Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CD.Review ‘The Cover Up ’ uses romantic tension to full effect THE COVER UP I Am the World Trade Center ★★★*- out of ■ BY SHANA TILL THE GAMECOCK “If you’re looking for a good time, call me tonight.” With that, I Am the World Trade Center unsheathes the dou ble-edged sword that is “The Cover Up.” A part of the resurg ing efforts to improve upon yes terday’s synth-pop sounds, I Am the World Trade Center begins the album with the above lyrics, prov ing that they know it’s deliciously tongue-in-cheek. Throwing lis teners slick, Casio-produced beats, only to inconspicuously slap them with the biting realism of their lyrics, results from the kind of post-romantic creativity Jack and Meg could relate to. The third release from this Athens, Ga., duo proves to be not a one-night stand, but twelve tracks fraught with personal weight — undeniably a result of relationship woes between vocal ist Amy Dykes and laptop instru mentalist Dan Geller. While the lyrics, “If you’re looking for a good time, call me tonight,” sup ply the dance-party mood, Dykes also places her relationship philosophies on the table. With her next breath, echoing lyrics such as, “If you have expecta tions, don’t call me,” Dykes sets boundaries amid a sea of bounc ing electro-pop melodies. Even more evidence of the swords’ sharp edges and the love-ravaged thematics can be discovered on the track aptly titled “Love Tragedy.” It’s difficult to imagine Geller’s frame of mind when he’s laying down keyboard and drum sequences over Dykes’ sporadic moments of pretentiousness. On the sixth track, “Deny If,” Dykes entices, “I’m what you want, and don’t you deny it.” The eu phemisms for tainted love that run rampant on this album should not be mistaken for hin drances. If anything, the addition of depth is a redeeming quality to a musical genre the two seem to admit is in part a “Great Escape.” Dykes’ vocals, kittenish and reminiscent of Debbie Harry in her heyday, give “The Cover Up” the sugary gloss that keeps the al bum afloat despite the monoto nous thump on some tracks. Produced entirely on computer software, this neon, jet-propelled subway of an album delivers the songs that ’80s electro-pop bands only dreamed of creating. Performing several times in the Columbia area, I Am the World Trade Center has become a favorite among the locals. Besides playing album favorites, the duo always knocks ou,t crowds with covers that sound better than the originals. Despite Dykes recently being di agnosed with lymphatic cancer, optimism still rings clear. It’s not the first time the two have faced seemingly insurmountable hurdles. Following the tragedy in New York City Sept. 11, ques tions arose about their ostensi ble lack of sensitivity. To clari fy, the act was named long be fore the incident. Remaining as I Am the World Trade Center, “The Cover Up” stands as a mark of triumph and an album that without doubt requires you to jump on the neo-synth band wagon and “Rock It.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu Goin’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Should I stop here, or make the four-hour push to Albuquerque? I very foolishly decided on the lat ter, and soon found my mental health in a place not dissimilar to the boat ride in “Willy Wonka.” However, New Mexico’s beau ty slapped me from my stupor. I remember the rush of racing alongside a double-stacked train in the middle of the desert, seeing the entire train and not just the section dragging by at a Columbia train crossing. I remember the signs that read, “Reduce speed, dangerous crosswinds ahead.” But mostly I remember ogling the perfectly straight roads that went to the horizon as I fetched the few radio stations I could get. I hobbled into a hotel in Albuquerque at 7 p.m., ate dinner, and spent the night strumming my guitar in boxer briefs. California was close — I could smell the Botox. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu PHOTO BY STEVEN VAN HAREN/THE GAMECOCK Oklahoma's horizons were nestled between Arkansas' green fields and Texas’ cattle country. to voice your opinion and movies? % for writers fflf*enrester. Email gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu 4 www.palmettobargains.com www.palmettobargains.com i i