Robinson gets it on ••• badly ANDREW CATTELL contributing writer Timbre tilts back towards If Smokey Robinson ever was, as Tongues and Bob Dylan once stated, America's 'greatest living poet, he's now resigned from that position. For evidence take Intimate, music's latest and greatest Tails offering to the demon Baal. Largely a collection of lame lyrics with soft- MELISSA KELSEY core porn funk as a background, Inti- staff writer mate is music that even Dr. Evil wouldn't groove to. Timbre, Sophie B. Hawkins' new album, was Opening with the laughable a long time in coming--three years in fact. Just "Sleeping In," a cut which talks about when fans were wondering what happened to something "gliding like butter on a Sophie, she came out with her third album. · biscuit," Robinson sets the stage for Why the wait? That would be due to the an album filled wall-to-wall with Sophie I Sony clash regarding the voice her synthesized rhythms and muffled FILE PHOTO album articulates. Timbre carries a parental laughing by the back-up musicians. Smokey Robinson appears to be giving Dick Clark a run for his money in the "never advisory sticker - something that Sony was While it's centered on the theme of showing signs of aging" contest. hoping to do.without. The artist wouldn't physical love, the old, tired ang limp budge, refusing to sacrifice the soul of her construction of Intimate could stand repeated over and over, serving as firms the rumor that Gordy is dead. album in order to clean up her act. Her album a few ､ ｯ ｳ ･ ｾ of Viagra. the entire chorus. This may cause How the past masters of the ener- is far from vulgar and the depth and versatil- · In his past hits, Smokey could take comparisons to Enrique Iglesias' getic, ebullient and supremely crowd- ity of her music is obvious in every song. the most worn-out cliches and put a recent hit "Bailamos." The difference pleasing Motown Sound can today Whether it be a mandolin in the background brilliant new spin on them. Through- here is that Enrique actually speaks produce an album that only a select or a reggae beat, each of Sophie's songs is dis- out this CD, his only achievement is Spanish -- Smokey seems to have group of unfortunate critics will lis- tinct and reminds her fans of the talent she pos- finding modern metaphors to beat taken five minutes to become inti- ten to is anybody's guess. In short, sesses. Timbre can't reproduce the magic and to death. "Tu Me Besas Muy Rico" mate with the closest English-Span- lhe only people who will be seduced mystique of Tongues and Tails, her first album, tries to stake a claim in the Latin Inva- ish dictionary he could find. by Smokey's latest sounds will be but it far surpasses Whaler, her second. Timbre sion. This glistening gem is the The fact that Barry Gordy is list- the inebriated and the tone-deaf. moves the artist's m\lsic back into the folksy, album's supreme folly, with the title, ed as the album's producer only con- passionate, funky groove she carved with her debut. The pride she takes in her latest gift to the music industry is obvious - and well deserved. She gave up nothing that she want- ed for the record company, preferring that her album debut at 200 (which it did) than change her.work into the pop-laden parody Sony was pushing for. Despite Timbre's lukewarm recep- tion (alright, damn near frigid) this album Ever have •day when you hate At the. stands on its own. Any Sophie fan will see that the wo.rldt With only one listen to "Seooby her work is improving in all the right ways. 100% Human by ｐ ｾ ｓ ｩ ｺ Ｎ ･ Ｌ this feeJ.. sion" c ing will totally disappear. In fact, by PocketSii.e f. a yery slick.1JOU11d. the end of the CD, you should be will- With their first Stateside release of ing to hug everything in sight. That 100% Human, ａ ｴ ｬ ｡ ｮ ｴ ｫ ｾ ･ ･ Ｇ ｏ ｲ ､ ｳ is is not to say Pocket Size is pure cot- launching a large Internet campaign. tony fluff. On the contrary, they mix Included on. the CO is a music video upbeat tunes with provocative and of the sQng "Walking." Th CD 1 often humorous lyrics. worth the price simply to ee people From the first song to the last, Pock- rolling around on the luggage et Size delivers a CD worthy of any- carousels at the airport. Pocket Size one's stereo. Perhaps one of the best combines meaning and fun in 100% breakup songs is "Shaking the Tree." ｈ ｵ ｭ ｡ ｮ Ｎ ｾ CD would be great for With lyrics like "you're freaky sneak)(' hanging out th els, ｾ ､ ｹ ｩ ｮ ｧ even the most heartbroken listener or getting read t will crack a smile. The band has an night -so btty it almost '60s simplicity to its &01&l'\d. 18 october 22, 1999 arcade .