The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 28, 2002, Page 8, Image 8
CD REVIEW
Mehldau not just a cover artist
thing of a jazz purist’s wet dream.
Mostly live, the series allows all
the instrumentalists the chance to
explore their own instrument, in
what seems the perfect jazz envi
ronment. ' •
Mehldau’s solo albums are a
different story. While they are
most certainly led by Mehldau’s
post-bop piano, Mehldau revels
in using all manner of instru
ments to weave incredible
tapestries of sound that seem to
take you somewhere. This idea
was completely realized in his
last solo effort “Places,” in which
each song named for a different
city he visited during his last
tour. The album was certainly a
highlight in recent modern jazz.
“Largo” finds Mehldau taking
more risks than on any of his pre
vious albums. Producer Jon
Brion, who is better known for
having produced artists such as
Fiona Apple, Orbital, Rufus
Wainwright and Aimee Mann,
added his own touch to the album,
resulting in a sonic jazz sound that
lies somewhere beyond jazz fu
sion.
Mehldau seems to take to this
new environment like a fish takes
to water, creating arrangements
that use his trademark piano play
ing as a means of cementing an al
ready well-established jazz or
chestra. “Largo” is filled with the
mournful cries of horns, some of
the most low-key bass playing
ever and over excited drums. It
isn’t done, though, until Mehldau
weaves some of his own personal
brand of magic.
His work always appears sim
ple and straightforward at first,
but he manages to subtly build it
until it has completely taken hold
of the listener.
For those who are wondering,
yes, there are some lovely covers
on the album. Mehldau revisits
Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android,”
looking at the song in an entirely
new light and showing how dif
ferent this album is from his other
works. Instead of recreating the
“hard-rocking” parts of the song
on the lower end of his piano, he
gives it to the drums^ somehow
creating a flawless recreation of
Johnny Greenwood’s guitar with
only percussion instruments.
Mehldau also treats fans with
new renditions of the Beatles clas
sics “Dear Prudence” and
“Mother Nature’s Son.”
Not wanting to be know only
for his fascinating covers,
Mehldau shines brightest on this
release. Whether hearing a typi
cal Mehldau track such as the
lovely opener, “When It Rains,” or
the distorted piano with a wham
my pedal of “Sabbath,” listeners
will be entranced by this intelli
gent experiment.
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and twinkling piano arpeggios.
Of course, the album is best
known for its singles; everyone
knows “Should I Stay or Should I
Go?” and “Rock the Casbah.”
It’s good to know that even in
the ‘80s, a punk band could be so
innovative.
On “Combat Rock,” The Clash j;
shows that, even 20 years ago, it
was more advanced than most
punk bands have been in the
years to follow.
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all about: not streaking or fawn
ing over a first date, but deliver
ing an often-caustic social com
mentary.
“Overpowered By Funk” is a
kitschy way of poking fun at a mu
sical trend.
Allen Ginsburg reads his poetry
over the dance hall reggae in
“Ghetto Defendant.”
The Clash explores almost
Carribean textures on “Sean
Flynn,” using a saxophone, a flute
and even a marimba. “Death Is a
Star” is the most radical depar
ture, with brushes, spoken word
To kick-start “Combat Rock,”
Joe Strummer sums up The
Clash’s mission statement with
this disclaimer: “This is a public
service announcement... with gui
tar!”
The Clash injected sarcastic po
litical critiques into its catchy
punk tunes. On the album opener,
“Know Your Rights,” Strummer
sings, “You have the right/to free
speech/as long as you’re not dumb
enough to actually try it!”
The band even dips into Asian
politics on “Straight to Hell.”
That, friends, is what punk is
BY CHARLES TOMLINSON
THE GAMECOCK
The most ambitious and
groundbreaking music from the
‘80s tends to be hidden by synthe
sizers, drum machines and bad
neon clothes.
The Clash is one of the bands
that didn’t submit to ‘80s overpro
duction. On its self-produced 1982
album, “Combat Rock,” it incor
porated different styles, dynamics
and textures into its sound while
continuing to cut into the songs
with a jagged punk edge.
‘Combat’ rocks the Casbah 20 years later
theYEABS
music
1QQO_ 1 QQ7
EricB.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
tion includes the fast-paced “I.
Know You Got Soul,” and two in
strumental showcases of his dee
jaying abilities with “Eric B. is on
the Cut” and “Chinese
Arithmetic.”
"Paid in Full,” is a must in any
serious music fan’s record collec
tion; it displays the evolution of
hip-hop and the foreshadowing of
a family of more lyrically minded
emcees.
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gamecockmixeditor&ihotmail. com
tirely different game. Character customization is
“NEVERWINTER NIGHTS” “Neverwinter Nights” takes well-done with seven races to
BioWare Software place in a medieval setting with choose from — human to dwarf
out of knights, warriors, wizards and to half-ore. You can also choose
epic mon- --—- one of
BY ANTHONY EVANS sters. The Don’t let this game frighten eleven class
THE gamecock storyline for y0u. It appeals tO any type es - from
the single- ' rr * holy cleric
Video games tend to repeat player mode OT player, new OT Veteran. to divine
themselves. Video game compa- is just that — ' paladin to
nies take an aspect of a compet- —epic. stealthy rogije to an arcane wiz
ing video game, then try to make The brilliant storyline makes ard. The single-player game is
it a little bit better. you wonder why you don’t see made of three chapters and is, on
It’s only every now and then novels like this in your English average, 60 hours long. ^
that one game emerges and com- classes. In the multi player game, you
pletely blows away the can create your own
competition. I’ve been world, storyline, mon
fortunate enough re- sters quests.
to a
such a game. battle arena and hold
The folks over at ■ Player v. Player tour
BioWare. along v. ith fTf^Z^SS^iJvMlSglB in them
Atari, have totally re- BB|^^H|^KaK2Pre^KjBpMBBj|||^H The possibilities are
vamped what endless as to what you
to be a role-playing can do with the multi
Nights" was released
to the stores, only for to the game,
gamers to find The game is off
out at most locations. the latest Dungeons and
"Neverwinter Nights" Dragons rule set
has taken the genre However, don't let that
one step further by
This game appeals to
a eran to the
but the %°%™fntsori th!SStory?
multi player option can ^ByS|g2>^^mBBBliii^^^^^^^^^ gamecockmixeditor
be considered an en- ^ @hotmail.com
VIDEO GAME REVIEW
‘Nights ’ offers gaming twist
“LARGO”
Brad Mehldau
out of ☆☆☆☆☆
BY TUG BAKER
THE GAMECOCK
Many people -know Brad
Mehldau as the jazz pianist who
likes to cover Radiohead songs.
While he does indulge in unlike
ly jazz renditions of modem-rock
geniuses such as Radiohead and
the Beatles, there is much more to
the man than a clever cover gim
mick.
“Largo” marks Mehldau’s fifth
solo album, nQt counting the five
volume “Art of the Trio” series he
released with bassist Larry
Grenadier and drummer Jorge
Rossy. Mehldau is probably best
known for this series in which he
and his fellow musicians manage
to live up to the pretentious title
of their series. Their observation
of the world of the trio is some
Q*s4 ° »o^' _
Cict!f Pizza <5
it n
M-You-Gf-ff*?'
Assert. Kids 3 and
salad under eat free!
a COLUMBIA
6120 St. Andrews Rd.
(803) 750-5900
6084 Gamers Ferry Road
Next to Target
/'"store hours \ CSf
Sun.-Thurs. 11:00 am-10:00PM
Fri.-Sat. 11:00am-11:00pm* /j
^ ^*Buffet Hours May Vary By Location ^
* Prices may vary by location. Valid at participating locations only. CMB8/26
^PIZZA^
• One large round pizza with ; • One giant round pizza with
cheese and one topping ! cheese and one topping
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I
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PEPPERONI PIZZA RGE SUPER DELUXE PIZZA
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$Q99
I Martial Arts, Tai Chi, a More *&&&
Chinese Culture Center offers the following classes in the fall. Class registration fee is due by the
end of the first class. You are welcome to the first class without any obligation. For more info,
please visit our website: www.ChineseCultureCenter.org or call Lea (803)695-2993, or
email:lwalker@ChineseCultureCenter.org
Class location for Tai Chi, Martial Arts, Qi Song and Mulan Quan: TBA. 4i’
Class location for Chinese Language Classes: USC Humanities Classroom Building.
Saturday Classes:
Basic Colloquial Mandarin Chinese Class: September 7 - November 23, Saturdays 3-5 pm, $220.
Textbook and 2 cassette tapes included. Room 201.
Basic Integrated Mandarin Chinese Class: September 7 - November 23, Saturdays 3-5 pm, $200.
Room 202.
Tai Chi Class: September 7 - November 9, Saturdays 2-2:50 pm, $100.
Qi Song Class: September 7 - November 9, Saturdays 3-3:50 pm, $100.
Martial Arts Class: September 7 - November 9, Saturdays 4-4:50 pm, $100.
Sunday Classes:
Mulan Quan: September 8 - November 10, Sundays 2-2:50 pm, $100.
Tai Chi: September 8 - November 10, Sundays 3-3450 pm, $100.
Martial Arts: September 8 - November 10, Sundays 4-4:50 pm, $100.
Children and Parents Play and Learn Chinese Classes, Free for Parents:
Age 0-2 and parents, September 8 - November 24, Sundays 2-3:50 pm, $100, room 202. k
Age 3-5 and parents, September 8 - November 24, Sundays 2-3:50 pm, $100, room 201. *6
Age 6-12 and parents, September 8 - November 24, Sundays 2-3:50 pm, $100, room 206.
CANTERBURY OF COLUMBIA
An Episcopal Ministry with Young Adults (18-29)
The Episcopal Church Welcomes You! FREE FOOD -
FREE FUN. Holy Communion, Dinner & Program Tuesdays
6:30 pm at St. John's Episcopal Church, 2827 Wheat Street. f)
All are welcome, Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians
For information regarding Canterbury contact Margaret Lumpkin
(803) 256-8602 or email malumpkin@hotmail.com