6 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 9, 1994 RECORDS Continued from page 5 Deee-Lite Dewdrops in the Garden Elektra How far the mighty have fallen. Since their brilliant 1990 debut "World Clique" Deee-Lite haven't been able to recapture the magic that was their special blend of personality and danceability. That's not to say that "Dewdrops in the Garden" is bad, but in the wake of songs like "Groove is in the Heart" "Smile On," the songs on the new album sound a little bland and faceless. Caught between the resurgence of the P-Funk sound and the popularity of techno bands like the Orb, Deee- Lite vacilates between funk and rave, not seeming to know which direction to choose. On the whole, the funkier numbers suit the band the best. On "Stay in Bed, Forget the Rest," "Pic- nic in the Summertime," and "Apple Juice Kissing" Lady Kier and com- pany are in fine form, with a warm, sexy sound sound that builds on "World Clique." A mixed, spotty al- bum, but there's enough good stuff here to give fans a taste of what made Deee-Lite so delovely and delicious in the first place. - Heather Phares Uncle Joe's Big o' Driver Uncle Joe's Big 01' Driver Cargo/Headhunter Yes, Uncle Joe's Big 01' Driver is the name of the band. Yes, they look like they want to be the Rolling Stones (on the cover, one member strikes an obviously Jaggerian pose - lips puck- ered, arms tucked like chicken wings). Yes, this album is one hell of a good ol' fashioned rawk and roll record. UJBOD rocks without the distor- tion that so many bands favor today. The treble-heavy guitars does in fact bring the early Stones to mind, but I comparisons stop there. Sounding like pre- "Runaway Train" Soul Asylum or a less charged-up Replacements, UJBOD delivers great songs like "Red Room," "Mary Anne" and "Jersey." Some are bouncy tunes that'll make you want to jump around the room. Some are soulful dirges that'll make you want to roll your head until it falls off your neck. Some are rockers that'll make you want to play air guitar for hours. You can call it all retro, garage rock or punk, but whatever else you call it, just make sure you call it good. - Matt Carlson Mark Lanegan Whiskey for the Holy Ghost SubPop Imbued with the gravel of a thou- sand cigarettes and countless drunken nights, the voice of Mark Lanegan is perhaps one of the best, deepest and most evocative in rock music. His work with the Screaming Trees, how- ever, only hints at the range of feel- ings he is capable of conveying. I I A SOLO PIANO CONCERT THE WINTER SHOW featuring selections from George's albums Autumn and December 7 Deee-lite's latest album, "Dewdrops in the Garden," just doesn't have the sparkle of the fantastic past. OCTOBER 14 8PM HILL AUDITORIUM ANN ARBOR PRESENTED BY MAJOR EVENTS/DIVISION OF UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN STUDENT AFFAIRS y' ; lk m AV* Stripped, for the most part, of the Trees' catchy riffs, his second solo effort, "Whiskey for the Holy Ghost," is perhaps the darkest singer- songwriter album ever recorded. Musically, it is far from that soft ter- ritory and lyrically it lies yet more distant. Songs such as "Borracho," "Kingdoms of Rain" and "Shooting Gallery" are inspired visions of down- and-out characters revelling in their own pain and misery. Lanegan is no 0 E R.. #ST1LL4" I A40?mk crooner and no one will mistake him for Sinatra but his voice possesses a passion and depth all its own. Though it features guest appear- ances by J. Mascis as well as mem- bers of Mudhoney and Tad, "Whis- key for the Holy Ghost" is not a bloated, studio-heavy record. The music is sparse, for the most part, and when organ or saxophone is added, the result is subtle and effective. "House A Home" and "Carnival," the two best songs on the album, benefit greatly from the touches of Dave Kreuger's violin. It may have an oc- casional weak moment, such as the too-long "Riding the Nightingale," but the album, if nothing else, proves that there is more soul hiding behind the distortion of the northwest than people suspected. - Dirk Schulze That Dog That Dog DGC . That Dog are an outfit that combine violin, three-part harmony and punk rock to interesting, if sometimes an- noying effect. Songs like "Jump," "Raina," "You Are Here," and "She" showcase the pretty, naively girlish side of the band, while "Just Like Me" and "Westside Angst" represent the more rockin' side of That Dog. Not surprisingly, their experiments don't always succeed, and at times the group seems merely whiny. But, along with Helium, That Dog represent some of the most interesting girl-driven music being made today. - Heather Phares See RECORDS, Page 7 OF COURSE YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO WRITE FOR DAILY ARTS. ,e YOU'VE DREAMED ABOUT IT. I YOU'VE EVEN FANTASIZED ABOUT IT. IbL So -W4 YOU SPEND HOURS UPON HOURS IMAGINING WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE. HERE'S YOUR CHANCE. MASS MEETING: WEDNESDAY SEPT. af.B -a A- - m- - - I I V~fR.