CIVIJNew Music Re ort OCTOBER 18 1999 ISSUE 639 VOL. 60 NO. 5 WWW.CM 11/111ST HEAR Clear Channel, AlVIEVI To Merge Clear Channel Communications, Inc. and AMFM, Inc. have announced that they will merge. Clear Channel owns radio and television stations and billboards. The combined company is to be called Clear Channel Communications, and it will be the world's largest out-of-home media enti- ty ("out-of-home" primarily referring to radio stations and billboards.) The stock swap is valued at $56 billion. Because of certain regulatory limitations in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Clear Channel and AMFM are expected to unload 125 stations. After this divestiture, the combined assets of Clear Channel and AMFM will give the new company apresence in 32 countries with 830 radio stations in 187 markets; stakes in more than 240 radio stations outside the U.S.; 425,000 bill- boards; and 19 television stations affiliated with Fox, UPN, ABC, NBC and CBS. Lowry Mays, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel, will retain that position after the merger. ZAF' Thomas Hicks, AMFM Chairman and CEO, will assume the position of Vice (Continued on page 9) Schur Named New President Red Ant Of Geffen Records Entertainment Flip Records founder Jordan Schur has been appoint- ed President of Geffen Records. He has replaced former Undergoes More Geffen President Bill Bennett, who, following the merger of Universal and PolyGram, left the company, along with Downsizing Chairman/CEO Ed Rosenblatt and most of the label's Beverly Hills-based indepen- staff. Schur will retain ownership of Flip Records, which dent label Red Ant Entertainment boasts the acts Limp Bizkit, Dope and Staind. "I'm very for- has undergone further downsizing, tunate that I've been allowed to still own Flip. I'll still be according to the Hollywood working with the acts currently on (Continued on page 9) Reporter. (Continued on page 13) :-L7RE Atlantic Has Faith In STP Comeback tpi THIS Album Despite Weiland's Absence dI. WEEK'S ESZTER E3Aur By Cheryl Botchick rock stations and at 100- 15 CMJ RADIO 200 Over the course of plus commercial alternative STEREOLAB Cobra And Phases... three albums, the outlets. But, as Stone Temple Atlantic Product 18 CORE RADIO Pilots have estab- HIGH Manager Lee Trink STEREOLAB Cobra And Phases... lished themselves notes, the label's 20 INTERNET BROADCAST as one of the PROFILE biggest challenge STEREOLAB Cobra And Phases... quintessential still lies in the com- 20 INTERNET RETAIL radio bands of the '90s. ing weeks and months, NINE INCH NAILS The Fragile Thus, it should come as no (Continued on page 13) 31 RPM surprise that "Down," the BASEMENT JAXX Remedy ESZTER BALINT lead single from the band's forthcoming No. 4 ILFY.1 36 LOUD ROCK (Atlantic), has made its TYPE 0NEGATIVE World Corning... mark on various radio 32 TRIPLE A charts. The song, which, BRUCE COCKBURN Breakfast... e .'")) ; •INOSA 1 during its September 20 33 BEAT BOX impact week, took the #1 PHAROAHE MUNCH "Simon Says" most-added spot on rock 35 JAZZ nue and alternative radio, is in STONE TEMPLE MATT WILSON QUARTET Smile heavy rotation on over 200 PILOTS 34 NEW WORLD 130.0 2.0 ALL FOR ADC 90193 24498 CESARIA EVORA Cafe Atlantico FREDERICK STIDEAN 19 COMMERCIAL ALTERNATIVE KUOR -REDLANDS #2 LIVE "When Dolphins Cry" 8374 MAGNOLIA AVE. ARTO LINDSAY RIVERSIDE, CA 92504 _ ••••- C wel'er"' Mli P4- leeeire.,.„ pl "e>.• College Radio Add Date: 10/18 egz. 10/19 Capitol Radio Contact: Steve Nice at the Cage 1.800.342.8842 or email: [email protected] Capitol Retail Contact: Donna Ross 323.871.5761 Odeon 1999 Odeon Records hollywoodandvine.com www.odeonrecords.com MUST Hen THE ESSENTIAL RELEASES OF THE WEEK ESZTER BALINT ZAP MAMA CREED ESZTER BALINT ARTO LINDSAY A Ma Zone (Luaka Bop-Virgin) Human Clay (Whxl-Up) Flicker (Scratchie) Prize (Righteous Babe) Zap Mama's strain of Afropop is Unless you're from another planet, Es/ter Balint was born in Hungary Arto Lindsay has produced records an ever-evolving global party you're probably familiar with and raised in New York City's by some of Brazil's most revered hosted by melodies and textures Creed's 1997 debut, My Own downtown art community. Prior to bossa nova luminaries, but, as far as that hail from everywhere tinder Prison, which practically owned crafting the 11 enchanting, rough- his own music is concerned, this vet- the sun. On the brilliant A Ma rock radio thanks to a string of ly hewn songs on Flicker, she had eran downtowner has always empha- Zone, this renowned female sextet, ubiquitous smash singles. Tongues established herself as an indepen- sized iconoclasm and innovation. which is inspired by entities as have been wagging over Human dent film actress, starring in Steve Having pushed the musical enve- varied as Central African pygmy Clay. the follow-up to that record Buscemi's Trees Lounge and Jim Jar- lope for almost 25 years, Lindsay tribes, Roberta Flack and Doug E. and one of the most eagerly antici- musch's Stranger Than Paradise. now seems content to paradoxically Fresh, continues to take its musical pated commercial rock releases of Balint's poetic, intersecting phras- marry bossa nova and samba approach even further into the 1999. On this effort, the Florida es are somewhat difficult to pene- rhythms to electronic music, which urban jungle. The album quartet throws its weight around, trate, but their dark, twisted, occa- he began doing on 1996's The Subtle adventurously expands upon the straying into heavier, more metallic sionally melancholic sensibilities Body. The quality of his integrated themes of Seven, Zap Mama's 1997 territory. The burlier riffs are a are lovingly intensified by her creations continuously improved on experimental hip-hop and R&B fiery amalgam of the Stone Temple eclectic, just left-of-center arrange- the subsequent Mundo Civilizado collaboration with Spearhead's Pilots' boisterous spirit and Seven- ments. The album's beautifully and Noon Chill, which lead up to the Michael Franti. Keeping A Ma Zone dust's hard-driving soul. Scott unsophisticated mess of rural tex- nearly flawless Prize. Skillfully close to the street, members of the Stapp didn't start listening to rock tures (mandolin, banjo, squeeze employing an even broader range of Roots join the group on a couple until he was in his late teens and box, violin, etc.), haunting instruments and production tech- of tracks; wordsmith Black out from under the thumb of his melodies and eccentric roots niques, Lindsay and his creative Thought throws down a tasty Pentecostal parents, but you'd music leanings give it adistinctive- team of Melvin Gibbs, Andres Levin, rhyme on "RaFiki," and drummer never guess it from his spirited ly odd, yet compelling feel. Ulti- Skoota Warner and Davi Moraes ?uest Love drops akiller live jungle vocals. Creed is not a Christian mately, Flicker's small, intimate build their songs from the groove rhythm on "Songe." Former outfit by any stretch of the imagi- moments are its most rewarding up, peppering electro-nova beats Arrested Development frontman nation, though Stapp's lyrics do and poignant. On "Amsterdam with a myriad of acoustic percus- Speech also makes an appearance deal with spiritual issues. The Crown," Balint's simple guitar sion. The group plays spare, on the soulful album closer "'Allo group fills a void left by Alice In strums enhance her lyrical isola- sonorous, Brazilian melodies on 'Allo." But A Ma Zone also cruises Chains while it shares the spotlight tion, while Marc Ribot sews the acoustic guitars, pianos or strings, down the avenues of drum bass with Godsmack, all the while song full of weepy electric guitar while the funk bass acts as alinchpin and Bjark-ian techno-pop. DJ This avoiding sounding like third-gen- fibers. Closing the album, Richard between the music and the rhythm. Kid Named Miles adds a little eration grunge. Human Clay will Buckner joins Balint to sing the lul- Augmenting the music's downtown something extra to the JB's- grab you by the shoulders and laby-like duet "Almost Gone," per- edge, surges of electronic noise and inspired funk of "Kemake." "Gbo shake you all night long. fectly winding down one of the Lindsay's fractured electric chords Mata (Station)" is agorgeous slice — Amy Sciarretto more extraordinary debuts of cut through the mix, pushing the of futuristic balladry with vocoder recent years. — Glen Sansone sound into the red before retreating For Fans Of: Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In harmonies to rival Air's. This true behind the melody. The real treat, must-hear has finally brought the Chains, Godsmack, Sevendust For Fans Of: Kristin Hersh, Lisa Germano, Recommended Track m "Are You Ready?" however, is Lindsay's voice. His frail Tom Waits, Richard Buckner beat box into the brave new world. tenor lends these graceful songs the "What If," "Beautiful," "Say I," "Higher" Recommended Tracks: "Panic Donut," — Ron Hart Contact: Kim Burke air of sensuality that is essential to "Halfway To Texas," "Still," "Dirt On Your Phone: 212.251.9665 ext. 230 the bossa nova tradition. For Fans Of: Bjürk, Angelique Kiido, Arrested Heel" Email: [email protected] Contact: Bill Benson (Team Clermont) — Tad Hendrickson Development Fax: 212.251.0779 Recommended Tracks: "RaFiki," "Songe," Phone: 706.548.6008 Release Date: September 28; at radio now For Fans Of: Tom Zé, David Byrne, "M'Toto," "Gbo Mata (Station)" Email: radidlliteamclermont.com Marketing Data: Currently touring with Our Vinicius Cantuária Contact: Dan Connelly (Virgin); Dan Mackta Fax: 310.542.1300 Lady Peace. Recommended Tracks: "Ondina," "E Ai (Autotonic) Release Date: October 12; at radio now Esqueço," "Pode Ficar," "Resemblences" Phone: 800.566.9497; 901.276.2225 Marketing Data: Playing select U.S.