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has a place in ils music, there is always a relum to the tight group payoff- something ot a lost art in hip hop. J5 pays special attention to distributing the talent load, trom individual MC lyncism. to calculated DJ breaks, to the group working in unison. ‘The Influence," the first cut on the album, is probably the best example of this multi-faceted musical approach working in proper harmony. DJs Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark lay down a sam pled a cappella scat underneath the vocal work of J5$ four MCs. When the collective breaks into a chorus, the effect is mesmerizing, with the tight unison of the vocal quartet harmoi.izing over the a cappetla sample. Rarely is the interaction between hip hop DJs and MCs as sophisticated as it is in this track. Qu2lity Control is not a perfect effort, homer. The distinctiveness of the J5 sound loses a little steam as the album progresses. While MCs Chali 2NA. Marc 7. Zaakir and Akil all pos sess proper lyrical skills, the crucial ingredient is J5$ DJ tag team. When the beats lose the flavor of early tracks like ‘The Influence.* ‘Great Expectations* and ‘Quality Control." the final product seems flat. The group is still young, however, and a big part of fhe J5 attitude involves not getting comfortable with any level of success. While the name evokes the past, expect to see a lot more from this group in the future. (825 8th Ave., 29th Floor. NY. NY 10019) Matthew Hutchinson e THE CATHERINE WHEEL Wishville Columbia I could describe this slab o’ wax in terms of the name "The Catherine Wheel and its delinitional dichotomy (British torture device/particularly spectacular variety ot firecracker), but somehow I can sense that you don’t give half a luck. Very well then. We’ll start over from the beginning. There’s a sense ot desperately hedonistic festivity buried between Wishvillds grooves that can only be described as the sound of a nasty fit of depression in remission. As the dogs howl and bang their invincible skulls against the cellar door, CW frontman Rob Dickinson bounces around the living room, taking shots of corn whiskey, propositioning platonic female acquaintances and occasionally ven turing outside to bash the broken appli ances in his backyard with a cheap hatchet. He$ hurting, but he doesn't know he’s hurting. Trust me. that beats the shit out of actually hurting. Unfortunately, as soon as Dickinson is about to start some shit, he gets side tracked by an inevitable emotional draft, as on the dented, quivering hook in ‘Lifeline,’ within seconds of an enthralling one-two punch like ‘Sparks Are Gonna Fly* and ‘Gasoline.* His newly-adopted carefree desperation is at continual odds with his predilection for grandiose self-pity and Queenish over statement. Not that this is a bad thing. Necessarily. I’ll go ahead and tell you. anyone with a lack of tolerance with Mercurial histrionics would be wise to steer clear of The Catherine Wheel com pletely. To be fair. Ihe Rocky Horror grandiosity only gets completely out of hand on ‘Idle Life.’ but be forewarned nonetheless: this one isr’l for minimal ists. (To be fair, you're missing out if Mercuiial histrionics are all it takes to steer you away from a rock record.) Memo to the uninitiated: this 'un doesn’t pack the merciless recoil of 1995's stick o’ dynamite Happy Days. nor does it approach the cinematic scope of 19971s Adam And Eve. Start with those. That said, the main tactor that sets Wishville apart is Dickinson's newfound hesitance to indulge in explicit death fixation and suicidal ideal ization. and it's not like you can hold that against him. It's good to see the guy out of his straitiacket and back on the sheet, even if he’s overplaying his liber ation a bit and toting a can of gasoline. (550 Madison Ave . NY. NY 10022) Emerson Dameron K0041I WOLFIE Wolfie. And The Coat And Hat Kindercore This wonderful 6-song EP from Wolfie is at-times Weezer-esque rock is the perlect remedy for sudden bursts of depression or musical cynicism. The playful voices of Mike Downey (guitar). Joe Ziemba (guitar, bass) and Amanda Lyons (organ, piano) take tunb weaving enchanting sing-along verses. Rather than sticking to traditional pop formulas. Wolfie sneaks a few surprises in the songs, shifting from one won- derlul pop segue to another, like in the delightful *ll’s Hard being Me* Lyons' wonderlul Broadway musical voice glides as effortlessly as her intro organ part in the playful ‘Calvin Grove.’ making the backing vocals as wonderlul as the ones Downey and Ziemba take turns sharing Let the pop resurrection begin with them in the lead (P. 0 Box 461. Athens. GA 30603) Geofl Carr SLURR Superspeedcure Butt Lettuce Columbia. SC’s Slurr’s debut full- length joins the efforts of Aaron Day on drums. Melcher Petermann on bass, and Marty Dunn and Jack Dunn, both on guitar and vocals. The album opens with ‘My DNA,* a cool instrumental with a solid sound from all lour players Track two was equally solid, this time with vocals all about ‘Nanotech Cows.* Satanic mooing added a nice touch to this song. The album's frequent change of tempo certainly doesn't lend the music to anything that could be called dancing. There are high points along the way, however, such as the end c! ‘The Fermata’ and another instrumental accomplishment called "Fire Alarm* that reminds of the sound of The Cure, com plete with strolling guitar and bass, ambient rhythms, and eerie-sounding samples of a female voice speaking. Honestly I hall expected to hear Robert Smith's voice come floating out of my speakers during that track The title track opens with cool drums and a bass line tha* dives into a moment of guitar and Dunn$ vocals a few times before rounding out the tune behind a guitar conclusion. Again I was impressed with Slurrts instrumental offerings, with "Crime Fighters," a tune with a fast bass line, lots of dissonant guitar, and plenty ot drumming enhancements. That Cure sound pops up again on the final track, this time replete with Dunn s vocals actually sounding Smittiesque. I wondered where this influence had come from as this sound is in contrast with much of the album. Although the mix of music styles featured throughout Superspeedcure isnl really my cup of tea. the album shoveases musicians who definitely have imagination and that comes across loud and clear in their lyrics and in their playing, however speedy. (P. 0. Box 4466. Columbia. SC 29240-4466) Dawn Maynor VARIOUS ARTISTS Return Of The Rock Roadrunner I was watching "Saturday Night Live’ the other night when Ki J Rock was the musical guest When he took the stage wiui his troupe of midgets, cock- rockers and other carnival denizens, he yelled. ‘I thought this was Saturday Night Live.' but the other night I saw Britney Spears on here lip-syncin'." He then yelled his name and the song ^egan: it was the music nom Me»allica$ "Sad But True.’ with the only change being Kid Rock’s vocal 1 1 don’t imagine the irony was apparent to Kid Rock or his entourage, but this is a perlect example of the fallacy behind the whole "Return of the [Clock" movement and their success with the disenfranchised young, white males. The feud between the neo-glam rockers and the boy bands and girl bands is kind of like your average fight between r.nth-grade sweethearts. The teeny-boppers make the disclaimer that they are "entertainers’ in the old Vegas sense of dancing and singing other people's songs, which is fine. I don't want to hear it, but that's why I don't buy it. The rockers try to paint themselves as ' artists’ because they can write and play their own music, and as "realists’ because they profler doom and gloom fantasies rather than Abercrombie and Fitch ones. If anything disproves that claim to artistry and realism, it’s The Relum 01 The Rock. Weak rhymes, lame Satamca, and riffs lifted from early-’90s Helmet and 311 albums abound. II you can read the names of these bands (Methods Ol Mayhem. Staind. Machine Head. System Of A Down. Coal Chamber, Full Devil Jacket, etc...) without laughing or puking, this record might be fur you. If you’re in Athens lor the college or the music (what else is there?), either you’re too old or your taste is too refined for most ol this stuff. Buy an old Helmet record and an older 311 record and you'll hear all the white-hoy rap-metal you’ll ever need. (902 Broadway, 8th floor. NY. N v 10010) Brandon Butler BLHDSGtir.COfft • • • • • • • . CO/VTACT'YOft-APP'T. • •« • • • • ' ‘ L\ gJfOOjPBRJ tIuesB &OOfeitcl^ Mheep.m Rc d: a1is!fimnlan2(all(tKell)ec L: Che RatSfeeller BAR Where the Fun Never Stops HAPPY HOURrRIDAY 4-f S i Domestic Beers Every Monday $2.00 Draft Bass, Guinness, Newcastle, Hornsby Cider & Sierra Nevada Pale Ale HAPPY HOUR: MON-SAT f-8 $1.50 Well Drinks and Domestic Beer 220 College Avenue Downtown • 546-7612 Lingerie. Bondage Accessories. Male Thongs. Novelties. Games ' NOW SELLING Playboy Apparel Homewood Shopping Center • Open M-Th 10-10. F-Sat 10-11 • 54t>-4So4 20% Off Merchandise with this ad C\E COUPON PER CUSTOMER COUPON EXPIRES 7/31/00 JULY 19, 2000 FLAGPOLE m