The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 26, 2001, Page 5, Image 5
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.
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Enjoy a campus atmosphere without the dorm atmosphere.
• State of the art Fitness Center
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• Two on-site Laundry Facilities
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Tel • 794-2948 • Fax 794-0017 • www.riverbendapts.com