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IRIDESCENT VEIN Appalachia Ravenmocker This record could have come out ot London or New York, but Athens? Goth duo Brian Macbeth and Jessica Wheat Cook are onto something with this. The two float in a dark, spiraling space con juring images of Bauhaus. Syd Barrett.and Bnan Eno. As I listened to this dense collage of sound, a storm rolled in over my humble abode. I'm not speaking metaphorically here. I mean a Georgia summer thundershower During “Ultraviolet Life," a bolt from ttie sky slashed down and knocked out power during the ‘lightning drive-electric despair" section ot the song. This was too perfect. After my stereo came back to life, I was escorted into a foggy netiier region by Macbeth's down-the-well vocals. Graves, veins, blood, snakes, stars, trees, sex and death flooded my consciousness. “Hemlock" ushered me to a dazed state reminiscent of an incense filled college dorm which then mutated into a tomb. The trippiest area was called “Appalachia." The long, minimalist soundscape reminded me ot Arcadia and Prince, but its anesthetic quality kept me aloft like mid-'70s German ambiance. The muddy mix and wonder fully decadent artwork is the perfect complement to the matenal. Somewhere near the end of ‘Sleeping Sickness." the storm outside blew away. As this record ended, I could still hear it ofl in the dis tance. (P.O. Box 1563. Athens. GA 30603) Chris McKay CALVIN, DON’T JUMP! Crystal Clear Mississippi Independent release C.DJ! ringleader J. Kirk Pleasant's pedigree (one-time Olivia Tremor Control and Macha sideman. yeah, yeah, yeah) and the opening track on his full-length debut (your requisite asth matic high school band tune-up) are likely to convince you that th-s is another Elephant 6 record. That's just as well; i guarantee you've done something despicable enough to deserve the recoil that ensues. This is Syd Barrel without a huggable stuffed dolphin in sight. While most ol Ihe Neural Elf Control bands tiptoe around the edge of insanity just lo show they care, Pleasant plunges right in. Crystal Clear Mississippi is a con- loundmg Day-Glo lever dream that will stunt your growth if you lei il gei that far inside your ear canals At Ihe very least, it'll haunt your waking thoughts and set you back a lew years in your all-impor tant “personal evolution." Contemporaries like Jefl Mangum and Kevin Barnes seem to pine for 5th grade music class, but Pleasant is fast asleep on his tri-colored naptime map. plotting revenge Ever plotted revenge 9 You may or may not get it. Either way. don't miss out on “Seeds And Wings”: Stasis + Suspension + Catharsis = 7P (965 N. Chase St.. Athens. GA 30601) Emerson Dameron GENTLE READERS Hi Honey Flat Earth The Allanta-based Gentle Readers' '^w album is full of well-crafted jangly folk-pop. The uniformly tasteful playing is elegant arid modest at the same time. "Center Of The Universe’ is augmented by beautifully psychedelic Roger McGuinn-style guitar. Susan Fitzsimmons has just the right amount ot twang in her voice to personalize these reflective songs and spare them from even more comparisons to Indigo Girls. I found my head bopping along involuntarily to “Difficult.' which despite its title, is easy lo dive into and wade through its confessions of “growing up’ and more adamant This tune's bubbly, effervescent groove is driven by Linda Bolley's drumming and Greg Partridge's bouncing bass Other highiighl include the har mony-laden “California” which is subtle, insightful, and to Ihe point lyri cally and musically, and a countrified cover of Sade’s “Tf« Sweetest Taboo.’ There is obviously a real life experience that we re being let in on here I would be irresponsible lo not mention Ihe gui*ar and Wurlitzer work ot Lee Cuthberf Check this record out. everything is in the right place at the right time. What more could a pop tan ask for? (6900 South Gray Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46237) Chris McKay mamx ewsodb £ P-HOID Manik Episodes Dusibunny In the improvisational classroom that is the (slowly blossoming) Athens hip-hop scene. P-Noid does his home work a little too well. Over the same tracks that would just as easily provide wallpaper for Tragic's “Private Dancer’ (“Can I skeet in your mouth, bitch?), the P insists on packing his lyrics with double-time witticisms and personal/social significance Unfortunately for him and for us. his music doesn't venture far beyond the stuttering, barely connected fare made famous by No Limit and Cash Money (You know, the tracks where you wonder if the rappers and the producers hooked up at all.) Local legend Mealtime Brown gives P-Noid his share of lush back drops. but the two seem more often at odds than in sync. Manik Episodes is the frustrating sound ol two talents looking for a place to connect Only on “Free My Mind' does Mealtime’s production stay in step with P-Noid’s mathematical, rutnlessly self- descriptive vision. (Coincidence or not. that's also where Mealtime's alter ego Parakeet Nelson stops by to sing a tew bars.) It's a slow and brutal ode to lost loved ones that transcends the genre in the manner of Ice Cube's “Dead Homiez" or The Geto Boys' “Six Feet Deep.’ and it’s the only time this promising record gels. (i.e. the producer and the MC bump into each other.) Here's hoping this happens more often in the future; I’ve gotta free my mind, too. (PC. Box 1012. Athens. GA 30603) Emerson Dameron MIKEL K BAND Don't Say Hate E Listening lo this spoken-word, over almost-funky music makes for a preachy and contnved expenence. Dangerously straddling the line between so-called art and pop culture, Atlantan Mikel K ranis and whines with little to share, and he sheds light on even less. His repetitive, monotonous dissertations seem overwrought and. worst ol all. self-righteous His voice is akin to Chuck Moseley (from Faith No More's early releases) and his band is alter nately dissonant and "groovy." Mikel K waxes philosophic with lines like “Will I ever love again or will I always be in quiet despair?" and “I am just a pained beast with tears screaming out what I don't know ’ A little humor goes a long way on the most listenable tracks. "Just Stare At Hookers’ and “Ken Doll," but for the most part, this is a dull, labored, too- serious extravaganza While Mikel's heart seems to be in the right place. I can't help but find it a bit offensive to hear him speaking for African- Americans on "We Are All Slaves ’ He actually has the nerve to claim that he knows how slaves fell, because he had a difficult relationship with his father. I mean. I'm sorry the guy had it rough, but I’m pretty sure itls not comparable to the greatest legalized injustice in our country's history. Unless you re just a die-hard poetry slam kind ol person, you won't miss this. Check out the new Rollins Band record instead. Oh. and Mikel... lighten up a bit, and you might find it easier to make a point. (2768 Craigie Ave. Decatur. GA 30030) Chris McKay Do you want to learn more about your local music scene, what the bands sound like and where they're playing next? Do you want your band to be k involved? We thought so localmusic.com your bands, your fans, your city U 8 c •oa £ •cjj -Jr W H u fe O O c g • P* Pm Q 5 « as CHINA 'u- BOAT flte RESTAUR ANT Dine In • To he Out • Delivery Buy One Dinner and Get One j HALF PRICE yf§fr (Coupon, Dinc-In Only) 600 Baxter Street • 548-7256 Athens Center 26} W. Clayton St 546-4200 Basic Beginner Class Starting Dates Thursday, July 20 7:00 pm Friday, July 21 5:30 pm $60 for Six Weeks Please Pre- Register 546-4200 Ongoing Level I and Intermediate, Drop-in Classes also Available. fic Heart's Gallery Summer Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday l:00-4:00pm and by arrangement (call store number for appt) Jewelry by Lotus Jewels 1680 S. Lumpkin St. • 227-3080 everybody loves localcolor V193 E. Clayton St. » 543-7392 J El FLAGPOLE JULY 12, 2000