Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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■ ™ i Harver stays true to form on new CD I c/ by Pete Johnson Gamecock Critic Ben Harper - “Bum To Shine” ★★★ out of ★★★★ “Bum To Shine,” Ben Harper’s fourth full-length release proves to be his most diverse to date, yet 1 can't help but be slightly disappointed in its effort. With “Shine,” Harper and the Innocent Criminals, his backing band, seem to be treading water rather than foiging ahead. As far as I know, Harper is the only frontman in rock music today to use a slide guitar as his instrument of choice rather than the traditional electric, and it does give the band a definitive sound. Considering that Harper has the advantage of orig J inality in that sense, he doesn’t use it to his advantage as he should. Harper seems a bit hesitant in changing his songwriting for mula from the same old mix of spiritual acoustic folk ballads and straigh- ahead, slide-driven rock ‘n’ roll. With J. P. Plunier having pro duced all four Harper albums, “Bum To Shine” is the closest thing to change that the band has gone through. Overall, the album uses the same old formula, but Harper does mix it up a bit. The album features a Dixieland-style song, “Suzie Blue,” a piano and orchestral ballad, “Beloved One”; and “Steal My Kisses,” which showcases a guitar riff strangely reminiscent of the Jackson Five’s “ABC.” Although “Shine” is a good al bum, it doesn’t quite stand up to Harper’s last two albums, 1995’s “Fight For Your Mind” and 1997’s “The Will To Live.” But consid ering how successful Harper has been since he broke through, keeping the same formula might be a smart idea. Harper remains extremely popular among, well, hippies I guess, and I’ve heard of people crying at his live shows-in a good way, that is. So flick your lighter, raise it up high and let it bum to shine. Stale fusion rock on Shootyz's newest by Pete Johnson Gamecock Critic Shootyz Groove - “High Definition” ★ out of ★★★★ Is it just me, or is the concept of the rock/rap hybrid band getting a bit tired? Ever since Sublime’s Bradley Nowell died of a heroin overdose, thus vaulting rap and rock into the limelight together, rock radio has been littered with copycat bands bent on getting their piece of the pie. New York’s Shootyz Groove employ that formula, and they do it poor ly. Albums like this leave music appreciators scream ing for a new revolution. Sure, there are good rap/rock bands out there like Rage Against the Machine, but many music fans are sick of the Limp Bizkits and Kid Rocks of the music world. There are many talented rappers and rock bands out there. Seek them out, but don’t look to Shootyz Groove for either. I share the popular opinion that rap and rock music shouldn’t be fused *___I.. 1_*.u_ uiiitw u uu«t uiv talent to handle both. Shootyz Groove seem to have minimal talent in each. “L Train,” the first single off of “High Defini tion,” has enjoyed modest ra dio sucess on Rock 93.5, but Shootyz Grooves’grooves fall way short of respectability. There’s a thin line between catchy and annoying, and Shootyz Groove hurdle that line and leave it in the dust. Just think, if Bradley Nowell hadn’t died, “What 1 Got” would have never been re leased and we would have like i.._ i j uiuiuvu mtJ nugiv j/tiv nomenon. If you’re looking for someone to blame for this rap/rock craze, blame heroin. Yes stays close to prog rock formula by Todd Money Sports Editor Yes-“The Ladder” ★★1/2 out of ★★★★ Yes, those four-decade veterans of progressive rock, have returned with “The Ladder,” their first album of new material in two years. For long-time fans, this should be a delight. For the unfamiliar, it’s a jangly, long-winded and melodic reminder of the 1970s rock scene. The band has retained many of its dynamics over the years - dreamy, New Age-flavored lyrics, vir tuoso instrumentation, long and detailed sound scapes, and some of the cleanest melodies imagin able. And lead singer Jon Anderson’s voice is just as high and clear as it was 30 years ago. What producer Bruce Fair baim (who died just after the al bum was completed) and Yes did, then, is inject a fair number of worldly influences into “The Ladder’s” 11 songs while dis rupting little of the band’s trade mark style. The results work both ways. While “It Will be a Good Day” and the finale “Nine Voices,” stretch out nicely with Middle Eastern touches, “If You Only Knew” sounds and reads like late- 80s Peter Cetera, or all things. Other new flourishes abound as well. “Light ning Strikes,” with its heavy beat and use of the Marguerita Horn section, sounds as if it were made for a dance hall and is easily the most exciting song on the album. And new keyboardist Igor Khoro Ishev’s textures keep it inter esting throughout, sometimes in the form of baseball-stadium like otgans. Most of the material retains the classic formula, though. The closely miked guitars and spa cious structures of “Home [ world” and “New Language” •' would sound just right beside Yes classics like “Roundabout” or “Changes.” And like most Yes albums, about a third of the material is unmemorable hller Overall, it’s an artsy, pretentious album that sounds really nice through the headphones. While Yes might not have caught up with the present day yet, “The Ladder” brings them a little closer. WUSC Concert Calendar • Sept 22 Music Farm - Maceo Parker w/ Otus • Sept 23 Music Farm - Seven Mary Three, Hobex • Sept 24 Music Farm - Gov’t Mule, Chris Whit ley Charlotte, N.C. - Carolina Musicfest fea turing Athenaeum, Jonny Land, Our La dy Peace, Creed, Gov’t Mule, drivin ‘n’ cryin, Edwin McCain, Seven Mary Three, Burlap to Cashmere, Cowboy Mouth, Cravin’ Melon, Chairman of the Board, more (Sept. 24-26) •Sept 25 Music Farm - The Samples, Chris Di Croce Blockbuster Pavilion - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers •Sept 28 Music Farm - Pietasters, Pilfers, Spring Healed Jack WUSC TOP 10 Albums 1. “Cobra Phases,” Stereolab. Elec tra 2. “Silur,” Tarwater. Mute. 3. “Stop Making Sense,” Talking Heads 4. “Fidelity Whrs,” Hefiier. Beggar’s Banquet. 5. “Brand New Second Hand,” Roots Manuva. Big Dada. 6. “Remedy,” Basement Jaxx. As tralwerks. 7. “Black Elvis,” Kool Keith. Ruff house. 8. “The Beta Band,” The Beta Band. Astralwerks. 9. “Les Boom Boom,” Chocolate Kiss. Moodswing. 10. “The Golden Band,” American Analos Set. Emperor Jones.