Wednesday, July 28, 1993 - The Michigan Daily Summer Weoky -13 They wanna be adored? Adorable's style of British pop comes forth few years too late By SCOTT STERLING "I think people always have a fond memory of history. They always think that everything was really rosy in the past. They forget that when they were actually in that past, they were com- plaining,"summarizesAdorable'slead mouth Piotr (sounds like "Peter") Fijalkowski. If Adorable's debut album, "Against Perfection," is any indica- tion, Fjalkowski and his merry co- horts are similarly guilty of possessing mental sieves themselves. Charging out of the gate like MTV's "120 Min- utes" circa 1987, Adorable's music invokes visions of mid-period Echo and the Bunnymen, the Chameleons withoutsomanychordchanges,orany morose, trenchcoat-wearing, weeping- willow tree haircut-sporting Brit band that moaned and groaned through the late'80s.Understated,chiming guitars buoy along on solidstate, rudimentary rhythms, whileFijalkowski's slightly- clippedlanMcCulloch impersonations soar over the top of everything. And when itall comes together, the results are actually quite impressive, DOWNEY Continued from page 10 minds him that he's usually the best thing in less-than-great films, Downey nods in a pained manner. Laughing knowingly, he admits to often asking himself, "'My god, am I jinxing these? Do I have, like, a problem? Is there something wrong with me? ... Am I cursed?' Little questions like that." In particular, the final product of "Chaplin" was a stern disappoint- ment to him, as he "longed for the film to be able to be 'Citizen Kane' but it just wasn't possible." But with Downey's circular, whimsical conversational style, he consistently turns back to the sudden importance of stability and commit- ment, as symbolized by his impend- ing fatherhood. Eagerly demonstrat- ing lamaze breathing for the group, Downey discusses his plans to be a "rocking dad." Priorities have been readjusted, as he now can split his family fromhis workandsay, "here's what really matters and here's what you do with your life." It's all about a new lifestyle for Downey, about becoming grounded and actually taking pleasure in it. Anddifferentlifestylesappeartofas- LAW SCHOOL? Prep"1 ster Revew is the most etfective u - prep ciurse availabl. Successrat: aerag 14 oin imrovmen onthe 120- . 18(0 LSAT scaie.0 I .800325-LSAT ,0u such as the brilliantly blissful "Sun- shine Smile" which comes across as nothing short of the Jesus and Mary Chain covering something from "Por- cupine" in My Bloody Valentine's at- tic. But don't think Fijalkowski's get- ting away with murder, he makes no bones about wearing his influences proudly on his sleeve. "I really enjoyed the Mary Chain, back when they were organizing riots at their gigs. I like the Bunnymen al- ways mouthing off in the press. I liked the Smiths always being up to some- thing. I didn't really see that in any of our contemporaries," he asserts. He also makes it very plain that any band that doesn't admit to these or other more current influences are bla- tantly copping out. "So many bands feel the need to hide behind already established 'cred- ible' music. It's not even pretentious, because it's just so predictable. In one of our music papers every week, they publish some band's all-time favorite records. Every week, everybody cites the samerecords. It's allDavidlBowie, Rolling Stones, maybe a song by the ClashortheJam, PattiSmith-there's not much point. I reckon they just use the same list every week and just change the name at the top," laughs Fijalkowski."It just seems tome that the bands you grew up with would be the ones that changed your lives, not the ones your parents listened to." It was bold proclamations such as these that garnered Adorable their initial press and considerable notori- ety, most of it not very favorable. "Everyone in the music press shouted me down, so I was obviously wrong. Irecanteverything Isaid, and humbly apologize to everyone," Fijalkowski says, tongue obviously firm in cheek. This is all made even more curi- ous in light of the runaway success of British pansexual adrodg-rockers Suede, whose singer Brett Anderson has enamored himself to press and fans alike by saying things quite simi- lar to past Fijalkowski quotes. What gives, Piotr? "That is interesting, isn't it? Oh well. It's just a case of ... one person says something, and because they're I Tl* - a ' ,; ' a z . o ' a,° V Adorable wants you to like them - to really like them. not a cool person in the eyes of the press, then these are stupidthings to be laughed at. Somebody else says them, and because they are a cool person, they're considered pretty hip." So now Adorable is embarking on their next conquest, the good of U.S. of A., which is notorious for either reducing England'slatesttoindielimbo or catapulting them to superstardom. So when the day is done, why should we devote our hearts, time and cash to the Adorable lot? "You don't have to buy our record, just make an effort to listen to it on-e," Fijalkowski finally says after much deliberation. "If you dontlike it, that's fine. That's all I ask. I'd rather they didn't like it than be indifferent, or not have heard it at all." ADORABLE plays at Industry (1S. Saginaw, Pontiac) tomorrow night with Baltier Space and El Magniftco. Doors at 8 p.n., and tickets are only $1 before 11 p.m. Call 334-1999 for more information. ,w cinate him. He talks about "Heart and Souls" costar Charles Grodin's trailer with thesatellite dish on it(sohe can watch all the East Coast games), vegetarian Woody Harrelson doing yoga on the set and pleading with him not to eat cheese and Tom Sizemore's undercover efforts to sneak into studiooffices during film- ing. Downey's gift at mimicry, then, stems not from a desire to parody or burlesque, but from a keen actor's eye and an unquenchable interest in character. These are Downey's gifts, along with an uncanny ability to come across as genuine, despite the plastic trappings of a studio press junket interview situation. Downey makes eye contact with the reporters. He entertains. He tells stories and bounces ideas around. Though a veteran of these con- trived interviews, Downey avoids the jaded stance one might expect from such an established star. It would be ridiculous to say he enjoys this studio chore he's required to fulfill, but he definitely makes the most out of it, reflectingonthequestionsand zinging one-liners wheneverpossibletolighten the tensionand falsenessofthepseudo- intimate press conference. Whether or not this ease and grace came with the change in lifestyle or is justaconsistentpartofDowney'schar- acter, Downey appears comfortable in his skin and yet ever-eager to reject it for another, professionally speaking. He seems excited about thisnew phase in his life, and about the way his re- cently-acquired personal stability has affected his acting. "I really care about (my work) now,"Downey saysquietly.Theprod- uct, the filmitselfhas taken on alasting shape and meaning for him. The sig- nificance a film can have has affected thewayheviewshiscraft.Rubbinghis Robert Downey, Jr. performs with Geraldine Chaplin and Paul beard with his palm, he adds, "I really Rhys in "Chaplin," the role for which Downey received his first care now because I realize something Academy Award nomination. - Oliver Stone says it, too. He says, 'You know, this is forever."' Indeed, for Downey, both the work and the life have come to stand for something real, which endures. HEART AND SOULS opens August 13. GARDEN Restaurant - MULTI COLOR SPECIALISTS . ARTIST ON STAFF _- RUSH ORDERS '' --"'EAR U OF M CAMPUS 1217 PROSPECT, ANN ARBOR 665-1771 FFwith this ad. 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