Semisonic, Feeling Strangely Fine

A&L Editors Staff John Strock Jeff Meade & John Morgan Jack Hagel

15 May 1998 CalJEt Page 7 A&L Briefs Semisonic, Feeling Mudcat Jones is ABC Fears “Loathing” • AdsNetwork won’t run Funk-abundant commercialsfor new Johnny Depp film because it “glorifies” drug use Strangely Fine than anything else, or at least a sixth (May 13, 1998, 2 p.m. PT) John Morgan grade poetry contest, the music as a I backbone is delicious. Unfortunately, Movies.” is the continuation of “DND,” Arts & Leisure Editor Over—rand Out—for Dave Hunt Bin worthy songs, cspccially “This Will Daryll Ganz’s voice seems a bit dry It describes John’s eternal struggle as “EHen” Arte & Leisure Writer Be My Year" and “Completely One of the perks I’ve found in on the record, almost as if they had all Pleased." he watches his only love ruin her life. my past three years as Arts and Leisure this high tech gear for an awe.some al­ He envisions her future as he watches ABC airs series finale; “DND" is the sixth song and Editor of the Cadet, is the occasional bum, but forgot to purchase a decent Rarely do we hear of anything her from a distance. John explains the DeGeneres thanks Disney for the shot probably the most vivid and thought free CD a band will send you for lis­ microphone, and settled for Baby good, except for beer, coming from fights and the massive problems that she (May 13. 1998,'l:15 p.m. PT) provoking of them all. John is above tening. Most recently, the twist and Jessica's green Fisher Price one in­ Minnesota. The times have changed. all a story teller. Listening to this al­ will have with her supposed new love. twine of Richmond’s MUDCAT stead. Perhaps a new rc-mix of the Minneapolis has spawned a new breed He is a bum, but she is able to be her­ Celeb.s Hit Canne.s bum is like listening to a poet’s bibli­ JONES sent me their first release en­ album could solve this problem. of musicians. Musicians that not only ography. In the lyrics of “DND" John self with him. John would give his life titled, “Too Happy." Now, before I go Referring back to that perfor­ bring a fresh set of lyrics, but a new taste and his whole world to change places Matt Damon-less Winona is happy living life with his girlfriend. on, 1 want to say that I saw Mudcat mance at Sweet Briar (from what I can for harmonious riffs and loops. They with him. All he wants to do is hold Ryder, John Travolta, Godzilla take Then, something goes wrong and he Jones at Sweet Briar College back in remember of it)-Mudcat Jones pro­ call themselves “Semisonic." her one more time and feel her take a the Croi.sette (May 13. 1998, 10:30 September when Jim Milliron was first vided some eclectic orchestration. MTV has jumped on the breath. John Munson is a lyrical ge­ a.m. PT) getting acquainted with the infamous They put on the kind of show where Semisonic wagon of love and promptly nius. He twists and swerves the mean­ "Becky.” The band’s finesse, as a live you would ask the buddy next to you, put the debut single “Closing Time” in ing of a story such a fiuid way that his Gene Siskel Undergoes act, was obvious. In a quick conversa­ “Who are these guys?” And possibly, their Buzz Bin. The song is well worth songs could make anyone breakdown Brain Surgery tion I had with front man Daryll Ganz, even stumble to the merchandise table the recognition. If you have ever heard and think about the mistakes they made. I told him that I saw the band two years and buy a CD. In a quirky wiiy, they it, you would never forget it. The cho­ Now, this may sound like a bad thing, Doctors remove “growth”; film ago when they opened for Bob Weir. seemed misplaced in time. More like rus .seems to sink itself deep into your but the music behind the lyrics are writ­ critic’s prognosis, said to be good Daryll quickly informed me that I was a young Kool and the Gang with not- soul. You will be singing it in your ten in such a jubilant way makes you (May 13, 1998,8 a.m. PT) thinking of the band that had yet to so-catchy tunes. They do follow the sleep. feel like there is hope. No matter what come on. Anyway, woops. lead of many up-and-coming bands by With that, we come to second IXirner Terminates Court you should never think about the past. So here’s their story: Mudcat tossing in the occasional horn lick track on the release; “Singing In My John Munson, Dan Wilson, and Jacob TV Jones is originally form Williamsburg, which docs add some diversity to the Sleep.” This .song has an overtone that Slichter live by one ancient aphorism; VA, where the likes of past mentioned group. If they only got one, or two at a first listen would .seem inconsistent “Carpe Diem." Deal Time Warner vice chair­ breaks up with her. He returns later to bands: the Whethermen. and River more horns the whining trumpet might with the rhythm of the track. However, Sometimes within the heart of man believes selling cable channel to find that he has never had feelings like originally began their musical debuts. mix in a little better with the rest of the catchy lyrical stylings and riffs grab the songs they sneak up behind you with Discovery will create competition this until now and he just left the only But due to the lack of a music .scene in the band. the inconsistency and shake it off like a subtle instrument. The entire album (May 13, 1998, 12:45 p.m. PT) girl he will ever love. His entire world W-burg, Mudcat Jones now calls Rich­ But 1 cannot be all bash without an Etch-A-Sketch eraser. collapses when he realizes that he has a is full of stereo Moogs and computer mond home. In August of 1996, the a little praise. Mudcat Jones is, “chart­ All songs were written by lead .lacko’s Slot Machine challenge in front of him. She has found generated loops. 1 believe that during band began its wear-abouts, often sight­ ing their own musical territory,” and singer/bass guitarist John Munson. Dream someone else, who is closer to her than the song “California” I heard the quiet ing, “funk driven bass grooves” as a seems to be creative (yiough to mess John teaches us about lost loves and he could be. She tells him that she is low tones of an Oboe. characteristic sound. From the CD, the around with everything they’ve got un­ coping with depression. Even though At times they sound a like Jack.son and Detroit business still in love with him, but he knows that funk is abundant. It splatters out of your til something begins to work. The po­ his lyrics .seem to be sad. He embeds Matthew Sweet or The Verve. How­ man scouting locations for casino- he itiay never totally get her back. In sub-woofer like thick chunks of cream tential in Mudcat Jones is superb. They the listener with beats and guitar .solos ever. the overall feel and composure of theme park complex (May 12, 1998, the end she is faced with a decision. She chee.se. But the boys in Mudcat, are have a friendly formula for music that that are sure to leave you happy and their music is totally fresh and original. 2:55 p.m. PT) knows that the other guy has nothing anything but chee.sy. Although one a lot of kids will like. If they just satisfied. to offer her, but she leaves John forever. The debut release “Feeling Strangely song with reference to Terrapin Station, spruce up “Too Happy” like their live “Secret Smile” is one of the Did Diana Have Abortion? John is forced to crawl into his cave and Fine,” by Semisonic is a must have for Bob Weir, Jerry and the gang, .seems performance, and everything will be most hypnotic songs on the album. watch his heart dissolve and lloat away any true music lover’s collection. The more appropriate for a tribute album okay. John gets his point across with this one. band has only been on the charts for a New book out today claims in the breeze. “Feeling Strangely Fine” is full of Buzz couple of weeks. I hope they are here late princess aborted lover’s baby The last track “Gone To The while still married to Charles (May Ball Hosts Dylan 12, 1998, 1:25 p.m. PT)

Jerry Springer’s “Intimate Encounter” BEEN TO THE Concert at VMI Hidden camera catches TV talk king in hotel-room fling, British Professor feels Dylan should receive tab reports (May 12, 1998,2:35 p.m. PT) Nobel Prize

MUSEUM LATELY? career. One criteria for the prize is It’s Good to Be the King that the work is the most outstanding Delton Lowery in its field and has high benefits to Cable’s highest-rated talker humanity. The other is that it could signs $35 million pact to stick with Guest Writer be an older work that’s importance has CNN (May 12, 1998,7:45 a.m. PT) not been examined until recently, Last month English Professor Dylan’s work has been cited The Great “Seinfeld” Set Colonel Gordon Ball and four 1“ in literature anthologies as examples Heist Classmen gave a concert/lecture on that have incorporated the elements why rock and roll singer and composer of modern poetry, alienation, surreal­ Jerry confronts staffers from Bob Dylan should receive the Nobel ism, word play, and intricate themes. another show for stealing props (May Prize for Literature. With approxi­ Ball noted how Tom Kane won the 11. 1998,6 p.m. PT) mately 35 cadets in attendance, things award in 1963 for work he did sev­ were kicked off when Jason Duffy ’01, eral years earlier when he was only Did Cousteau Fake John Strock ’01, Eric Smith ’01, and 22. ' Underwater Footage? Jason Dickerson ’01 played their gui­ Ball said Dylan’s work is an tars and sang Dylan’s .song “A Hard “inspirational use of language 'and Renowned underwater ex­ Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” music with startling originality.” He plorer accused of staging fish fights, b e - mistreating crew (May 11, 1998, 3 lieves p.m. PT) C ^ s ly r - “Frasier” Crew Wins i c s Tainted TXirkey Suit h'nve given Los Angeles eatery will i n - cough up $431,000 for delivering bad s p i - bird to sitcom .set (May 11, 1998, r' a - 1:15 p.m. PT) 11 o n t : o Smash Hit for “Deep miuiy Impact” i paiii F o r Asteroid movie mates mega i n - impact with estimated $41.9 million ®ru; gross (May 10, 1998,3:30 p.m. PT) h- e Sion sa id “Mommie Dearest”: 20 i 1 - h i s Years Later lus- woals trates gave Christina Crawford digging up why “hope new dirt on mom Joan in revised edi­ Ball i n tion oftell-all (May 9, 1998, 12:10 feels p.m. PT) t h e Dylan’s contribution to literature face of oppression in Poland” in|the should not be overlooked any longer. Beatles Win Ban on mid-80’s. His songs have “permeated President Truman and Superintendent Milton visiting the VMI Museum, 1960 Ball said that, “at age 21, he [Dylan] Drunken German Recordings the globe and affected humanity.'’ could take a traditional ballad over a Ball even had the pleasure \ century old and bring it alive and illu­ Harrison’s testimony convinces of meeting Dylan at a Synagogue in minate a global crisis.” Ball added the British judge to block the relea.se of Long Island, New York several years .song was written at the beginning of 35-year-old concert (May 8,1998,1:30 ago through his friendship with Beat the Cuban Missile Crisis that was filled p.m. PT) I The memory of The Institute... Generation Writer Alan Ginsberg. with fears of “apocalyptic doom” and The event was brought to battles “between (US President John) Country’s Rabbitt Dies VMI courtesy of the English Society / Kennedy and (Soviet President Nikita] that is directed by English Professor VMI Museum in Jackson Krushchev.” Colonel Alan Baragona. The Presi­ The singer who took “I Love a Ball is in a group of over a Rainy Night” to No. 1 was battling dent of the English Society, Duffy, dozen scholars based in Europe that has lung cancer. wants people to be able to remember Memorial Hall Open Daily 9-5... been writing letters calling for the that "Dylan’s lyrics have inspired over Briefs are compiled from the E! Nobel Prize to be awarded to Dylan for two generations and will remain po­ Online web service. the work he has done throughout his tent for many generations to come.”

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