ENTERTAINMENTpage 15 Technique • Friday, August 31, 2001 • 15 Looking for fun? Want to laugh? If you want to find a live musical See what thoughts our Two Bits ENTERTAINMENT act here in Atlanta this weekend, Man has cooked up about you’ve found the place. Page 12 Virginia and the Highlands that Technique • Friday, August 31, 2001 share the name. Page 13

‘Branch’ing out the definition of ‘pop’ New record By Jon Kaye Branch sings songs of love and hope Contributing Writer that are certain to inspire. not for the “The Spirit Room” begins with Album: The Spirit Room “Everywhere,” Branch’s first foray closed-minded Artist: Michelle Branch into top-forty radio. Receiving na- By Jon Kaye Genre: Pop tionwide play, including on Atlan- Contributing Writer Label: Maverick ta’s Star 94, “Everywhere” has quickly Tracks: 11 gained fame for Michelle Branch. Title: Eternally Hard Length: 42:25 Showcasing her beautiful voice and Artist: Bitch and Animal Rating: ttt1/2 adroitly played guitar, this cut proves Genre: Alternative to skeptical audiences that she is Label: Righteous Babe With the recording industry’s one teenage singer who really can Length: 59:58 target marketing what they refer to perform. In this track, Branch wist- Tracks: 13 + 1 hidden as “debbies” (fourteen-year-old girls,) fully sings to her lover that he is Rating: tttt it is often hard to find a pop album “everything I know that makes me worth buying for someone of col- believe I’m not alone.” It is hard to seriously ac- lege age. However, seventeen-year- Another cut worthy of note is cept a band baring the moni- old rookie songwriter, Michelle “All You Wanted.” With a simple By Tim Gaylord / MAVERICK RECORDS ker Bitch and Animal. With Branch changes stereotypes about melodic progression and unobtru- Michelle Branch is 17 years old, but listen to her music and you’ll song titles like “Best Cock on young singers with her debut al- sive percussion, this track has po- determine that she charts her own course and is the anti-Britney. the Block” and “Ganja,” this bum, “The Spirit Room.” tential to be Michelle Branch’s next band outwardly appears to Branch’s music is about halfway top-forty hit. Arguably, this song is where.” While some enhanced CDs the best music to reach pop radio of be a complete farce, yet this between Jewel and Britney Spears. better representative of Branch’s im- are computerized advertisements for late. This musical prowess is espe- New York based duo will be- With a caressing voice gracefully mense songwriting skill than the the artist or label, this one actually cially impressive due to that fact come a favorite after the first floating over a mellow guitar, Branch aforementioned “Everywhere.” offers the listener a chance to visual- that Branch wrote or co-wrote ev- spin. Signed to Ani DiFran- vaguely reminds her listeners of Jewel, As an added bonus, “The Spirit ly experience the music. ery song on the entire album, some- co’s Righteous Babe Records, yet unlike Jewel, Branch sings up- Room” is an enhanced CD, offer- While Michelle Branch’s upbeat thing rarely done by her musical Bitch and Animal offer the beat pop without an ostensible po- ing the listener the opportunity to brand of pop is certainly not for peers. In short, if you want a simple same borderline punk eccen- litical agenda. Through heartfelt view promotional photos of Michelle those looking for angry, controver- yet pleasing album for your collec- tricity that listeners have come lyrics in which she speaks her mind, Branch or view the video of “Every- sial lyrics, it is unmistakably among tion, this is the one to buy. to accept from that label. The only way to even attempt to explain their sound would be a fusion of Luscious Jackson Dave Ralph and the Grateful Dead. Their music, not unlike Luscious “Naturalizes” Jackson’s, has a sporadic flow, punctuated with aggressive electric bass and strong per- electronica cussion, yet the mellow By Jamie Schulz folkesque sound heard on Advertising Manager some of the slower tracks re- minds one of the Dead. Artist: Dave Ralph Place this disc in your CD Album: Naturalized player, and “Best Cock on Label: Kinetic Records the Block” will completely Rating: ttt catch you off-guard the first time you play it. While the I suppose that the label is Courtesy Atlantic Records song almost comedically re- somewhat of an oxymoron: lates the singers’ promiscu- there’s nothing that natural ity, the musical skill here is about electronica, or dance, Brazilians find their anything but silly. Bitch and or techno, or whatever you Animal demonstrate their mu- want to call it now. Howev- sical acumen with intense trib- er, compared to the other musical bliss together al beats and confident use of mixed and compilation al- By Alan Back bass. The sharp rhythms and bums that have passed through Senior Staff Writer assertive vocals simply encour- my hands, Naturalized is a age dance, so this is definitely better pick among them. The Artists: Gilberto Gil & Milton Nascimento a track worthy of your next best thing going for the mix Album: Gil & Milton party. is that David Ralph actually Label: Atlantic On a less serious note, Bitch took the time to have the tracks Rating: ttt1/2 and Animal sing about an- By Cafi / WARNER BROS. RECORDS gels’ experiences with mari- blend smoothly together. Gilberto Gil (above left) and Milton Nascimento have Gilberto Gil (above left) and Milton Nascimento have juana in “Ganja.” Borrowing Actually, there may be some Latin influences showed up in popular music well earned their own reputations as stars of Brazilian earned their own reputations as stars of Brazilian its melody from a popular delay between tracks if the before the likes of Ricky Martin were in diapers. Dizzy music. Gil & Milton is the end result of the meeting of music. Gil & Milton is the end result of the meeting of Christmas carol, they replace CD is played using a media Gillespie loved to work with artists schooled in Cuban these two minds for their first full-length joint project. player on your computer. rhythms as he developed his style of playing jazz after “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” with Other than that, the theme World War II. Twenty-five years later, Chick Corea melancholy tone runs through the first part, written by “Ganja, in excess, ain’t dan- of a track slowly fades and made his fusion lineups sizzle and dance. And people Gil; when Nascimento takes it over, he drops the guitar gerous.” While this song lacks becomes the next track with- like Gilberto Gil and Milton Nascimento helped lead and brings in a backing chorus to push things along the inspired groove of the other out there really being a no- the charge from Brazil to spark crazes in bossa nova and more urgently. tracks, it recovers itself with ticeable change. The two CDs samba. “Lar Hospitalar” also points up their differences delightfully offbeat lyrics. A are pretty much ready to play Gil & Milton, the first full-length joint effort from nicely. Nascimento’s melody would do fine in a crowd- song completely unacceptable for the dance floor. these last two, gives a hint of why this fascination took ed dance hall, with the bar doing good business. Read to the deeply religious, the In essence, since the CD hold so strongly. Shifts in style and instrumentation— over Gil’s lyrics, though, and you get a much bleaker band advances their theory is a mix or compilation of everything from a simple piano to full string and wind impression—hopelessness mixed with anger at social that the Immaculate Concep- other mixes, Ralph should not sections—crop up throughout the album’s 15 tracks injustices. tion was a product of drug- get all the credit for the CD. and highlight the range of material they opened up to The disc starts to lose steam on some of the tracks induced date-rape. Though Ralph did do a good composers after them. penned by other composers, with “Maria” and “Yo This album completely vi- job of arranging the tracks so It’s hard to believe that both men are nearly 60, Vengo a Ofrecer Mi Corazón” sliding a little too far olates any popular standards that they progress nicely, it’s judging from the way they sing. They trade verses and into easy listening and almost sounding like Muzak. enacted by the mainstream. the artists themselves who lines in Portuguese on just about every track and make The two performers are more consistent when it comes With irreverent lyrics and deserve the credit, or some of the language a part of the overall picture, even for those to their own material, even when they send almost unconventional use of the the credit. When they’re do- who don’t speak a word of it. (The only track recorded everybody else out of the studio. Pay close attention to instruments, “Eternally Hard” ing a remix of something, it’s in English is their reggae-infused take on the Beatles’ the Nascimento vocal/piano feature “Dinamarca” for breaks from musical tradition. hard to tell who the actual “Something.”) an eloquent lesson in how to make just a little bit of While this album is not for The contrast between the stars’ approaches comes the closed-minded, it is a must- See Ralph, page 21 have for the unique. through most strongly on “Trovoada.” A languid, See Brazil, page 18 16 • Friday, August 31, 2001 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT Onward and Crossword: Gimme an S! By Kit FitzSimons 4. Short triangle side 12345 6789 10111213 Entertainment Staff 5. Presentation or report 6. Better 14 15 16 ACROSS 7. Spanish gold 1. Sell tickets illegally 8. Scratch the Porsche 17 18 19 6. More than two 9. “Como _____?” 10. Chummy people 10. Meter maid matter? (2 wds) 20 21 22 23 14. Wiser’s partner 11. Blvd. 15. Mystical energy fields 12. Had followers 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 16. Declare 13. Sold-out initials 17. Give safe harbor? (4 wds) 15. Really or almost, e.g. (abbr) 32 33 34 35 36 19. Start over 18. Tic-tac-toe win? 20. Kind of sauce or milk 23. T-bone, for one 37 38 39 21. “By _____!” (“Blimey!”) 24. Sharp tongue? (3 wds) 22. Query 26. Swiss mt. 40 41 42 24. Greenhorn 27. Arafat’s grp. 25. Dre’s medium 29. DCCCLXXIV + DLXXVII 28. Emulate a snake in 69 DOWN 30. Computer scheduler or calcula- 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 32. Mexican empire of yore tor (abbr) 35. Window part 31. Type of shirt 51 52 53 54 55 56 36. Frasier’s dog 32. Homer’s dad 37. Artist’s cap 33. ______Buddha 57 58 59 38. Heads? (4 wds) 34. More than di- 40. OK city, NE of OK City 35. Sci. exper. conditions, usually 60 61 62 41. It follows wntr. 39. (Neat) freak 42. Likable pres? 41. Fast plane 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 43. Record types, for short 44. The media 45. Annoy 45. Unappreciative folks 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 47. Ruth of baseball 46. Parisian st. 51. Arabian bites? (2 wds) 48. Exist 77 78 79 56. Hank of baseball 49. Hit with a rubber mallet 57. Licorice flavor 50. Naval rank (abbr) 80 81 82 58. Egg (on) 51. Use a swab 59. Staircase 52. 45 degrees c.w. from 76 DOWN 60. Ernie’s roomie, et al. 53. Naval academy word 61. It might be a 2-door (abbr) 54. Hot cocoa drinker’s need 62. Dined 55. Historical period 63. “_____ Kosh…” 56. Comical Viking 65. Competent 62. On tap item 67. B line? 64. Hemi- meaning 70. Gunky masses 66. Butterfinger variety 73. Plays Bianca of “The Rescu- 67. James of ‘Misery’ ers”? (2 wds) 68. First 007 flick (2 wds) 77. Opera part 69. Utopia 78. Saunters 70. Woman, to Tex 79. Boring and stupid 71. _____-Gel 80. Bored in a stupor 72. “That’s show ______!” 81. Cruella’s love 74. Debt receipt 82. A noble gas 75. Car Talk & Fresh Air provider (abbr) DOWN 76. 45 degrees c.c.w. from 51 Down 1. Cries uproariously 2. Disney’s ‘Pinocchio’ fish To find the answers, check page 13. 3. “An apple ______…” (2 wds) We make no apologies if you don’t know the answers. Sorry. ENTERTAINMENT Technique • Friday, August 31, 2001 • 17

Attack your eardrums over the long weekend with a fresh batch of live music! Brazil from page 15 CJ’S LANDING (270 Buckhead Ave.) 9/5—Social Chaos, Pezunk, Discord MASQUERADE (695 North Ave.) SMITH’S OLDE BAR (1580 Piedmont Rd.) sound speak volumes. (404) 237-7657 9/6—Soundtrack Mind, Catalytic, (404) 577-8178 (404) 875-1522 8/31—Dan Adams Band, Settlene, Sonomama 8/31—Sick Speed, Minus, Ajax Heavies, 8/31—Cool for August, Charlie Mars Band, There’s no denying the effect Regatta 69 Munkigrip Nillah that Gil and Nascimento have had 9/1—Big Jack Pneumatic, Freeloader ECHO LOUNGE (551 Flat Shoals Ave.) 9/1—Saves the Day, Dashboard 9/1—Scott Miller & the Commonwealth, on popular music, both above and 9/6—13 Stories, Liquid Jungle (404) 681-3600 Confessional, No Motiv Heritage Cherry below the equator. In one sense, Gil 9/7—6 Against 7, Chris McCarty Band, 8/31—The Close, Chocolate Kiss, The 9/2—Jubilee feat. Perry Farrell 9/2—Gran Torino & Milton is something out of a time Love Over Gravity Remuxers, Rizzudo 9/3 (Music Park)—Buju Banton, Toots & the 9/3—Transmatic, Diggity warp; in another light, it’s a pleas- Web site: www.cjslanding.com 9/1—Rival School, Thursday, Ghost Maytals, Yellowman, Morgan Heritage 9/5—The Tom Collins, Flair, Girl Chris ant bit of proof that some things 9/7—Hot Water Music, Alkaline Trio, Cave 9/6—Self Denial, IDD, Cauldron Born, 9/6—Kevn Kinney, David Dunning never really go out of style. COTTON CLUB (152 Luckie St.) In, Thrice, Selby Tiger, Mark Park Chronic M.D. 9/7—Soulhat, Tonohoney (404) 688-1193 Speaking, The Eyeliners Web site: www.masq.com Web site: smithsoldebar.citysearch.com 8/31—Chain Poets, Annapolis Red, Solar Web site: www.echostatic.com/echolounge For English translations of the lyrics Krush, Favorite RED LIGHT CAFE (553 Amsterdam Ave.) STAR BAR (437 Moreland Ave.) on Gil & Milton, visit www.atlantic- 9/1—420 Monks, Minus, Da Shiz, Virtual EDDIE’S ATTIC (515-B N. McDonough St.) (404) 874-7828 (404) 681-9018 records.com/gilberto_gil. 9/6—Bob Schneider (404) 377-4976 8/31—Marc English, Blues Pond 8/31—Pardner, Used Carlotta, Anna 9/7—Acres, Vynl, Mary’s Eyes, Mango 8/31—Trackside Tavern Reunion 9/1—Gary Stier, Zack Carr Kramer Web site: www.atlantaconcerts.com/ 9/1—Jennifer Nettles Band 9/7—Impaired Vision, Artificial Jungle, Ryan 9/1—Dave Brokie Experience ttttt cottonclub.asp 9/2—Christine Kane Kipp, Jeremy Salas, Thin Man, Casper, 9/5—Gargantua, X-Impossibles 9/4—Laura Methvin, Shiloh Parker, Amy Ramadamafia 9/6—Rev. Uncle Laffo’s Talent Sideshow DARK HORSE TAVERN (816 N. Highland Ave.) Loftus Web site: www.redlightcafe.com Web site: www.cloun.com/starbar.html The Technique rates (404) 873-3607 9/5—Rich Healy, John Zedd, Ben Dunlap 8/31—Slangbanger, Exit 8, Confliction 9/6—Alastor, Paul Melancon, ROXY (3110 Roswell Rd.) VARIETY PLAYHOUSE (1099 Euclid Ave.) films and music out of 9/1—Cornbread, Suburban Love Junkies, Weaklazyliar (404) 233-7699 (404) 521-1786 Cloud 10 9/7—Diane Durrett, John McVey 9/7—Dexter Freebish, Chrystina Lloree 8/31—The Flower Kings, Z-Axis a possible five stars. 9/4—David Dunning Web site: www.eddiesattic.com Web site: www.atlantaconcerts.com/roxy.asp Web site: www.variety-playhouse.com 18 • Friday, August 31, 2001 • Technique ENTERTAINMENT ...01010 10 101010101010101...... Two Bits Last night, as I was driving prevalent that I’ve heard tale of the myself. I really do. I’m the most through Virginia Highlands to have Virginia Highway Patrol, which is wonderful person in the world, but dinner with a friend of mine, I saw known for being one of the most I don’t think I’m good enough for one of the most compellingly of- cruel in the country. Operate your myself. What if I don’t emotionally fensive things that I’ve ever seen motor vehicle just five miles over satisfy myself? Oh, before I put my before in my life. No folks, the Two the speed limit, and they will pull heart on the line, I wish I knew if I Bits Man is not talking about a cell- you over. Well folks, The Two Bits felt the same way about myself that phone toting, Jaguar-driving, yup- Man is here to tell you that’s all a I feel about myself.” These trou- py acquiring coffee. No folks, it cover-up. In reality, those Highway bled souls walk the line that sepa- was far worse. Stuck in traffic im- Patrolmen are specially trained op- rates self-love from unrequited love. mediately before me was a 1989 eratives of the Virginia Ministry of All in all, it’s a very sticky situation. Geo Metro with a bumper sticker Love, beset on ferreting out those Now, as I mentioned before, I that read, “Virginia is for Lovers.” I who can not love. was in Virginia Highlands when I think there are numerous ways that Next, I have to wonder about saw the Geo with this bumper sticker. you could read into that bumper unrequited love. The bumper sticker In an interview with a Virginia High- sticker, but any way you look at it, it is somewhat unclear; to some de- lands resident (who wishes to re- seems like Virginia is using discrim- gree, it implies that lovers must live main anonymous due to her sketchy inatory practices to determine who in Virginia. First of all, I wonder if ties with the Virginia Highlands Artist’s rendering courtesy of Six Flags Over Georgia may enter or leave the state. they even count those who express Chamber of Commerce and Love,) The new Déjà Vu roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia will be among Clearly, this mass public rela- unrequited love as lovers. I hardly she asserted that Virginia Highlands the fastest roller coasters on the planet when it opens to the public tions campaign, applying the vile think its fair to banish those who is for lovers, yet the community’s tomorrow. For a full review of the ride check out next week’s issue. words of exclusionary hatred to give love, but do not receive it. Con- official stand is not to exclude those bumper stickers and sending their versely, if the state requires that lov- who do not love. She maintains that SCALP SOME PALS Geo-driving minions across the ers move there, but excludes those the hamlet “sees them in a suspend- OLDER AURAS AVER United States is in very poor taste who do not, that completely screws ed state of love.” Nonetheless, I ad- BEAGOODPORT REDO for the state of Virginia. What if your chances of having the love re- vise you to stay away. you’re not a lover? I mean, what if quited. If you’re in Virginia, and As the Two Bits Man is a cham- SOY JOVE ASK you have some psychological inability the Ministry of Love has proscribed pion for the common good of his NEO RAP TEMPT to love, so every night, you sit at the one you love, you certainly won’t readers, I must warn you that it home and watch reruns of North- be wooing her any time soon. starts with the Chamber of Com- AZTEC S ILL EDD IE ern Exposure without even contem- Furthermore, one wonders about merce and Love’s pigeonholing peo- BERET TOPONAD IME plating the sexual tension between self-love. What if you are narcissist, ple into this “suspended” group, EN ID SPR IKE Maggie and Joel, while eating Kraft or if you are the Dalai Lama? I would but I feel confident that the next Macaroni and Cheese without even venture to say that the Dalai Lama regime will start to jail non-lovers LPS IRK BABE dwelling upon the romantic lives of is welcome in Virginia, because he’s in the dungeons of the local tav- DESERTMENU AARON the Wisconsinites who brought you reputed to love all, including him- erns. the bounty of dehydrated cheese? self, but I question the likelihood of I apologize for having to bring AN ISE URGE STEPS Well, you sir, are not a lover, and a narcissist passing the border guard. such tragic news to you so early in BERTS GAR ATE therefore are not welcome in Vir- In theory he should be able to get Fall Semester, yet it is this paper’s OSH ABLE CDE ginia. How does that make you feel? through, because he certainly loves, responsibility as a journalistic en- I for one am outraged on behalf of but the odd case does make it a terprise to keep you abreast with GOBS A INTBERNARD all people who can not love. Other difficult call. Of course, the truly the truth. Until next week, I am the AR IA LOPES INANE states welcome all people, but not odd case would be the narcissists Two Bits Man, and I won’t be eat- Virginia. Their foul practices are so with low self-confidence. “I love ing any Virginia Ham. LAZY FURS XENON ENTERTAINMENT Technique • Friday, August 31, 2001 • 19

way through the speech. This seems subishi commercial. groove, trading genial sounds to a sation or critiquing the other pa- Ralph from page 15 unnecessary, and often aggravating, In terms of progression, the tracks, more synth-pop orchestration. The trons at the bar. The beats are strong since you’re trying to figure out what as stated, gel nicely. But the CDs on energy continues on through to the and continuous, and there is no lag artist is. But what the particular art- the person’s saying instead of lis- this two-disc set also progress them- second CD, picking up where the between tracks. While the CD def- ist (or remixer) has on the track is tening to the music. selves. The first CD starts with Dave’s first left off. Fragma’s “You are alive” initely won’t have you rushing out good; upbeat tempo, a good mix Another setback is to how com- “Islands of Light”, with the afore- begins to wind down the album, to grab your glow sticks and pacifier between the highs and lows, no track posed the album feels. It just has a mentioned annoying speech, this with Junkie XL’s “Sinycho” finish- or breaking into impromptu dork- is overcome by bass or percussion. manufactured quality to it. While one announcing “Welcome.” To ing off the album. on-the-dance-floor club moves, it What is annoying is the com- all the tracks are good in their own what, I’m not certain, I guess over Naturalized no doubt has a very could have you dancing a little to mon use of vocals. It just doesn’t and complement one another to two hours’ worth of music. The techno/dance feel to it. It would the tracks. Granted there aren’t any make sense to have one repeated make a great CD set to dance to, track moves into Moonwatcher’s situate itself nicely at any dance or roommates around for you to en- line over and over again. For start- there is nothing that stands out of “This is…” and the tempo contin- club, a good backdrop for conver- tertain. ers, it’s hard to understand the line all the tracks. At points, such as ually increases to a more dance/club- used in Psychomanteus, and the fact with Jurgen Dreissen’s “Counter oriented feeling. The same can be that the artist (Manhattan) keeps Culture”, you may find yourself said for the theme of the songs. As skipping back to the beginning half- wondering if you haven’t heard the “Islands…” has a mellow feel to it, song in either a Volkswagen or Mit- then begins into a more energetic

Cover art courtesy Kinetic Records Dave Ralph’s Naturalized would “situate itself nicely at any dance or club, a good backdrop for conversation or critiquing the other patrons at the bar,” and will hit your local music store on September 11.