The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 21, 2002, Page 7, Image 7
CD REVIEW
Ska band
sticks to
overused
formulas
“HI-FI REVIVAL”
Orange County Supertones
★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆
BY QUINN STEINBRECHER
THE GAMECOCK
Think back. The seventh grade
has just ended, and another sum
mer is just beginning. A friend of
yours asks you to go on his
church’s beach trip. For lack of
anything better to do, you decide
^ to tag aloftg.
While you are en route in the
church van, a good-natured,
well-chaperoned excitement be
gins to appear. As the tape play
ers are brought out, you are
bombarded with the new and hip
in Christian rock. DC Talk’s new
album, “Jesus Freak,” is out and
dominates the play list.
But there are possible
usurpers of its throne. One such
suitor is the Orange County
Supertones, who play ska music
with simple, upbeat sing-along
lyrics and a positive Christian
message.
Fast- forward to 2002. The well
traveled Supertones are releas
ing their fifth album, “Hi-Fi
Revival.” While their original au
dience has grown up and gone on
0 to high school and college, the
Supertones have decided to never
move past that post-seventh
grade summer.
That summer was a memo
rable one for many people, but
the Supertones must have had
the summer of a lifetime. Or at
least that’s what they are going
to try to make it in to.
With lyrics such as, “For those
who thought we went away, well,
people, here we are. LP number
five, and we have not begun to get
it done. Christ, the focus; can you
feel where I am cornin’ from?” it’s
obvious they are not too interest
ed in securing fans over the age
of 14.
<• Taking the band’s target audi
ence into account, this album
isn’t all bad. The music is near
ly as catchy asit was on their ear
lier albums, such as “Supertones
Strike Back” and “The
Adventures of the O.C.
Supertones.” They have done lit
tle to change the formula, except
that they are a little less ska and
a little more straightforward
rock. The younger kids in the
youth group will eat this album
up. The Supertones make the per
fect soundtrack for any church
sponsored youth function.
untortunateiy, ior mose wno
have been through adolescence,
there isn’t much for you here.
The Supertones do reference
g Miles Davis’ classic 1949 album
T ' “The Birth of Cool” in their apt
ly titled “Birth of Uncool.” But
those who might actually catch
this reference will probably not
be buying “Hi-Fi Revival” be
cause they are too old for it or
have better taste.
Christian music is not known
for its diversity and experimen
tation, and the O.C. Supertones
are no exception. They came from
the big ska-pop punk movement
that included bands such as Five
Iron Frenzy, Ghoti Hook, MxPx
and the Insyderz. They play for
mulaic ska music and have not
moved much from that position
since the beginning.
If you’re a young kid without
real musical inclinations and
are looking for something to
jump around to while praising
Jesus, the Orange County
* Supertones are your band, and
“Hi-Fi Revival” is just as good of
a starting point as any. And The
Supertones will definitely get
you through that long drive to
the beach. That way, you won’t
be humming “Jesus Freak” con
tinuously until Miles Davis rolls
over in his grave.
Comments on this story?E-mail
gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com
New group delivers rock with an edge
MEG MOORE
THE GAMECOCK
Tinkers Punishment, an up
and-coming Denver-based band,
has decided to bring its innovative
brand of pop/rock to the Southeast
and it’s doing so for free. Taking
advantage of open dates during
their current tour with Jump,
Little Children, the group is slat
ed to play two shows at Senate
Park during the coming week.
The first two performances are
a solo show Tuesday and an ap
pearance opening for
Charleston’s the Working Title
on Oct. 29. Rock fans can get in to
both concerts at no charge by pre
senting show flyers, available at
Manifest Discs and Tapes.
Tinkers Punishment, which
just released a full-length album,
“Zero Summer,” blends main
stream rock sensibility with an
innovative edge. Its music evi
dences the classic pop sound of
bands such as the Beatles, yet
maintains a gritty edge, witty
avant-garde effects.
Although it maintains an in
novative aura, “Zero Summer”
has avoided becoming yet another
assemblage of studio- synthesized
rock songs. Unassuming and un
pretentious, the album presents
11 tracks of insightful yet accessi
ble music. Tinkers Punishment
makes creative use of in-studio ef
fects on “Zero Summer,” yet the
album maintains its mainstream
appeal, coming across as an en
hanced collection of sincere songs
rather than an overzealous, syn
thesized commotion.
Accentuated by the collective
efforts of guitarist Kenneth
Harris, bassist Jordan Rivas and
drummer Adam Blake, singer
Michael Robinson’s earnest vocals
expound upon loves lost and the
aftermath of heartbreak. Tinkers
Punishment’s solid rock sound has
secured the band opening spots
with numerous radio-friendly
groups, including Lifehouse, Fuel
and Fastball within the last year.
The band’s growing appeal has
also been supplemented by nu
merous appearances at music
showcases and festivals. Such
performances have earned the
band industry attention.
Production companies such as
House of Blues Concerts and
Nobody in Particular Presents
have invested interest in the
band’s energetic presence, both
on record and on stage.
Entertainment manager John
Caldwell, who works with Jump,
Little Children, took an interest
in Tinkers Punishment after one
of its Denver shows.
“The thing that I noticed right
away is how musical a lot of their
stuff is. It’s got some depth to it—
both lyrically and instrumental
ly. The fact that they are all so
young and playing this really in
teresting music surprised and in
trigued me,” he said.
“They have a “whatever it
takes” attitude, which is essen
tial in today’s very competitive
environment,” Caldwell said.
“Their live show also sets them
apart from the crowd.”
RIFF magazine also praises the
band, applauding the group’s uni
ty and affirming that Tinkers
Punishment does indeed have a
promising future: “As for poten
UNDER SIEGE
A Humanitarian Perspective
by Dr. Rania Masri
Rania Masri is a Human riQhts advocate and environmental scientist. She is a national
board member of Peace Action, a member of the board of directors of the Education for
Peace in Iraq Center, the Arab Women's Solidarity Association's representative to the
United Nations, and the coordinator of the Iraq Action Coalition. Rania has written about
peace and justice, racism, the sanctions Against Iraq, and the occupation of Palestinian
lands in local, national, and international news magazines, and has spoken extensively
at conferences and universities throughout the United States and Canada.
___MC: Dr. Akhavi_
I
tial, they certainly have it.”
With a solid new album and
burgeoning fan base, Tinkers
Punishment’s visit to the
Southeast will undoubtedly help
solidify the group’s status as po
tential radio fodder. Bringing its
music to the Midlands twice this
week, the band hopes to gain fur
ther support, and, according to the
latest journal entry on the band’s
Web site, it has been “schooled”
in Southern expressions such as
y’all in the process.
Reinventing the pop/rock
wheel with an innovative sound
and insightful lyrics, Tinkers
Punishment promises to deliver
Columbia two energetic'evenings
of innovative songcraft this com
ing week.
“These guys can play, and they
put on a good show. Go and see
it!” Caldwell said.
Both of the band’s upcoming
Senate Park shows are forall ages.
Comments on this story?E-mail
gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com
PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK
The Denver pop-rock act will
come to Columbia Tuesday.
For the Away
Clemson vs. USC Game
Nov. 23, 2002
Students may have their ID cards scanned
to enter the lottery on Monday, Tuesday,
and Wednesday, (Oct. 21, 22, 23) from
9:00 am til 4:00 pm in Room 205 in the
Russell House. This will be during football
distribution for student tickets for the
Arkansas and Tennessee Games.
A list will be posted of the students who
will be eligible to buy a ticket by 9:00 am
Monday, Oct. 28 in the Student
Government Office.
The list will contain 1000 primary students
and 2 alternative lists of 100 each.
Primary students - Tues. Oct. 29 RH RM 205 9am-4pm
First 100 alternates - Wed. Oct. 30 RH Rm 205 9am-4pm
Second 100 alternates - Wed. Oct. 30 RH Rm 205 Noon-4pm
Students must be full time, fee paying
students and present a valid ID card when
signing up for a ticket and when purchasing
a ticket.
7:00 AM Tuesday and Friday
NOON
3:30 PM Monday, Tuesday and Friday
4:15 PM _
4:45 PM Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
6:00 PM |
Classes begin Monday, October 21, 2002
all classes are one hour in length.
• All classes will be held in the Blatt FE Center lower
weight room (room 137).
• It is recommended that all participants use a gel seat
and wear padded bike shorts. Also, running shoes and
cross-training shoes ate highly recommended.
• Space is limited to 10 participants each class.
• Sign up by calling 777-5261 or stop by the Campus
Recreation Front Desk.
• Class space is first come, first served.
This schedule will run from
Monday, October 21 - Friday, December 7, 2002
Participants who have not paid the fitness fee will
need to sign a waiver and pay the $10 fee. Partici
pants already registered with group exercise classes
will only need to sign a waiver.
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