The Arts and Entertainment Supplement to the Daily Nexus, for February 16th Through February 22nd. 1995 AHHHH! It's raining mastheads! YOU SHOULD JUST READ THE INTERVIEW WITH FUNKDOOBIEST ON PAGE 4A ALSO: HIGHER LEARNING MASSIVE ATTACK THE POPPY FIELD AND MORE! ZACK GROSSMAN/DftOy Nexus 2 A Thursday, February 16,1995 Daily Nexus In 1991, director John Singleton re­ rest of the audience’s eyes. Various Artists ceived national attention and acclaim for Adding to the portrayal of the charac­ Higher Learning Boyz N The Hood. It was unfortunate ter is the fact that Kristen is experiencing Epic that he followed this with the sophomoric sexual ambivalence, as she steeps with Poetic Justice. But any questions about both Wayne (Jason Wiles) and Taryn Take a stroll down any Singleton’s skills as a moviemaker are an­ (Jennifer Connelly), head of one of the college campus — w alk­ swered in Higher Learning, which is, university's women’s groups. ing through the dorms and apartments you can hear the music of America. So writes John Singleton in the liner notes of the soundtrack to his new film, H igher Learning. Singleton is right. As a freshman, a phenomenally diverse mix of music constantly pul­ sated within my dorm. One of the joys of living in those cramped quarters was that there was a pretty fair chance that any ima­ ginable CD was available to borrow from someone in the building. Yes, take a stroll down UCSB’s cam­ pus, and .while walking through tiie dorms you will likely hear the music quite simply, great The third freshman, Remy (Michael of Miles Davis, Led Zep­ chine an d M e’sh ell same album? Don’t worry, The film takes place on the campus of Rapaport) brings some strangeness to an pelin and Snoop Doggy Ndege’Ocello perform it’s not quite as weird as it Columbus University, and by depicting otherwise fairly normal college. Remy is Dogg. The music of some of their best work to sounds. In fact, the songs students of every gender, ethnicity and or­ an engineering hopeful from Idaho who America? Sounds like it to date on the Higher Learn­ fit together surprisingly ientation, it attempts to be representative has trouble fitting in, until he is recruited me. ing soundtrack. well. Likely, the artists re­ of America and its racial problems. The by the skinheads. “New music of The album’s lack of dis­ alized that they were given opening shot of the U.S. flag is a signal to These parallel lines gradually cross, America” is therefore a cernible genre consistency a unique opportunity to get ready for a fireball of chaos, power creating quite a bit of racial tension that is good way to describe helps establish the notion have their work heard by and tension that will erupt into violence waiting to explode. One of Fudge’s what’s included on Higher that what Singleton calls all types of music listeners and tragedy. friends, Dreads (Busta Rhyme z), explains Learning, as each of these “the music of America” and, as a result, they actu­ We track the lives of three freshmen as it perfectly when he unleashes a crazed, 13 tracks will likely be isn’t rock, rap or anything ally put forth some effort. they begin college. Malik Williams (Omar frustrated cry. It almost makes you want playing at a university near in between. Its nature is This album is filled with Epps) was a high school track star who to scream as loudly as possible. you sometime soon. Sin­ too large for it to be simply material which could eas­ now runs for Columbus on a partial scho­ gleton and Danny Bram- defined with labels. ily be released as singles. Higher Learning is definitely a movie It’s not a collection of half- larship. He quickly realizes that he’s no to see. It’s amazingly explosive, so be pre son, who produced the Higher Learning contains longer the bad-ass star, and in the eyes of soundtrack, should win elements of jazz, hip-hop, assed B-sides and studio pared. The only problem I have with it is outtakes. the university, is a thoroughbred to be that the characters represent their respec­ some kind of musical di­ rock, funk and R & B with­ trained for speed. This brings up the issue versity award for attempt­ out forming corny hybrids Higher Learning would tive groups a little too w ell, and unlike definitely be a good purch­ of colleges using athletes, especially Boyz, there’s little room for them to grow. ing to cover the wide spec­ or mixing styles as a African-American men like Malik, to trum of what is known as novelty. The idea is kinda ase for those who have bring in money and national recognition. While the audience’s reactions tended “college” music. Everyone cool: 13 very different eclectic tastes in music or Malik soon runs into quite simply his to be respectful, scenes of the lesbian rela­ from altema-rockers Eve’s songs with one unifying are looking to get turned opposite, Kristen Connor (Kristy Swan­ tionship between Kristen and Taiyn were Plum to club favorites theme — they’re all on to some new bands. It is son). Kristen is a sheltered, middle class met with stunned silence, muttering and Zhane contribute tracks, “American music.” a quality compilation of white girl from Orange Counfy. She is whispering, laughing and even a cry of most of which are surpris- But how do all of these some of today’s most intri­ date-raped by a frat boy, who then experi­ “ewwww!” ingly good considering mismatched styles of guing artists. Hopefully, ences a sort of justice at the hands of Higher Learning and the crowd’s reac­ that they were recorded music sound together? people will be open- Fudge (Ice Cube) and his friends. The tion to it show that as a society, we still specifically for a sound­ And who in the world minded enough to take a rape scene, with Tori Amos’ version of have a long way to go. track album. In fact, Out- thought to put Ice Cube chance and listen to some R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” in the kast, Rage Against the Ma­ and Tori Amos on the cool new music. background, brought tears to my and the —Michael Iin —Eric Steuer University of Wisconsin — Platteville W IN A FREE TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO ^ 5« SHERYL CROW Free Air Travel For Two tV Hotel Concert Tickets Learn Your Way Around The World • Study abroad in Seville, Spain, or London, LISTEN TO England, for a summer, for a semester or for a full academic year • Courses in liberal arts and international business • Fluency in a foreign language not required • Home-stays with meals • Field trips • Financial aid applies (except for summer session) Program Costs: For tuition, room, board and field trips • In Seville, Spain $5,225 (fall or spring) for Wisconsin residents $5,475 (fall or spring) for non-residents • In London, England $4395 (fall), $4,635 (spring) for Wisconsin residents $4,645 (fall), $4,885 (spring) for non-residents Application deadlines: 9 : 2 . 9 FJVt • April 1 for summer session MONTECITO • SANTA BARBARA • April 30 for fall semester • October 15 (Seville), November 15 (London) for spring semester SANTA BARBARA'S ALTERNATIVE ROCK STATION For a program description and an email [email protected] application, call toll free: 1-800-342-1725 Daily Nexus Thursday, February 16,1995 3 A Associated Students PROGRAM BOARD Various Artists _______presents_______ Best of House M usic'. Tribal Smile HIP HOP HEAVEN II When I first saw this disc, I immediately ex­ pected some collection of rONIGHT candy-ass “house remixes” O D M $6 for Students! of top-40 classics. y riv i Whenever something says $9 at the door j “the best of,” it usually « m FEATURING: THE means “the most popular of,” and that means “the BEATNUTS worst of’ to me. But then when I saw that it was put together by Smile Records, f t m on and that it was a tribal- variety. open air of a jungle, with house disc, my interests This particular disc is an bird calls and all. Off in the picked up again. excellent collection be­ distance, a haunting tribal Due to illness, Organized Konfusion will not be performing Smile (they print it cause it offers music from call disturbs a short bongo tonight. The other 3 groups are still going to be there to make Sm:)e) is actually a fairly many different artists and line, a steady beat and Jt a great show, and hopefully you will too. good record company out labels, which guarantees a other such percussion cre­ of New York. It is well little diversity, while at the atures. Soon, the forest is known for domestic house same time retaining a alive with deep, trancey WED. FEB. 22 FREE IN STORKE PLAZA! vinyl. So by the time I cohesive element by stick­ undulations, riding under @ N O O N looked at the back, I was ing with tribal-house tribal calls and rampant San Francisco’s jazz/hip-hop fusion not that surprised to find songs. I was very happy to percussion. 12 strong house cuts by find Lectroluv’s “Dream A favorite track of mine very good groups. Drums” because I some­ is “Follow Me” by Bascut, R]lphafc>et S oup What surprised me was how missed it when it was which I have been search­ that they were all on diffe­ released on vinyl a while ing outfor months.