Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 11, 1986, edition 1 / Page 13
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mailer By JASON COTT Contributing Writer Tired of the music you see on MTV and hear on the radio? If so, you might want to listen to the kind of music they don't play. Major record companies, such as CBS, Warner Brothers, RCA and MCA, are more interested in music as a product than as art or even entertainment. They do business in the millions of dollars, so they can't afford to take chances with anything that hasn't been proven popular. The end result of this policy is that most of their records sound the same. However, on smaller, so-called independent labels, artists are often encouraged to express their individ uality because an independent record doesn't have to sell a million copies to be considered successful. This music often can be very bad, but it also produces a lot of great records. The Mekons' new album. The Edge of the World, is one such album that is quite exceptional. This Leeds, England, group began life as an atonal punk band along the lines of Gang of Four. However, a few years ago, they shifted the direction of their musical interest. An album, Fear and Whiskey, appeared in 1985 merging a punk futility with traditional Neilson to By ROB SHERMAN Staff Writer The upcoming UNC Symphony season should be good, and much emphasis will be placed on profes sional performances of standard repertoire, said the symphony's new conductor, Alan Neilson. The music department's UNC Symphony is intended to be com prised of students. Some musicians from the Triangle area are used to fill gaps, Neilson said, and profes sionals from other symphonies occa sionally play solos with the orchestra. "This year we've had a very big turnout and no problems with (the number of) players," Neilson said, although he added that there is a slight French horn shortage. "If there are gaps, well hunt to fill the spots, whether they be townspeople or whoever," he said, "but the students come first." Neilson is an interim conductor for the UNC Symphony, and he said he has tentative plans to stay for two years. He began his musical career at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, where he earned his master's degree in music. Although he did some conducting in college, Neilson said he was more interested in playing and had been a full-time flutist for 17 years. Since college Neilson has played with several groups, including the Tulsa Philharmonic, the Chicago Ballet, the Miami Symphony, the North Carolina Symphony and the New York-based Goldovaky Opera Company. In 1979 he began conducting for the N.C. State University Symphony, and since then he has become con ductor of the Raleigh and Durham symphonies. Much of his conducting style comes from a long career as a player. "If you become a teacher someday, you will remember what it's like to labels cut gems English and American country sounds. It brought together violins and accordions with electric guitars and drums and became a critical sensation, especially in the U.S. Like London's Pogues, who brought traditional Irish music to the top of the British charts. The Mekons found folk sounds to be the best means for expressing themselves. On The Edge of the World, they refine their sound further. The male and female vocalists project an image of weariness, drunkenness and decay in songs like "Hello Cruel World" and "Oblivion." The Mekons directly reveal the contradiction between their music source and their politics by running the old country song "Sweet Dreams" into "Dream Dream Dream," an anti-American rocker. Hank Williams Sr.'s "Alone and Forsaken" is transformed into cold, minimalist plaint. The Mekons have a sense of humor and irony that combines with excellent music to produce a very good record. Atlanta's 86 doesn't sound a bit like most Southern Pop bands. Their new record, Minutes In a Day, contains six songs steeped in psyche delic guitar sounds. Their music sounds almost like a serious, outer spaced heavy metal with tense, angry singing. The record is well-produced, tune up symphony be a student," he said. "1 know how hard to push someone, how to motivate them, and I know what's counterproductive." Neilson said he believes that all orchestras should be approached professionally and plans to conduct the student orchestra as he conducts other symphonies. But it will be geared to the level of a student symphony, he said. "I like programs with plenty of contrast, different styles, different dynamic levels and interest," Neilson -f a r? rot. Unique Housewares, Gifts and Slight Indulgences Plus Fashions for Men and Ladies 171 E. Franklin St. Chapel Hill. NC 929-7332 Mon.-Sat. 9:30-6:00" Sun. 1:00-5:00 having a dark, heavy sound that isn't expected from a Georgia band. A host of young British bands is featured on a compilation entitled Love the Smell of Napalm. Released in the U.S. on Rough Trade Records, it brings together eight bands from Scotland's Creation Records who represent a new independent English pop sound. The sound ranges from the heavy feedback noise of Slaughter Joe and Meat Whiplash to the pretty pop of Primal Scream and Biff Bang Pow! to the moody psychedelia of the Weather Prophets and the Revolving Paint Dream. Most of these groups haven't released albums yet, so the best way to hear them is to listen to this record. It's entertaining all the way through without one truly bad track, and all of them manage to be fun and entertaining without insult ing their listeners intelligence. This is just a sample of the music coming out on smaller labels. There is an amazing amount of good music if you're willing to look for it. In the end, it's more rewarding than letting commercial radio and MTV, in the service of big record companies, tell you what's good. Jason Bott, a junior studio art major, is a disc jockey at WXYC. said. "And I like one piece in a concert that is outstanding or extraordinary, like Beethoven's Third Symphony (planned for the first concert on Oct. 21)." He said he hopes this year's season will attract more people outside the music department to concerts. For the first time, lectures about the pieces to be played will be held before each Tuesday night concert. This is to encourage people who have an interest in music but no formal knowledge to attend performances. . ; fit. O 3 u M w wr f The Daily Tar HeelThursday, September 11, 19863 Remember family or friends with Special Occasion, Get Well or Memorial cards. LUNCH 11am-4pm M-Sat Personal Pan Pepperoni Pizza $1.09 Personal Pan Supreme $1 .39 Personal Pan Big Topp $1 .99 5 minute guarantee 11:30am-1 :00pm Please present coupon when order ing. One coupon per person per visit. Not good with other offers. Offer valid Mon-Sat 11am-4pm. Expires Oct 31, 1986 Eat in or Take out only 110W. Franklin St. 929-3605 -Hut, Champagne, Mimosa or Sangria. Omlette Malibu or Divan, Quiche Carmel, Croissant Balboa. Windjammer Crepes and of course Eggs Benedict and Eggs Spinnaker. All freshly made with that special Spinnaker's flair. Served with fresh fruit. Only S5.99-S6.99. Only at Spinnakers. Sundays 11-3. Lunch. Dinner South ' WERE FIGHTING FOR OURLIFE American Heart Association 942-7713 pLsa -Hut 942-0343 Eat in, Take out or Free Delivery. 106 S. Estes Dr. 516 w. Franklin Large for the price of a medium Order any large pizza or Priazzo Italian Pie and pay the price of a medium size pizza with the same number of toppings. Please present coupon when ordering. One coupon per person per visit Not good with other offers. Expires Oct.31. 1986. Priazzo available after 4:00 M-F. all day Sat I I I J. & Sun. j and Sunday Brunch Square Mall 1
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 11, 1986, edition 1
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