6
27 November 2002
Mii.ciin RfivifiWS
Albums In Review
By: Paul Dewey
To me, music is life and
life is music. Because
of this, I grab every new
album that looks of interest
and take a careful listen
to it. I have decided to
share with you some of my
favorites of late and some
that were disappointments
that you should stay away
from. I will mark them in
your standard 4 point scale,
4 being the highest and 1
the lowest. Since this is for
NC Wesleyan College, I
will use Billy Bishops as
my marker.
Beck “Sea Change ”
Rolling Stone
called this album, “Beck’s
Masterpiece” as did several
other sources. The album
was written in connection
with Beck’s breakup
of long time wife or
girlfriend, not really sure
which. Listening to the
record made me feel like
I had just been dumped as
well. It is a slow moving,
energy sucking album that
doesn’t come close to any
of Beck’s classical albums
and tracks like “Devils
Haircut” and “Where it’s
Af’.
So if you are
depressed and looking
for some music to be
depressing along with
then pick up this album.
Otherwise check out his
older album “Odelay
Coldplay “A Rush of
Blood to the Head’%
UK music at its
best! Following up there
successful ''Parachutes ”
album, which had hits like
“Yellow”, which by the
way wasn’t close to the
best track on the album,
they have done it again
with their most recent
release.
“In My Place”,
the first single off the
album, is soft but hard at
the same time. The most
exciting track on the album
is a song called “The
Scientist.” It is one of those
songs that pulls the strings
of your heart and makes
you remember that special
someone that got away.
Just like
"Parachutes ”, there is
a little something for
everyone on this album. If
you have not yet bought
this album, don’t tell
anybody and go get it as
soon as you put this paper
down.
Justin
Not what I was
hoping for, but it wasn’t
bad. The album hits you
right away with probably
its two best tracks
“Senorita” and “Like I
Love You”. If you like
dance music, you will most
likely enjoy this album. He
loses points for the ballad’s
in this album because he
over uses his falsetto range
and makes him come off a
bit too girly for my taste.
Late in the album
you come across a track
called “Rock Your Body”.
It has kind of a disco feel
to it, which will not please
everyone. As I listen to
this record I can’t help
but sometimes think I
am listening to the latest
Michael Jackson record.
You can definitely hear the
influence Michael played
on Justin’s new record. If
you think about it though,
it is sort of fitting. A boy
band (Jackson 5/NSYNC)
having its only member
with real talent emerge into
a successfial solo artist.
Justin will surely be
around for at least a second
album, if nothing more
because the girl’s think he
is hot.
Avril Lavigne “Let Go ”
acts, but I decided to give
it a chance after my ex
girlfriend recommended it
to me. I soon discovered
that her hits “Complicated”
and “Skater Boy” were the
worst songs on the whole
album.
“Losing Grip”, the
first track off the album,
is probably the strongest
song. It’s driving chorus
hook grabs you and
makes you just want to
sing along. If this is not
the next song released as
a single I will personally
call her management and
yell at them. Speaking of
which, Avril loses points
unfortunately because
of her stupid booking
company. When I called
for a booking price I was
disappointed to see that an
artist that had only been
out for about 5 months was
demanding over $125,000
per show. And the industry
wonders why people have
to get their music off of the
internet!
Other mentionable
tracks are “Unwanted” and
“Naked”. If you don’t have
this album and looking
for something interesting,
check it out. Just don’t pay
too much for it.
Eminem “Eminem Show”
This album was
the shocker of the year
for me. I am not normally
into listening to “teen”
What is there to say
that probably everyone else
here doesn’t already know
about this album. It is
arguably the best work he
has done to date. He seems
to mature with every new
album that he puts out,
focusing on more serious
and less offensive subject
matter. You can’t go
through this town without
hearing somebody playing
it at all times.
The album starts
off with an in your face
track “White America” and
continues with some of my
favorite tracks like “Square
Dance” and “Soldier”. If
you are a critic of Eminem
and think that he is a no
talent, foul mouth hater,
then you need to listen
to track 4 “Cleaning Out
My Closef ’ to get a small
glimpse into the life and
past of Marshall Mathers.
My favorite track has to
be “Sing For the Moment”
basically because of its
relationship to Aerosmith’s
“Dream On” which is
in my top 10 all time
favorites.
To get a fiirther
look at his life, you can
go see him on the big
screen, again as all of you
already know, in the movie
“8 Mile”. I had planned
on reviewing that album,
but have yet had the time
to go out and get the
soundtrack or even see the
movie. From what I hear
the movie is amazing and
screams many awards to
come for Eminem.
GET THIS
ALBUM!!
The Benjamin Gate
“Contact”
I had the honor of
booking this band for a
show last March and they
are even better live then
on CD. With amazing
tracks like “Do What You
Say” and “Light” this is an
album that everyone needs
to check out. The album
ends with questionably the
best track on the album
called “Fall Away”.
If you are a fan
of Avril, Pink, Incubus,
or interested in hearing
a female lead band rock
out, then you need to take
a listen to the Benjamin
Gate. Coming off the
highly publicized Festival
Con Dios tour, they are
making several trips to
North and South Carolina.
Also check out
their first album “Untitled”
which I believe is their best
album. It features two of
the most amazing songs I
have heard in a while, “Lay
It Down” and “Hands.”
Whether you are
a fan of Christian rockers
or not this is an album that
crosses over genres and
is a must have for anyone
that calls themselves a fan
of Alternative Music.
Nirvana “You Know
Your Right ”, previously
unreleased track
This is the long
awaited unreleased track
by one of rocks most
famous bands. Nirvana.
The fighting is finally over
between Courtney Love
and remaining members
of Nirvana on whether the
track would be released or
not, and more disturbing,
who the money would
go to. The track was
released on a greatest hits
record but I will only be
reviewing the single.
The song is a
classic Nirvana hit. It
mixes the soft crackly
voice that Kurt Cobain
used in songs like “Dumb”
with the hard hitting power
riffs like in “Smells Like
Teen Spirif’. For those that
do not like the new track,
well then you were never
real Nirvana fans, for this
song is what Nirvana was.
The album is
comprised of all of
Nirvana’s biggest hits.
If you have missed out
on this band in the past,
getting this album would
be a good way for you to
catch up.
That’s all for now.
There are way to many
albums that are great
to fit them all into this
article. So stayed tuned for
some more reviews and
introduction of some bands
that may be new to you.
As a music fan I encourage
everyone to go out and
search for the albums that
aren’t necessarily the huge
MTV hits, but most of the
time are the most talented
groups.
Until then, keep listening.