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12B - The Michigan Daily - Wickeid Magaziie - Thursday, February 21, 2002
Students late in making spring break plans,
The Michigan Daily - Weekend Magazine -
'Meddle' a sadly over-
looked Floydianarvel
By Neal Pais ; : p
Daily Arts Writer ;> '
Gunsion i
"What Olympic even
order to win th
By Jenni Glenn
Daily Arts Writer
Airports won't be empty when
spring break begins tomorrow, but
some area travel agents say students
booked their spring break trips much
later than they did last year.
Many students postponed making
plans or opted not to travel following
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said
Deanna Kierczak, leisure sales and
group manager for Boersma Travel
Services. Boersma's student spring
break business at the University
dropped to two-thirds what it was last
year, she said.
The trend goes beyond the
University, Kierczak said. Boersma
had to close its Michigan State
University office a few months ago
because spring break business had
fallen, she said.
Business held steady at STA
Travel, said Ryan Tell, branch man-
ager at the South University Ave.
location, but students booked their
trips later than usual. Typically,
spring break reservations begin pour-
ing in before winter break. Tell said
this year many customers booked
their trips in mid-to-late January
instead.
"Air travel was down until probably
the end of November," he said.
"We're probably back on target now."
LSA freshman Alyssa Lin booked
her spring break trip to Cancun at the
end of January. She and three friends
selected a package including a char-
ter flight and hotel accommodations
from STA Travel. Although the group
booked the trip relatively late, Lin
said it was more an issue of finding
time to plan the vacation together
BRETT MOUNTAIN /Daily
Located in the Michigan Union, STA Travel is a popular place for students to book their spring break travels.
I
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than worrying about the terrorist
attacks.
"The thought of (a trip) didn't really
come up until the snow came, and then
we started thinking tropical," she said.
One of Lin's travel companions did
need to convince her parents that it
would be safe to travel. But Lin, who
flew home to Atlanta for
Thanksgiving and winter break, said
fear of future attacks was not a prob-
lem for her.
Tell said the war in Afghanistan
and the economic recession also
affected decisions to hold off on
vacation planning since parents and
students aren't willing to spend as
much money or travel as far from
home. Now, low fares are encourag-
ing students to book trips, particular-
ly cruises, he said.
Cruise lines are offering some of
the best deals right now, with five
nights trips costing $350 to $400. In
contrast, plane tickets may not come
cheap, Tell said.
"The biggest myth out there is that
flights may be cheaper," he said.
"There are half the flights, so the
prices are going back up"
Kierczak agreed that prices have
risen since the end of 2001, but she
said students may still spend less
money than they did on last year's
spring break. The top destinations for
college students remain Cancun,
Acapulco and Negril, Jamaica,
regardless of price, she said.
Vacation deals tempted some stu-
dents, including LSA junior Steve
Warnick. He said he looked into a
$400 cruise off the coast of
California before deciding to stay
closer to home.
"It was kind of alluring because of
how inexpensive it was," he said.
Instead, Warnick opted to spend
most of his vacation in South Quad,
where he is a resident advisor. He
said he wanted to relax and catch up
on work. Spending the week in Ann
Arbor also will allow him to save
some money and avoid the hassles of
travel such as flight delays, he said.
Spring break vacationers can
expect additional delays this year
because of heightened airport securi-
ty, Tellsaid. Travelers should be care-
ful to arrive at the airport two hours
early for domestic flights and three
hours early for international trips, he
said. Airline passengers must be care-
ful not to pack sharp metal objects
such as scissors and nail clippers that
will be confiscated, Tell said.
"It's generally better to follow the
airline rules and not jeopardize your
vacation," he said.
Some students decided to steer
clear of air travel altogether. Tell said
a number of STA customers are plan-
ning to drive to cruise departure
points in Florida and New Orleans
rather than flying.
But for many prospective travelers,
confidence may be returning after
Sept. 11.
"There was a time period where
most people were choosing not to get
on a plane," Kierczak said. "I feel
that is changing, though."
Generally, any Pink Floyd album released before 1973 is
reserved for the hardcore Floyd purist among us. Prior to the
release of their magnificent space rock masterpiece "Dark Side
of the Moon," the Floyd dabbled in the mainstream psychedelia
of the 1960s, their image and sound differing sharply from that
of their post-1973 success as shadowy, progressive rockers.
Their 1971 LP, "Meddle" is perhaps their finest early work;
sadly and utterly underrated, it is an album thoroughly removed
from the 'signature' Pink Floyd sound, yet delightful in its
experimentation and variety.
"Meddle" is wholly different from any other Floyd album.
With the 1968 departure of Syd Barrett - founder, front man
and marathon abuser of psychedelics, the band posted a retreat
from its original LSD-influenced song structure. Taking the
helm from his old mate, Roger Waters rapidly launched the
group into greater mainstream commercial success with his
richer, more complex lyrics and mellower sound; "Meddle"
emerged as a masterful representation of this transition.
The album features only six songs, yet each uniquely possess-
es its own individual character. The opening track, "One of
These Days," is a frenetic, guitar-driven instrumental piece
indicative of some of the band's later works. Although it lacks
the richness of other songs featured on the album, it remained a
staple concert/compilation opener.
Following the introductory track is "A Pillow of Winds." This
second song is probably one of the more 'classic-sounding'
Floyd tunes. Its lush, pastoral sound, coupled with romantic
overtones, may surprise
a listener more accus-
tomed to Waters' cyni-
cal, post-"Dark Side"
work.
As overlooked as the
album as a whole often
is, certain tracks, like
"One of These Days," manage to maintain some sort of notori-
ety. The uplifting "Fearless" is as solidly part of contemporary
English culture as the victor's anthem of the Liverpool Football
Club. The piece reflects a type of optimism and accessibility that
Pink Floyd later came to eschew. Proceeding in the same tone is
a loungy, uncharacteristically happy-go-lucky "San Tropez."
"Seamus," the final track on the "Meddle" A-side, is a brief,
slightly hastily recorded ditty that returns to the group's pre-
stardom beginnings as a jazz club band.
Although arguably poorly conceived,
the song redeems itself with sweet
sentimentality.
It is not until the final song
opens, however, that a listener may
glimpse Pink Floyd's hidden genius;
"Echoes," the band's 23-minute
opus (taking up the entire B-
side), is absolutely dazzling.
While more traditional hits,
such as "Wish You Were.
Hey, I think I see a nipple!
Here" and "Comfortably Numb" often take the prize for best
Floyd song, this wonderfully intricate piece should share the
title. Changing with every listening - sometimes soothing and
dreamlike, at other points, very frightening,
"Echoes" comes off as an extraordinarily malleable piece of
listening. It truly shines with its richly layered guitar texturing,
whistles, sonar blips, disquieting shrieks and Waters' other-
worldly vocals. The epic scope of this sixth gem never poses a
burden; rather, one can (should) only marvel at its melodic opu-
lence.
"Meddle" should indeed be ranked as one of prog rock's most
exceptional albums. Among all Pink Floyd albums, it certainly
offers the greatest variety while sustaining a uniquely placid
feel. It is not as conceptual as some of the Floyd's later
works, but is arguably more beautiful.
Some sections of the album foreshadow the subse-
quently murkier incarnation of the band, yet overall,
"Meddle" remains pure and atmospheric, complex yet
uncomplicated. And yes, it really must be said
that no (Floyd) fan is a true fan if they
haven't listened to it. Many
times. MANNaM,
I "Trying
possible."
to chug as mar
- Bryon Jesnig,
Do
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Q "Writing midterm paper
before they're due."
- Emily Squires, School of Art <
Q "Waking up in somebc
story attic on a Friday nigh
that you're smoking pot b'
- Will Uhl, Engir
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