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The Michigan Daily
ARTS
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Monday, October 10, 1988
Page 8
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FYI: What's new in hip hop
BY SHEALA DURANT
HAT'S the newest hip hop
dance band to hop into Billboard's
top 20? Well, for your information,
it's Information Society.
Information Society was started
by James Cassidy, Paul Robb, Kurt
Valaquen and Amanda Kramer back
in 1985. Their sound is pretty hip
for three Minneapolis suburbanites
and a transplanted New Yorker. Their
latest hit single, "What's On Your
Mind" is hot and a good
representative of the European-style,
technohop genre (a la New Order),
but their incorporation of hip-hop
and funk elements set them apart
from other bands. The dominant and
omni-present vocals on tunes like
"What's On Your Mind", "Lay All
Your Love On Me" and "Running"
are strongly reminiscent of the
Human League's lead singer, Phil
Oakey.
The band's image and sound relies
heavily on electronic
instrumentation - so what better
person to produce their album than
Fred Maher (member and co-producer
of Scritti Politti) who also worked
as a drummer and programmer with
Kraftwerk?
With strong support from
Hispanic youth in the Latin hip-hop
scene, Information. Society's first
single, "Running," became a quick
success, climbing to the top 10 on
Billboard's Dance Chart and
launching them towards their self-
titled debut LP, "Information
Society." Anyone who was a die-
hard viewer of the now defunct
Detroit dance show, The Scene ,is
sure to remember the tune almost
immediately upon hearing it.
"Running" was co-produced by
"Little" Louie Vega and The Latin
Rascals. Anyone familiar with Latin
hip hop knows that this group of
producers are considered by many to
be the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
of Latin hip hop, turning out
danceable music and producing
material for just about everybody and
their brother.
"Attitude" and "Something In
The Air" definitely show their funk
capabilities and the influence of
James Brown. Listening to
"Something In The Air" I could have
sworn I heard licks from K.C. and
The Sunshine Band's "That's The
Way I Like It."
Vocalist and "sampling
See Society, Page 9
, .i,
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4
as his newcomer p
they fight a cosmic
- l
James Caan (left), as Earthling cop Sykes, and Mandy Patinkin
Francisco take on an intergalactic "Just Say No"- campaign as1
in Alien Nation.
Alien
0
Film
gets
BY MARK SHAIMAN
Alien Nation. Alienation.
It's a good double entendr
an equally good thematic basi
film. But the point of a d
entendre is that it has two sid
though Alien Nation is wor
ing, it could have been much
than that, had its plo
overshadowed its message.
In 1988, a spaceship fille
aliens comes to Earth, and afte
years of quarantine they are al
to become part of society.F
immediately arise between t
minces won
listracted from attack on
mans and the "newcomers," making others are negatively
it clear that the film is trying to downplaying the soc
make a statement about the inanity which is already li
of prejudice. relationship betwee
e, and James Caan plays Sykes, a Los Sam.
s for a Angeles police detective, and in the Even worse is the f
double opening scene of the film, his Black villains are aliens. T
es, and partner is shot to death by one of the who played the evil C
th see- aliens. Not only was this man his the Superman film
more partner, but also his best friend; yet, Satanic here. He po
t not even before the killing occurs, Sykes comer entrepreneur:
had already been ignorantly insulting citizen, but only for
d with the "newcomers," whom he calls by sake. In truth, he is
r three the contemptuous name of "slags." intends to profit by pr(
llowed So why is there this divergence in that is overwhelming]
Biases his character? There is no reason his people. This bl
he hu- given because no reason exists, and powerful that it makes
that is a well-made point.' like talcum powder.
- In order to investigate the killing, The drug had alread
Sykes takes on a new partner - a the fall of his people
"newcomer," in fact. While he tries takes it as a personal
to remain cold and aloof, Mandy to stop the retur
Patinkin is so endearing as Sam Inevitably, the mur
Francisco (pun intended), that the partner and the drug
barrier not only breaks down, but nected; thus the p
entirely disappears. Still, Sam and individual interest in
his family are the only aliens we are case. When this plot
given reason to like. Almost all the See Nat
4
s r/
partner Samn
drug ring
bias K
depicted, thus
ial statement;
imited to thie
n Sykes aids
fact that all the
erence Stamp,
General Zod is
s, is just as
rtrays a new-
and a model
appearance's A
ruthless, and
oducing a drug
ly addictive to;
ue ooze is so
;s cocaine seem:;
y nearly caused
once, so Sam:E
responsibility f
ning threat.
der of Sykes'
ring are con-
iartners have
finishing the
connection is F
Lion, Page 9
Ever consider studying in...
GERMANY - Tuebingen Exchange
FRANCE - Lurcy Fellowship
LONDON - London College Exchange
ISRAEL - Hebrew University Exchange
NORTHERN IRELAND - Queen's Exchange
Applications for Study Abroad Programs for gradu-
ate students for 1989-90 are now available!!!
Deadline: November 4.1988
'or applications and information:
The Horace H. Rackham
School of Graduate Studies
Fellowship Office
160 Rackham Building
764-2218
O
OPEN WIDE !
U
----- -----
Free
Mouthguard Clinic
Saturday , October 15, 1988
9:00 - 2:00 P.M.
The Students and faculty of
The UniversIty of Mcian
School of Dentistry host
Mouthguard Day
A Custom made moih*guard
will be fabricated free of charge
(occasionaty a nouhguard
cannot be made because of
Indvdual mouth shapes. Evrone
will be screened, and adviseas
to whether or not one can be
fabricated for them)
Al ages are welcome
Parkin Is available In the Fletcher St.
parking lot.
The University of Michigan
School of Dentistry
North University Ave.
Ann Arbor, Michgan 48 104
Located on the corner of N. University
and Fletcher St.
PubIc may enter throu the mo
entrance off North University, orthe
entrance off Fletcher St.
Considering
the University of Michigan
School of Education
for graduate studies e
Come to a meeting:
Wed., Oct. 12, 6 p.m.
Room 1322 (Tribute Room)
School of Education Bldg.
Faculty and staff will be available to answer
questions about programs, financial aid
opportunities, and admission requirements.
To reserve a space, call:
Office of Academic Services
(313) 764-7563
1228 School of Education Bldg.
A RTQCA RVED'1
CLASS RINGS
mmmmmmm
I
I ME!) ER COMI NG ATTRACTIONS
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NOW HIRING ASSOCIATES
Looking for a job with VARIETY? One that ISN'T JUST ROUTINE?
WELL, HAVE WE GOT A JOB FOR YOU!
Meijer is opening a new store on Ann Arbor /Saline Road NEXT SPRING! We are
NOW HIRING ASSOCIATES in the following departments;
LOSS PREVENTION-DETECTIVES, COURTESY CLERKS
SERVICE-CASHIERS
MARKING/RECEIVING/LAYAWAY-CLERKS
BUILDING SERVICES-CLERKS
PAID TRAINING BEGINS IMMEDIATELY AT EXISTING STORES!
We will also be HIRING ASSOCIATES for other departments throughout the store!
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