Wednesday, October 1, 1997
Soundbites
MUSIC:
Various artists, "Soul Food" Soundtrack (LaFace) Just as the
album title suggests, all 13 tracks from this newly released film
soundtrack taste of soul food – gritty, heavy and though not fried
in lard, still full of phat. More like a compilation of all the
biggest R&B and rapper faves than an actual soundtrack,
co-producer Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds contributes once again to an
album jam-packed with potential, if not already hits.
Boyz II Men deliver their sentimental ballad "A Song For Mama,"
a dreamy swirling song soon to be used at every graduation as a
tribute to the women in our lives who have done everything from
changing our diapers to loaning us the serious funds. Puff Daddy
teams up with Lil’ Kim in "Don’t Stop What You’re Doing," a quick
dance, club-pick-me-up, while Dru Hill slowly swoons in "We’re Not
Making Love No More." R&B star Monica creates soothing
harmonies with the up-and-coming male vocalist,Usher, in "Slow
Jam," a track quickly rising on the Billboard singles charts.
Other artists that offer tasty samples of soul include En Vogue,
BLACKstreet, XSCAPE and Tony Toni Tone. But it’s just not enough.
All 13 courses of "Soul Food" will leave your ears craving for
more. Nerissa Pacio A+
Dog’s Eye View, "Daisy" (Columbia) Twenty four seconds into
"Goodbye to Grace," the seventh cut on Dog’s Eye View’s new album,
singer Peter Stuart belts out a long, agonizing moan in his effort
to enunciate the pronoun "I." This hearty vocal vagary, as well as
cool machine-like drumming and some interesting guitar work,
distinguishes the Seattle-based band’s second album from all those
minor-league bands. Unfortunately, the band pumps out mostly
standard, predictable ditties in the tradition of Counting Crows,
The Wallflowers, and yes, Hootie & The Blowfish.
Spike the Spin Doctors’ soda with Prozac, and you have Dog’s Eye
View. The songs are friendly, easy to enjoy, and familiar, probably
because we’ve heard them all before. "Homecoming Parade" sounds
suspiciously similar to Tom Petty’s "Mary Jane’s Last Dance," and
"What Do You Do?" comes off like Cracker’s "Low." The band opens up
a can of whoop-ass with "Hollywood," the hardest rock cut on the
album featuring a textbook showcase of Seattle rock-n’-roll.
Dog’s Eye View sounds ripe for a megahit, but it’ll have to be
on the next album. The band has the talent to create a new,
distinctive sound unlike its uninspired rock fare, but that will
require further development and innovation. For now, they make a
perfect frat party band that play enjoyable alternative drivel.
Jeremy Engel B-
The Geraldine Fibbers, "Butch" (Virgin) One of the most popular
bands on the L.A. club scene, the Geraldine Fibbers arrive with
"Butch," a 14-song collection of talented, aggressive pop with
in-your-face themes. With styles that mesh Sonic Youth, the
Replacements and L7, the Fibbers confidently offer a sound that is
both brooding and spirited.
Some songs, like "Toybox" and "I Killed the Cuckoo" bring down
the house with all their punk fury. Others, like the
country-flavored "Folks Like Me" and "Pet Angel," display an
acoustic and vocal twang that will surely raise a few eyebrows over
in College Radioland. Yet the true highlights of "Butch" – the
folk-rock "You Doo Right" and the more accessible "Trashman in
Furs" – bring together catchy hooks and pop musicianship that,
though more subtle, still keep the darker edge of the Fibbers’
style. Mike Prevatt B+
Cornershop, "When I Was Born For the 7th Time" (Luaka Bop/Warner
Bros.) In the tradition of Beck, the Beastie Boys and Pavement,
Cornershop fully utilizes a wide variety of instruments, sounds and
samples to create musically rich songs. Thanks to the talents of
leadman Tjinder Singh, Cornershop succeeds at bringing us one of
the most dynamic records of the year where anything goes.
From songs of sunny pop ("Good to Be on the Road," "Brimful of
Asha") to exotic, hypnotic arrangements full of synthesized sounds
and eclectic instruments ("Sleep on the Left Side," "Chocolat"),
Cornershop goes from one side of the alternative-pop spectrum to
the other. Their use of the sitar adds to ethnic flavor of the
album (recorded all over the world), especially in the Kula
Shaker-meets-Beck "Coming Up," the rhythm-friendly "We’re in Yr
Corner," and, of course, the faithful cover of the Beatles’
"Norwegian Wood" (with Hindu vocals). Thankfully, Cornershop plays
satisfying yet complex pop without overwhelming us. Mike Prevatt
A-
Linoleum, "Dissent" (DGC) Since they hail from the U.K.,
Linoleum will undoubtedly be given the Britpop placard by most
music critics. However, Linoleum’s debut album, "Dissent," serves
as something quite different from the majority of music arriving
here from across the Atlantic. Working with talented producers Paul
Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade (who’ve produced albums of such
respected bands as the Pixies, Radiohead, and Echobelly), the
result carries the musical appeal of Sleeper crossed with the dark,
brooding quality of the Tindersticks.
None of the songs in the album are catchy enough to have you
humming to yourself while walking down the street. Once Linoleum
blasts through your stereo, however, the melancholy atmosphere the
band emotes will have you drop what you’re doing to listen
attentively to lead singer Caroline Finch’s dispirited vocals.
While the fast-paced opening track, "Marquis," deals with the
issue of drug addiction, the album sinks deeper and deeper into a
cesspool of depression with songs like "Beds" ("The rooms spinning
again/She can’t seem to remember getting into this mess/ Don’t try
and pick her face up off the floor"). Slower songs such as "Stay
Awhile" and "Twisted" will just about dampen anyone’s mood for the
rest of the night.
The best track on the album is the bitterly melodic "On a
Tuesday." Half spoken-word, Finch intelligently sings about the
relationship between faulty love and worship, dripping with a dose
of sarcasm. As a bonus, the album contains a hidden track of "On a
Tuesday" sung in French, which recalls the same lilting, celestial
quality that the Francois Hardy version of Blur’s 1994 classic, "To
the End," emanates.
Linoleum’s gloom and doom approach to music somewhat
distinguishes itself from their British counterparts. Even though
"Dissent" won’t be the first choice your CD player will desire to
suck in and play, Linoleum’s the group to listen to any time you
want to remain depressed and feeling sorry for yourself on those
lonely nights Tristan Thai B+
The Honeyrods, "The Honeyrods" (Capricorn) In a year that has
seen such acts as Third Eye Blind and Matchbox 20 hit it big,
alternative pop continues to reign over the electronic hype and
established hitmakers of a few years ago. The Honeyrods follow with
their satisfying, 12 track debut, which sounds destined for KROQ,
Y-107 and Star 98.7 radio heaven.
Their songs are different enough not to melt into each other,
but yet there remains a pleasant flow that keeps you listening.
Their material ranges from the rockers ("Float," "Love Bee") to the
happier pop ditties ("Into You," "Child"). What links their songs
together are the good (signature, high-pitched guitars) and the bad
(pseudo-deep lyrics: "Sometimes you get something/ sometimes you
get nothing… matters where you go"). But the bad never takes away
from the Honeyrods’ fresh-sounding, prepped-for-crusing sound. Mike
Prevatt BVARIOUS ARTISTS
"Soul Food"