Wednesday, June 10, 1992 - The Michigan Daily Summer Weekly -7
OC t 0
The Black Crowes
The Southern Harmony and
Musical Companion
Def American/Warner Bros.
A headbanger once told me that
Lynard Skynard can kick ass, but you
don't think of them as a heavy metal
band even though, at times, they sound
like one. Maybe that's why The Black
Crowes turned on many heavy metal
fans with their Southern-boogie
twanged interpretatl'n of guitar-based
rock, as promulgated on Shake Your
Money Maker.
The Crowes' sophomore release,
The Southern Harmony and Musical
Companion, retains the edgethatmade
the first record outstanding, but deep-
ens the grooves past the commercial
hype of the first record. Southern Har-
mony has more character, more drawn
out lines wiggling into a fuller, richer,
more satisfying fruition. "My Morning
Song" rolls, bursting with a kind of
vitality unexpected in a song that seems
basically mid-tempo, not at all heavy.
Songs like that, the "Remedy"
single, and "No Speak No Slave" defy
expectationsofwhat"hard"rockshould
be.
Though this patient crafting on The
Crowes' part sometimes means that they
soundevenmorelikeclassicrock bands
on 94.7, it's these very elements that
make the Crowes appealing. They al-
mostdoitbetterthantheirpredecessors
- the Crowes have their character in
the music, animation in their images,
and a sense of style in their package.
Lead vocalist Chris Robinson has
reportedly said that Shake Your Money
Maker was the album that they had to
make and Southern Harmony was the
album they wanted to make. For once,
someone speaks the (honest?) truth
about themselves.
-Annette Petruso
Love/Hate
Wasted in America
Columbia
Maybe it's all the talk about drugs
that does it, or maybe it's just the infec-
tious melodies - either way, Love/
Hate's got twelve songs here that are
truly addictive.
The firstsong, "Wastedin America,"
sets the stage for the rest of the album.
A hard rock anthem to the core, its
greatest strength is its climactic chorus.
The rest of the songs on Wasted in
Americahave thissamepowerful, sing-
along quality, most notably with
"Cream," "Time's Up," and "Social
Sidewinder."
Forthemostpart,Love/Hatesounds
like Faster Pussycat with even less
commercial appeal, if that's possible.
But you can also hear a little Guns N'
Roses, and some Alice in Chains on
"Happy Hour" with its deep, drawn out
echoes. The most surprising song on
the album is "Don't Fuck With Me,"
which is an acoustic Tesla-like social
statement.
The only real problem with these
songs - and the reason for the low
commercialability - are the lyrics.
Because of all the catchy tunes, you
might find yourself singing along, but
be careful - this could be an embar-
rassing situation, especially if you're
singing "Spit" or "Yucca Man." (I'd
say the titles are pretty self-explana-
tory.) Then again, you probably won't
sound much worse than the singer of
this band, who has an annoying ten-
dency to screech.
Basically, Wasted in America pre-
sents Love/Hate as the typical gutter
band. They've got some good songs,
some catchy hooks, some great poten-
tial, a great place make a statement -
too bad they don't have much to say.
-Kristen Knudsen
Widespread Panic (D. Schools, J. Bell, D. Ortiz, T Lavitz, M. Houser, T. Nance) in a calm family-type photo
Widespread Panic background. This eclectic mix is heard Various Artists
Space Wrangler throughout their repertoire. The cross Music of Indonesia vol. 1-3
Capricorn/Warner Brothers between bluesy rock and progressive Smithsonian/Folkways
Space Wrangler sounds like a late- attitude allows jams like "Chilly Wa- These three volumes of Indonesian
'80s independant release by a band ter" and "Space Wrangler" to sound music are some of the most recent re-
trying to get signed. The production influenced by both styles, yet deriva- cordingsaddedtothenewlyresurrected
isn't that great, and many of the lead tive of neither. Smithsonian/Folkways library. These
guitar parts are played with that annoy- Like otherbands trying to breakout, 1990 recordings can only hope to skim
ing chorus sound. Despite all that, the however, there has to be a gimmick the surface of such a culturally and
songs are so impressive that Capricorn tune-humorous lyrics to make every- geographically diverse country as In-
had no choice but to re-issue the disc as one get up and dance. On this disc it's donesia - home to over 300 ethnic
a follow-up to last year's Widespread the opening verse to "Coconut." groups onsome 3,000islands.Yet,each
Panic. "Ilike coconuts/youcan break them CD highlights music seldom, if ever,
They're from Athens, GA, but they open they smell like ladies lying in the heard by Westem audiences.
don't sound like any of the college sun/If I had my way I'd give a coconut Volume one documents a section of
bands mass produced there. The med- to everyone," the secular gandrung Banyuwangi
ley of Robert Johnson's "Me and the ThislyricshowsWidespread's Ath- dance, a form of nightly entertainment
Devil Blues" and Talking Heads' ensresidency quite wellwith itsB-52's performed and sung by a young, un-
"Heaven,"oneofthreeunreleasedtracks style tribute to having fun. marriedwomanforroughlyeighthours
added, shows their diverse musical -Andrew J Cahn See RECORDS, Page 12
Lend Me a replacement
The Ann Arbor Civic Theatre tries its hand at the farcical Tenor
by Jason Carroll
Lend Me A Tenor plays on every Gunneng) tries to better her career by designthatincludedabreak-away wall,
theatrical director's worst nightmare sleeping with Stupendo. In addition, all of which was designed by John
- your male tenor arrives at the Max's supposed fiancee, Maggie (Ann Moga.
theater "under-the-weather" and is Stevenson), and the high society chair The show is popular because, "it's
unable to play his part. What do you of the opera guild, Julia (Mary Ann a farce, and a well written farce,"
do? You go see Ann Arbor Civic Stevenson), are also interested in hav- commented Dennis. "The American
Theatre's production of Lend Me A ing a fling with Stupendo. At the same musical-theater has always dabbled in
Tenor and find out for yourself. time, Stupendo's wife, Maria (Susie farce, but neverclearly created one ...
The story opensin 1934,just as the Berneis) watches the insanity intensify. then this one came along in 1989 and
Cleveland Opera Company is about to The director,JoyDennis,has worked received critical acclaim."
present the American debut of the recently in Dexter on a production of While being tremendously hilari-
world famous tenor Tito Morelli, also Oklahoma in addition to working in ous, the show also has a slight hidden
known as Il Stupendo (TimlHenning). other theaters in Pennsylvaniaand Indi- message. Dennis stated that, "it deals
The curtain is about to rise, when ana. She is relatively new to the Ann withpeople'sperceptionsofwhatstars
suddenly Morelli becomes ill. Arbor area and seems to be very enthu- are and people forgetthatstars are just
Hishelpfulsupportingcastdecides siastic about theater life here, "I was normal people too."
that they will help him by pumping amazed, when I came to audition here, Dennis put it best when she re-
him full of medication. Unfortunately, at the depth of talent that came out ... marked, "people talk of farce as being
they give him a bit too much and he My cast is really extraordinary in that on the low rung of the theatrical lad-
croaks (so they think). they bring their own creativity to their der, but it's like you spend your whole
The box-office return oriented parts ... That is really important when life going to the art museum ... every
Saunders (Chris Korow) finds a re- working with visual humor such as once in a while you have to go to the
placement in Max (Kyle Marrero), but farce," Dennis commented. county fair and eat some cotton candy,
Stupendo arises from his overdose to As in any production, slight techni- it's good for the soul."
take back his role - in the middle of cal problems occur. Dennis notes,"be-
the production! cause it takes place in two different LEND ME A TENOR will be per-
A total farce proceeds from here rooms, we had to deal with the problem formed at Mendelssohn Theatre June
when Stupendo takes the stage at the of how much wall to use without dis- 10-13 at 8p.m. with a Saturday mati-
same time as his replacement. Behind rupting the sight lines." This problem nee at 2p.m. Tickets are $12-$15 Call
the scenes, the soprano, Diana (Nora was solved by using an art deco set 763-1085 for info.
A free ticket to a movie at The Michigan Theater!!
Just participate in a voting study for less than an hour
What: A study about voting and elections.
Where: Central campus,
When: Anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
How long: About 40 minutes
Who: U-M students
Call: 995-0900 and ask for the
Voting Study,
C h P Center For Advanced Research
The Black urowes (Colt, Fora, u.Robinson, uorman, n n. muuimnu