The Michigan Daily - FridaySeptember 12, 1997 - 11
catty Larkin's strange 'Fruit' perishes
amid too much tranquility
Patty Larkin
Perishable Fruit
High Street Records
pects l
Cockbu
The a
quirks;
about (o
,though chronologically a member beings,
o he "new folk" movement, Patty coda of
Larkin is clearly uncomfortable among Mirror"
the new, angrier breed of Washburn- sheer er
wielding sirens. In fact, the most potent cerity o
bit of poetic sniping on "Perishable of kno
Fruit" is aimed not at a treacherous ex where
buta gren colleague: "Go right ahead, "Perisha
you're the star, you can hang i
your sweaty little black
feather dress right on my
guitr. I said - my,
big eyes you
have, what big teeth,
what tattoos... "This
outburst is, however,
a woefully rare
exception in an album
so traquil it makes
Suzanne Vega sound like
Ani DiFranco.
Tranquility by itself doesn't hurt,
th h; the air of polished, streamlined Calvi
ss ndarity does. Larkin's songwriting Dress
is somewhat lackadaisical, and her Folk Ampheta
101 chording is not exactly helped by a
pretentious, "ambient" production *C**
inspired perhaps by Daniel Lanois'
work on Dylan's "Oh Mercy." The lyrics Just
are chock-a-block with clumsy Krime
metaphors like "you aim your mouth at future.
me like you're pointing a gun," and the sound a
attempts at modern detail (mentioning edgines
cell phones and the Internet) puzzle at cessful
b"Usual icons get invoked - Greta meets C
Q o, James Dean - and usual sus- sible wa
STRATFORD
Continued from Page 10
Crombie's Romeo isn't a hero- F
moreover, he serves as the wimpy
l anext-door, and the love that Juliet *o
isT pposed to have for him doesn't
seem real. Day as Juliet also proves
wrong, as her childlike voice makes
the fourteen year old heroine seem an
immature 10.
Shakespeare's comedy "The
Taming of the Shrew" is mildly enter-
taining and at times, somewhat dull.
The middle portion of the play moves
slowly,. but this production does
ii ide hysterical highlights. It is
c mmended that this play be read
before seeing it onstage, for confu-
sion abounds for the unknowing indi-
vidual.
Presented in classic Greek style F
using long robes and Greek tragedy
masks, the production of "Oedipus
Rex" serves as one of the best things
that the festival has to offer - good _
Sntepretations of classic drama.
hocles' drama is still alive today
Sause productions like this are still
offered. As an added bonus, the com-
pyny presents a 15-minute satire play
n .comial mime style before the
tual play begins, addressing the
often-ov rlooked silliness of
Yedipus's tragedy.
Sean O'Casey's tragedy "Juno and
"he Paycock" surrounds a family
infested by the evils of revolution fol-
lowing the plight of Ireland's Easter
rising of 1916. The family is torn
aart as their socio-economic status
dwindles. The accents are strong and
real. Again, it is recommended that
hOs play also be read beforehand in
order to fully appreciate the artistry
that brings this live performance to
ljfe. First rate acting is what keeps
this production enjoyable as well as
enlightening.
Adapted for the stage by Marisha
0amberlain from Louisa May
Alcott's novel, the production of
"Little Women" proves another dis-
appointment because it leaves so
much out of the endearing story of
the ; March sisters and their family.
Juvenile performances are given by
juvenile actors, which cannot save the
sinking story. Sitting through this
play can be painful, so hallucinogens
would help, but are not recommended
ey're illegal and dangerous).
- he city of Stratford, Ontario is
located three hours by car from
Detroit. For directions to the city and
the theaters, as well as a schedule of
the remaining season and box office
information, call the Stratford
Festival at (800) 567-1600 or (519)
271-4040.
ike Jane Siberry and Bruce
rn clutter up the thank-you list.
lbum is not entirely without its
Larkin seems fond of talking
or even to) her limbs as separate
for instance. The long, scornful
fthe 7-minute-plus "Rear View
also manages to pull you in by
motion. But every flicker of sin-
r whimsy got buried under hours
b-twisting calculation some-
in the way; on arrival,
able Fruit" feels about as organ-
c as a waxen store-window
replica.
- Michael Zilberman
"Dress for the Future" has a satisfying
Moog synth undercurrent that hums
through your speakers and into your gut
like a hive of bees. This atmosphere has
sundry expressions on the album. The
warbling distortion of "Aegis Shaker"
combines with spooky bass and straight
ahead '80s hairballad guitar progressions
and solid drumming to make one of the
finest non-lyrical songs to ever grace a
harsh album. "Brand New Jason," on the
other hand, is a chorusless tank of a song
that rolls over the listener like the evil
scaretime story that it is: "Once a year
I'm immobilized / I scream but it doesn't
help." They all shake you.
Don't be fooled by the apparent fash-
ion consciousness of Calvin Krime.
When they say to dress for the future,
they want something different, just like
they are.
- Ted Watts
Dub War
Pain
Earache Records
**
Dub War: Socially conscious reggae
kinda singer, hardcore band. Their new
album "Pain" is as tired as their concept
is. If you've seen one Dub War or
Orange 9mm or Bad Brains, you've
more or less seen all you've needed to.
It's not exactly a bad album, it's simply
n Krime
For the Future
amine Reptile
like Max Headroom, Calvin
are about 10 minutes into the
A mix of the overdone indie
nd a generous portion of metal
s combine in a surprisingly suc-
way. Sort of like Pavement
annibal Corpse, in the best pos-
ay.
Bonnie Raitt? No, it's folk singer Patti Larkin, whose album "Perishable Fruit" makes Suzanne Vega sound like AnI DiFranco.
completely unsurprising after two or with the threadbare whine constantly "Pain" is not so bad. But if you make
three songs. overlaying them, it's virtually impos- the mistake of listening closely, you'll
Oh, the music is fine. Guitars a- sible to feel anything good towards be another innocent victim of another
thrustin' with some violent yet the instrumentation. annoying War.
smooth beats backing them up. But If you don't pay too close attention, - Ted Watts
"it's a late ulle feature..."
The Coffee House Series
8 pm
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live Music and Comedy Acts
i s 11pm$7.00 adults
Private Parts $5.00 students,
* M$3.00 for children
under 12,
or em under 5, FREE
Call
or email
uclub.programs@umich.edu
for weekly update of
U-Club events
on the frstt fl oooeMinigan Union
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