Page Two

THE MICHIGAN DAILY

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Rock excellence:

Hear the

USA

Schlesinger speaks
for, RFK candidacy

E

ByF.L.S. Funn 6
Rock "n' Rofl Expert'
You've probably heard of the
United States of America. They
have a record. With it, they've es-
tablished themselves as one of the
nost crea ive, technically excel-
lent, if uniealized, rock groups in
the country.
The group is the brainchild of
its leaner, Joseph "Byrd, Who has
long been active in the ,musical,
political and theatrical circles of
SanFancisco. True to his avant-
art background, he's formed an
avant-art-rock group; true to his
new left background, he's also cre-
ated?,a political group, one which
is, above and beyonid its musical
excellence, committed to the left
in theme and lyrics.
,The music of \the IUSA is a
unique amalgam of McCartney
and Cage, Lennon and Evergreen
Review, New Left Notes and the
Kinsey Report. Their composition
is as 'unique as the music. Doror
thy Moskowitz .is the lend singer,
Gordon Marron plays the electric
violin and i'ing modulator, Rand
Forbes piays 4 fretless electio
bass, Craig Wobson is on elec-
tric diums, percussion, occasional
organ, piap and cllidpe .and
Byrd is on harpsichord, calliope,
piano, organ and Durrett Elec-
tronic Music Synthesizer (dicha'rd
Durrett is credited on the album
as the group's instrument design
er4glneer.).
The album (entitled, by the
{ way, ,The Unie States of Amer-
ica, Columbia CS-9614) begins
with Byrd's "American Metaphy-'
sical Circus," a piece vaguely rem-
iniscent in lyrics and music to
"Being for, th Benefit of Mr.
Kiter' In it Byrd makes his musi-
c alnd ,olitical .statements of
theme, The electronics are blend-
ed °kllfully into the form, to the
point where one almost has to
look back at the jaoket to remind
hlims lf that there are no guItars
in the group. The eircus and
Anmerican themres are blended
Opening and closing electronic
eerily rind disturbingly, in the
riffs. The body of the song echoes
the music iyrially N, ("And the
price is right, the cost of one ad-
mission is your mind.")
The song-i go d; it disturbs; it
comes across~ but it is marred by
the Inbeent uneaeiness of all po-
litical music - it is designed to
cpmpel you to -examine its phil-
osophy and at ,times you can't
ear the music for the. invective.
Although it offers you .the op-
portunity to drown yourself. in
the horror of, its perceptions, in
Much the same way a Poe short
story does it can only make this
offer by giving up the almost
childish spontaneity that has been
the hallmark of dock 'n' roll -
. both ,good ands bad.: The Doors
suffer somewhat from the same
problem, but they, make 'up for it
by pushing .their music in the
other r6eit traditi n: heavy sound..
The USA, for all its expertis,
fails to be heavy.
Thei music, though, isd quit9
good when the politicizing doesn't
get in the way. "Hard Coming
Love," "The Qardfen of Earthly
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Delights," and "Coming Down" though this comes as a surprise,
(all by Byrd and Miss Moskowitz) it is even more of a surprise to see,
come as close as the group can the group in concert and discover
to being heavy and the amazingly that they can make all those
textured and complex instrumen- sounds live - this could be the
talization adds to the fascination group that makes "studio rock"
of the lyrics and melodies. obsolete; if they can do it live,
Tle group \does fine on its maybe the others can, too.
gentle songs. "Love Song for the But USA is at its peak in its
Dead Che" carries its politics, lighter satirical numbers: "I
happily, only in the title. Dorothy Won't Leave My Wooden Wife
Moskowitz' vocal performance is for You, Sugar," and "The Amer-
excellent, her voice being much ican Way of Love." In both of
better suited to the love lyric than these they manage to get their
it is to the heavier sounds, where philosophy through to you with-
it often comes off as pretty flat out ramming it down your throat.
and emotionless. "Stranded in "Wooden Wife" is almost hyster-
Time" is a quiet expression of pity ically funny, done in the tradition
for parents, strongly reminiscent of John Sebastian's humor; quiet,
of both "A Day in the Life" and very funny, biting and nice.
"She's Leaving Home." In both of "American Way" demonstrates
these songs you have to go to the the versatility of the group: one
jacket again. No, there isn't an section of it is a double parody of
orchestra backing the group. Al- the Mamas and the Papas and the

Spoonful that bath ribs them and
equals their melodic and harmonic
abilities.
Excellece is the word for the
United States of America. Despite
some shortcomings, they're as
good as anyone new on the scene
today - their deficits made up
for by their fantastic versatility
and technical facility. If they
catch on, if their appeal is wide
enough, and if their interests re-
main in rock, they could develop
into the most powerful group
anywhere. And oh, yes, the album,
is worth owning.
* *
Up-coming albums: The 'Byrds
are working on a two-album set
for their next release. They've al-
ready recorded the first of the
two in Nashville with the aid of a
session man on steel guitar. The,
Grateful Dead has sent tapes
for their next album to Warner
Brothers, with whom they're not
on speaking terms, Should be re-
leased shortly.
* * * '
Eric Clapton and three of the
Buffalo Springfield are awaiting!
a hearing in a California court on
charges of being present in a place
where marijuana was being used.
Conviction could mean deporta-
tion for Clapton, lead guitarist
with the Cream.

(Continued from Page 1)
Schlesinger contended Ken-
nedy had "the capacity for calm
and rational analysis of a crisis
and he is the only one who has
demonstrated capacity."
After Schlesinger's speech, a
reactor panel consisting of
Barry Bluestone, Grad, and
Prof. L. Hart Wright of the
Law School commented on,
Kennedy's candidacy. Bluestone
said that choosing one of the
candidates from either of the
two major parties was "irrele-
vant and trivial." Bluestone
added "no matter who the Pres-'
ident will be, he will be sur-
rounded by the political ma-
chine of his party.
"These men are not the peo-
ple who affect changes in so-
ciety!'
Schlesinger's political punches
started with the usual poke at
Richard Nixon. Schlesinger said
Nixon was the "greatest un-
conscious comedian of our
times-his positions always.de-
velop new and hilarious dimen-
sions,'
The next step was to provide
a rationale for the Kennedy
candidacy by criticizing Presi-

dent Johnson. Schlesinger com-
mented Johnson was not seek-
ing reelection because his poli-
cies have failed. He added
"Johnson's years of leadership
have left us sadly confused and
bitterly divided."'
Turning to Mc~arthy once
more, Schlesinger explained
that although McCarthy was
the first liberal to declare his
candidacy, that did not mean
he deserved to be the candi-
date. An analogy was set up
comparing the 1952 race of
Adlai Stevenson and Estes Ke-
fauver and the 1960 race be-
tween Stevenson and 'John
Kennedy to the present nomi-
nation drives of McCarthy and
Robert Kennedy.
Schlesinger said. although
Kennedy should, have entered
the race earlier, people should
remember "the qnestion is:
who is the best candidate."
Schlesinger also explained
that Kennedy was not ruthless
or devisive, bidet a sincere and
sympathetic candidate "who'
has made himself the particu-
lar champion of those who are
powerless to make themselves
heard "

Spend d Cool Summer
in Ann Arbor
with
UVIVERSITY PLAYERS
Ai Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre


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