AEaTHE MICHIGAN DAILY
As n te rta in m en t Wednesday, January 12, 1977 Page Five
t
'76:
By MIKE TAYLOR
1976 was not a bad year
rock. While it lacked the hig
lights of some previous yea
such as the emergence of Bru
Springsteen, or the release
Dylan's Blonde on Blonde,
good number of high-quality
bums were released.
Established artists, such
Dylan, the Beach Boys, and t
Rolling Stones, all produc
competent new work. But t
best albums of the year w
the exception of David Bow
were those by more less
known people - the folks w
must produce something orig
al and enjoyable, if they a
to achieve critical or comm
cial success. These are the p
ple who are doing new thin
with rock; their albums are t
most invigorating and exciti
being produced, and that's wh
rock is all about.
A
good
yea
best writers, as well as one of dim. Surprisingly, percussionist
its most original singers, and Phil Collins ably took over the
for the Patti Smith Group is an ex- lead vocals, and the band pro-
gh-! citing band. duced one of its best records.
rs, 4) Eno - Another Green Punctuated by beautiful instru-
ice World (Island ILPS 9351). In mental passages, the album is
of the years since leaving the orig- filled with fantastic tales and
a inal Roxy Music, Eno has work- whimsical themes, providing
al- ed on avante-garde compositions well-done escapist entertain-
with former King Crimson lead- ment.
as er Robert Fripp, as well as solo 9 and 10) Graham Parker and
he albums like this one. The num- the Rumour - Howlin' Wind
ed erous short compositions on this (Mercury SRM-1-1095) and Heat
he record are beautiful mood Treatment (Mercury SRM-1-
ith pieces, filled with unusual tex- 1117). Parker is the brightest
ie, tures and melodies. Eno's re- new talent of 1976. His songs
ser markable, if infrequent, singing combine influences of rhythm
ho and playing are supplemented and blues, folk, and rock'n'roll;
in- by his "treatments" of the play- his mentors include Dylan,
are ing of a diverse bunch of Eng- Springsteen, and the Stones. The
er- land's best rock mnsicians. Rumour is a large group simi-
eo- 5) Lou Reed - Coney Island lar to Springsteen's E Street
ags Baby (RCA APL1-0915). After Band but unique in its own.
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at first, the album sounds cold
and mechanical after repeated
listenings. Southside Johnny and
the Asbury Jukes captured a
warmer feeling on I Don't Want
To Go Home, produced by
Springsteen's guitarist, Miami!
Steve Van Zandt and featuring
some excellent originals and
some classic rhythm and blues
tunes. Unfortunately, the rec-
ord lacks the spontaneity and
originality of the Parker al-
bums.
PUNK ROCK had a very good
year. The Ramones released the
superb Ramones, and Live at
CBGB's chronicled some of the
best groups on the New York
scene. In addition, Television
and Talking Heads, two of the
brightest hopes, both signed re-
cording contracts.
The Beatles lived on. Georgel
Harrison, Paul McCartney, andl
Ringo Starr all made new al-I
bums, and McCartney releasedl
a well-done three-album set of
his 1976 American tour, Wings
Oiver America. In addition, Lou
Reiner, who several years ago
produced the symphonic ver-
sion of Tommy, collected some
of the best vocalists around and
made All This and World War
II, a double album of Beatles
songs being done by other folks.
A few of the unexpected gems
of the year were David Brom-
ber's How Late'll He Play 'Til.
Todd Rundgren's Faithful, Mel-
anie's Photograph, Rod Stew-
rock
the
ing
hat
HERE THEN, are the ten best
albums of 1976, as I see them.
1) David Bowie - Station to
Station (RCA APL-1327). A-
though soul-influenced, this rec-
ord marked for Bowie a gen-
eral return to rock'n'roll. Dar-
Dal Photo by R ing to differ from the usual
rock album format, Bowie per-
1!'f)6mor n. W ake forms six lengthy compositions,
Folk guitarist Norman Blake performed last night at the Ark, to the delight of many Ann each filled with exotic rhythms,
Arborites. He will play again tonight at 8:30 for those who missed him. For a review of superbly developed melodies,
the concert see tomorrow's Artspgeand highly original lyrics. All
e' page.this plus Bowie's unique singing
skills and the best band he's
ever played with make the al-
bum one of Bowie's best ones.
"'Od a ®2) John Cale - Helen of Troy
(Island ILPS 9350). Cale was a
founding memberof the Velvet
By KAREN PAUL even more emotional father, orchestra) a letter from Giorgio Underground, and in recent
THOSE OF YOU who watch- consoling his son in "Di Proven- explaining that his son now years has been making avante-
ed the Super Bowl on Sun- za il mar." knows the truth and that both garde rock albums like this one,
day missed a sincere perform- ANOTHER PARTY is in pro- will come to ask forgiveness, i producing artists like Patti
ance of Verdi's opera, La Tra- gress in Act Three, this time in Castaneda showed true emo- Smith and the original Modern
viata, by the Canadian Opera Violetta's friend Flora's Paris tion. The two reunited lovers Lovers. He has the rare knack
Company in the Power Center.home. Alfredo is there as well vow never to part, but almost of being able to write the near-
The production, sung in Italian, as Violetta's escort, Douphol. lose each other musically i perfect melody, and this rec-
satisfied both the musical and Alfredo, consumed with jealou- their passionate duet. Violetta ord has several knock-outs in
dramatic demands of the tragic sy, demands to know who Vio- grows weaker (though Castane- that department. The rest of
opera. letta loves; she lies and says da's voice is always strong); the songs are simply unique and
The First Act opens with a Douphol. she has one last hysterical out- wonderful.
pTye ithec tpars homeh a This act had good pace in- burst, feeling her strength re-
party in the Parisian home of,3 atiSi 1 aioEh-
Violetta, a beautiful courtesan.,cluding Alfu'los building rage turning, but in the next mo- opia (Arista 4097). Smith's sec-
The unusual backdrop for this and Giorgis strong reproach ment she dies and the opera ond album placed a new empha-
The nusal ackdop or hisfor his son's behavior. Flora ends.i
performance was patterned with (Darlene Hirst) acted convinc- Throughout the opera, the sis on straight-ahead rock'n'-
busy black and white oriental- ingly and sang adequately. The small chorus could have bee roll, and the results were fan-
like design which looked more lighting (same backdrop) help- more lively, but the ensembetastic. Each of the eight songs
like bathroom wallpaper, (con-ldimaeh scnrore e-l usuellysynch e sel iis stylisticly unique, giving the
lete with nude women). The ed make the scene more ele- usually synchronized well with record great diversity. Smith
petes w honud havw en). hegant than Act One. the soloists and orchestra. The, continues to be one of rock's
britme od gae d been Violetta is dying of tubercu- I orchestra kept the music flow- sk
brighter to add gaiety and ele-i losis in her bedroom in Act ing smoothly and artistically
gAfe do tlis induceto Four. Reading aloud (speaking, and maintained good sipport for
lettafand sings the lively drink- rather than singing, over the the singers. *
ing song, "Libiamo," joined by
the chorus and Violetta. Lornai-
a rather large voice, which oft- WEDNESDAY ING CANCER
en sounded harsh. Glyn Evans,UNUAN D
a throaty but well-rojecting JSEM INAR
tenor, could have been a moreV.
enthusiastic Alfredo in this }
scene. However, when Violetta
feels faint, the other guests! flU at
leave to dance and Alfredo stays kJnuary ILL ohple.
behind, singinw of his love ("Un
di felice"). Evans sang pleas- at CANTERBURY HDUvE
antly, acted lovingly. Castanedo,
joining in a diet, lightened her 218 N. DIVISION-(at Catherine)
voice to blend well with Evans. 665-0606
LEFT ALONE, Violotta non--
ders abot love. In "A fors e The Seminar will begin this term with the study of June'
iui," Castaned'n high notes Singer's recent book ANDROGYNY (available at local(
were strong, her bookstores) Participant are expected to have a working
b tesopranocut .toff her knowledge of the basic principles of Jung's thought.
phrases too abruptly. "Semnre
Libre," in which Violetta dedi-
cates her life to pleasure, was
more successfil. Her diction
was precise and her voice seem-
ed more refined, although the ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S 1959
coloratura sounded laborious.Oi
The effect of Alfredo's voice, NORTHBY NORTHWEST
heard off-stage, was just right,
(clear but distant) in this per- Hitchcock's brilliant mixture of suspense in-
formance. trigue and humor makes this story of mistaken {merCan
In Act Two, Violetta and Al- identity a colorful mastepriece. Cary Grant, CanCerSoci.
fredo are living together in a
country estate - the same back- Eva Marie Saint and James Mason tangle with Callus or help.
dron was used, more annronri- each other in a plot full of surprises. The fam-
ately, here, (orgio, Alfredo's ous crop-dusting scene is one of the most
father, urges Violetta to eve f h
his son so as not to endanger frightening in enema._
the reputation of Alfredo's sis- -
ter who is to marry into nobili- THURS: Greta Garbo in QUEEN CHRISTINA
ty. Guillermo Silva-Marin, bari-
tone, created an excellant Gior-
gio; his voice projected with CiNEMA GUILD TONIGHT AT OLD ARCH. AUD.
good diction, a lovely, pure tone, 7:00 &s9:05 Admission: $1.25
artistic phrasing and emotion.
Violetta's grief was real, but __-__
in this capturing scene, her
voice did not match the sensi-
tivity of Giorgio's. TUES.-WED. $3.50 '
As Violetta sat alone writing
a farewell letter, the orchestra's TACOMA RECORDS s
slow tempo and poignant clari-
net solo painted a sorrowful R
mood. On Alfredo's return, Vio-
letta sings of her love and leav-1
es for Paris to resume her for- IA -
mer life. Silva-Marin became an t
-I -] guitar,
] fiddle,
; ~mandolin
his undistinguished Sally Can't 1 way. Both albums are filledI
Dance, this album was some- with energetic music. The de-I
what of a comeback for Reed. but, Howlin' Wind, has a wide I
Filled with the mellow influ- variety of tunes, yet all twelve1
ences of his old group, the Vel- numbers are strong. Heat Treat-I
vet Underground, Reed's sing- meat, released a couple of
ing and playing is relaxed, but months ago, has less variety,
inspired. Rock and Roll Heart, but the song-writing and sing-l
released later in the year, was ing has developed well.x
not nearly as good.
6) Flamin' Groovies - Shake TiHERE WERE MANY otherc
Some Action (Sire SASD-7521). worthy albums released thisz
In the late sixties, this group year, but few, if any, display,
produced a couple of albums the originality and rock'n'roll
that sound current when play- flair the above records do.
ed today; after disappearing Dylan gave us two new al-
for several years, they've re- bums, both good, but neither1
surfaced as a group straight fram amongst his best efforts. De-
the early and mid-sixties British sire was filled with imaginative
Invasion. The fourteen songs are arrangements, and the songs
mostly diverse originals, each were well-crafted, but the rec-
remarkably faithful in feel to ord lacks the spark that made
the period they emulate. The some of his earlier albums the 1
total effect is marvelously re- classics they are. Hard Rain,
freshing. Itaken from the Rolling Thun-
7) Electric Light Orchestra-- der Revue, had several success-
A New World Record (United ful tracks, but much of the rec- I
Artists UA LA679). This de- ord is substandard. Sadly, the
lightful record is as close to best material from the vari-
perfection as leader Jeff Lynne ous Revue shows was omitted
is likely ever to come. Its nine what should have been a
songs are superb, and their per- double or triple album was on
formances by ELO, one of our ,y a single one.s
finest bands, make the album As evidenced by Graham Par-
a true winner in every way. ker, rhythm and blues made'
8) Genesis - A Trick of the somewhat of a comeback. Dr.
I Tail (ATCO SD36-129). After los- Feel ood, a British group, pro-
ing leader Peter Gabriel in duced the solid Mal-Treatment,
1975, Genesis's future seemed'but although highly enjoyable
LAST 2 DAYS!
"HOW FUNNY CAN
a o aurg 761-700 SEX BE?"
AT 7:15 AND 9:15
STARTS FRIDAY
young Dracula has so much trouble with the
opposite sex that he's carrying around his
own stake looking Jor a guy with a hammer!
ANDY WARHOL'S
Dylan
art's Tonight's the Night, and
the late Tommy Bolin's 'Pri-
vate Eyes.
It was not an exceptional year
for rock, but the pickings were
far from sparse. Let's hope that
the artists who produced the
best work this year don't be-
come trapped in the confines
of mediocrity that success
brought 'upon the Stones and
other once great groups and
artists. If rock is to continue
as a valid art form, new direc-
tions must be continually devel-
oped, or it will lose its vitality.
TONIGHT-Wednesday, Jan. 12
KNIFE IN THE WATER
(Roman Polanski, 1962) 7:00 only-AUD. A
Polanski's first feature film is thematically more complex than
h1s later work. Although the camera is more naturalistic than his
ROSEMARY'S BABY or CHINATOWN, Polagskienonetheless creates
a disturbing, psychological film. A middle-aged sportswriter and.
his wife pick up a young hitchhiker and invite him to spend a
weekend with them on their yacht. The attractive presence uf
Christine turns temperamental differences intora sexual tug-
of-war, When the hitchhiker is knocked overboard in a scuffle
for his knife, sexual tension becomes complicated by moral guilt.
winner of International Film Critic Award, Venice Filmn Festival.
"Flawless! A brilliant coherent crosswork puzzle; a brilliant per-
formance all around!"-Newsweek. Polish with English subtitles.
PLUS: Polanski Short: MAMMALS
REPULSION
(Roman Polanski, 1965) 9:00 only-AUD. A
Razor fresh and fleshy, Polanski's horrifying and sensual story of
a woman's craving and lothing for men. Catherine Deneuve plays
the repressed virgin. "An absolute knockout of a movie. Prepare
yourself to be demolished when you see it."-New York Times.
"A tour-de-force of sex and suspense! REPULSION is flawless!"
-Life.
$1.25 SINGLE FEATURE-$2.00 DOUBLE FEATURE
THURS.: MACBETH
Ill
I
the robert altman festival
One of the three
best flatpickers
L- k EM
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