The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, September 25, 1990 - Page 9
Various Artists
Genuine Houserockin' Music
IV
Xlligator
Most anycollection with
"genuine" in the title is obviously
bogus, as are most sequels. Despite
the utter lack of pithiness in the
title, this is a great album,
especially when you turn it up to
11, or whatever volume causes your
fillings to shake loose.
Whoever dreamed up the
,fantasticallywdull title could have
Wtake n a few pointers from the
various artists on the album. Charles
"Gatemouth" Brown sings "Got my
mojo workin'," clearly understanding
the excellence of the word "mojo,"
which is only eclipsed with his
percussive guitar work.
The eclectic mix moves from
Charlie Musselwhite ("she sleeps in
the kitchen/ with her feet out in the
1all") to Saffire - The Uppity
Blues Women, an acoustic trio of
middle-aged women with buckets of
soul. This indeed is rockin' blues.
When you hear Lil' Ed and the Blue
Imperials singing about "Chicken,
Gravy and Biscuits," you begin to
understand what this compilation is
about (because I have decided at this
point that I am incapable of
explaining it). But that never
stopped me before, so onwards...
Delbert McClinton throws out a
great live version of "B Movie
Boxcar Blues". Little Charlie and the
Nightcats crank out "Don't Do It",
and upcoming San Diego blues band
The Paladins have "I Don't Believe"
from their new album. In fact, proof
positive that this is authentic stuff is
the preponderance of the words
"don't" and "mama" in the song
titles.
If you've always wanted to be a
blues fan, but never liked blues, give
this compilation a shot. Turn it up
to 11.
-Geardid O'Loinsigh
Neville Brothers
Brother's Keeper
A&M
The Neville Brothers are still of
the utmost im ortance as a rhythm
section. Here, they nicely capture
many aspects of funk, left over from
the classic days of that genre,
defying the aging process of many a
"legendary" recording artist. They
kick off this album with a gutsy
throwdown, "Brother Blood," steeped
in sweaty percussion and a tough
bassline. The song has a very
spiritual feel to it and comes off like
an opening hymn to a powerful
mass.
On the next track, "Brother
Jake," the Brothers Neville run down
a revivalist homage to said sibling
as well as the lesser heard-from cor-
ner of R&B. There is an utterly bril-
liant balance of repetition with
groove here. The key theme here is
family, as the album's title would
attest.
For example, the astonishing
"Sons and Daughters," a nod to the
militancy of urban America, both
musically and politically, is a huge
surprise. The track basically begins
as a spoken monologue, like the
Last Poets, over a very contempo-
rary, militant beat. The theme is ba-
sically along the lines of
Funkadelic's "America Eats Its
Young," criticizing the government
for its unwritten program to destroy
young Black men as well as white.
Guitars seep into the mix and, when
Art Neville breaks the monotony of
his verse and starts to sing "you
can't stop... running water," there is
no denying the evocative greatness
of the moment.
The overall theme of Brother's
Keeper would be found in "Jah
Love," a mellow statement of faith.
The verse, "cities of concrete and
glass/ all will turn to sand/ but Jah
Love," implies a clear denial of the
present-day rule of the white man.
With all its talk of brothers, sons
and daughters, Brother's Keeper is a
timely slap in the face of colonialist
supremacy, reckless miscegenation
and the African Diaspora.
-Forrest Green III
r -
a
The Neville Brothers keep each other on the streets of New Orleans.
Save the LP!
O Daily Arts
Recaog nze yti am n do
You can fight back! Learn how to:
Get your security deposit back!
Win rent reductions for dirty or poorly
maintained apartments!
Assert your right to privacy and stop landlord
harrassment!
Free Tenants Rights Workshop
7:00 pm, Wednesday, September 26
at 2440_Mason Hall
Presented by the Ann Arbor Tenants Union,
4001 Michigan Union, 763-6876
if
Had uogs
Creem magazine says that The Cavedogs combine the "sonic intensity of Husker Du with the blissfulness of
XTC and throw in a Beatles pop sense for good measure." I highly doubt that, but you can find out for yourself
at the Blind Pig tonight. Doors open at 9:30 pm. Cover is $5.
If you're getting ready to graduate with a BS/MS/PhD in Com-
puter Science, Electrical Engineering, or Management Infor-
mation Systems, come to our presentation. We'll teach you the
one thing school couldn't. How to get a job at Apple.
Thursday
September 27, 1990
7:00-9:00 p.m.
EECS Building
Room 1500
Apple Computer has a corporate commitment to the principle of diversity. In that
spirit, we welcome applications from all individuals. Women, minorities, veterans
and disabled individuals are encouraged to apply.
If you're getting ready to graduate with a BS/MS/PhD in Com-
puter Science and/or Electrical Engineering or a BS/MS in
Management Information Systems, send us your resume to be
considered for our closed interview schedule on
October 31st. Because this is one after-school event that could
change what you do with your life, after school.
Apple Computer, Inc., College Relations, Attn: Linda
Daniels, MS 39ACR, Dept. MICH-9-90, 20525 Mariani Ave.,
Cupertino, CA 95014. Or Fax it to: (408) 974-6944.
Annie Comnuter has a cornorate commitment to the princiole of diversity. In that