DTH Omnibus Page 6 DTH Omnibus Page 7 Thursday April 16, 1992 Thursday April 16, 1992 What Peggy Wants debuts new LP tonight plus all the music briefs you can stand hat Peggy Wants isn't re- gives an impressive presentation of scheme. With a few exceptions, the ally looking forward to original, and traditional album relies heavily on simple electric summer. be all-st- w After all, it'll tunes with an ar guest list ranging power chord progressions and Kid losing its drummer, Tom from Hothouse Flowers to Clarence guitar fills to poke fun Maxwell, for over a "Gatemouth" Brown to Chapel Hill's at the return of guitar-centere- good month. own Red Clay Ramblers. oF boy rock and roll. Maxwell was invited The album definitely has a bluesy-bluegra- ss Lowery's new band forsakes the eso- to stand in as the tempo- flavor, with many ofthe tunes teric subjects that made Camper van, OOQQQ rary drummer for fellow BE effrey Gaines offers up more than adapted by Shocked from traditional opting instead for such greats as "What labelmates Metal Flake o healthy dose ofpessimistic real- fiddle tunes straight from the Ozarks. the world needs nowIs a new Frank Mother when a J ism to anyone who cares to hear Through her research, Shocked found SinatraSo I can get you in bedWhat t.:1"- "X.' v MFM does a that many originated in the old min- the world needs now Is another folk self-title-d o month-lon- g on his debut, release. While strelsy tradition, where whites would singerLike I need a hole in my head," it's hard to beat the musical quality of tour with perform blackface, and act- from the opener, "Teen Angst (What the album, the introspective depres- in singing newlyacquired ing out scenes from plantation life. the World Needs Now)." . (SOODDDQ sion might just be a bit too much for Virgin artists, As she states in her liner notes, "My Poking fun classic rock comes the average listener to handle. at Cracker. early intention was this easy for Cracker, playing up the guitar Gaines approaches the rather grand to present "After that, record with a cover photo of myself fills and the cooing female back-u- p subject of life in much the same way as we told Metal wearing blackface ... my sincere inten- vocals. Especially good is the mockery Flake Lloyd Cole and Tracey Chapman. That that they werejust going to tion was that it would provide a genu- made of the classic rock "inspiration is, while there exists a faint reason to have to find another drummer, be- ine focus on the real 'roots' of many of ballad" in "I See the Light:" "I see the have hope, life and love, in particu- cause they couldn't have ours any- the tunes included; blackface min- light at the end of the tunnelSome- lar holdshumiliating, debasingpros-pect- s more," joked What Peggy Wants strelsy. It's my contention that a body please tell meIt's not a train." for mere mortals. ( guitarist Tim scout Roven. blackface tradition is alive and well Despite the predominant humor- But unlike Cole, Gaines favors the Such a glitch in WPW's immediate future is no big hidden behind a modern mask." ous slant on this disc, Lowery manages deal because it's nothing for SB acoustic stylings of Chapman rather new a band which in the last year The music is simple and accessible to stiffen up a bit for the more serious has than Cole's classic pop or orchestrated dropped its founding guitarist, switched names (from and keeps the down home sound and numbers "Someday" and "Another Teasing the sounds. And unlike the other acoustic, Korean) and had their debut record release date feel despite the high tech recording. Song About the Rain." While the hu- pushed back so far that it'll be over a year was folk greats, Gaines prefers to avoid the since it recorded. The title' track clip-clo- and fiddles its mor disappears from these two songs, Death a Sailor will be irony of dark lyrics superimposed over of out on Baited Breath Records in a way to the tune we all grew up with as the simple topic remains: the depres- couple of weeb, brightchords.choosingstraightforward and as sort of a preview record release party, "Bringing Home a Baby Bumble bee" sion ofmissing someone during separa- WPW and MFM will lyrical and musical synchronicity. play at the Cat's Cradle tonight. Tom and ends with the classic "Shave and a tion. But instead of breaking up the Maxwell will The opening cut typifies the sound marathon as drummer for both bands. haircut" with Shocked chuckling in rhythm of the album, the pieces only Like first Gaines favors. "Hero in Me" looks at a taste of Jaegermeister, WPW's authentic blend What Peggy Wants the background. prove what Lowery is capable of. Goth-roc- k the security that people find in painful of scorching and a dreamy self-title- mix ofspicy swing and a fatter sound that gives added muscle otherworldly d by allusions: "Alcoholic scent into lust can make sense out of dark In case you're missing an utter lack The debut release acoustic cabaret make for an impressive a la of alterna- songs like situations. The acoustically chord carte to "No Answer" and "Love French maids scramble through the what seemed previously nonsensical. of metaphors and descrip- Cracker proves to be a must-hav- e for tive rock and pop. progressions mirror the psychological Potion 69" snow," during "Mold" and "Tandem "One kiss and sympathize" tive phrases, this album has left me music fans. Even if you buy this one on you can he limits of the subjects of the song, while ft Death of a Sailor, despite its de The shift to a four piece also leaves bikes and espadrilles are back in loss. whim, believes you style" says with a distinctive bite. "Mephisto shines quite at a It can't be compared to a this writer that layed release, is a record which isn't room Ensslin the chorus faintly brighter. to roam physically. and on "Love Potion 69," for example. Drag" tackles one-nig- stands: other artists and albums, and some won't be disappointed. "I'll "And I dream of the I might held by person , M.C. Brains any kind of temporal bound- Taylor especially appear liberated on While some of the songs do a have show you wrong from rightain't descriptions would fall flat. If you're a Matt Morgan aries usually by have beenThere I am free again... set industry trends, stage now able to jump and dance Non-Sto- p. some sort ofordered narrative, ("Cruel nothin'like your mama told youbaby Michelle Shocked fan, buy the decent band able to rise above its sorry Instrumentals That's because it's anything but trendy. around with And I swear that my grass is greener abandon.unconcerned Samantha," "Let's Play House,") many open your eyescause there ain't nothin album...no doubt. If you're a fan of lyrics. killer. Indeed, listen to "Mold," "Baby with than anyone'sTil I believe againThen running into a bandmate. ofhis picturesque lyrics bring life traditional music, blues, bluegrass, this cre-it- s EMS to the here but usexcept for Mephisto drag." I Def Leppard has one other part of The lyricist has Dracula" and "Come on Wall- What Peggy live wake And the dream fades away and Wants perfor- background characters, establish the Many of the Death of Sailor songs, album's a keeper, if for nothing other trademark sound still workine on ated a debut album that is more fun flower" and you'll see why it would mances have always I face the dayAnd I realizeThat there's been intriguing, setting, all helping to create a blurred particularly "Come on Wallflower" and than the guest musicians. It's upbeat this album: the chorus. Even V than anything else. Stepping away have been remarkably got to be some hero in me." While power on en vogue in due to the smeary stage presence of vision of the song. Only the frayed "Beg," would frenzy of attitude, twangy guitar and mandolin, from the controversial topics that mid-80- erupt into a a dumb song like "Let's Get Rocked," the s, mid-'30- s. Gaines finds hope only in dreams, at or even Then John Ensslin, whose high pierced vo- edges of the picture are revealed; the chaos, Maxwell's drums often tipping and all around travelin' atmosphere many rappers prefer, M.C.Brains raps listen least he realizes something good exists. the band sings in a very convincing, to "Live to Ride" and "What cals are stamped with a mysterious and focused heart the is left bass will up along about sex of song to Taylor's overboard and Ensslin for eventually sweep you right catchy style that can make one smile mainly and romance. Peggy Wants" see how well fits exotic-soundin- g If you're looking a male Tracey to it accent ringing true imagination. wailingout desperately singing about with it. Lovers Lone sports several poten- that Chapman, Jeffrey Gaines' new release like a dork and wag one's head with the OudSE the nasal blurofBowie, the goulishness Ensslin's lyrical themes on Death of the unusual characters Lindsay Lowry tial hits sure to liven up those late most the four-piec- will please new Def Leppard album, drums. The new e line up gives of Robert Smith or even the impulsive Sailor you.