Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / July 6, 1989, edition 1 / Page 9
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The Tar HeelThursday, July 6, 19899 TownshendKs latest effort a 'rock musica Pete Townshend and The Who have experienced a media resurrec tion lately. The Stones' tour has been swept under the rug by The Who's 25th Anniversary bash. Then you have Pete's hearing problems, first reported more than a decade ago. And a new Townshend album? Now, 15 years after they reached their creative and popular peak, 1989 is the summer of The Who. That being said, with The Iron Man, Townshend has created another concept epic in the tradition of Tommy. However, this work is dubbed a musical, as opposed to a rock opera. The Iron Man is based on a 1968 children's story of the same name by Ted Hughes. In the story, Hogarth, a ten-year-old boy (played by Town shend) tells of the confrontation be tween the Space Dragon (Nina Si mone) and the Iron Man (John Lee Hooker), a robot that tries to destroy any threat to humanity. The plot ini tially seems ridiculous, but aren't the storylines behind musicals and op eras intrinsically silly? Townshend must have been un der extreme pressure to follow a string of well-received albums, including It's Hard (The Who), White City and Deep End Live!. While White City had a vague storyline as its musical 1W Brian Springer Album guide, it was less of a concept album than a collection of energetic, inde pendent songs. The Iron Man is the sort of album to which one must lis ten start to finish. Musically, it re sembles the mixed-bag artistry of Empty Glass. The Who's version of Tommy, while a landmark work, lost some clarity of plot with band members singing all of the parts. The sound track version, by contrast, was rather embarrassing. On The Iron Man, Townshend combines the best of both approaches by being prpducer-com-poser-participant and handpicking his collaborators. In addition to Town shend, Hooker and Simone, The Who appear on two tracks. Other vocalists include Billy Nicholls, Chyna and Nicola Emmanuel. The album begins with the Vixen (Deborah Conway) and the Wood land Creatures urging Hogarth to be brave and upstanding. The song, "I Won't Run Any More," is upbeat and strong, with Simon Phillips demon strating why he was chosen as the Lunch 1 1 :30-2:00 Sunday-Friday Dinner 5:00-9:00 Sunday-Thursday 5:00-1 0:00 Friday & Saturday Hwy. 54 at I-40, Chapel HillDurham, 493-8096 967-8227 Atlantic Ave. at Spring Forest Rd., Raleigh 790-1200 Experience the magic of Marco Polo 's where the West meets the East. A unique restaurant among the Triangle cities, decorated to reflect the travels of Marco Polo and the authentic cuisines from those countries he visited. Serving Chinese, Northern Italian 8c Indian cuisine (All included in a 100-item menu) International Sunday Buffet w Prime Rib $7.95 Catering & Banquet facilities Lunch: 11:30-2:30 (except Sat) Dinner: 5:00-9:30 Sunday International Luncheon Buffet 11:30-2:30 Weekends: 5:00-11:00 1813 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd Chapel Hill located next to Brendle's All Major new Who drummer. Townshend, despite tinnitus, puts in a credible guitar performance, as he does throughout the album. "Over the Top" marks the first appearance of the Iron Man, as he topples over a cliff and must put himself back together. John Lee Hooker's life-weary voice is perfect for the Iron Man, even alongside upbeat rock and the restrained cho rus of the Soldiers. Simon Townshend, Pete's brother (leader of Simon Townshend' s Mov ing Target), is the Owl, observing in the quiet "Man Machine" that the Iron Man has built to protect humans from their own destuctive inventions. The Who perform "Dig," in which farmers dig a trap for the Iron Man, who has eaten all of the barbed wire, farm machines, etc., on his path to the cliff. This song resembles much of Roger Daltrey's best solo work. If this is the sound of the current Who, then the July 27th Raleigh show should be phenomenal. Hogarth lures the Iron Man into the trap and then feels remorse on the first single, "A Friend is a Friend." The song's only annoying trait is its use of a children's chorus, although it is understandable in the context of the story. All seems well until some Our chefs are better by degrees. SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Please call Ad Talk 1-800-634-8448, then 1519 after tone for more information Credit Cards Accepted . - .... rr-. 933-55 6 S picnickers disturb the Iron Man's grave. "I Eat Heavy Metal," the Iron Man proclaims, as he devours mili tary equipment and prepares to de "fend himself from nuclear attack. Hogarth decides to lead the Iron Man to a scrapyard. Meanwhile, a star is interpreted by all as meaning that Hogarth will have to endure great suffering before starting a new, bet ter life. The resulting song, "All Shall Be Well," is another of Townshend' s dichotomous songs, juxtaposing a quiet verse with an aggressive cho rus not far removed from "Face the Face" White City). "Was There Life" is a ballad in which Hogarth falls in love with the girl's beautiful face that he sees in the star. When the image crashes to the earth, it reveals the demonic (and hungry) Space Dragon instead. "Fast Food" is one of the album's high lights, featuring Nina Simone's vo cals against Townshend' s plastic soul pop. Who cannot laugh to hear Si mone sing "Frisky little children Served up in the nudeKeep them comingIf you want my gratitude?" Hogarth is embarrassed at having loved this creature, as he explains in "A Fool Says," another quiet song reminiscent of Billy Joel circa The Stranger. The Iron Man and the Space (Tit f 13 wV. " '-nr Verf '3.i Ti T WWl IHTIiriiin iTTiffliirwl I r vJL t- T wfmmm g""" i jptiw " FI1EE FLICKS in tha Union Auditorium at 7:C0 8 9:30 pm N Monday, 710 TERMS OF ENDEARME :jvtQ Wednesday, 712 WHAT is n? The Union Underground located on the lower level of the Student Union Building, has bil liards, video games & bowling. What Deals Are Going On There? TUESDAYS Billiards, half-price after 4:00 pm THURSDAYS Bowling, half-price after 4:00 pm FRIDAYS Graduate Students - one pays-one . plays free 12 noon-4:00 pm WEDNESDAYS FAMILY DAY -3:00-7:00 pm, July $1.00 Billiards & Bowling Dragon agree to an ordeal by fire. The Dragon must fly into the sun, the only fire large enough. The Who's version of "Fire" (originally produced by Townshend for Crazy World of Arthur Brown) is another different sound for the band, with The Who approaching dance music. The Iron Man is victorious. The Space Dragon's body releases the souls of millions of children and Hogarth's beloved, all formerly trapped inside. The Iron Man sends the dragon to the dark side of the moon, left to pursue his own metal munching. The released souls all glorify in a "New Life," the poppish finale. Townshend has crafted an excep tional album of musical diversity and strong songwriting. Few other musi cians could incorporate a children's story into a work and actually pull it off. This album is part of an even longer work which Townshend has completed. The other songs will wait for a stagefilm performance (or a Townshend Crossroads-type set). The two Who songs make one wish for a new Who album. This will do quite nicely for now, though. If you want something besides typical summer radio fodder, this is your album. Now we can only wait until July 27! fx SOIDW LUrara rearcs Outdoor Pit Breaks Fri., 714 12 noon FREE Ice Cream! Thurs., 720 12 noon Melon Break! Computer Art "Harmonic Resolution", an exhibit of computer graphics and collage by system analyst and artist Theresa Marie Rhyne will be on display in the Union Gallery beginning July 5. Tuesday, July 11 Dramatic Reading: "Ca, Cest Paris" Union Cabaret 8:00 pm "Ca Cest Paris," is a play adapted from Thomas Wolfe's novel, "Of Time and The River"
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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July 6, 1989, edition 1
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