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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1978)
monday,december4, 1978 daily nebraskan page 9 Music hero Waits9 latest portrays urban living pain By Jeff Taebel Tom Waits may well be one of the last authentic heroes of American music. While other artists who have claimed distinction in the past are touring with Las Vegas-style re vues or worrying about property taxes in Malibu, Waits has retained his modest digs at Hollywood's Tropicana Hotel, in order to keep in close contact with the seedy street "life that he seems to have a lovehate relationship with. album review Waits' music can take listeners to places they might not ordinarily go and introduce them to various denizens of the night they might otherwise never see. His latest album, Blue Valentine, is similar in its focus to his 1974 classic, The Heart of Saturday Night. Both albums vividly portray the boredom, restlessness and pain of urban living. However, Waits sounds much more coarse and cynical on Blue Valentine, perhaps as a result of all the trouble he's seen. Barroom backing Waits' is backed by a variety of musicians, all of whom strive to create the intimate kind of barroom sound that he works so well with. Waits contributes his fine piano work and plays some surprisingly fluid electric guitar. Blue Valentine opens with a tortured, evocative rendi tion of "Somewhere." from West Side Story. This tune sets the tone for the album much the same way that "Gin ny's Waltz" did for last year's Foreign Affairs. "Some where" is followed by the rather undistinguished "Red Shoes By The Drugstore," which has excellent lyrical po tential, but never gets going musically. Side one's third offering, "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis," is the kind of poignant classic that very few songwriters could pull off. Waits wrenches out every ounce of agony from his voice on each phrase, ' (i If, ; y' x, 'btw- h if I yflfi I building things up throughout the song and crashing them down in the end. Straight blues Side one closes with "$29.00," which is a departure from style for Waits since it is essentially straight blues. Even though Waits camps it up on this number, he still sounds more sincere tryin most of today's pop artists when they attempt a blues song. Side two is highlighted by the last two songs, "A Sweet Little Bullet From A Pretty Blue Gun" and "Blue Valentines." These songs certainly equal or surpass most of Waits' previous work and are indicative of his expanded artistic scope. "A Sweet Little Bullet From A Pretty Blue Gun" is Waits at his snarling, cynical best. Waits exposes present day Hollywood as a crumbling Babylon, rife with shattered lives and broken dreams. His crisply intoned vo cals tell a murder story with a frightening sense of realism, American Cancer Society We want to cure cancer in vour lifetime. 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BOX 31005 OMAHA, NEBR. 68I3I STATE S, M, L, or XL CHECKS or MONEY ORDERS ONLY GO BIG RED GO BIG RED Unique M QlftS fit Just Right Different PEKOVAL Footloose y Fancy 99 1219 P St. Rampark Bldg. 432-6119 UNL School of Music presents George Frederick Handel's MESSIAH Harold Evans, conductor University Singers Members of University Orchestra Robert Anders Emile, Music Director Lois Vaccariello Soloists Denise Hurley Cary Michaels Scott Root Sunday, December 10 2:30 p.m. Kimball Recital Hall 11th and R Streets All Seats Reserved Students65 and Over $1 .00 All others $2.00 Kimball Box Office 113 Music Bldg., 11th and R University of Nebraska-Lincoln Phone Orders-472r3375 with lines like: "it takes a sweet little bullet, from a pretty blue gunTo put those scarlet ribbons in your hair." Intense statement "Blue Valentines," which closes the album, is just as powerful, even though it is more subdued. Waits sings it in his inimitable melancholy vocal style, supported only by his electric guitar. This song showcases Waits' ability to make an intense personal statement without sounding awkward or self-indulgent. Blue Valentine is possibly Waits' finest work to date and if the diverse array of talents exposed on this album are any indication of things to come, he may well achieve hero status on a large scale. WHY SPEAK NEGATIVELY?! Let your resume give the impression you want 120 No. 20th 475-8833 4300 So. 48th 489-8853 INSTANT PRINT CENTERS Professional typesetting Choice of several f ine papers. Use your Coupon Book Discount A MASTERPECE A UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRODUCTION RESERVATIONS PHONE 472-2073 HOWELL THEATRE 12 and R Streets Lricoh. Nebr. ADULTS $400 GROUP RATES AVAILABLE. ADMISSIONS (al prices include tax) NOW ON STAGE DECEMBER 8. 9. and 12, 13, 14, 15. 16. 8 PM STUDENTS $300 And Sen. Cits. JIf ' 1111 1 111 "" n 1 oocq Lincoln's Quality Adult Theater Continuous shows from 10am "97. COMPLETELY UN1- OUE PORN!" Al Goldstein "'FIREWORKS WOMAN' FILLS THE SCREEN WITH fA SLEW OF SIZZLING SEX UAL SHOCKERS AND EYE- BROW RAISERS." Bob Salmaggi. WINS Sarah Nicho.son flREWORKS WOMAN TTTT firm 11 11 11 ll rrrtfH Continuous shows from 10am 91 Late shows Friday & Saturday Ul Must be 18-Have I.D. 1730 "O" St.- 432-6042 TWO BIG SUPER HITS!! H 2nd BIG FEATURE "SWEET FOLDS OF FLESH" Do you want to hear a good band and even parti; a little bit? Then Come UPC-East-Culture Center-City Introduces SPLIT DECISION A visually and musically exciting performance including R& B, Jazz and Jazz-Rock, Top 40, and Disco, Funk, and out & out Hard Rock Also a Complete array of lighting and special effects, as well as outstanding and unique costuming Friday, Dec. 8 Great Plains Room East Campus Union Tickets: $3.00 single $5.00 couple On sale at the South Desk on City Campus Desk-East Campus