GROANIN MITCHELL'S ROCK AND ROLL BBS NEWSLETTER Volume 2, Issue 7 Septem
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GROANIN MITCHELL'S ROCK AND ROLL BBS
NEWSLETTER
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Volume 2, Issue 7
September 10, 1990
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ALBUM REVIEWS
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Welcome back to the Rock and Roll Newsletter Album
Reviews. If you'd care to look over the reviews for August, I've
zipped 'em up and put them in the IBM Textfiles directory. The
name of the file is ALBUM_2.ZIP. As well you'll find ALBUM_1.ZIP,
which contains the reviews from April to mid July.
As you know, we're posting a current and a classic
album review in this section. This week I'll review Cheap Trick's
latest release, "Busted". As well we'll take a look back at Kate
Bush's 1985 L.P. "Hounds of Love". Hope you enjoy, and keep
calling!!
Anyway, on with the stuff for this week...
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CURRENT ALBUM
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CHEAP TRICK
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BUSTED
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"Busted" is the recent release by power pop band "Cheap
Trick". This is marks the second album they've made since
reuniting with bassist Tom Petersson. It follows the immensely
successful "Lap of Luxury". Cheap Trick first came out in the
early seventies out of New England. They immediately grabbed
attention for their catchy brand of pop rock as well as their
zany image, mostly perpetuated by leader and nut-bar supreme,
Rick Nielson. The one thing that always set them apart from other
groups was the sheer strength and versatility of the lead singer,
Robin Zander. He's been known as "the man of a million voices".
In the first part of their career their style was a
combination of new wave and hard rock with a touch of Beatles
influence thrown in. Lately, they've been concentrating on the
pop-rock side of their style. "Busted" follows the latter
pattern. Personally, I liked them better when they were a little
rougher around the edges. "In Colour and Black and White", Heaven
Tonight" and "Dream Police" are L.P.'s which rock far more than
their recent material. Still, drawing on the strength of
Nielson's writing and the power of Zander's voice, they rarely
release a weak album.
As I've said, "Busted" is basically a power pop album,
but it does have a few moments that get down and dirty. The title
song "Busted" and "Rock and Roll Tonight" are two that rip and
tear. One very interesting song on the album is "Had To Make You
Mine". This song oozes Beatles, right down to the twelve string
guitar, ala George Harrison and the John Lennon style vocals. For
any other band this would be an insult, but for Cheap Trick it
only proves the depth of their writing talent. "Cheap" has always
had a bit of a juvenile streak to them, more than likely
attributed to Rock Nielson who refuses to really grow up. Two
songs which illustrate this are "Can't Understand" and "Walk
Away". Let me tell you, these guys can never be accused of not
covering all the bases!!
As like every single album they've ever made, there is
at least one genuine killer song. On this L.P. that tune is
"Can't Help Falling In Love". It's a can't miss: first rate, and
guaranteed to knock your socks off. From the super catchy intro,
replete with Tom Petersson's twelve string bass magic, to the
unforgettable chorus by Robin Zander this tune is probably one of
the best songs of the year. I wouldn't be surprised if it's
nominated for a grammy. I'll even take bets on it!!!
This album is typical of Cheap Trick's recent work. No
curves and no surprises. It sounds somewhat homogenized and tied
to a formula. But I will say that when they're good, they're damn
great. No other rock band active now can combine commerciality
and quality the way "Cheap Trick" does.
If all pop music was done this well, the world would be
a much better place!!! Just kidding, but really, it beats the tar
out of most of the crap out there these days...I might even
listen to A.M. once in a while!!!
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CLASSIC ALBUM
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KATE BUSH
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HOUNDS OF LOVE
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The spirit of the Classic album review has been, up
till now to pick an album from the late sixties or anywhere in
the seventies. I'm going to make an exception because I believe
"Hounds of Love" truly deserves to be considered a classic. It
was written and produced entirely by Kate Bush in 1985. It's a
beautiful, haunting L.P. that seems almost mystical and medieval.
I was never a big fan of Kate's, but this album changed me over
totally.
She makes use of unique instruments such as balalaika,
cello, dijeridu, bouzouki, double bass and various wind pipes and
whistles. She combines these with such modern devices as
fairlight computer and Linn electronic drums. Her songs range
from soft comforting ballads to eerie fairy tale scenes.
Lyrically she is as strong on this album as any artist I've ever
heard. One song called "Under Ice" is the tale of a little girl
skating on a frozen river imagining that something's is trapped
below, only to find her imagination has placed her beneath the
ice. It is one of the spookiest songs I have ever heard. The
single "Running Up That Hill" tells of Kate's attempt to make a
pact with God to change places. "Mother Stands For Comfort" is a
unforgettable tribute to the comfort that ever Mother gives to
her children. "And Dream of Sheep" is one of the prettiest, most
soulful ballads around. The whistles at the end will give you
goosebumps!!
"Cloudbusting" is the true classic on the album. It's
beautifully portrayed with airy bells and powerful strings, real
and synthesized. It's a fantasy about a land named "Organon"
where a young girl's father makes a machine that will mystically
induce the clouds to rain. The video that features Donald
Sutherland was more a mini play than a music video.
Kate Bush takes us back to her childhood in this album.
It's a place of dreams, fantastic characters and beautiful
imagery. Even looking at a picture of Kate, you can imagine a
little girl hiding inside the guise of a faery princess.
This L.P. is an absolute must for everyone to at least
listen through once. It's captivating and capturing, real and yet
unreal. It's fantasy but also recognizes the reality of
imagination in all of us...
Not a word of a lie...
Note: I looked up Dijeridu in my dictionary and couldn't find it,
maybe someone could find out what the heck it is for me.
More Notes: Try whistling some of the eerier melodies to a cat.
They go positively snaky!!
: Try listening with headphones!!
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See ya for now. I hope you dug the reviews. These two
albums are both excellent. See if you can grab hold of a copy of
either. Remember, call back each week and see what the heck is
new here..
See ya next week...
Rock Star...
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The New Dork Sublime Biffnix 415/864-DORK
The Shrine Rif Raf 206/794-6674
Planet Mirth Simon Jester 510/786-6560
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