Monday, February 8, 1999
Soundbites
Furslide, "Adventure" (Virgin) Sporting Natalie Merchant’s
former guitarist, one album finally stands out as both unique and
capable of being more than a one-hit wonder. And it’s taken a New
York band with a growing Los Angeles presence to prove that quality
still exists.
In fact, it is almost impossible to figure out what single track
stands out most from all the others on Furslide’s "Adventure." The
album remains a complete work of unity and impressive
songwriting.
The album contains definite highlights, however. The slow and
deliberate melody of "Hawaii" marks one addition that utilizes
soft, refreshing female vocals. The first track, "Over My Head,"
also gives the listener the first successful dose of rocking guitar
hooks.
By far the most impressive aspect of every pick remains the
creative melodies. Ranging from bluesy to alt-rock to soft pop,
songs such as "My Friend’s Gallery" and "Bring You Down" get a
little more interesting with every chord. The tracks do at times
sound overly similar, but that doesn’t matter if you’re listening
to the album as a complete work instead of a collection of
singles.
Sounding both ethereal and grounded, each song will enthuse the
fan of something a little different than the monotonous tunes
hashed out on the radio.
In this day when new acts remain synonymous with novelties or
one-hit wonders, bands like Furslide remind us that good music
lurks out there somewhere – you just have to know where to
look.
Michelle Zubiate
Rating: 10
Cassius, "Cassius 1999" (Astralwerk)
The French equivalent of the Dust Brothers, Boombass and
Philippe Zdar has produced Gallic sensations MC Solaar and La Funk
Mob. And after 10 years fiddling the mixing boards for other
artists, the two producers step out as Cassius.
"Cassius 1999" hits like a Parisian kiss of heavy bass, light
house production, and – at its soul – hip hop beats. Obvious on
"1999" is the influence of other French DJ groups, Daft Punk and
Dimitri From Paris, campy ’70s beats that are prevalent little
gremlins popping up on every track.
"Foxxy" is a classic French dancetrack taking modern elements
currently dominating the scene. Throbbing bass forms the foundation
for the high symbal beats. The attitude, strictly disco; the music,
strictly sensational.
The rest of the album follows suit, so don’t worry about the
faces behind the music. Just enjoy the very European sensibilities
going on in the disc. Part technicolor spy film cool and part
blaxploitation groove, "1999" moves with suave.
"Hey Babe," speaks for itself. A thumping bass loops against a
background of spacy effects and a deep voiced "Hey Baby" drops in
at precise cuts on the track. Like any other dance disk, "Cassius"
is meant for certain moods and state of minds. Don’t play it to
calm down, spin it for parties.
Trinh Bui
Rating: 7
Various Artists, "Rushmore Soundtrack" (London Records)
Unlike most film directors, who choose music for their films
based on whatever band happens to be popular at the moment, Wes
Anderson agonized for months over the perfect songs to accompany
his film "Rushmore." Telling the story of 15-year-old Max Fischer,
Anderson discovered, required just the right mix of Mark
Motherbaugh’s light, chirpy score and ’60s British Invasion
tunes.
The resulting "Rushmore" original soundtrack, then, is an
eclectic concoction of mild ballads, power rock and short
instruments, all of which fuse into one another quite easily. While
some of the soundtrack is derived from popular artists (including
John Lennon and The Who), most of the catalog is composed of
forgotten gems from years past.
Creation’s anthemic "Making Time" provides the backbone of the
soundtrack, with its wailing guitar and excessive reverb. Also
notable are two songs from the legendary Cat Stevens, including the
charming "Here Comes My Baby."
Chad and Jeremy’s slow and sweet "Summer Song," featured in the
movie as a backdrop to Max’s growing obsession with a teacher, here
serves as a fitting theme for young lovers.
The mellow British tunes and lilting instrumental selections
will no doubt please fans of the film more than the average
music-buyer, but "Rushmore’s" integration of hard rock and easy
listening gives the album an uncommon general appeal.
Lonnie Harris
Rating: 9
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