University of South Carolina Libraries
This Week in USC History January 30, 1989 — The 2nd Annual AIDS Conference was held at the Russell House. Sixty-four panels from the AIDS quilt were put on display. JwuifoM&y Wide range of genres make up best of 2000 by Kevin Langston The Gamecock 1 Perhaps this should serve as an explanation as to what I’m trying to do with this list. While some readers think a music critic is staunch and set in a “holier-than thou” mode, I am only suggesting these albums to you in a friendly manner. I am not telling you, dear reader, tliat your record collection is all the more weak without these additions. You could ignore me for all I care, but as a fan of these albums and an overall music enthusiast, I’d love to see the two of you hit it off. In the interest of being fair, I’d love for any of you to send me your picks of the previous year so we can engage in a dis course dealing with all that is musical. I can be reached at kevma79@hotmail.com. Af ter all, what makes me an expert? Without further delay, and in as brief an ^ explanation as I can muster, here they are: 10) Mojave 3-Excuses For Travelers The third release from this group tugs at the heartstrings with great sincerity. For some reason, pain makes for great music. Pedal steel moans laid over slow, atmospheric ballads keep in standing with the group’s sound, but they are as much Americana as Lambchop. It just works well with the lyrical content. Misery seems to adapt well to the pedal steel guitar. Don’t ask me why. 9) Empire State-Empire State Offering a comparison for tliis is not an easy task, but try the Asian/Indian sound of Macha and the compositional approach used by Folk Implosion on their most recent album One Part Lullaby as a reference point. Even this, however, might not do the group any justice. One moment this album can be very approachable, but the songs can bury themselves in layers of different regions and textures. 8) Deftron 3030-Dettron 3030 I don’t claim to be a hip-hop expert, but I’d like to think I know good examples when I hear it. Take the intelligent lyrics and style of Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. Add it to the compositional work and production of Dan The Automator and the turntable styles of Kid Koala, and you have a combination that should make iiip-hop enthusiasts drool. It’s like an all-star album that never falters in content or flow. 7) J.Masds and The Fog-More Light J. Mascis aligns himself with a few more Indie Rock forefathers on this album to create something that should bring a reminiscent tear to the eye of any Dinosaur Jr. fan. Robert Pollard provides guest vocals, Kevin Sliields provides session work and Phil Elk assists with some drum engineering. This is marvelous rock ‘n’ roll at work here, kids. 6) Billy Bragg and Wilco Mermaid Avenue Volume I Bragg and Wilco breathe their collective breath once again into the lyrics of Woody Guthrie and come out with another album that gives these words a life celebratory of Bragg, Wilco and Guthrie. A more raw and primitive side of Guthrie is explored on this second installment, but they do not neglect his tender side completely. 5) AJchemysts-Zero Zen This is revolutionary rock without a revolution, and, damn, it’s good. These driving, pulsating songs remind me of The MC5 and the Stooges. The Alchemysts are incredible musicians, and from minute one, you are on a fast-paced jolt through their visions. They have a lot to say, and they use great rock ‘n’ roll in their sermons. 4) The Dandy Wartiote-Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia The overall schizophrenic nature of this album is appealing and refreshing. The Dandys can mix their sound from one tune to the next without being too clichd or shallow. There is a delicate blend of rock, pop, soul, country and blues at work in these tunes, and I dare you to find a weak song. 3) Grandaddy-The Sophtware Skrnp There’s something magical at work in this album. From the first seconds of the album’s opener, “He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot,” you know you’ve got something good. Grandaddy mixes the styles of synthesizer pop with good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll, adding mystical lyrics of fantasy and social import. This is one of the best that 2000 offered. 2) Godspeed You Black Emperoti Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven This is what music is supposed to do. I feel something powerful and lasting when I listen to these four apocalyptic movements. Nine people recreate the sound of a full orchestra with skilled perfection. The pieces within these four long movements take you to a place you’ve never been, and it’s tough to leave when it’s all over. 1) Sieve Earle-Transcendental Blues Steve Earle offers up a more reflective and introspective take on life in this album. Blending folk, rock, countiy, pop and Celtic sounds. Making this his most well rounded effort yet, he shows the listener how it isn’t odd or contradicting to be a fen of The Beatles and Johnny Cash. Earle has an uncanny ability to make his life applicable to anyone who is listening. His words are lasting, and they are precise and poignant. He is truly a master. The spotlight desk can be reached at gamecockspotiight@hotmail.coni Kevin’s Top 20-11 20) Mark Kozelek Rock ‘N’ Roll Singer” 19) The Apples In Stereo-The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone 18) Beachwood Sparks-Beachwood Sparks 17) Built to Spill Live 16) U2-A11 That You Can’t Leave Behind 15) Masters of the Hemisphere-I Am Not A Freedoom 14) Self Gizmodgery 13) Radiohead Kid A 12) Clem Snide Your Favorite Music 11) Ryan Adams Heartbreaker What’s Happening Friday, Jan. 26 % Live Music BILLY CS No Wake BLUE MARTINI Drink Small. Skipp Pearson COCK PIT The Tams DELANEY’S James John Smith ELBOW ROOM Gran Torino HEMINGWAY’S Furious George HUNTER-GATHERER Mandible JAMMIN JAVA Matthew Perryman Jones, Billy Cerveny MAC’S ON MAIN Jeff Liberty Blues Band NEW BROOKLAND Crooked Fingers, The Stelle Group Saturday, Jan. 27 Live Music BILLY G’S Soup BIDE MARTINI Dave Edgington Quartet DELANEY’S James John Smith ELBOW ROOM Suck, DJ D, DJ Mind * warp HEMINGWAY’S Black Creek JAMMIN JAVA Danielle Howie JILJUAN’S Red Sky MACS ON MAM Fatback and The Groove Band NEW BROOKLAND Avail, Ann Baretta, Strike Anywhere Sunday, Jan. 28 Live Music GROUP THERAPY Mystic Vibrations PUBUCK HOUSE Traditional Irish Session In the News ■ Dillon set to direct first motion picture SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) James Caan will star in Matt Dillon’s directorial debut, Beneath the Banyan Trees, United Artists and Mainline Productions have announced. The film also will star Dillon and Natascha McElhone (Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Truman Show). Based on a script written by Dillon and Barry Gifford, Beneath the Banyan Trees tells the story of Jimmy (Dillon), who is waiting for the heat to cool after a failed insurance scam. After he hears rumors that his partner has surfaced in Cambodia, he sets off to get his promised cut, where he finds a mysterious and hostile environment. Beneath the Banyan Trees is scheduled to begin shooting in Cambodia this month. In addition to five weeks there, the film will shoot three weeks in Thailand. Women Helping Women It S UVOUt...U,J&\ Southeastern Fertility Center has helped many couples achieve preg nancy since ij)g3. vve are In need ^ of Egg Donors to continue to help Infertile women. • young healthy women between 21 - 32 • Procedures, are done In Mt. pleasant sc • Compensation Is i20C0 • R.e<^ulres a month of your time EGG DONATION PROGRAM For more information, please call 803-779-4668 -v S' 6 kV/« I ift Sft SjW ^ F’frTft) 19 W bjH Riverbend Apartments 100 Riverbend Drive W.Columbia, SC 29169 Enjoy a campus atmosphere without the dorm atmosphere. • State of the art Fitness Center • Multi Station Computer Lab • Fax & modem station linked to USC Campus • Study area • Two on-site Laundry Facilities • Spacious 1,2, & 3 bedroom apartments • Swimming pools _ • Tennis court * • Catering to students Tel • 794-2948 • Fax 794-0017 • www.riverbendapts.com