The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, June 12, 1984 - Page 11 Records vaseline/ but all the rushes look the same") that did nothing to the story, and just sound pretentious. Much of the lyricism is the outright slop- py, full of obscure symbolism ("don't point you raygun at mme/I just might explode") and silly techo-jargon ("Keith talked is alphanumerals"). His writing is far more callow than clever, and will more than likely alienate listeners instead of amusing them. Dolby's voice hasn't improved much either. It's a little stronger, but still lacking in color or range. When he tries to stretch a phrase out for emotion, his voice tends to literally fade into the Thomas Dolby-The Flat background. Earth (EMI) Musically, the album is much better. Dolby can coax as many exotic shading Thomas Dolby's first album, The out of a synthesizer as can Vangelis or Golden Age of Wireless is not a record Kitaro can even if his arrangements that would have led anyone to mistake are less ambitious. "Mulu The Rain him for a consumate artist, but it did Forest", a nocturnal painting of a show him to be an ingenius craftsman Tasmanian jungle, is quite effective. with a knack for electronics and with The eeriely distorted woodwinds, half some signs of potential as a nifty pop- buried percussion, and ghostly synth synth performer. His follow-up record, overdubs have a unsettling haunting The Flat Earth confirms his whiz kid quality. Yet the pieces have a certain, technical abilities, but just as clearly patchwork dryness to them. They sound indicates that he lacks the essentials for as if they were more than likely artistry. meticulously constructed instead of Dolby tries to adopt the guise of a composed. serious songwriter/singer, but his The production is more refined than abilities fall way short of his the last album, and may also be part of aspirations. Character sketches like its problem. The Flat Earth is such a "Dissidents" and "White City" lack smoothly polished bit of studio any convincing insight to bring people tinkering it ends up being colorless. within them alive. His tragic romance There are plenty of interesting tex- in "Screen Kiss" is ruined by vacuous tures, sound effects, and synth hooks imagery, and repeated use of film throughout, but they all kind of wash references ("blue filter lens in a pool of out in the final mix. I've played this album a good dozen times, and still audience with a condescension that is can't recall one single melody. embarrasing to listen to. The Flat Earth has many of the Watch Out! is like some relic of the qualities of Brian Eno's ambient recor- '60s, an album full of flower child dings-nice aural wallpaper that fades idealism amidst folky trappings that from memory as soon as it's over. has little connection to the real world. -Byron Bull "The Meek Are Getting Ready" and the title song are unsophisticated, predic- table realities against ye olde military- industrial complex. Sadly, Near really believes that all we have to do is get together and we can take down the big guys and make the world safe for children and puppies and ... give me a break. Holly Near-Watch Out! (Redwood) Holly Near has been around now for something like ten years and eight albums, and has yet to approach any sort of wide critical or commercial ac- ceptance. Watch Out! is not a record that will change any of that. Her commercial inviability is generally attributed to her feminist/lesbian/political activist base, but there's a much more readily ap- parent reason: Near is simply not a very good songwriter. Like any flagrant ideologue, Near is incapable of subtlety, she panders to her ready The obligatory celebrations of womanhood aren't any better. One ballad, "Step It Out, Sally" typifies the lot with its stanza of, "Women must not be bought or sold./We will choose our lovers./We'll live our own lives." Thanks for pointing that out Holly. The only songs that don't outright annoy are the little love songs and bittersweet reminiscences. Their undisguised sen- timent would be appealing, if Near could only articulate them with a little freshness. Near's one true assef is her voice, a gorgeous soprano that regrettably is buried in a muddle of forgettable folk- rock nonmelodies. If Near took up'rein- terpreting legitimate folk standards she could establish a legitimate careeer. Too bad she squanders her one true ability on material that would be more appropriate on Xeroxed pam-. phlets for a special interest group. -Byron Bull LIMIT 1 EXP. 6-19-84 LIMIT 1 EXP. 6-19-84 50% OFF PROFESSIONAL EVERYDAY RETAIL PRICE FRISBEE ALL SUNGLASSES 2" NO LIMIT! LIMIT 1 EXP. 6-19-84 WE CSH " OF MCHIGN PAR-L START YOUR SUMMER WITH THE LOWEST PRICES ON ALL CASSETTES AND ALBUMS REG. 5.98 s "A" CODE ALBUM REG. 8.98 s 45 "C" CODE EACH CASSETTE OR ALBUM 54s MFG. EACH REG. 6.98 s "B" CODE so OFEC CASSETTE OR ALBUM 445 CASSETTE EACH OR HURRY! ALBUM SALE ENDS JUNE 19, 1984 9.98 MFG. LIST OR HIGHER WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES! EVERYDAY! SHARE THE FUN- 2 SETS OF FILM PRINTS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! SEE IN STORE FOR DETAILS STATE COUPON FRI., SAT., SUN. ONLY! SOLID RTSHIRTS BLUE AND fl@@ GOLD ONLY! " ASST. SIZES LIMITi1 EXP.6-19-84 EVEYDY!LOES CASETEAN ABUMPRCE I TWN .............