The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 16, 2002, Image 16
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