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P c Z tl I III ¥ —> CQ Bjork Medulla (Atlantic) Those not initiated into the cult of Bjork may best recognize her as the woman wearing the gargantuan blue dress during the Olympics’ opening ceremony. It is fitting that Bjork be apart of that spectacle as her music, just like the bizarre marriage of cultures that has come to open the Olympic games, is incredibly strange and alien, but ultimately human. Bjork always manages to create a world fit for an Icelandic faerie princess such as herself, but as her major label longevity would suggest, there is an element in her difficult art with which many people connect. “Medulla” is an album bereft of any traditional musical instruments; guitars, drums and horns have all been cast aside for a sound palette made almost exclusively of the human voice. Well-placed electronic beats Support Bjork and her assembly of vocal maestros including singing shape-shifter Mike Patton as well as the Icelandic Philharmonic Choir. Despite the prestigious hired help, Bjork’s voice is the one that shines brightest. Her tortured whispering is like a gathering storm in the distance until her voice wails like an icy hurricane gale decrying extreme heartbreak and desolation. “Medulla” may be Bjork’s boldest statement yet, an album which signals her bard-like ability to connect with an audience without artistic compromise. Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez A Manual Dexterity (Gold Standard Labs) Those familiar with Omar and his previous bands may not recognize the subtle addition of an “A” to his name. After one listen to his first solo outing, you will swear that “A” officially stands for “awesome.” Omar was the progressive creative force behind At the Drive-In, a man whose uncompromising creativity most likely caused the band to collapse under incredible expectations. The result of ATDI’s implosion was the hulking progressive rock behemoth, the Mars Volta, anchored by Omar’s ingenuous guitar innovation and an effects board the size of Montana. “A Manual Dexterity” is the soundtrack to a movie that does not exist beyond the sounds Omar has meticulously arranged here. If the film existed it would be a marriage of David Lynch’s sinister mystery to Kubrick’s “clockwork” brand of dystopian futurism. Omar delves into warm waters of experimental Latin jazz, hazy nights filled with haunting guitar reverberations and psychedelic rock-n-roll riffing. Longtime comrade, Cedric Bixler Zavala, contributes vocals to two tracks, which will inevitably perk the eyebrows and set shivering all Mars Volta fans. This is a challenging yet fun listen that goes a long way toward proving that floppy hair and big glasses do indeed breed genius. PUBLIX OPENING ■ PUBLIX Continued from page 6 object that I was looking for was ... he went to the trouble to get it for me and then find me in the store.” Second-year chemical engineering student Benjamin Meekins was attracted by the good deals. He found the new Publix “has all the stuff I tike about the Publix in Trenhlom Plaza like fresh cooked fried chicken and fresh seafood and all that good stuff.” The new Publix has a deli counter, meat department and bakery. The store also offers a wide array of gourmet cheeses, a sushi bar and healthy looking produce. Shoppers can also find organic products, including gluten-free products and Atkins-approved products. In addition to its fully stocked shelves and smiling sales associates, Publix is decorated with black and white pictures of historic Columbia. The new store does have one drawback: parking. Ongoing . construction on neighboring side streets hinders the flux of traffic in and out of the parking lot. Meekins suggested that Publix “needs to put up some arrows be.cause it’s hard to find the right turn-in. With its bright lighting and wide aisles, the store offers a friendly Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu SARAH ZILINSKYZTHE GAMECOCK Publix opened in the Vista on Wednesday. The grocery store is the latest in a line of supermarkets within walking distance from campus, including the Food Lion in Five Points. www.dailygamecock.com NOW READ IT FIVE DAYS A WEEK Show your student I.D. & get 15% off regular price merchandise. Here's a no-brainer: Simply show your valid student LD. and save 15% on all regular price stuff. (That's a lot of stuff.) But, you'd better hurry. Come September 26th, this offer's history. Sorry, cannot be used with any other discount or offer. Offer ends September 26, 2004. ESIGN Visit Design U at pierl.com for a chance to win a $1,500 Gift Card. LOOK FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE garnet&black ocr.20 Hang up your hat. And put up feet. 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