts, one being for women only. on that recommendation alone. that will be located behind the building. It would be the only one of its kind in this area. country music fills the air. On Monday It is well worth the 8 mile trip from UMBC It turns out my friends were correct, we night, as in many bars, the football game is to the Judge's Bench. Get a group up and have been going back ever since. The reason The garden is due to open in the spring; so 111 make a habit of going there. popular but Thursday night and Friday come on down on a Friday afternoon or any we keep going back to the Judge's Bench is afternoon seem to be the best time to find afternoon and drink cheap, you11 be in good simple; it's close by, friendly, comfortable Since we're on the subject of food, let's talk about the fare served at the Bench. crowds at the Bench. company, prominent attorneys and judges and ,(the bottom line), its down right cheap. Ellicott City, known for many thing, is not are frequenters. Open for nearly two years, the Judge's Pizza, my number one snack food, is also number one at the Judge's Bench. Neighbors known for an abundance of parking spaces. I would like to express my gratitude to Bench had not gained much of a college However, across from this bar sits a free, Retriever readers for their gracious repsonse crowd until lately. The owner, Buddy, said regularly carry out pizza instead of going to public parking lot with nearly 100 spaces. to these articles. that people just don't hear about this place. a pizza shop. Sizes are 9 and 12 inches and Young adults frequent the places on the lower end of Main St. but they never go up the hill and around the bend. Well, I am telling you, you should because the Bench is worth it. Fells Point frolics at festival Many Friday afternoons will find a group from UMBC imbibing during Happy Hour. Such notables as; Pat Deignan, Mike Carey, by Susan Wright Ray Wheltle, Ed Nicholls, Boog Kearney, Each October the friendly merchants of supply ran out before 1 made my move. Just print on a copper plate. That takes about an Joanie Kvech and yours truly are among Fells Point play host to a number of artists as well I guess; I wouldn't have been able to hour for each square inch. Then he prints them. and craftsmen in the convivial atmosphere of interview too many people in French. and frames them. At the festival on Satur- What kind of deal is Happy Hour at the the waterfront neighborhood. It was no There was seafood to be savored and berr, day, Swann had a display of prints which his Judge's Bench? A 10 oz. draft.30¢, a pitcher different this past week end during the too. For those who didn't want to drink in father had done, as well as those he had of Bud or Old Mil-$2.15, imported beers annual Fells Point Festival. the streets, the bars were open. They offered completed. They ranged through all including St. Pauli Girl-$I.OO (you could The scenery has changed a little since I was the usual light fare of peanuts and popcorn categoris from natural to historical. search high and low and not find imports at last there but the one thing that doesn't seem and of course, mixed drinks. There were other artists at the festival as that price), mixed drinks vary but all are to change is the attitude of people at the Although the festival is much smaller than well. Some had pottery for sale, others had about a buck. During Happy Hour from Point. They are always friendly and willing the Baltimore City Fair, it offers many of the sewn items, but some artists were there to sell 4:30-6:00 p.m. weekdays, a dollar (figuring to have a good time. The scenery change same attractions. The festival has what I a different product; themselves. These artists tax) can buy a good time and a few dollars, a results from the face lift given to part of the would say are two main advantages over the were the boys, (and girls), in the band. The better time. old Broadway Market. Although the city fair. Since the crowd was smaller at the local band Graffitti was one such band. They The Judge's Bench provides a building iis a fresh and shiny wooden struc­ festivall was able to stop and really see some concentratd on the more mellow sound of comfortable yet rugged atmosphere. The ture it doesn't look out of place next to many of the merchandise for sale. I was also better I country rock and the softer side of the top 40. internal walls as well as the bar are of the old brick buildings at the Point. The able to take in the quaint surroundings. Albion was another story. They did some constructed of red brick. The room itself is "new" market also offers a selection of Moreover, the atmosphere was conducive to loud, hard, punk rock with an occasional , rather small; the bar runs three quarters of edibles, among them delicate Greek pastries. a relaxed good time. I had a chance to talk to delve into the once heavy-metal sound of Led the the length of one wall and no more than a There was food outside the market as well some of the locals and really h.ear what they Zeppel~n. . dozen-four place tables fill the remaining of course, for what would a festival be witou~ were saying. Probably the major function of ~ven If none .of thIS would appeal to you, a space. Two large picture windows that look a little something for the taste buds? The little such a festival is to get people to be aware of tnp to the .festlval was worthwhile if only to onto Main Street are shaded by a blue sausages nestled in green peppers and onions the "local color" and enjoy it. This is se.e the Pr~de of.Baltimore. It is a beautiful awning that distinguishes the Judge's Bench. gave off an aroma I caught way before I something the festival succeeds in doing. clIpper ship which was built in Baltimore The decor is very much in tune with the reached the source. Some of the old stand But what about the peopie who are behind abo.ut thr.e~ years ago. Docked at the Point, antique style of Ellicott City, indeed all bys were available as well; fried dough for the success? Don Swann, Jr. is one of those festival VISItors had a chance to get on the buildings in that area are required to instance. I thought for a minute I was going people. He sells etchings at the festival. First, schooner for a quick look, while, (hopefully), preserve that feeling. to get to taste Yoplait yougurt, but the he has to engrave the picture he wants to they were buying a T-shirt proclaiming the vessel.