8A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, November 6, 1995 Shal Blackface Gasoline Alley/MCA Records In 1992 four Howard University students released a debut album, "... if i ever fall in love." The album would eventually go double platinum; yarious singles and remixes, would also hit big. Barely a year later, the group would release "Right Back At Cha," a flop self-cover CD. Finally, as quickly as the hype began, it would end, and these four Howard students returned to the obscurity from which they had come. Fast forward: 1995. Carl Martin, Marc Gay, Garfield Bright and Darnell Van Rensalier have returned. And if you think that this group is the same as the Shai of yesteryear, you have a lot to learn. The group's signature was its humbleness. Remember Shai songs like "Baby I'm Yours" and "Together Forever?" Everything from verses like "Baby I'm yours, if you want me" to the group name (which, coincidently, means "personification of destiny") to the group's causal dress on the "... if i ever fall in love" CD cover at- tested to Shai's modest style. In "Blackface," this "baby brother" atti- tude has shown signs of receding, and what has taken its place is a stronger, more self-confident Shai. What love songs like "Come with Me," "During the Storm" and the first single, "The Place Where You Be- long" have that similar songs in "... if i ever fall in love" lacked is more lyrical backbone; this time the sing- ers don't cringe vocally as if at any moment the girl will start laughing hysterically in their faces. While some women will undoubtedly miss the soulful innocence and youthful em- barrassment Shai perpetuated, many will welcome what the new Shai has to offer. What hasn't changed is the untouch- able harmony Shai exuded back in '92. From the upbeat ("Planet Solitude") to the laid back ("I Don't Want to be Alone"), these four brothas can take anything and make it sound smooth. But, this doesn't guarantee that "Blackface" will be accepted as the outstanding R&B CD it is. It's a rare feat for an R&B group to simply rematerialize and earn the same level of popularity it once had. If anyone deserves it, it's Shai. But we don't always get what we deserve, now do we? - Eugene Bowen Aceyalone All Balls Don't Bounce Capitol Aceyalone, a member of Freestyle Fellowship, a barely recognized, highly original West Coast rap group, has just released his first solo album "All Balls Don't Bounce." Freestyle Fellowship is another ex- ample of that unfortunate, rather pa- thetic situation of creative mavericks - way ahead of their time - not get- ting the attention that they deserve, because people are too lame to get it. Well, this album further develops the Freestyle Fellowship vibe, with pro- lific lyricists who prove that their com- plete control over language and music is like no other. Aceyalone has a verbal gift, a play- ful tongue and an ingenious mind that allows him to take words and with them, perform linguistic gymnastics. He takes the English language and rebuilds it so that it has the rhythm and rhyme that fits perfectly within the texture of his music. Aceyalone doesn't just break down the barriers oflanguage format, but also breaks down any past hip-hop formats^" and formulas. This album has no fillers, like shout-outs, intros, outros and skits. It's just straight-up imaginative verses and unorthodox beats. "Arhythmaticulas" has such a liq- uescent flow - with rolling lyrics and swaying rhythms - that it carries the listener, in a floating state, through the ups and downs of this jazzy roller- coaster. Aceyalone has a laid-back style and a sense of humor and even when he does get serious his word-plays are so ani- mated that he never sounds too heavy sobering. This album showers you with ti delirium of Aceyalone's swift-pace verbal spray, the sprinkles oftwinklir xylophones, pulsating acoustic bas beats and bizarre samples. Aceyalor himself attests to the fact that ti rhythms are twisted and unusual; i "Arhythmaticulas," he says that "th rhythm is sick, this rhythm's ridici lous." Aceyalone is truly a virtuoso, a innovator who has created a style tha can not be categorized. He says: "Me I'd rather be undefined, not underes timated nor undermined/ I'm unde lined as the underdog under the influ ence of time." Hopefully, originality and intelligen eccentricity won't be a curse fo Aceyalone. - Kimberly Hawn r U MYSTERY Continued from Page 5 ion show was presented. The premis was that the fashions displayed embod ied Indian influence, but this reviewe had a difficult time making this connec tion. The show moved then to the state c Punjab, which is known for its ic crops. The dance typical of this state i the Bhangra, which was used to cel ebrate the harvest. Although a tradi tional dance, Bhangra has a moderi version which has become very popu lar in the '80s and '90s, especially i England and the U.S. The traditions and the modern waves of Bhangra wer performed with characteristic rhythri movements ofthe hands and shoulder A daring human pyramid at the en brought this dance to an exciting coi elusion. The last two traditional dances wet Raas, from Gujarat, and a village fol dance. In Raas, men and women mov together in a circle with short sticks i their hands, which are hit with differet partners. This rendition of Raas ha some very fancy footwork and well timed movements which the audienc enjoyed. The village dance portrayed love story of a village girl bitten by scorpion, whose sting could only b relieved by her lover. The men in thi dance had long sticks which were het in pairs to open and closeaspace throug which the women would step, makin for a delightful display of timing An footwork. The program concluded with a ver interesting East meets West dance the combined western ballet, Bharat Natyam, Bhangra, and several othe dances into one. It was fitting to clos the program with a segment that em bodied the true Indian-American, wh is a blend of Indian and American cul tures and embodies the best character istics of each. Overall, the acoustics i Hill Auditorium left something to b desired, but the end result of the har work and perseverance of the 300 or s students who were involved with th program more than made up for thai The pride and enthusiasm displaye< made the Indian cultural program success. You are YL O t a 1mooCh. But when a hole in your pocket renders you c angeless, you relu c t a n tly call the folks COlleCt. You dial 1 800 CALL ATT. Your pangs of guilt minzmal. are il-I'11 Know the Code. 1 800 CALL AT T That's Your Plue Choice"' I''- M xics car $no