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2tyr Sottg (Bar MM Groovy debut disc fights Kravtiz-clone tendencies BYAYOFEMI KIRBY STAFF WRITER Tie dye, lava lamps, and Dan Dyer. Which of the three doesn’t fit? Ok, so maybe lava lamps weren’t that popular until Spencer Gifts came around, but the debut release from soul rocker Dan Dyer will def initely send you time-warping into the early seventies, when peace and sitar were in and war was out. Dyer’s Of What Lies Beneath is a satisfying blend of groovy guitar riffs and catchy lyrics that range from love and heartbreak to the search for inner tranquility. Notably, every track is produced, mixed and accompanied by Lenny Kravitz and— surprise sounds like songs Kravitz would do. But Dyer works hard to pre vent Kravitz’s guitar solos and signature sound from stealing the show. He stands firm, prov ing that he will confidently walk in the footsteps (or sing in the shadows) of Kravitz to grab lis teners’ attention and melt them into his psychedelic world. “Great Ocean,” perhaps the strongest song on the album, is evidence that Dyer could be a rock star. He uses his voice well —one moment it’s super sexy and raspy Hack band surprisingly successful BY JIM WALSH ASSISTANT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Along the craggy shoals of deso late beaches rove the ghosts of U 2, The Verve and Our Lady Peace. They are restless. But fear not. One band has channeled their drowsy aura, ris ing against would-be champions of innovation, exploration and integrity. That band, dear fans of washed-up fare, is West Coast cre ation The Shore. An alternative pop group from Los Angeles, this trio follows in the vein of The Smiths and Pete Yorn, but seriously lacks in depth. Casual fans of Coldplay or Radiohead might, upon hear ing the band for the first time, be intrigued. However, they would soon discover that the water off of this shore is indeed quite shallow. Track after track, lead singer Ben Ashley sings overly indulgent tributes to things like love, heart break, relationships and the sun. None of it is compelling, none of it provoking. Lyrics like, “I’ve been losing these days, can’t feel you no more/ I’ve been lost in a haze, got my head on the floor,” are blindingly boring. It wouldn’t be so bad if the music backing it was worth two cents, but it ain’t. At best, the backup instru mentals are noninvasive. But perhaps noninvasive is good. Highlighting, Cut & Style in 90 Minutes by Mia /Formal Updo • Men's Cuts Women's Cuts • Color Correction (919)929-3018 q Evening & Weekend by appointment J |~sls OFF highlight wfeheuu! {jJ Bring this ad. Exp. 10/31/M AVFDA® 1512 i, Franklin $L • next to Mellow Mushroom Is that a zipcard in your pocket? UNC membership only S2O/year! Join Zipcar and get access toVW Beetles on campus 24/7. Rent by the hour or day. Even includes gas, insurance and parking. Reserve online, let yourself in with your Zipcard and drive away. Students, faculty & staff 21+ can drive for only $5.00/hr & $55/day. Visitzipcar.com/unc j nr -5* orcallß66.4.zipcar L* I UvG I. I wheels when you want them MUSIC /VIEW DAN DYER OF WHAT LIES BENEATH like Mick Jagger and the next it’s piercing like Steven Tyler's glass breaking moment in “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” The song is given a touch of Kravitz flavor during an seductive acoustic solo, adding a sound that makes it shine among the rest. The title track demonstrates Dyer’s writing talent. The chorus asks listeners to consider “Why are we so afraid/To going down in the river/Wash away/Everything/So we can be delivered.” The metaphor is cool and his ad-libs are pleasant additions to a well-written, well sung track. Skip ahead to “Space Alien” and Dyer hints that it might not be stu dio magic that makes him sound good. What this ballad-like track lacks in lyrics (“We don’t belong/ We don’t belong/This world’s not right/There’s something wrong/ Please take me home”) Dyer makes up for in range. Kravitz comple ments Dyer with an enchanting guitar solo that makes it stand out as an album highlight. Sometimes people just want to pop in an album and play it softly in the background. The Shore is happy to oblige. For an iPod-obsessed soci ety, this album provides the perfect soundtrack for walking to class or doing the laundry. Take the song “It Ain’t Right,” for example. Nothing special, this dusty ballad boasts an almost catchy percussion element that an aloof listener could really get into. It’s chirpy. It’s glam-y. It’s downright digestible. Just don’t tell your friends you’re listening to something so banal. Rhythmic beats offset overly indulgent vocals, raising the song to a level of toler ability that most others on the album can’t match. Those are relegated to a level of averageness comparable to that of Clear Channel network affiliates. Wait, no that’s too harsh. Make it a level of averageness comparable to that of a really bad Oasis song. If anything good can be said about this album, it’s that there’s nothing really bad about it. It’s just typical West Coast prissy whining. The whole album could be used to promote “The 0.C.” or, for that matter, any other melodramatic, sea-themed program. Members of The Shore present themselves as the next big thing in alternative rock, yet fail to real- Diversions j|k j| 0/ What Lies Beneath is a refreshing release. Though there is nothing truly spectacular about the album, Dyer sings and writes well. It’s an upside to an industry slowly redeeming itself from numerous studio-manufactured artists who do neither at all. But to avoid being labeled a Kravitz creation, Dyer must find his own sound, especially if he wants his own fans. To put it simply, you’ll like the album because it’s a decent exten sion of the soul rocker style, or you’ll frown upon Dyer for his mediocre attempt at joining the family tree. Groovy, man. Contact the AHE Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu. MUSIC "VIEW THE SHORE THE SHORE ize one thing: “Alternative rock” is dead. It died a long time ago with the departure of the bands from which The Shore draws its influ ences. There is nothing next, noth ing new and nothing big about this watered-down L.A. trio. Let sleeping dogs lie, The Shore, and forgotten ghosts wander. Contact the A&E Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu. l/Vfuitdo / laou ajtoutme ':’... I ysioLv one. Oaxj llt Lytint to f ct a janiitu ... tut not yet \ • Birth Control • Testing | • Abortion By Pill • surgical Abortion * Conscious Station (optional) • STD/HIV Testing Www.plannedparenthood.org/ppcnc Talented act outswims peers BY TANNER SLAYDEN STAFF WRITER In the realm of music, there are many fish in the sea —some are less desirable then others. This fact was illustrated perfectly Friday, when Shark Quest had a CD release party for its latest release, Gods and Devils, at Local 506. The instrumental quintet ended the concert’s series of acts with a soothing and transcendent set, but the journey to that point wasn’t always above sea level. Myriad genres showed up at the intimate showcase, but no per former stuck out quite like Billy Sugarfix. The pseudo-comedian began his performance wearing a tuxedo and green mask with balloons strapped to it. Whether he was trying to be funny is debatable; regardless, he enjoyed his set more then anyone in attendance. His act included magic flutes, talking dinosaurs and a mask of President Bush. Honestly, his friends probably told him his show was funny after a long —and I mean long night of drinking. The performance would have been funny among a small group of friends. Very, very drunk friends. The confused audience found salvation from Sugarfix in Des Ark. With catchy guitar riffs reminis- THE Daily Crossword By Alan P. Olschwang ACROSS 1 Shafts of light 5 Hardy cabbage 9 Shred 14 Thanks I 15 March middle 16 Subterfuges 17 Start of Paul Newman quote 19 At hand 20 Brook fish 21 Wholesome 23 Having a will 26 Gratuity 27 Part 2 of quote 33 Ocean extract 37 Liveliness 38 Travel with difficulty 39 Attempts 71 Bob of the PGA 72 Top of the head 73 "Sixteen " DOWN 1 "Something to Talk About" singer Bonnie 2 Actress Woodard 3 Walk-the-dog toys 4 Nero Wolfe's creator 5", Galahad" 6 Bother 7 Camera accessory 8 Real follower? 9 Atlantic food fish 10 Littlest of the litter 11 '3os movie dog 12 Rip 13 Catch sight of 18 Provo's state 22 Bellybutton collection 24 Light pat 25 Holiday forerunners 41 Mayday! 43 Blockade 44 Intermediaries 46 Audit pro 48 Coarse file 49 Part 3 of quote 52 Chairman of China 53 Ungenerous 58 One between 12 and 20 63 Sri _ 64 Playful prank 65 End of quote 68 Hunt illegally 69 Dynamic lead in? 70 Huron/Ontario separator s l c l A lTM L lTl s M s l H l°£ l ug|e rMe D I T|W O|W s AREN a[w E A nfl u N T c|.UIo(vWJ.L L J_ A_ M S_jj | H_E A_ S e|f L I E. R, s R ill I £. E ±l*. A A cimioinJ e s i.£YJL RNE .AiLii 1 RLE v .acelalneh ilodds RRR |AA T ||j< £N HI K OS_H_EJR§£V_E_Rl(l<Qji APE xMoTo P s|a E R I E M I N AML U T eßt RAPE b|u|d|oßd!r|y|sßz|o|n|eTd' ®The Student Section OR Covered Seats with Complimentary Food & Drinks. Which Sounds *" To you? 1 Come by A Chapel hill Dining Rathskeller & sign TRAomoN Since 1948 up for "The Ratffle" to - full bar - win 2 tickets to the - All ABC Permits - Georgia Tech game 157-afiunkun street in the Pope Box! ,N ONLy 1 MORE DAy! (no purchase necessary) Usivsrslty Career lervkn Wendy P. .{ Dean K. Painter. Jr. Career Center FOUyVD/ 919-962-6507 9 9 219 Hanes Ilall Gov’t, Non-profits, For-profits , uc^unted# http://carccrs.une.edu Minority Career Night 55+ Employers ; p 1 September 22nd, 6 9 pm ■J#-.’’ Great Hall, Student Union Carolina Career Fair WjJ j B 90+ Employers September 23rd, 15 pm f'J'/l St B Dean Smith Center II If Attend these exciting events to learn I fl about jobs, internships, networking, and careers! Professional Dress for Senior Grad Students. I „ Business Casual for Underclass Students. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2004 CUNCERT SHARK QUEST LOCAL 506 FRIDAY, AUG. 3 cent of both ’7os blues performers and The Mars Volta, this indie rock duo pounded into Local 506 with reverb and personality. The act took its show to the crowd literally —as band mem bers descended from the stage into the audience, moving and gyrating to the music with so much energy they were dripping with sweat. Des Ark’s upbeat and loud sound was completely different from Shark Quest’s and would have made an attractive transition into a more mellow set. But that was interrupted by the return of one incredibly well dressed man. Billy Sugarfix took the stage once more to play the gui tar, drums and harmonica, singing songs that sounded like bad Beatles covers. The “Jaws” attack song would have been fitting in this situation. For a supporting act, his total performance time ended up being longer than that of the main event which was completely sugar free. When the five members of Shark Quest finally walked on the stage, 28 Historical period 29 Ecology pioneer 30 Conception 31 Henhouse product 32 Ooze 33 Length of a visit 34 Jason's ship 35 Stead 36 Take care of 40 Stopovers on the ali mentary canal 42 Health resorts 45 Hosiery mishap 47 Latin greeting 3 6 ® 10 11 12 13 ; H' ’•jHB pr ?o -—rnaammpi— “ 23 24 —mmu ■?9 30 31 32 IT" """" ' 34 55 56 “ 70~ 73“ """ ' the audience knew it was about to look upon humble yet Titan-esque musicians. •; Their guitars had strips of duct tape on them, and each member wore a Mona Lisa smile. They were soulfully confident and when the music rang out, the room had a intimate and electrified quality. Corresponding with its mod est appearance, the band’s sound wasn’t flashy. Each member pro duced a sound that didn’t serve the purpose of highlighting the mem ber but, instead, complemented the group. The Shark Quest’s collective and indistinguishable roles make them the epitome of Gestalt principles. The band’s influences range from bluegrass to jazz to rock to everything else in between. The set featured a mandolin playing over a distorted, electric bass and a slide guitar juxtaposed with a cello. The group even took stabs at classical guitar stylings on a reverb laced electric rig. After hours of musical inconsistencies, the band’s idiosyncratic style served as an example of how categorical cross over can be successful. Boundaries mean little to Shark Quest for they are the scaven gers of musical genres. Contact the AHE Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu. (02004 Tribune Media Services. Inc. All rights reserved 50 Work-shoe protection 51 Ms. Fitzgerald 54 Gem surface 55 Opening bars 56 Flock of geese 57 Rabbits' kin 58 CD alternative 59 Seth's son 60 Coup d' 61 Pleasant French city? 62 Perlman of "Cheers" 66 Museum purchase 67 Sturgeon delicacy 9
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 9, 2004, edition 1
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