Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 27, 2001, edition 1 / Page 8
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8 Thursday, September 27, 2001 Superchunk Re-emerges With Polished Sheen By Brian Bedsworth Senior Writef Like Time Out Chicken ’n Biscuits or the Cat’s Cradle, Superchunk is a Chapel Hill institution. And like most institutions, it got that way because it did something consistendy well. The stalwart rockers have been cranking out their fcey/Stys) Superchunk Here's To Shutting Up distinctive brand of amped up power pop for more than a decade now, wow ing audiences across the country and the globe. The band was almost solely responsi ble for catapulting Chapel Hill onto the national cool map with its 1990 single “Slack Motherfucker.’’ On Here’s to Shutting Up, the band’s eighth full-length album, Superchunk continue its com mitment to excellence. The record also continues Superchunk’s evolution so Gibbs Band Cranks Out Backwater Brilliance; Bad Ronald Offends With Monotony Emma Gibbs Band Out of the Country The Winston-Salem-based Emma Gibbs Band maintains its interesting and joyful mix that’s ultimately neo-country for the young city boy. On its fourth album, Out to the [ EASTERN J k mum FEDERAL A k 9m THEATERS M 0 (J V Of* PLAZA THEATRES "\ IHH Elliott Rd. At East Franklin ] f 967-4737 / HARDBALL ES@ Daily 3:15,5:25 7:35,9:45 JAY & SILENT 808 STRIKE BACK 1 Daily 3:15, 5:30,7:40, 9:50 GUTTER RBS Daily 3:05,5:15,7:20,9:25 RUSH HOUR 2 EH Daily 3:10,5:10,7:10,9:10 TWO CAN MAY THAT GAME B Daily 3:05,5:05,7:05,9:05 Of* MOVIES AT TIMBERLYNeN ‘7™ Weaver Dairy at Airport Rd. ) 1 933-8600 y THE OTHERS Daily 3:10,5:20,7:30,9:40 AMERICAN PIE 2 i Daily 3:10,5:20,7:30,9:45 THE MUSKETEER IHS Daily 3:10,5:15,7:20,9:45 RAT RACE EH Daily 3:10,5:20,7:30,9:45 GLASS HOUSE ES Daily 3:30,7:00,9:35 PRINCESS DIARIES S Daily 3:20,7:00,9:30 Ear ragyi a up mm adv. AvtiMbie I Showtimcs for today only. ‘ No passes * No discount tickets W. VISIT OUR WEB SITE! . 1 | www.Hollywood com 1 a UNC Student's Pizza Headquarters f S f r p* -! -j Lunch, Dinner, Late Night 0 *J Lar 9° Pizza Medium i-Topping Pizza & 1 Coke Small 2-Topping Pizza & i Coke ffiMJL 10 Wings, Breadstix & 1 Coke Cheesybread & Cinnastix's & 1 Coke ms axeßvhnaA&uwtn9B Cheese Pizza if Cheesybread Roommate Special 3 Medium 1 Topping Pizzas ' $33-99 Sun-Thurm xiatn-iatn • Fri & Sat uam-2am We accept Master Card, Visa, American Express and UNC One Card evidenced by 1999’s Come Pick Me Up. The record’s rich, layered composi tions - at times beautiful, at times rock ing, at times both - are the sounds of a band confident in its maturity. For the past two albums Superchunk has gradually turned down the volume, replacing kinetic energy with increased ingenuity. With Here’s To Shutting Up, the band has arrived at what it was striving for before -a fully developed new Superchunk sound. The distorted guitars, driving bass and bombastic drums are still there, but now strings, organs, acoustic guitars and even a lap steel fill things out McCaughan’s voice, which reached a surprisingly high falsetto on Come Pick Me Up, has dropped a few notes. Even though it’s still higher than anything on older albums it works well on this record. The falsetto seemed a little strained and not sure on Come Pick Me Up but McCaughan seems confident in his vocal range now. Not only that, he has reached anew level of songwriting. The slacker Country, the band blends facets of every genre from country to bluegrass to clas sic rock. The album comes off with a cool, casual and eclectic sound made famous by its third album Seven Even. But the musical talent, lyrics and members have matured, creating a more harmonious and peaceful sound. mSSMMSMm PwlhTa r't’s B i ..X- 7:00, 9:20, SAT-SUN 2:00, 4:30 Killer IDER AIN ACTIVITY. 7:00, 9:20, SAT-SUN 2:00, 4:20 GHOST WOR,LD ISIS>. mmytmtwvK-tfxmmiLnin ewrirwSKSa jJA. 7:10, 9:30, SAT-SUN 2:10, 4:30 7:10, 9:10, SAT-SUN 2:10, 4:10 DIVIDED WE FALL 7:00, 9:30, SAT-SUN 2:00, 4:30 AM RHAPSODY ADVENTURES OF FELIX 7:1 5, SAT-SUN 2:15 9:20, SAT-SUN 4:20 DIVERSIONS anthems and rockers of On the Mouth or other releases have been completely replaced with contemplative, superbly constructed lyrical compositions com plete with multilayered harmonies. Among the most noticeable depar tures from the Superchunk canon is the laid-back country rocker “Phone Sex.” The violin, lap steel and a driving 3/3 beat almost sound more like Whiskeytown than Superchunk. Harmonies drip like syrup over the infectious melody, and the eerily appro priate (but completely coincidental) cho rus - “Plane crash footage on TV/ I know, I know that could be me" - make the song even more memorable. Heavy on the keyboards and strings, “The Animal Has Left its Shell” and “What Do You Look Forward To?” slow the tempo down even more for two of the band’s best ballads. Making a kind of indie-easy listening, it’s a testament to Superchunk’s range that they can rock so hard yet still make music your par Throughout the album, the band’s members sing about their tired bodies, tat tered clothes and traveling blues in a life long journey. Balanced between head bobbing folk beats (“Hole in the Dark,” “Engineer”) and tranquil instrumental interludes (“’99 flood,” “Never Been to Heaven"), the album is smooth and seam less yet youthfully intense. “Black Road,” in particular, stands out with its fervent guitar solos and light-hearted lyrics - all with a sound that is characteristically Emma Gibbs. Will Straughan’s vocals come across as powerful and versatile, equally capable of country twangs and hopeful moans. Complementing his graceful mandolin scales are Drew Cannon and Richard Upchurch’s dueling guitars, leaving plen ty of room for enchanting solos and tunes that stretch out and weave back together. Friday, Sept 28 9 9:3opm FREE! Saturday, Sept 29 7:oopm oSeAm Id All movies shown in Carolina Union Auditorium. I r Experience Chapel Hill GSSSESEI323 “Where We Take Pride In Serving You!” PLANNING AN EVENT? You’ll love our personalized service, great menus selections and competitive prices. * Holiday Parties * Luncheons * Banquet/Buffet Dinners * Conferences * Hors D'oeuvre Receptions * Seminars * Alumni Reunions * Meetings * Wedding Receptions 919-929-2171 www.holidayinnchapelhill.com Located on 1 5/5 01 Bypass across from Eastgate Shopping Center \ FREE BANQUET ROOM RENTAL* ~\ I Call our Sales Department for more details. • * Minimum food and beverage amounts required. * Offer not valid on previously booked functions. Coupon expires 12/30/01. 3 DT^j ents could make out to. But there’s still rock aplenty on Here’s to Shutting Up. “Rainy Streets” has all the anthemic immediacy that makes the band’s live audiences pogo up and down like coked-up kangaroos. Likewise for “Out on the Wing” and “Art Class.” The main difference between these and rock ers from older albums is that instead of pulling out all the stops, Superchunk has precisely calculated notes and structure to achieve a paradoxically maximum yet restrained rock value. There are those who will say that Superchunk has lost whatever gift it had, that they’re past their prime. But Superchunk is just getting its second wind. Yes, the band is an institution. But unlike most institutions this one is con stantly looking forward and evolving. And it rocks harder than a Time Out sausage biscuit ever could. The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu. A truly versatile musician, Straughan’s wailing lap-steel creates a psychedelic country tune supported by driving bass and drums, played by Jeff Remsburg and George Wallis respectively. Above all, Brent Buckner’s harmonica sings intense ly, making you want to dance and just sit back and relax at the same time. Not conforming to any specific genre yet exceptional for that exact reason, Emma Gibbs Band sounds like a back water Bob Dylan, comfortable on any lost and lonely lopsided porch. Out to the Country showcases the band’s talent and individuality in a hypnotic album that the band will showcase at its CD release party at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Raleigh’s Lincoln Theatre. Both the show and the new album should keep country hungry city boys happy for awhile. By Nick Parker Bad Ronald Bad Ronald While sex and drugs may be a big part of rock ’n’ roll lyrics, bands usually don’t make them the whole ball of wax. Pity no one told that to New York based rap-rock outfit Bad Ronald. The group’s self-titled debut album essen- Take 15/501 South towards Pittsboro Exit Main St./Southern Village HARDBALL iYLuI 1:3O-3:45-7:00-9:30 THE OTHERS Kail 1:45-4:00-7:10-9:35 RAT RACE (KHi 1:00-3:05-5:10-7:25-9:40 ROCK STAR S> 1:15-4:15-7:15-9:45 CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON OSLO 8 00 Bargain Matinees Daily until 5:30 All seats $4.75 www.therialto.com □□loOtBYH STADi..,,, DIGITAL SEATING superchunk here’s to shutting up ' I|lwßsg I jSL Here's to Shutting Up, Superchunk's eighth studio album, combines the band's traditional rock sound with layered production techniques. tially revamps the same two songs over and over -one about getting high, the other about getting laid. Most of the band’s vocals are ridicu lously repetitive - they’d be funny if they weren’t so dull. The subject matter cov ers only drug use, casual sex and binge drinking, making the tracks blur into one another like an alcohol-fogged spring break. Women are described mosdy in terms of breasts, butts and the sexual acts they’re performing at a given time. The utter lack of variety wears very thin very fast. Kaz Gamble provides a bit of lyrical oomph with his varied delivery, but the rest of the vocals are crap, pure and simple. So Bad Ronald seems to offer noth ing more than your bog-standard angry white boy rock. But ignore the lyrics and listen to a few seconds of “Let’s Begin (Shoot the Sh**)," and the music’s individuality begins to shine through as ’Bos-style electronic keyboards take over. The big hair gives way to hard core thrash with the rock version of “Let’s Begin” that ends the album, when the easy ’Bos groove and turntable work is replaced by solid guitar and bass. The band covers a lot of musical ground. Tracks like “All A Dream” crank out like old-school punk, and they even cover Beethoven with an electric guitar rendering of “Ode To Joy” round ing out the song “Lost On Tour.” 300 E. Main Street • Carrboro SEPTEMBER 27 TH MODEST MOUSE" w/Shins 8. II! (sold out) 28 FI? RICHARD BUCKNER w/Anders Parker & Crooked Jades"(s 10) 9 PM 29 SA THE BUTCHIES" ($7) w/ Daddy Kings 30 SU GILLIAN WELCH (sold out) | OCTOBER || )MO WATERBOYS- (SlB/S2O day ot show) 21U B-SIDES / Vibrant Green / Marat 3WE BURNING SPEAR w/ Sons Of Steel" ($lB/520) 4TH WEEKEND EXCURSION" ($8) w/ Uama SFR JUNIOR BROWN" (sl6) w/ Old Crow Medicine Show 6SA ATHENAEUM" w/Push Stars 7SU Quasi" ($7) w/ Magic Magicians & Ted Leo BMO NEKO CASE & HER BOYFRIENDS w/ Shannon Wright ($8) 9TU PAT MCGEE BAND" (SlO/Sl2) 10 WE Zoso ($6) 11 TH JUMP, LITTLE CHILDREN" ($10) 12 FR YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND" ($8) 13 SA (Nass Marrakech has cancelled) 14 SU GRAHAM PARKER 8. THE FIGGS" (sl2) 17 WE CURSIVE/ Sorry About Dresden/ White Octave ($8) 18IH MIKE WATT ($8) w/Thalia Zedek 19 FR IGGY POP (sold out) 20 SA NEIL DIAMOND ALL-STARS" ($8) w/ Billy Joe Winghead 21 SU MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT" (Sl2/Sls) 23 TU the Anniversary" ($8) 24 WE THE DAMNED" (Sls/Sl7) 25 TH New Found Glory, H2O, RX Bandits" ($10) 26 FR SUPERCHUNK w/The Glands" ($8) 27 SA 810 RITMO/COUNTDOWN QUARTET" ($8) 29 MO RICKER 31 WE DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL" ($10) NOVEMBER ITH PIETASTERS" ($10) 2FR Blueground Undergrass" ($8) 3SA DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE" 4SU Deep Banana Blackout 6TU Charlie Hunter 7WE Fishbone BTH Derek Trucks Band" (sl2) 9FR WXYC 80's DANCE 11 SU STEVEN MALKMUS" 12 MO HOT WATER MUSIC 13TU Preston School of Industry w/Shins USA 0.A.R." SlO 19 MO Bouncing Souls w/Flogging Molly" DECEMBER SWE DISCO BISCUITS 15 SA Rev. Horton Heat SHOWS @ gQ! BffiOJUA 9/27: Catie Curtis; 9/28: Convocation Of; 9/29: Owls; 9/30: Vandermark Five; 10/1: David Kilgour w/ Work Clothes; 10/2: Handsome Family; 10/3: Beulah w/ Mates of State; 10/9: Drums & Tuba; 10/11: Swingin' Neckbreakers; 10/12: Sparklefest; 10/13: Rock a Teens; 10/18: Rapture; 10/22: Mortician/Exhumed; 10/25; Eleni Mandel; 10/26: Trailer Bride. Snagglepuss; 10/29: Victory at Sea; 11/9: Freedy Johnston" ($10); 11/13: John Wesley Harding" ($10) 10/11 JAY FARRAR (sls) aihftßiT? 11/3 LUCINDA WILLIAMS ($22.50) 11/14 STEREOLABw/ Rebecca Gates (Si 2) The BEST live music 18 & over admitted **Advance ticket sales at SchoolKtds (in Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh). For Credit Card orders CALL 919-967-9053 | www.catscradle.com | (Elje iailg (Ear MM But decent music and redoing the classics don’t redeem the album com pletely - the random use of turntables and electronics gets old after a while. In spite of its generic rap-rock feel, Bad Ronald has some, albeit buried, degree of musical talent But it’s clear the band does have a lot of maturing to do. By Graham Parker 30 Odd Foot of Grunts Bastard Life or Clarity ★★☆☆☆ It has been said that everybody wants to be a rock star, and apparendy that proposition extends to the highest echelons of Hollywood. Keanu Reeves and Kevin Bacon have blazed the way for movie stars who can’t resist getting their groove on, and now “Gladiator” Russell Crowe fol lows suit with 30 Odd Foot of Grunts. Since the band actually existed before Crowe became famous as an actor in the ’9os, it’s unfair to accuse TOFOG (the band’s preferred nickname) of being a vanity project. But it seems unlikely that the group would be reaping the benefits of an American record release without its burly, Oscar-winning frontman. TOFOG plays Aussie folk, a config uration of blues and rock that would sound right at home among the drunks and sawdust of an Outback pub. The songs all sound generally the same and are driven by meat-and-potatoes guitar, drums and Crowe’s gravely baritone. But the down-home sound the group strives for never really comes across. For a record that would benefit from a more hard-edged, unpolished feel, the pro duction of the album is too precise, leav ing many songs feeling stale and flat The album’s single, “Things Have Got To Change,” is a toe-curling embar rassment, burdened by corny emotion al build-ups of Crowe belting out lyrics that would make Bryan Adams cringe. Likewise, songs like “Wendy” and “Memorial Day,” in which Crowe pens his most personal words, tend to be the most unconvincing efforts. More often than not, the music fails to conceal the throwaway “emotional” lyrics. But occasionally the group gets it right “Swept Away Bayou” is a juke joint foot stomper that finds energy in its quick, rolling pace and the welcome presence of a blues violin. But this could all be a moot point, since most people won’t be listening to TOFOG for the music. Obviously the main attraction here is Crowe, and it will be his name that earns TOFOG any attention at all. For a per former who has made a name for himself by tackling memorable roles, it’s a shame that his music is quite the opposite. By Jeremy Fisher GOT PAINT? ~ It's For artists, dramatists, or anyone with a penchant for paint. We have HUNDREDS of gallons of latex paint, quality checked and carefully screened from the Household Hazardous Waste Collection! Great for email projects or big ecenesl Available at the Paint Exchange Open during the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Orange County Landfill Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill October 6 and November 3 9am - 3pm Come early for the beat eelectioni - 1 **'. Need details? Call Orange Community Recycling at dfetHtom 919-968-2766 or e-mail WtaT-P --recycllngoco.orange.nc.us
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 27, 2001, edition 1
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