0 WY- 0 0 10 U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER Life And Art NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1988 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1988. Dollars And Sense U- THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPEF 'Singing' guitar, steady backing fuel Cray band by Will Renshaw Kentucky Kernel U. of Kentucky It takes a great deal of talent, convic- tion and emotion to make a guitar talk. It takes even greater talent to display this musical voice within a solid, prog- ressive and believable package. Robert Cray's latest effort, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, while faltering in some areas, shows strength in all of the above. Cray's music has gone from a faithful following of traditional blues in the ear- ly 1970s, while working with artists like Johnny Copeland and Albert Collins, to blues with a progressive feel. Only occa- sionally has he turned out a commercial package. On Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Cray pushes his vocals far beyond the limits set on 1986's Strong Persuader. He sports a dynamic range, but more im- portantly, he shows an intense emotion- al quality, producing vivid images of pain and pride on which the majority of the album's lyrics focus. A second quality is more extensive use of his band as a cohesive unit and not simply as a backup team. Cuts such as "Laugh Out Loud" and "Across the Line" feature not only Cray's rhythm playing but also the talents of keyboar- dist Peter Boe and bassist Richard Cousins. One aspect that has not changed, however, is Cray's lyrical guitar techni- que. Every solo on Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is an emotional voice of the past and a charismatic statement for the fu- ture of blues guitar. McFerrin's voice does it all 'by Jett Castle N The Gamecock U. of South Carolina One man can be a whole band - if that man happens to be Bobby McFerrin. On his new album, Simple Plea- sures, McFerrin uses no drums, no guitars, no brass section, not even a synthesizer. The only instrument on this album is McFerrin himself. Simple Pleasures delves into more commercial territory than any of McFerrin's past records. The result is a collection of light rhythm and blues-tinged songs that won't shake up the music world - but were not recorded to do so, either. The album includes covers of everyone from the Beatles to Cream, plus four original tunes. The reggae- flavored groove of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and the catchy rhythm of "All I Want" highlight McFerrin's compositions. All of the covers are strong with the exception of "Suzie Q," which never kicks in. He adds just the right amount of soul to Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" and takes away just enough heaviness to make this the album's best track. He also turns in an astounding rendition of Eric Clapton's fuzz guitar on the tune. Bob Hope gives $10,000 to school ... Native Ohioan and comedian Bob Hope has contributed $10,000 to the endowment fund in sup- port of the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Theater at Bowling Green State U. The money will be used for students to study film. Hope, who received an honor- ary doctorate of humanities from the school in 1969, never worked with Lillian Gish but always admired her work, according to Dwight Burlingame, vice president of university relations. Karen Mil- ler, The BG News, Bowling Green State U., OH ' . Professor gets .$500,000 grant ... A $500,000 grant from the Bristol-Myers Company for cancer research will soon be used at the U. of Nebraska, Omaha, Medical Center, according to Dr. Alan Eastman, who said the grant will be used specifically to continue research on the resiliency of cancer-fighting drugs. Of 238 applicants for grant money to the corporation, Eastman was one of 27 to receive funding. Rich Cummings, The Gateway, U. of Nebraska, Omaha ... NSF donates $28 million ... The only offshore technology center in the United States will be established in College Station, Texas, thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The foundation awarded more than $28 million over the next five years to Texas A&M U. to sponsor the construction of the Engineering Research Center for Offshore Technology. The center will begin its re- search by identifying critical technological needs in the industry and developing methods to meet them. Dr. Y. K. Jack Lou, a civil and ocean engineering professor, will be the associate director of the center. Projected date for the building's completion and center's operation is Spring 1990. Kathleen Reilly, The Battalion, Texas A&M U. ... Tuition decreased by 6 percent ... A budget plan approved two months ago by the Ohio Board of Regents will decrease students' share of tuition costs at state universities over a two-year period from 41 to 35 percent. The budget, expected to cost the state $3.3 billion, is part of a master plan to move Ohio toward a first-rate system of higher education. The budget must be approved by state legislators, including the governor. Amy Bur- kett, The BG News, Bowling Green State U., OH Burgard Continued From Page 16 as well as a little kinky. "So how do I get these forms, and when do you need them?" By now the man has heard my puffed up posture being punctured repeatedly. He smells victory, and he moves in for the kill. "Well, I would love to help you," he says, his voice sugarcoated as I feel pangs of nausea. "But in order to achieve maximum efficiency - a condi- tion desirable to both you and The Office -you need to return the forms by 5 p.m. Since it is now 4:45 p.m. and Station 17 will be closed by the time you finish filling them out, it is hardly feasible you will achieve maximum efficiency." I am passed the bewildered stage. I am now in the pissed off stage. I salute him with the international gesture and yell, "Listen, you twisted little android! All I want is a lousy 1 Stop raking me over and tell me wl can do to get it! He squirms and, if only for a mom I can derive some satisfaction in ki ing that I have caused him to lose s of his smug composure. But the moment is only fleeting clears his throat and says, "I supp< should expect that behavior f amateur bureaucrats like you." I am exhausted, unable to retali He has won, and we both know it. saccharine smile returns, as he tell; to come back tomorrow. Only this t I must bring a passport, tax ret statements and a note from my mot I am numb, devoid of emotion. "Very well," I croak. I return the next day. The ma there, with the same painted smil( "Good morning. How may I help Bob Seger was wrong. I don't feel a number. I feel like R2D2. Bobby McFerrin While the songs op Simple Plea- sures are good, the album lacks only one thing. Bobby McFerrin never really pushes that exceptional voice. Public Enemy cuts the flash and raps hard By Steve Marks The Eagle The American U., DC Public Enemy is a rap band making a name for itself, in just the outlaw way its name implies. Their recent album, It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Down, is by far the most radical, progressive and con- troversial rap record on the shelves to- day. Where the Beastie Boys tour with scantily-clad dancing girls and inflat- able phallic symbols, Public Enemy gives a potentially explosive concert at the Riker's Island Correctional Facility in New York City. Where the Beastie Boys dwell on girls and parties, Public Enemy sings "Party For Your Right to Fight." Most every song on the album has a message of equality and respect for blacks, including the prospect of minor- ity uprisings to gain power. The sound is tough; the message is Malcolm X. The opening cut, "Countdown to Armageddon," sets the non-stop, no- nonsense tone that pervades the entire album. On "Don't Believe The Hype," the band lashes out at the press for statements made about the group, which they say are distortions - though conflicting and controversial statements made by members them- selves, including a past ideological alignment with the inflammatory Louis Farrakhan, have led to confusion about their views. One thing that is clear is how Public Enemy remains loyal to the city origins of their music. They keep their sound raw and unglossy, avoiding the slick, Top 40 sound of their contemporaries in favor of their own nitty-gritty style. Cinderella Long Cold Winter Tom Keifer, Cinderella's multi-talented lead singer, guitarist and songwriter, stretches his vocal range into the hoarse zone on this record, but if you can overlook some of the harshness, you'll find some really rocking tunes. Still, in many ways Cinderella's second album is somewhat tiresome. About the coolest thing here is "Bad Seamstress Blues," which leads straight into "Fallin' Apart At the Seams," a rev-it-up rocker that almost makes you want to bang your head on the steering wheel. Almost. Tom Meares, The Tiger, Clemson U., SC The Smiths Rank A live collection, Rank not only fails to allow the listener to reach any definite conclusions about The Smiths, but also represents another confusing aspect of the mystery that surrounds the band. It is, however, an interesting work. There are no studio overdubs, which allows the listener to hear on-stage tune ups and guitar changes. The record gets blister- ingly energetic one moment and listless the next. It's a bit unusual that a live record should represent the final testament of a band not known as dynamic performers. But here it seems a fitting end. Rank leaves all loose ends untied, and perhaps that's the way it should be. u C. Frederick Lathrop, The State News, Michigan State U. The Primitives Lovely Some albums manage to impress a listener on the first listen, others take a little longer to appreciate. Lovely does both. The tunes are so quickly paced they seem to jump together. Jangly and driving guitars fuel the album, but Blondie-like vocals truly guide the tracks, the strongest of which are "Crash" and "Carry Me Home." "Run, Baby, Run" and "Don't Want Anything To Change" are the weak links, but the album still remains a strong one. Matt Pru- sa, The Maroon, Loyola U., LA Challenge Continued From Page 16 of $500,000 brokerage accounts to buy and sell real stocks in an effort to maxi- mize the values of their portfolios. "Across the country, every state is signed up for the competition, and we're very excited about that," said Lisa Nol- let, director of marketing for the Chal- lenge. The event is unique, she said, because a full-service brokerage firm will handle all of the trading activity and provide human assistance through- out the event. By dialing a toll-free 800 line, partici- pants can start investing with brokers at a fully-automated trading desk. Trades are based on up-to-the-minute stock quotes beamed by satellite from the exchanges in New York. "We have been taking literally thousands of phone calls until 11 o'clock at night," Nollet said. Players will be mailed a personal three-page account statement and newsletter at the end of each month. The statement will provide an account summary, a record of transactions, a complete listing of portfolio holdings and current account valuations. A rank- ings section will show how each partici- pant fared against others. "I think it's a great opportunity for students to get the experience without putting their own money on the line," said Janet Lee, president of the Finance Club. The top students at each school will receive an engraved plaque and a cer- tificate listing them as a record holder at their college or university. Students who double the value of their account will become a member of the Mil- lionaires' Club. "Students who are able to amass $500,000 will be given awards and their names will be kept on a roster of the Millionaires' Club. It is phenomenal for a student to achieve this," Nollet said. The top 10 players will be flown with guests to New York City and honored at an awards ceremony where they will each receive a cash prize of $25,000. While there, they will tour the New York Stock Exchange and receive a week-long trip to the Bahamas, among other prizes. Winners are getting a 39,000 percent return on their money, Nollet said. The event is open to college students at two- and four-year accredited col- leges and universities. The competition is limited to the first 25,000 who apply. $ 9eL ' 4% // ~A / -V / / / A .~t ~;\ r / N/ / Q &,~%Z~ A N '..-, ~' 5% -# t-,.~ / ..~ 0' 'K, ~ ~ / C:? ,~/ ~. / , __a Recent research* has proven what skiers have long known...Vuarnet sunglasses improve performance. And Vuarnet Skilynx, the first lenses designed to battle strong glare on the mountain, are still the best. Vuarnet Skilynx provide sharp contrast and heightened depth perception in a sport where obstacles are easily obscured by blinding snow glare. Quality eye protection so you can perform better. All 4 Vuarnet sunglasses are backed / by a lifetime guarantee.** Write for information: Vuarnet-France 1550 East Franklin Avenue El Segundo, CA 90245 *Dr. E. Brown, University of Maryland, 1987 9 **See warranty card for complete information. w C..' NEB e best, , , tl (,,en9 uY thin95 d i you