THE RETRIEVER MARCH 3, 1987 PAGE 3 ENTERTAINMENT Newest Los Lobos album sounds muy bien by Bruce Margulies Shakes" is the first single from the another song that tells how tough album. For the album, this song is times are and it really gets the point Los Lobos has just released By the very upbeat and borders on being across. I think a video of this song Light of the Moon and the band has danceable. However, the lyrics are would be particularly effective. settled into a bluesy-folk sound which somewhat mystifying and I'm not re- The remaining songs on the side are is more laid back than their two ally sure what they say. very mellow and somber. previous albums. They have toned "Is This All There Is?" is exactly Their previous album How Will the down their upbeat Mexican music what you would expect from its title- a Wolf Survive? was praised by most into a more refined sound. somber look at a hard life. The music critics and was successful commercial- Their writing has gotten very philo- seems to be happy, perhaps trying to ly, though Los Lobos is hardly a sophical and altruistic. Many songs cover up a depressing song. The band household-name band. The album got center around the hardships facing the has no trouble writing sad songs, but extensive airplay on WHFS, but poor, which is a sharp contrast from sometimes they don't bring down failed to reach the more conservative their usual up, partying tunes. The their music enough to fit the mood. stations. I suspect that this album will songs themselves represent a wide The following track "Prenda Del be received similarly, with a lot of variety of music. Alma" is a very nice ballad. It sounds attention directed toward their lyrics. The first song on the album is "One downcast, even in Spanish. If Mor- In addition, there are many different Time, One Night." It features twangy rissey came from Mexico, The Smiths types of music to enjoy on this album music, like what you used to hear at would record songs like this. The and they all sound great. your neighborhood Roy Rogers re- accordian (which was so prominent After listening to this album, my staurant. Despite the music, the song on their previous album) adds a nice opinion of the band has changed talks about death with haunting clar- touch. dramatically. I figured that they were ity: Side Two starts off with a bang with just another Tex-Mex group (which I "Set Me Free (Rosa Lee)." This is do enjoy), but with By the Light of the People having so much faith such a Motown-sounding song, it is Moon, Los Lobos has established Die too soon while all the rest come surprising that the Supremes didn't themselves as a talented and versatile late record it already. It supports the fact group. Los Lobos will be appearing We write a song that no one sings that Los Lobos can write and perform at the Warner Theater (which is a On a cold black stone a wide variety of music and still make great place to see a concert) in DC. on where a lasting peace will finally it work. Tuesday, March 31. This concert is Photo by Mauricio Ordonez bring "My Baby's Gone" is a tremendous definitely worth seeing and Los blues song. It has great guitar leads Lobos is a band which should be Los Lobos performs at the Bayou in March 1985. Pictured: Dave Hidalgo is on accordion, Steve Berlin on sax. Pretty depressing, eh? This song and the vocals are excellent. This is watched for in the future. sets the tone for the album, so if bleak my favorite ssong on the album as songs interest you, you should give everything seems to come together. this album a listen. Another standout on the album is The next song "Shakin' Shakin' the cut "The Mess We're In." It's Black Widow weaves a mystic web by Paul Grden dismissed as coincidence. When Ca- men, and Terms of Endearment, but this subject matter. One could argue therine finds out that she is being in Black Widow she seems to be going that the script is intentionally ambi- Bob Rafelson has returned. His followed, she flees to Hawaii, but to through the motions, which for Debra guous about this relationship, but most recent effort, a remake of The no avail, for Alex is still hot on her Winger is still adequate enough. even for a script to be ambiguous it Postman Always Rings Twice, was trail. There they play a complex game However, Winger comes out looking would have to offer its audience some released some six years ago. But of cat and mouse until one of the two rather shabby in light of Theresa well developed choices. The prevai- Rafelson is back with the release of his women finally frames the other, putt- Russell's performance in this film. ling vagueness of this script doesn't latest film, Black Widow, a study of ing an end to their entanglement. Cast as a frumpy but spunky heroine, allow for these choices to develop. obsession and murder. The plot of this film concerns itself Winger handles the role with such This weakness hampers the depths Rafelson has been called an actor's with the relationship between Ca- familiarity that her performance that the relationship between Ca- director, usually able to conjure an therine and Alexandra Bates, and borders on the routine. Her perfor- therine and Alex Bates can achieve, outstanding or breakthrough perfor- because of this the film fluctuates mance seems too ordinary, especially but doesn't destroy the overall intri- mance out of an actor. He did it for unevenly between the two characters. in light of the film's subject matter. gue of the relationship. Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces, The strength of the film comes from Winger's character, Alex Bates, is and for Jessica Lange in The Postman Theresa Russell's performance as Ca- supposed to become entralled by Ca- Bob Rafelson's direction, though, is Always Rings Twice. In Black therine. Russell simply dominates this therine, but she never develops any a big plus for this movie. He gives Widow, he gets that type of high- film. Russell renders Catherine with considerable intensity in her obses- Black Widow the subtle feel of a noir caliber performance from Theresa such a cold, calculated, but sultry sion. To be fair, though, some of this film. The film is sleek and stylish, but Russell, who plays the title character. persona that one can only relish in fault lies in Ronald Bass's script. not overburdened with self-conscious Theresa Russell has had a well- delight as she cunningly seduces her The main theme of this film revolv- affectation. Rafelson allows the au- rounded but relatively unremarkable next husband/victim. The fascination es around Bate's obsession with Ca- dience to vicariously indulge in the career in the film, but Black Widow that she generates through her ruth- therine, and though the characters lavish decadence of Catherine's perni- many be the movie which vaults her less, efficient manner far outweighs develop a rather involved relation- cious behavior without compromising into the limelight. Russell plays Ca- the repulsion associated with murder. ship, the script is never quite able to the complexity of her character. He therine, a mysterious woman who This role allows Russell to deliver a bring this situation to a boil. What also keeps the film moving at a com- systematically marries and then dazzling viruouso display and Russell Bates sees in Catherine is possibly the fortable pace, so that the drama is murders wealthy older men, disap- takes full advantage of this oppor- darker side of her own self, a side allowed to develop without causing- pearing after inheriting each of their tunity. which she never openly expresses, but the movie to lag. estates. By changing her name and However, this is also the type of yet the script doesn't explore this In spite of its occasionally super- appearance after each murder, she film where the villain is more interest- matter far enough, so we don't gain a ficial script, Black Widow does offer a successfully avoids suspicion. Every- ing than the hero, for as Alexandra deeper understanding of either Alex standout performance by Theresa thing runs smoothly until she is pur- Bates, Debra Winger pales in compa- Bates or Catherine. Also, the script Russell, and Bob Rafelson's taut Photo by Mauricio Ordonez sued by Alexandra Bates, a cracker- rison. Winger has long been a darling hints at certain homosexual under- direction always manges to keep jack federal agent who finds the cir- of the critics, giving highly acclaimed tones in this relationship but doesn't things interesting. Black Widow is an Los Lobos' Cesar Rosas launches into "Last Night I Got Loaded." cumstances surrounding the deaths of performances in such films as Urban develop this possibility any further engrossing, hypnotic tale that makes Catherine's husbands too similar to be Cowboy, An Officer And A Gentle- except for an occasional allusion to for an entertaining film. SAVE...on music foraUears. Mb CASSETTES $2.98-$10.98 4^,°-.^^ RECORDS Sl.98-S6.98 \N'VA<3 MAJOR LABELS - TOP ARTISTS A Sound Investment Save Big Bucks Pop, Rock, Folk, Jazz and Classical e*e^^. Limited Time. Come Early for Best Selection. UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BOOKSTORE S750.00 Applications available for those 18-24 years of age Application deadline: MARCH 15,1987 UNIVERSITY CENTER/UMBC For more information call Carol Drumer, 356-5200 X129 Project OTZMA is o fellowship program sponsored by the Associated Jewish Charities in cooperation with the •HOICE MasterCard Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore and the Jewish Agency.