October W, 1996 Page 9 The Blue Banner

Reviews Author to give book signing in Asheville

with your friends, take your wife to country- Weezer; You'll never hear them in this town Bob Buchanan club events, and make sure the kids are im­ Staff W riter Michael Taylor mersed in sports. The view we get from these News Editor Allan Gurganus’ short stories have appeared situations is realistic, yet, if the reader is so in newspapers everywhere, but there is now a inclined, it can become a cynical piece. In fact, Quite frankly, the new Weezer album is good. Actually, if I knew you all a little better, I chance for fans to read all nine of his short it is more entertaining from a cynical view would use the word tasty. O f course, I need to qualify that statement. Let me begin by stating stories and two novellas in the book “White than from the sobering reality view. that I hate radio (especially radio in Asheville, except for NPR), country music (I used to live • People.” The book deals with everything “Adult Art” is the story of the average family in Nashville), and most bands that use keyboards and synthesizers (not the piano, though). from living the all-American life to sexuality man who finds himself attracted to a young This album avoids all of these conditions. I’ll never hear one of these songs on the radio in and its problems. The chance to read them all man. The two of them become friends and Asheville, it’s no more country music than Black Sabbath, and everyone but the drummer in one place will be entertaining for people eventually secret sexual partners. The title plays an instrument with strings. who enjoy the ragged edge detail which came from the adult entertainment shop with While rumors abounded of band break-ups and lawsuits by unhappy security companies, Gurganus provides to enliven his characters which they are both familiar. the truth is that some members of the band were busy with scholastic efforts at Harvard and stories. Dave, the older man,and Barker become University. Sometimes it’s just hard to squeeze recording an album into a schedule. “White People” received the Los Angeles Times friends because they both understand each The sophomore effort, entitled “Pinkerton,” contains 10 new tracks. In a time where every Book Prize and the Southern Book Award. other and find the world akward. Dave wants band attempts to make a statement, Weezer manages to make clever music without any Gurganus will be at the Haywood Park Hotel to help Barker; he has always wanted to help messages about politics or other serious topics. Not that I mind serious topics in songs, but on Oct. 26, from 3 to 5 p.m. for a reading, men like this. He wants to become more sometimes you just have to let it go. In fact, the only complaint about this album that I can book signing and discussion. familiar with Barker. possibly come up with is that it’s not long enough. At less than 35 minutes, I almost feel The short story titled “Minor Heroism” deals Barker goes into a story about the first time he ripped off But, then again, I think that perhaps I’m just bitter. with his early childhood and the role his learned about sex. He watched a grease mon­ The band continues in the tradition of their first album, the self-titled “Weezer,” by writing father played in his life as a war hero. key and the married, choir director copulate songs with incredibly catchy vocal lines, tight harmonies, and smoking production. Most of Gurganus sets the scene with details not on a couch inside a hut while he was trapped the songs on “Pinkerton,” however, aren’t nearly as radio friendly as previous hits such as found in action stories. Much of the story is in the closet. “Buddy Holly,” which, if you were alive and watched MTV two years ago, you couldn’t have set by describing pictures, light detail, out­ Gurganus talks about the problems and the missed. This was extremely evident after the first track, “Tired of Sex,” which really grew on door surroundings and colors. This is where delights sex causes in the back woods version me. his talent as an artist comes into play. of sex in the Bible belt with several familiar pet What is most appealing about this album is the fact that every time I listen to it, I am able Along with the detail is the flavor of a small phrases. Gurganus takes a look at the rejection to hear and appreciate something new. Whether it’s a new guitar line, a time or key change, southern town and the admiration they feel that homosexuals must face by homophobes or a funny lyric, something always pops out of the song and manages to stick in my noggin when one of their own does good. He is as they try to live peacefully with the rest of for the remainder of the day. And let me tell you, this band can sing harmony. Now I’m not hailed as a hero by the small town, but it society. talking En Vogue or Boyz II Men harmonies, but dissonant and unexpected harmonies, often eventually fades into history and his father Once again, Gurganus uses his details to take provided by bassist Matt Sharp or guitarist Brian Bell. Ifyou couldn’t already tell. I’m a sucker must become just another average citizen us inside Barker’s house to get to know him as for that. The crunch that these fellows get out of their guitars harkens back to the good old with memories of war. a person and not just as a character in a book. days, when musicians made distortion boxes, and digital processing was just a speck in some This attention to detail only adds to the The house is messy because Barker inherited it guitar player’s bloodshot eye. background and solidity of the characters from his mother who died and left everything For cities that actually have an “alternative” radio station, the first release is “El Scorcho,” and the stories. His childhood memories are to him. a catchy song, but not the best song on the album. That claim could be reserved for “Pink the typical father and son agonies which face The text takes us inside the house with moun­ Triangle,” where lead singer and guitar player Rivers Cuomo laments finding out that the love children and parents every day. Gurganus tains of “National Geographic” in the floor, of his life is a lesbian. “Everyone’s a little queer, why can’t she be a little straight?” relates the distance he felt from his father at treasures in Kotex boxes, and piles of dirty Weezer writes songs reminiscent of the guitar-heavy, love or heartbreak-based songs of the times, the feeling that a “layer of electricity” clothes around the bath tub. This isn’t the 1970s. The difference is that they write with an element of sarcasm and levity, whereas bands surrounds him, keeping father from hug­ house of a sexual deviant, it’s the house of a like Kansas were actually serious about what they were saying. ging son. Gurganus goes into a narrative style bachelor. Some of my other favorites on “Pinkerton” are the second track, “Getchoo,” and the to assess his parenting skills. The only way he In most of his stories, Gurganus focuses on minimalist “The Good Life,” which reminds me of some song, although I'm not sure which felt he had gone wrong with his children was people who are having problems being them­ one. that he “wanted too much” for them. selves or being who people want them to be. So, if you would like to let go for a little while, listen to some Boston-era guitars rock the The story goes into the steps you must take Gurganus’ first book, “The Oldest Living house, and have melody lines run rampant through your head for the next several weeks, pick for a proper life: buy a house, get a wife, have Confederate Widow Tells All,” made it to the up the new Weezer album and have some fun. And, if you have several hundred thousand children, go to church, occasionally get drunk New York Times bestseller list. dollars lying around, please start or buy a radio station in Asheville.

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