Page 8 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 18, 1990
S
Depeche Mode
Violator
Sire/Warner Brothers
If anything, the track "Policy of
Truth" lets me know that Depeche
Mode hasn't totally fallen into
Howard Hughes syndrome. What
with the last two projects, 101 and
Martin Gore's own solo record in
retrospect, DM's special status as
pop pacifiers - somewhere between
the danceable indulgence of New
Order and the nihlistic perspective of
Morrissey - might have become
questionable.
Fortunately, "Truth," with its de-
liberately abstract synth-etic hooks
and Gore issuing up a few of his
trademark moans ("Never again is
what you swore/ The time before"),
is, well, good enough. As almost
everyone knows by now, "Personal
Jesus" is the best work of this bunch
and is actually sort of a bracing bit
of nakedness with Gore taking the
fucking godhead stance and riding it
to an apex. His dead-on but limited
lyrics on this piece are as bold as
this band will ever get, about as
poignant as if a computer could cry.
Unfortunately, the obscurely ti-
tled Violator is not as great as one
might expect. "Enjoy the Silence"
delivers to a certain extent (whoever
said that pop was a bad thing?), and
these supposed "godfathers of house"
have the good humor to re-assimilate
their techno predecessors Kraftwerk
into a couple of songs. Considering
the compromisingly accessible Mu-
sic for the Masses, one would hope
that DM would continue to sell out,
whatever that is, making computer
music that even my grandparents
would enjoy.
-Forrest Green III
Babyface
Tender Lover
CBS
Tender Lover is the latest solo
effort by Babyface, who has penned
hits for many recording artists in-
cluding Bobby Brown and Sheena
Easton. He was also lead vocalist for
the Deele, the group best known for
"Two Occasions." The LP begins
with the dance hits "It's No Crime"
and "Tender Lover," the former fea-
turing a grinding rhythm while the
latter is less funky and more pop-
oriented. "Can't Stop My Heart,"
with its driving beat, and "My Kinda
Girl," a winsome, Bobby Brown-
esque pop song, also have the poten-
tial to become club favorites.
With the exception of these four
tracks, however, Babyface's album is
extremely disappointing. Halfway
through, the singer/songwriter
launches into a 30-second synthe-
sized prelude, "Where Will You Go,"
which is followed by five ballads
that seem to drag on forever. Not
even Babyface's charming and broad-
ranged vocals can mask the triteness
of the lyrics. On "Soon As I Get
Home," he attempts to steal a girl
away from her current boyfriend by
promising to buy her clothes, cook
her dinner, pay her rent and give her
complete use of his cash and major
credit cards, as well as be a faithful
lover. Likewise, Babyface sounds
quite ludicrous on "Sunshine" when
he sings, "Sunshine, brighten my
life/ Sunshine, make me feel so
right."
As if this were not enough,
"Given a Chance" and "Where Will
You Go" explore the brow-beaten
"friends versus lovers" controversy.
On "Given a Chance," he croons that
BOOKS
Continued from page S
for a book is its ability to wake
someone up and to force them to
say, "Damn, that was a good book."
This book doesn't have that, but
then again, neither do most of the
"Classics" we read. At least this orne
has its moments.
-Antonio Roque
Today's weather
Today will be mostly sunny,
warmer, with a high in the mid-50O
We tried to talk to the party respon-
sible for the dismal weather we've
been having, but were refused com-
ment.
The members of Depeche Mode haven't totally lost their sense of style,
but their music and wardrobe are falling into a rut. Look for a riot at a
record store near you.
he will always be there for his fe-
male friend and never hurt her like
all her former boyfriends did. "Where
Will You Go" is about a couple that
started out as good friends, but as
their relationship developed into
love, the girl got scared and backed
away.
After listening to these trite bal-
DON'T BE UNINFORMEDI
READ THE DAllYI
DAILY
lads, it is fair to say that Babyface
should have stuck to writing and per-
forming dance tracks. After all, that
is what he does best. -Ilyse Schanz
Michigan Daily
ARTS
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