Wednesday, February 25, 1998
Soundbites
MUSIC:
DJ Premier, Haze presents … New York Reality Check 101
(Payday) Mix tapes are like potpourri for the ears. They afford the
listener the opportunity to sample many different artists, themes,
styles and much more. Mix tapes have long held a special place in
hip-hop culture, allowing DJs (armchair and professional alike) to
showcase their mixing skills.
Funkmaster Flex brought the mix tape into a new era with the
introduction of his anthology, 60 Minutes of Funk, Volumes 1 &
2. The widespread popularity of these two joints proved the
commercial viability of nationally distributed mixed tapes.
Enter DJ Premier, beatmaster behind the platinum-selling group
Gangstarr, and now with New York Reality Check 101. Premo, as he is
affectionately known, came to flex his muscles on the wheels of
steel.
Warning: If you want to dance, this is not the album to buy.
There are no smoothed-out R&B hooks or remakes of previous
classics. There are no thumping bass lines designed to make your
ass shake. However, if youre interest is in the basic hip hop
formula of beats and rhymes, you cannot go wrong. New York Reality
Check 101 is for the listener who appreciates straight-forward
lyrical flow and hard-hitting boom-bap beats.
The simplicity of this album is its strongest selling point.
There arent any standout performances. Yet New York Reality Check
101 has the feel of a true hip-hop club. Not the kind of
establishment where the Big Willies are flossin the latest Versace
and poppin Crystal, but where hoodies, baggy jeans and boots are
the norm. J. Jioni Palmer C+
A.J. Croce, Fit to Serve (RUF/ Platinum/ Polygram) While most
people have always admired the soul in R&B and think that jazz
is one the coolest things on earth, modern blues-rock artists
havent received as much mainstream airplay as the alternative and
pop genres. Blame it on the conformist love for poppy rock and Star
98.7 FM.
But after listening to A.J. Croces newest release, Fit to Serve,
a fun and spicy combination of New Orleans blues and rock, the
talented son of 70s singer Jim Croce may convert more pop listeners
into soul fans with his energetic and incredibly catchy ballads
about love and heartbreak.
In his third album, Croces band is limited to the barest
essentials: bassist Dave Curtis, drummer Paul Kimbarow and himself
on the piano. With only the trio featured in the music, Croces
powerful piano playing is showcased throughout the entire album.
Since Croce has played the piano professionally since the age of
17, his expertise and mastery of the instrument is admirably
evident, especially in the tracks Trouble in Mind, Texas Ruby and
Too Late.
Croces deep, gravel-like voice compliments his soulful, romantic
odes to love nicely. The title track catches the listeners
attention right away, setting the mood for the mercurial album. The
rest of the tracks range from mellow tunes like Uncommon Sense to
happy, bouncy songs like Ill Get Through. Nobody Else a bittersweet
love song that features Croces unique voice and piano playing to a
harmonious climax, is easily the standout on the album.
A.J. Croce brings a refreshing Cajun flavor to pop music, but
doesnt stray far enough from the mainstream to alarm any fragile
KIIS-FM listeners out there. Aimee Phan A-
The Smooths Very Own Vegas (Polygram) Bands such as Reel Big
Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones and the like found 1997 a great year
for their genre. Third-wave ska dazzled kids everywhere with its
hyper tunes and laid-back attitude. They have also paved the way
for smaller bands to seize their moment in the spotlight. The debut
album, Very Own Vegas, proves The Smooths can shine as brightly as
their predecessors.
After touring with bands such as The Pietasters and Reel Big
Fish, this Baltimore band decided it was time to produce their own
compilation of reggae, ska and pop-punk picks. Its own mix of
danceable beats is perfect for any fan of playful tunes.
The swingin style of the albums first song, In The Grass, starts
the album with the type of energy that often leads to hits. Jazzy
pick 78th of Soon and more reggae-ish Letter After J demonstrate
the bands versatile style and talent. Their humor also can be found
in quirky little interludes such as the Inspector Gadget theme
belted during the song Lord Jack.
Some songs such as Property is Theft rely on generic ska-beats,
however, to carry the rhythm. It doesnt happen too often but does
mark the albums only weakness.
Even still, there are no shortage of foot-tapping, head-bopping
beats in this album. It is also apparent that The Smooths would be
a terrific live band. The combo makes this album a must-have for
the die-hard ska collector, placing it in line with other small
indie hits such as The Aquabats and Cherry Poppin Daddies. Michelle
Zubiate B+
The Apples in Stereo Tone Soul Evolution (Sire) Lets take a
fantastic journey back to the late 60s; put on some vinyl of the
latest American folk-pop and enjoy the relaxed music of the
time.
Fast forward to the present and the same American rock-flavored
music is alive and sporting bell-bottoms with The Apples in
Stereos, Tone Soul Evolution.
Either on purpose or by accident, the Apples embody the
harmonious philosophy present in early Beatles songs. They have
carried over the formula that worked back in the lava lamp days and
dragged it back into the mainstream. The non-threatening lyrics,
mellow guitar picking, the strategically placed ahs and clapping
during the chorus leaves no doubt that these guys spent a lot of
late nights listening to vintage hippie rock.
Yet the music is also irresistibly catchy and hard to turn off.
Vocalist Robert Schneider brings a soft feminine touch to his
vocals and on occasion sounds exactly like Paul McCartney or John
Lennon. There is no one stand-out-and-shout single on the disc; in
fact, the album flows in a single upbeat tempo, which makes it hard
to distinguish one song from the next. The chorus and arrangements
provide simple straightforward rhythms that holds the ear for the
duration of a given song.
Not the best of tunes out there, but in a scene dominated by
Hanson and Spice Girls records, the Apples will attract
flashback-starved listeners. Trinh Bui a.k.a T-Dawg B-