Page 8 -The Michigan Daily-Thursday, January 7, 1988
(Continued from Page 7)
don't pay attention to a thing I do or
sa /It's a plot to drag you out and
take it all away," he croons in his
Chiltonesque tenor, asking "Give me
sdme false hope I can take
seriously."
Songs like "Chardonnay" and
"The Real Sheila" are pure pop joys,
while "The Waist and the Knees"
dives deep into a rowdy, psycho
extravaganza straight out of Roxy
Music's "Remake/Remodel" (which
the band also covers live). When
Miller . steps aside, though, the
material lunges out in a more
conimercial stride. Guitarist Donette
Tlayer's "Look Away" sounds a
little like Heart meets Bryan Adams,
btt the playful keyboards keep it in
the band's spirit.
;There's lots of little micro-songs
and mind games to flesh out these
two records, but the real stand-outs
are the full fledged songs. Miller ana
company have a strong knack for
writing great tunes, but they also
know that they're far too clever for
their own good. Which probably
answers why Lolita Nation is as
extravagant an outing as it is - and
why it's also so enduring.
-Beth Fertig
Buster Poindexter
Buster Poindexter
RCA Records
With the New York Dolls, David
Johansen wore lipstick, wigs, and
platform shoes and got a whole lot
of press for what was then the
hottest act in New York. For his
solo act of the early '80s (back when
he opened up for the Who), he
strutted around the stage singing
Animals' songs while the critics
continued to say that he really
wanted to be Mick Jagger. Today,
David Johansen has found fame in
yet another identity: this time as
Buster Poindexter, the hottest lounge
lizard in Manhattan.
Buster Poindexter wears tuxedos,
bow ties, and dress shoes. He has
short hair that's been meticulously
styled into a curl on top. He drinks
martinis that have those colored
cocktail toothpicks through the
olives. He sings BIG cover songs
that are backed up by a band he calls
the Banshees of Blue. And he's made
an enormous gimmick out of
believing he's a very big deal.
Which he is, because he's so
good at it.
Buster Poindexter sings songs
David Johansen has always wanted
to sing. Despite Buster's apparent
love of blues and jazzy numbers,
Johansen the Animals fan has made
him sing an out of place cover of
"House of the Rising Sun."
Buster Poindexter really wants to
be one of those outlawed, big city
club boozers. He wants to make
people feel good and run up a high
tab. The songs that suit this side of
him are the LP's best, like "Good
Morning Judge," where he sings
about his many offenses while the
Banshees of Blue shout out his sen-
tence. He also soars to the amazing
swing of "Screwy Music."
When Poindexter gets sappy, he's
usually able to keep the tunes afloat
with his sense of humor. He loves
what he's singing, and the band has
a good time playing along to him.
When "Bad Boy" tends to wail, the
brass adds the right amount of spirit.
But he completely goes overboard on
"Hot, Hot, Hot," where he rips of a
good Latin rhythm and turns it into
overly contrived drivel. Other times,,
like on "Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool
For You Baby)" you just want him
to pick up the pace and down another'
martini.
See, the problem is this Buster,
Poindexter character wants to be,
"Smack Dab in the Middle," the
song where he says he wants to
"rock and roll to satisfy my soul."
The best parts of this record are
when he does just that - sticks to it
and carries off his image. The very
few weaker moments are when he's
just a little off target.
Maybe David Johansen should
just step aside and let Buster do his
thing.
-Beth Fertig
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Step aside David Johansen. Let Buster Poindexter do his thing.
Where can you MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
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Ia a cihhmate
that supports
individual,
achievement in
the world of
financial services?
Will Be On Campus To Conduct Interviews
for the
CONSUMER MARKETS
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
on
January 12 & 13,1988
Please contact the Placement
Director for an interview
/00, E, M(
FR10 TNER
DON'T LISTEN TO THIS POOR FOOL. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. COME TO
THE GARGOYLE MASS MEETING. SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT OTHERS HAVE
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IF YOU'RE NOT, YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT OUTSIDE IN THE COLD WHILE
EVERYONE THAT HAS MADE IT LAUGHS AT YA.
GA RGOYLE MASS MEETING, SUNDAY JAN 10, 1PM
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BUILDING, 420 MAYNARD
Merrill Lynch
k. , 4.,
Merrill Lynch is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
What do you say when asked tough
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RELAX
If you've worked at the Michigan Telefund, you've had the
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Flexible evening hours
$4.50-$6.50 per hour plus bonuses
great resume experience
Call 763-7420 or stop by 611 Church Street
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zC
U
9-
The National Security Agency is
looking. We're in search of new
professional relationships with both
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a unique career that may well be the answer
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What we offer is certainly different. At NSA,
our threefold mission is critical to our country's
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Currently, NSA is searching for Mathe-
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Our Mathematicians work with applied and
pure math. They apply-and create-a host of
advanced concepts from Galois theory and
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Electronic Engineers also find a vast array
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The mission is vital, the variety staggering..
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If you're in search of a meaningful career
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Schedule an interview through your College
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NSA will be on campus Jan.
21 st interviewing graduating
seniors for Computer Science,
Math and Language positions,
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