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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 1991)
Public libraries evolve with revolving disc By Jim Hanna Senior Reporter You’ve just shelled out a pile of money for a shiny new compact disc player and your bank account is empty. You are now too broke even to buy a disc to play on your machine. Public libraries have always been the salvation of the impoverished, and the Lincoln City Libraries are keeping up with the public’s demand for increasingly advanced music tech nology. Since its inception in 1988, the CD collection at Lincoln’s public librar ies has grown to almost 1,000 record ings, said Pal Peterson, assistant li brary director at the Bennett Martin Library, 14th and N streets. While most of the city’s CDs are located on the second floor of Ben nett Martin — Lincoln’s main library — several of Lincoln’s branch librar ies are beginning to develop their own CD collections, Peterson said. The CD collection is still rela tively small compared to the vinyl and audio cassette holdings, but a wide range of music options is avail able. “It’s a very broad representation of what’s available in the music field,” Peterson said. The Bennett Martin collection contains folk music, some rock ‘n’ roll and several movie and musical soundtracks. The majority of the hold -44 -- When you have a new collection, it always takes time for people to become aware of it. Peterson assistant library director Bennett Martin Library -99 ~ ings are classical .which Peterson said is the col lection’s “greatest strength.” The program is nearly 3 years old and interest in it has grown steadily. Many people may not know that the libraries have CDs available for check out, but that should change as the collections grow, Peterson said. “When you have a new collection, it always takes time for people to become aware of it,” Peterson said. “That will also expand as we begin to get more of the compact discs in the branch libraries.” With the U.S. economy apparently mired in a recession, many entertain ment seekers may turn to public li braries as a source of free recreation. If people cut back their personal spend ing more and more, costly CD pur chases may give way to free rentals, Peterson said. ^ . ■ i “That is very characteristic of li braries throughout the history of public libraries in the United States, that in times of recession or depression people more heavily use the public library for a whole variety of reasons,” she said. Peterson said she did not expect major booms in the use of the CD collection. She said she remained realistic about the growth of the col lection and the corresponding public interest in it. “It will take... at least five years for it to begin to really be of a size that addresses the kind of demand there may be within the university commu nity,” she said. “We see it as a long range development.” I Redeeming characteristics no salvation for record’s redundant, poor lyrics 1/ Shannon Uehling aft Reporter Although the 360’s “Illuminated” obably will never be commercially ccessful, the new album does have me redeeming qualities. Of the 10 tracks on the album, six 5 average at best. They are full of jandcring key changes, almost >lent tempo swings and obscure d repetitive lyrics. “Put That Behind Me,” about for itling a deceitful lover, is one of the < average songs. The 360’s attain a und reminiscent of the Pretenders, ily more moody. This may be one of e band’s most stunning accomplish Mits. It’s just too bad that they wasted e effort on this song. The ninth track, “Saved,” is by far e best song on the album. It’s a eepy ballad performed with acous : guitars. Lead singer Audrey Clark’s husky ice gives life to the lyrics “I like dancing alone in my room/ The sun ^flowing down/ Will you be coming ?REM iContinued from Page 12 Reckoning” and “Fables of the sconstruclion.” The one exception: “Radio Song.” ic reason for this song’s existence an R.E.M. release is baffling at st for hardcore fans. Michael Stipe iging opposite KRS-1 “sucks,” as ^ rap singer screams in the song. “Losing My Religion,” which atefully plays about 10 a.m. week ys on Q102, is proof that “Radio mg” was a momentary loss of san ity. This is a beautiful compilation, both instrumentally and lyrically, about dosing faith — not in God or religion, ‘but in oneself and humanity. Continuing on with the symphonic mode is “Shiny Happy People.” Kate Picrsonofthe B-52scollaborates with Stipe to create a hard-edged harmony, t but there is something pleasant and almost perfect about this combina | tion. “Shiny Happy People” will as suredly be the irritating pop thriller ! on “Out of Time,” as “Stand” was on ['“Green.” And the incessant yet intoxicating Stipe strcam-of-consciousness mono logue in “Belong” is one of those songs that idiots will search to memo rize instead of laughing at the pre tense of it all. What’s funnier is that the song has a definite Acrosmith, “Sweet Emotion” soundTSort of brings new meaning to R.E.M.’s reputation as an eclectic band. The sheer genius of “Out of Time” is captured on “Half a World Away.” The lyrics mixed with the light key boards and gentle mandolin are dis turbingly sad and beautiful. Stipe, as usual, captures the depressing as he talks about the chaotic feelings of losing love: “My mind is racing/as it always will/ my hand’s tired/ my heart aches from half a world away.” By no means is “Out of Time” a dive off the deep end. This is a band that has been alive and well and ex perimenting with sound fora decade. And while the band has definitely graduated into the 1990s with an updated style and added class, the fab four from Athens, Ga., still hold to their deep-rooted folksy, Southern sound. 360’s “illuminated” Link Records/WEA Rating: 2 1/2 Ratings are 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent). home?/ You saved me.” The rhythm of “Saved” is another virtue. Band members Eric Russell, Brian Evan and John Grady create a pleasant change from the Metallica like frenzy of drums and guitars. The title track, “Illuminated,” is more melodious than many of the cuts. It isn’t nearly as good as “Saved,” but it is still better than the average tracks. The song suffers from exces sive key changes that detract from the overall unity. The last of the three songs of ac ceptable quality is called “Garden of Departure.” Strangely enough, the title doesn’t fit with the lyrics. “I fill your fingers with flowers/ red, emerald, blue and violet/ Like a beautiful girl/ You are beautiful/ Angels weep, moons weep, hurricanes,” are some of the more coherent lines from the song. The album’s worst cut undoubt edly is “Texas.” Besides being musi cally discordant, this song is redun dant and has poor lyrics. “Joey smokes his last cigarette/ Got a gun underneath his bed/ No one knows what losin’ is til you lose it down in Texas,” are the only some what intelligible lines in the tune. The rest of the song is murderous screams of the single word, “Texas.” “Illuminated” may not end up on the Hot! 00, but it’s probably worth a listen, if for no other reason than to chuckle over the differences in song quality. SPRING BREAK S ALEBR ATION!! WOOLRICH - INSPORT - RUSSELL - TYR CHAMPION - STREETBAGS - GEAR 25% - 50% OFF SALK KNPS SATURDAY, MARCH 30,1991| 472-7431 The University Health Center Student Advisory Board wants to hear your health concerns. We have installed a 24 - hour phone line for you to call in to tell us your concerns about your care and service received at the University Health Center. Dial 472-7431 and leave your message. If you would like us to res pond, please leave your name and return number or address. A representative of the Health Center will be happy to get back to you. All calls will be kept confidential. 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