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SITE OF THE PAY >pww?grotesque . com i Vic Chesnut JOHN LYONS Features Editor Although you might not have heard of him, Vic Chesnutt is a legend in his own time. Chesnutt has been venerated by everyone from Madonna to R.E.M., the Smashing Pumpkins to Live, and Hootie and the Blowfish to the Indigo Girls. A 1 l 1 Aitnougn ne nas naa no commercial success, he has been embraced by college radio, music critics and bands as disparate as Garbage and Soul Asylum. So who is this guy, you may well ask. Well, Vic Chesnutt is a musician who could very accurately be called the grandfather of the Athens, Ga., music scene. He mixes folk and acoustic music with a rock edge, and his lyrics deals with desperation, frustration and 'Losing streal JOHN LYONS Features Editor Less Than Jake's Losing Streak is possibly the most impressive ska album released in the last few years. Losing Streak is a blissful combination of ska and punk, with more of a sincere punk edge than most other skacore bands have been able to create. The music is instantly infectious with its brilliant horns, incredible intensity and pounding rhythm. The light-hearted music is Clay said you should listen To WUSC-FM 90.5 "Got my kango boots andmy polo cologne" Some T Faste Join the Six Flags team to gair environment that pays well! 1 seasonal management positioi Attention Hospltalltj on campus Wednes* 3 p.m. In t ' SIX FLAGS and all related indicia arc tradem; ETC. ON M t creates beai feelings of hopelessness Chesnutt's voice breaks and quivers on each of his 13 albums, beautifully communicating a sense of pain like words alone never could. His latest album, About to Choke, is his major label debut. The album was produced by Michael Stipe of REM. who also produced Chesnutt's first album. Though better produced than his earlier work, About to Choke doesn't lose Chesnutt's raw edge. His voice is endearing yet grating, and the music follows suit. The soft, folk-oriented music meanders through soft, beautiful tracks that flow Tiaturally from beginning to end, and then.it falls apart and becomes jarringly discordant on other tracks. But throughout, there is a sincere simplicity to the music and the vocals that is absolutely breathtaking, V claims top s strengthened by veiy simple, catchy, direct lyrics about selling out, selfidentity and dealing with life. This six-man Florida band has been extremely prolific in the last few years and have spread 63 songs over five 7-inch records, one 10-inch, three 12-inches and four compact discs. They've also been included on numerous compilations. As it stands, Losing Streak reaffirms the quality output of this excellent band, and, they may be + * + STflTn <4 ^ travel c in low-o (800)777-011 www, sta-t ravel. coi Resumesi lie Round ;r Than Otl l relevant work experience in a a Afa nfFor coriV\i ic cummpr intorncl ' V JV11UUO JU11UUC1 11 llCillOl rts for all types of majors. V Majors! Recruiters wh day, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m the Roger Center. irks of Six Fiags Theme Parks Inc. & ? 1997. ONDAY The Screw Your Wig* ?7>m Jjj J itiful songs c leaving the listener begging for more. Chesnutfs voice lacks commercial appeal, but the listener who is willing to listen past his initial dissatisfaction will be amply rewarded. On About to Choke, Chesnutt focuses mostly on beautiful, captivating folk songs like "New Town" and "Swelters" that disguise the angst and pain in the lyrics with the beauty of the music. Some songs are grating initialy, but the harmonies are infectious, and they cling to the listener like a pleasant dream that sticks to the memory. Chesnutfs music paints haunting images of the South. Chesnutt was raised in a rural county in Georgia, and his grandfather, a semiprofessional musician named Sleepy Carter, taught him to play guitar. At 18, Chesnutt was paralyzed pot in skacon the best skacore band successful band in the FwpjPf' skacore genre has been the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones, but LTJ has most musical quality. It's lL just a matter of time before the word gets out. Losing Streak is the band's mqjor H ivel is the world's largest organization specializing ;ost travel for students. Jot the urge to travel? si has great student airfares to ins around the world. Go shopping ibsite for current student airfares. ^ STA TRAVEL .11 We've been there. Make s hers. Lsiial BV lips and H J Vl to Six Flaos Over Georgia Theme Park A Tim# Wa'nat Er?t#r\* rvn#nl Company 770.739.3411 3 On Tight Session At WUSC-F >f sorrow, des and nearly died in an automobile accident. During the late '80s, after moving to Athens, frequent gigs at the famous 40 Watt Club garnered Chesnutt the respect within the scene, and in 1987, Stipe talked him into recording his first album. Since that time, he has toured with alternative rock demi-gods and released album after album of pure, raw nuggets of folk. Like most of his albums, About to Choke concentrates on desperation, dissipation and unhappiness, but through it all is Chesnutt's unabashed, say anything humor and his willingness to go on a limb. The Beck-esque "(It's No Secret) Satisfaction" and the lounsv. almost karaoke-sounding "Little Vacation" offer off-kilter steps away from more somber, pessimistic tracks like "Giant Sands" and "Degenerate." ? scene for Fh ppffllabel debut, and gLjPMm while major labels often spell death for punk bands because of accusations of selling out, |L m provisions in LT?Fs contract allow them independently of the label on touring and distribution. And the band seems intent on avoiding the sell-out label. Listen to WUSC; listen tc Nov Brand new apparl all beautifully fi 4 Bedroom floor | Washers and drye in every apartm Individual leases. Fully equipped ki Student service ar with computers and copy availa q u i :M 90.5 Ilil side a be Still) *. out a ;pair " the album is centered around folk and acoustic p| rock, Chesnutt HNHHmHHk | J cranks the Ji to Choke a well-rounded collection of Vic Chesnntt, above, ree Chesnutt's and his major label debu beautiful Records. The new albun songs Mend Michael Stipe, the orida band Less "Johnny Quest Thinks We're else i Sellouts" confronts the accusation L1 of selling-out and leaves few questions Strec about LTJ unanswered. then; The band has faced the T accusations and seems to have risen is by above them. catcl From the loose, almost goofy pop- genn punk ska sounds of songs like "Krazy T Game" and "Dopeman" to harder ever _ J 1 !_ . U T T\ T * 1 1_ _/?_ .. eage songs liKe oen uoesn i i^iKe Deioi Me Anymore" and "9th At Pine," LTJ if the cover the spectrum of skacore better and more gracefully than anyone > WUSC; listen to WUSC, Isten to 1 v Leasi We have it all... tments Only one mile frorr jrnished. Swimming pool an< alans Alarm systems in e; ?rs Lighted tennis, bast ent. and volleyball co Clubhouse with rec tchen. and weight room: ea Pool tables and foo , faxes And many more anr bility. [VERS1' Open Daily p VIon. - Fri. 9-6; Sat. 10-4; Sun. 1-5 939-0444 c 800 Alexander Rd. Located adjacent to Parkland Plaza mm Cayce, SC 29033 v ? 44 ke to think I can go outand sfi>a2i/ht into autifal metaphor. But it gets twisted. It still comes in my fanny little scrawl no matter what Vic Chesnutt singer/ songwriter v> j, v t V' J J^B SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK ently released his 13th album it, About to Choke, on Capitol 1 was produced by Chesnutt's singer for R.E.M. Than Jake in the genre. TJ claims to be on a Losing ik, but song after song proves i wrong. he Florida band's debut album far one of the most energetic, ly albums in the punk or ska e in a very long time, he band has surpassed nearly y skacore band that has come e them, and they don't look as sy intend to stop any time soon. i WUSC. WUSC-FM 90.5 ing! i use. d hot tub. ich bedroom, cetball urts. :reation sball. lenities... rv I1 J_J_J inn ^ I SI: i 1] Gervais St. easing Trailer \\ | Alexander Rd. rkland \ / ^ USC 'laza ?s^ Axtel sj