page MUSIC November 20, 2003

Matt Sharp 'Pucketf s Versus the 'Friend': Suburban ska Country 80/ By Joe Freisinger In Music We Trust Records Released July 1,2003 Remember back in the white ska. The expectation of 1960s and 70s when Jamaican distorted power chords fol- •• 1/2 lowed immediately by clean ska and reggae musicians used (out of four stars) the cool, soft, smooth sounds upstroke major chords is ful- of the Caribbean to protest filled. The standard short against British and white trombone solos also take oppression? place on The Forces of Evil's Former bassist Yeah, I wasn't born yet new . I'm simplifying the either. How 'bout that Bob genre, but really, all of the to bring mellow tunes Marley, though? musicians on this album are Anyway, remember back to very competent on their the mid-to-later '90s when instruments and in ska style. to campus for charity punk united with ska to make The guitarist, bassist, drum- By Patrick Chinnery really weird, but super popular Forces of Evil mer, trumpets and trombones music? That died down a few 'Friend or Foe' all have very good tone, and 's pop culture claim to fame is his association with years ago, but it's on the rise while engineer Dave Irish has nerd rock gods Weezer - he was the band's bassist for their again - maybe. Jive Records something to do with that, debut and sophomore . There is one band willing Released Oct. 21 they are obviously solid play- Dedicated fans followed him to after leaving to put their careers on the ers. Weezer. He stayed, once again, for two albums. line for a return of ska. That Bassist Chris (Evil), is par- Where is Sharp now? How about at MTSU? band. The Forces of Evil, is && 1/2 ticularly impressive with his Not as a student, but for a concert Sunday to promote his leading the charge with their (out of four stars) walking lines. On the last first solo EP, Puckett's versus the Country Boy. new album, Friend or Foe. track, "Fight," the band goes The disc's an unplugged, four-song collection of mellow tunes from a metal riff with muted Frontman/guitarist Aaron that manages to please despite an unfortunate phonic similarity Barrett, who made his mark 2001. harmonics on the guitar to Jakob Dylan and the Wallflowers. It's more "Butterfly" from fronting Reel Big Fish, decided So, what about the new straight into the happy ska Pinkerton (yes, that was ) than "Friends of P" from major chords. Just before end- to put together another ska album. Friend or Foe'. Well, The . ing the song, the rhythm sec- band, and picking up several those who love punk/ska "Hey, what you gonna do?" and "Visions of Anna" integrate tion and horns lay down a musicians from the Orange should be pleased. Barrett piano backgrounds with slow-moving harmonized vocals to cre- groove reminiscent of the County ska scene did just that, strays very little from tradi- ate an ambiance of lullabies and placidity. The whole record is Blues Brothers with Barrett with The Forces of Evil early in tional suburban American one that you could play to get your newborn to sleep, for that soloing over it using pentaton- matter. ic scales and blue notes. The Which is not to day that it's poorly put together. Sharp and fourth track is also a semi PREGNANCY company did a masterful job producing the EP. and despite being departure from ska, covering recorded in a small house is Leipers Fork. Tenn.. the mastering Van Halen's "Dance the Night makes it an albeit sonorous pleasure to listen to. Away." However, "Fight" and SUPPORT Sharp wili perform Sunday at Canjam II in Tucker Theatre, "Dance the Night Away" are sponsored Dy MTSU Concerts. Admission at the door will be ska enough not to disrupt the three cans of food per person. Mercator, Apollo Up and Ridah CENTER flow of the album. World Productions will perforn prior to Sharp.The show begins Friend or Foe is very true to BELMONT PARK, SUITE 801 at 7 p.m. 745 S. CHURCH ST. MURFREESBORO the mid-'90s spirit of For more information, call (615) 898-2551 * * Crisis Intervention punk/ska, and retains some of the rebellious spirit of * Free Pregnancy Tests Jamaican ska. While Peter Tosh * Information On All Options would sing about standing up * Adoption Referrals for civil rights. The Forces of Don't miss * Community Referrals & Evil say "Go To Hell" for no the 'Boro's Best Networking reason. Friend or Foe is filled * Medical Referrals with baseless anger, which is issue of * Support Through The Crisis fine and sometimes fun, but it turns ska into a silly and mean- [flash] All Services Free ingless music. The guitar goes Dec. 4. And Confidential 893-0228 abruptly from punk to ska POST-ABORTION SUPPORT www.boropregnancy.org See Forces, 11