Reids' by Nabeel Zuberi The Michigan Daily - Friday, March 16, 1990 - Page 9 , contention: Love hurts THE Jesus And Mary Chain is FM *music; fetishism and masochism. Fetishism: an abnormal condi- tion in which erotic feelings are ex- cited by a nonsexual object, as a foot, glove, etc. In the case of The Jesus And Mary Chain, the fetish is pop. Every single piece of music recorded by the group is grounded in Jim and William Reid's obsession with pop history, rock 'n' roll riffs and all the *glorious clich6s of '50s and '60s music. These leatherclad Scotsmen don't make use of a sampler, but play riffs, traces of melody and use words that all sound familiar; a Reid-Reid song has you digging into your pop memory/consciousness trying to re- member "where have I heard that be- fore?" The sources are never paro- dit X110 r~ died, because there is too much love for them. Rather, The Jesus And Mary Chain pastiches the classics of yesteryear, and any irony is strictly blank. ' "Never Understand" from their exhilirating debut Psychocandy could have been fashioned in the darker recesses of Beach Boy Brian Wilson's mind; "Just Like Honey" has a wall of sound not dissimilar to Phil Spector's; their version of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love?" and their homage "Bo Diddley is Jesus" distills the intangible essence of r 'n' r. It's not just The Jesus And Mary Chain's sound that is a deconstruc- tion of multiple pop discourses - within song titles and fragments of lyrics there are also references to the works of The Velvet Underground, the Beach Boys, and Sonny and Cher. Pop guzzles itself in The Je- sus And Mary Chain's fetishistic obsession. Masochism: the getting of plea- sure from suffering physical or psy- chological pain, inflicted by others or by oneself. Most of The Jesus And Mary Chain's punky pop songs and in- spired dirges focus on relationships that are about to fall apart. The group is mired in an inert self-ab- sorption that is utterly entrancing. The music has the same kind of Romantic appeal as the sorry lives of artists who will their own destruc- tion. Psychocandy leans more to- ward sexual sadism than does Dark- lands, a work of brilliant wallowing narcissism. This is the Reid brothers dwelling on their passivity, impo- tence and unfulfilled desire. The songs on the recent Automatic sug- Carol Gilligan, noted Harvard psychologist, delivers the Tanner Lecture on Human Values this after- noon titled "Joining the Resistance: Psychology, Politics, Girls and Women". The feminist author of In a Different Voice and Mapping the Moral Domain was recently the sub- ject of a New York Times Magazine cover story. Her lecture, sponsored by the philosophy department lecture begins at 4 p.m. in Rackham Audi- torium. Admission is free. Jazz piano great Ralph Sutton will be performing his brand of stride this Saturday at Kerrytowr." Concert House. Stride piano, or Harlem stride, is a thumping,. polyrhythmic style that was created* and played by Black virtuosos in the 1920's. It is characterized by a driV- ing left hand and extensive riff-like improvisations in the right hand. This music swings like mad. Sutton has played since he was nine and in 1982 he opened the New York Jazz-. Festival with a solo concert. Tickets for the show are $10 and $15. The" concert house is located at 415 N. Fourth Ave. Shows are at 7 and 9 p.m. Call 769-2999 for reservations. Read aga Black being the cool color these days, the Jesus and Mary Chain apply it not only to their wardrobe, but to their songs as well. Ube Dai~e C&Looi61e4G gest that desire and pain are two sides of the same emotional coin. Not many artists these days are as sick but honest about sex and "love." But then again, it could all be an artful pose. THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN play at 8 p.m. at the Latin Quarter, 3067 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit. Sup- port group is The Veldt. Tickets are $14.50 in advance on sale at Tick- etmaster. -~ I -. The University of Michigan SCHOOL OF MUSIC Sun. Mar. 18 ) Michigan Youth Improvisation Ensemble Gregg Koyle, director Recital Hall, School of Music, 12:00 PM An Evening of improvisational Music Faculty/student ensembles Rehearsal Hall, School of Music, 8:00 PM The Diamond Auxiliary proudly presents: "AFRICA: THE MISSING LINK" An exploration of African Royalty Performed by Kabaz (Black Jewels) Inc. Sunday, March 18, 1990 4PM Mendelssohn Theater Michigan League ADMISSION FREE Funded by: The Office of Minority Affairs Michigan Student Assembly The Vice President for Student Services "If ther brass qu I that has more charisma, virtuosity and imagination.Jt hasn't yet played Chicago." --hcE ..JJP5( The Office of Campus Life they brought down the house and in the U.S.S.R. the crowd erupted in applause. presents EMPIRE BRASS "The foremost American Brass Ensemble" -Pittsburgh Post Gazette eis a "Ther intet shows real topper erman . 0 ly . 0 0 "0 . . 0 . * 0 du+ * l Tribune Sunday, March 25, 1990 3:00 p.m Pease Auditorium For tickets, call Quirk Box Office, 487-1221. 0 0 0 All events free unless specified. Wheelchair accessible. For up-to'date information on School of Music Events, call the 24-Hour Music Hotline - 763-4726 INTRODUCING . PIh SOHO NATURAL SESSIONS A NEW HALF HOUR WEEKLY RADIO 0 0 110 00PO45. S HOW FEATURING --- ----------------- ------------- -I Mail In This Coupon To Enter NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP MAIL TO: ENTER THE SOHO NATR SOHO NATURAL SESSIONS JAY GROUP, P.O.BOX 4801 60 NORTH RONKS ROAD RONKS, PA 17573 SESSIONS SWEEPSTAKES YOU CAN VIN: * 1 KRAMER/FERRINGTON ACOUSTIC GUITAR . * 1 SONY CD/AM/FM/CASSETTE PORTABLE STEREO * 50 LIMITED EDITION SOHO NATURAL CI n n tI CT / - ' re.n mP I W'4 I K, t 1 1 1 1 1 MY FAVORITE MUSICIAN OR GROUP IS MY COLLEGE IS Entries must be received by April 25, 1990 1 1 1 1 1 v rr~r rs s I OFFICIAL RULES/NO PURCHASE REQUIRED 1. To enter the Soho Natural Sessions Sweepstakes, simply write down your favorite musician or group on the above entry blank and mail to the address indicated. Alternate method of entry: Write on a 3x5r piece of paper the sweepstakes name along with your name, address. college, and the name of your favorite I 11 1 1 !I I .