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Summer Music Guides If you spent all summer on the beach. catch up on the summer’s offerings BY W|LL|AM MILLS with this compilation of The Gamecock’s reveiws of summer CD releases. Eminem’s third major label album, “The Eminem Show,” has exploded with a bang, and there isn’t much the censors and ferities can do about it. This album is packed with the same controversial and in-your-face lyrics that have always made "Slim Shady” so appealing. However, it seems a little less humor-oriented and more emotional. The cool beats are ' sewn together with lyrics so deep that his pain bubbles to the surface. “Sing for the Moment” is one of the most powerful songs on the album. It is about the power of music, and how it can be a warm blanket for kids who need an escape from all the bad things in their lives. “Sayin’ Goodbye to Hollywood” expresses Eminem's problems with being rich and famous. Although the album isn’t bursting with humor, Eminem still seems to insult indiscriminately, the worst on this album being toward Moby in the song “Without Me.” This Australian fotu-some recently released their first full length album. "Highly Evolved," under a blanket of Beetle esque, dreamy harmonies and a strong dose of Seattle grange. IfNirvana and the Fah Four mated, something like the Vines would emerge from the gene pool. Don’t let songs like the MTV hit "Get Free'ifool you; these Aussies aren't all about rocking out in a rough way. Lead vocalist and guitarist Craig NichoHs has a voice that invokes the harmonious melodies of the Beatles, and he crisscrosses his hard rock howls with ‘60s harmonies that take turns with lyrics are ary ana uninspiring. . having influence from two of the biggest rock and roll pioneers is somewhat redeeming. Overall, “Highly Evolved" is a strong rock album that mixes an old sound with a totally new band. Churabawamba's latest release. “Readymades." is a dance album scattered with the ramblings of a once-great group of aging British anarchists. The album is chock full of electronic beats driven along by mediocre vocals and lyrics. “Readymades” sounds less like an album created by members of the early 70s brit-punk scone and more like a sound track to a Japanese anime film. Chumbawumba’s first full-length album arrived in the hands, of the misguided in 1982, and “Readymades” is their fourth full-length release ou a major U S. labeL Though the lyrics invoke and preach .against all that is non-PC, they never touch the listener on an emotional or intellectual level. “Salt Fare, North Sea” is an ambient dance tune that is perfect for dance clubs but inappropriate for a bin :ch of middle-aged rebels. “Readymades" is a death rattle for these one-hit-wonders who have dug a deep hole for themselves, It will take a shovel a lot more-dynamic than "Readymades” to dig up some record sales. This is their third full-length release, and the sound of (his album unfortunately stays very loyal to the previous ones. "Sticks and Stones" sounds like a continuation of the recording sessions of their last album. This new album has the same hook ruled cnoruses and catcny lyrics aoout mgn school crushes that made them synonymous with bubble-gum punk. Although all 12 songs seem to be about a girl, the album felt very uninspired. The songs seem to blend together UltoabZ- -iui..man-mi l.... minute pop love song, and there is a certain amount of superficial fun to be had when listening to the album Mark Hoppus from Blink plays gfiSSSl . T 4 • ■ ’-..it,rockers released this EP that is a follow-up to their first and only full-length album, “Everynight Fire Works." Any album from these founding fathers of emotional punk rock is sure to tug at every available heartstring. Robert Nanna’s personal and powerful vocals sail above a sea of angular guitar work and well-placed breaks. “Our Weekend Starts on Wednesday” is a perfect example of this style. Hey Mercedes also has the advantage of production assistance from J. Robbins, the singer from Burning Airlines and one of the more infamous names in punk rock. “The Weekend” EP is something to keep Hey Mercedes fans at bay until their next ftill-length release but. more importantly, it’s a chance for those just getting turned on to this genre to earn some merit badges. Hey Mercedes isn’t riding a trend; it bass on “Something I Call Personality." which is the fourth track on the album. Other guest artists include members of “Bane” and “Alkaline Trio's” Matt Skiba. They add to the vocal fullness on tracks like “Forget My Name,” although their influence is so slight that they barelymake a dent in the castle of catchy bubble-gum punk that NFG lias constructed. This fun-loving, upbeat pop punk group should try writing songs about sand and surfing, and leave the sappy love lyrics for the acoustic emo bands. “A JACKNIFE TO A SWAN Mighty Mighty Bosstones • ** out of “HARD CANDY” Counting Crows ** out of ☆ft*** “BUSTED STUFF’ Dave Matthews Band *** OUt Of ilttHi-ft! “IRREVERSIBLE TREND” From Safety to Where *** out of iaiiirtrt! “GOD’S FAVORITE” N.O.R.E. ★★out of “THE DOUBBLE DONKEY DISC” Ozma ★★ ★ out of “A GANGSTER AND A GENTLEMAN” Styles ■** ★ out of***** “BORN TO REIGN” Will Smith *★ out of##*** St. Thomas More CATHOLIC CENTER AND CHURCH Weekend Mass Saturday 4:30 p.m. Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Daily Mass Monday - Wednesday & Friday 12:15 p.m. Confession 3:00-4:00 p.m. or appointment I RCIA (for those interest in the Catholic faith) Newman Club Sunday 5:30 p m Bible Study Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Wednesday 8:00 p.m. Friday 1:00 p.m. Rev.Tim Lijewski, Chaplain and Campus Minister Gaurav Shroff, Director of Christian Formation • 1610 Greene Street 799-5870 (across from the school of Nursing webpage- http://www.stthomasmoreusc.org emaiktlijewski @ aol.com