The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 13, 1989, Page 4, Image 4
^ Picking
FT- Your
^ Notes
Bill Sengstacken
As they say, you can't fight a
trend. With that in mind I present
what I consider to be among the top
albums of 1988. It was a pretty good
year ? much better than 1987 ? but
there is still room for improvement.
Let's Active became a cohesive
whole, no longer simply the Mitch
Easter solo project that seemed to
crop up on earlier albums. The other
three members on Every Dog Has
His Day (I.R.S. Records), particularly
Angie Carlson, tend to underscore
the idea that this is a band, one that
released the most enjoyable album of
1988.
Dispelling the notion that you
have to sell your soul to get a major
label contract, Camper Van
Beethoven succeeded with flying colors.
Our Beloved Revolutionary
Sweetheart (Virgin Records), a
tongue-in-cheek tribute to Patty
Hearst, combines witty lyrics with incredible
instrumentation. Extra high
marks go to violinist Jonathan Segel
who, more than any other member, is
responsible for the band's distinctive
sound.
Billy Bragg has always impressed
me with his songs extolling the virtues
of socialism, but on Worker's
Playtime (Electra Records), he shows
another side of his personality. Yes,
there are still snnoc that Karl Mary
could whistle, but seven of the 11
songs deal with the affairs of the
heart, specifically the full cycle of a
relationship that Bragg just relinguished
himself of. Touching to the
extreme, this is a personal and poignant
work.
When I first reviewed the Butthole
Surfers' Hairway to Steven
(Touch and Go Records) this past
spring, I gave it a rave review, but I
honestly didn't think I'd listen to it as
much as I have. In all honesty, this
isn't for everyone, but if you can deal
with a band that creates the most
psychedelic music this side of Syd
Barrett, you'll flip for this.
If you're looking something a
little less eclectic, you could do worse
than the Pogues. If 1 Should Fall
From Grace With God (Island
Records) has party written all over it.
^ X 6 l-k A
UT ilie r
It brings out the
in
"the Welt
Lutheran and United A/
Center located a
Sunday Worship 5:30 f
Wednesday 5:30
Wayne Kannaday 799-4993
Lutheran Chaplain
ATTCRITIIIRI A
? i i era i lura h
NOWS YOl
To Train Wit
WUSC-FM Your Aw
Is Conductinc
\
7:00 Mond
Rm 304 I
Russell
Early last semester I popped this Irish
band on at a party, and it wasn't 10
seconds before someone was dancing
on my coffee table. The band plays a
combination of traditional Irish
melodies combined with bar-band
rock sensibility.
Much more sedate by comparison
is the latest from Canadian Jane
Siberry. Playing in the same ballpark
as Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson,
Siberry uses the sound spectrum as
more of a canvas than anything else.
The Walking (Reprise Records) is extremely
adventuresome, taking more
than one listen to fully appreciate,
but that is to the album's advantage.
I've listened to this more times than I
can count; 1 always h-ar something
new.
One of the coolest things about
1988 was getting a new album from
Patti Smith. After nine long years,
she returns in style with Dream of
Life (Arista Records). While not as
great as Easter or Horses, this is still
one of the hottest discs of the year.
Themes of motherhood and redemption
abound with highlights including
the catchy "People Have the Power"
and the beautiful "Paths That
Cross."
After the incredible This Is the
Sea, I almost felt sorry for the Waterboys.
How do you top a masterpiece?
The answer became obvious with the
release of Fisherman's Blues
(Chrysalis Records). Rather than
repeat the electric sound of previous
works, leader Mike Scott enlisted the
aid of nine of his closest friends and
made an almost exclusively acoustic
album. The down-home sound
makes for exquisite listening.
This past year was the year
for Irish music (except for U know
who 2), and one of the most enjoyable
outings was the pairing of
Van Morrison and the Chieftains.
Comprised almost exclusively of
traditional Irish songs, this isn't an ~~
album that breaks new ground. In- f|
stead, it's more of a tribute to the
music that influenced these musicians
as they grew up. It's infused with a ||
vitality and spirit that makes up for
the lack or new material.
Of course, these are only the tip of
the iceberg. 1988 also saw strong
albums from Tracy Chapman, the
American Music Club, Jane's Addiction,
Michelle Shocked, Graham f?
Parker and Midnight Oil. p]
This year looks promising as well.
Within the next few months we
should be hearing new stuff from
Kate Bush, XTC, the Who and the
album Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney
have been working on for sj
some time. p,
Stick around; it should be good.
I li
idVteu
Midlands t0
i best in all of us. _
t I.
1
;otne place.
iethodist Campus Ministry
t 728 Pickens Street
).m. Supper provided 6:30
Supper and Worship
Debra Quilling 799-7363
United Methodist Chaplain
SPIRING D.J.s
IR CHANCE
:h The Best! I
ibsome Alternative I
] Training At I
ay Jan. 16 I
Of USC's I
House
wuc
The members of Tesla from left to right are Troy I
Blue-collar rockers to
Tesla: noBy
TODD HINES
Features editor
Not many rock bands today refrain from glitz,
glam and a teen following. It's difficult not to take
orders from the record companies that shell out the
clams and make stars.
But one new band ? if they can be called new ?
has a different game plan that includes nononsense
rock 'n' roll without the make-up.
Tesla's the name, and the band makes its second
appearance in Columbia Sunday as the opening act
for Poison.
"We're not really trying to package ourselves
and be molded," said Frank Hannon, who shares
lead guitar duties in the band.
Tesla is just a no-frills, soul-based rock band
that works hard.
They began a four-month tour Friday that will
take them across the country. It's a contrast opening
for Poison, a band noted for its glam-rock image,
but as Hannon put it, "We're both rock
bands."
Hannon said Tesla joined the tour at the request
Features' Weekend
Slack cats and 1
My gosh, it's Friday the 13th! For this special da
:atures desk have decided to include special "How
lements at the tail of each bulletin. Why? Because we
lat busts, or should we say arrests, are very unlucky
The Koger Center (as in Nancy and Ira) opens in
aturday. Not that, providing a propensity towards
cists in your body in the first place, you could even '
's happening anyway. Maybe, if you dressed in shab
de and pressed your nose to the glass you could get
ose yourself to some culture.
The Golden Spur officially reopens tonight. Th
ill begin playing and celebrating righteously at 8 p.m.
nothing. To get arrested here, should boredom o<
:commends either breaking something expensive or p
;er.
If you just gotta dance and you like performing b
Du're tired of smokey clubs, the USC Dance Comp;
)r its spring concert at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the B1
enter, Room 114. Area dancers are invited to audit
lodern and jazz styles of dance. Possible arrest pote
>stume doesn't.
Headbangers will have a ball Sunday night as the
>wn. Opening for them will be Tesla.
V I S I ON CENT
Bring this ad to H. Rubin Vision
Street location for special values for U.S.
faculty. But hurry, these offers expire
BUY A
PAIR, J J\JL~
PAIR FREE*"
Bring this coupon by H. Rubin's JJ Al
1338 Main Street location and when >\
you buy a complete pair of glasses
choose your second pair from the 1989
fashion collection free*
$119 DAILY OR EXTENDE
BAUSCH & LOME
SOFT CONTACT LEW
What a price to write home about! This special offer inc
eye examination and follow up visits. Tinted, astigmal
are slightly higher. How can H. Rubin do it?
$15 OFF ALL SUNGLA
Ray Ban, Porsche, Carrera - H. Rubin's got-em all. Co
Street before Jan. 31, 1989 for $ 15 off your new p
Eye Exams Are Performed By Dr. V
*Free second pair of glasses are first division, single visioi
other special prescriptions { for contacts or glasses will ir
charge. ) This ad must be presented at the of purcha
offers are good only at the 1338 Main Street location. Th
31, 1989 and are not good with any other promotional offer.
, A I
" ""
mHHI
.uccketta, Tommy Skeoch, Jeff Keith, Brian Wheat ai
play Sunday
nonsense ro
of Poison. The two bands met briefly this past year
at the Texas Jam rock concert. F
The band already has strong references, having t
opened for the likes of David Lee Roth, Alice t
Cooper and Def Leppard. Hannon said the
members of Tesla became close friends with Lep- t:
pard members through touring with them for six s
months. t<
* t(
"We're not really trying to
package ourselves and be molded." ^
? Frank Hannon, Tesla
1
In totem, the band has been on the road 14 mon- a
ths, an unusually long time for touring on the K
wines of one record Rut as thev heoin their new T
tour, Tesla will introduce their new album The
Great Radio Controversy, scheduled for release C
Jan. 31 on Geffen Records. T
Hannon said it's a notch better than their first
album, Mechanical Resonance, which sold more ai
than 800,000 copies after its release in 1986. o
Admission is absolute^
>efore large crowds and
liny will hold auditions The Lo,,dOI, PI"'"armo?
att Physical Education
ion for classical ballet, The two bands bring diffe
:ntial exists whenever a offers a glam-rock style, ar
Tickets are still available fc
group Poison rolls into features desk figure that e
concert.
E R S
Center's Main
C. students and
colleg
\ L- The savi,
/against
:d wear ^ ^ ^oo
3ES* { Retail I
iludes contact fens. \ (t^no
tic and bifocal lens yj [tlC
i Retail 1
SSES C ACT NOW! O
ilia l Get Your Balfou
me to 1338 Mam >
lair of sunglasses. I jAe Uni
. ) Mori
lark Taylor f Jan. 16
n lenses. Bifocals and 1 $1
tcur a slight additional }
se and these special ^
ese offers expire Jan. I ll^lBal our.Co/
L
M*? jfl
nd Frank Hannon.
ck 'n' roll
He said Controversy is not too much more ex>erimental
than Resonance, but the band is playing
ogether better after going through so much
ouring.
After nearly two years, Tesla was able to take
ime off and get back into the studio. But Hannon
aid the surprising success of Resonance and the
ouring kept from pressuring them into rushing ino
a new album.
A video has already been shot for the song
Heaven's Trail," but a single from the album will
ome later, he said.
The band, which got its name from Nikola
esla, the father of radio, is made up of Hannon
nd Tommy Skeoch on double lead guitars, Jeff
[eith on vocals, Brian Wheat on bass guitar and
roy Luccketta on drums.
Hannon said he is looking forward to hitting
Columbia during the first leg of the tour where
esla is always well received.
Tickets for the Tesla/Poison concert are $17.50
nd are still available at the Carolina Coliseum box
ffice.
nfl Tf9:
a^c. s?..
&?|uBt m
%irm K?^ji 9
lie Orchestra
:rent styles of rock to Carolina Coliseum. Poison
id Tesla is an up and coming blues-based band.
>r $17.50 at the Coliseum box office. We at the
veryooay Knows now to get arrested at a rock
_id
}E CLASS RINGS lEEi
ngs stack up great ?
the competition.
When you buy any men's ^
or women's 14 karat gold ^
Drice Balfour College Ring. <
When you buy any men's \
or women's 10 karat gold J
?nce Balfour College Ring. \
ffer Expires: January 20, 1989 =?
r Ring at a Special Savings at:
versity Bookstore
i. - Tues. - Wed. i,
-17-18 9:00-4:30 f
15.00 Deposit '