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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1995)
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Feed your head ” M€lUS $2.00 off Adult Hair Cut With this ad Cnttlng Citw mm * Leighton (4644303) University Plncc Stopping Center Music Reviews “Hot” Half Japanese Safe House Records Grade: A+ Forget about whatever kids with blue hair are into or the fakeness that Epitaph is pitching to MTV execsor anythingthat Billie Joe has to say. Half Japanese is true punk. Childish, honest, goofy, and damn charismatic, the band, fronted by the always-amusing Jad Fair, has been an unknown, shadowy in fluence on rock ‘n’ roll since the group began in Jad’s bedroom. Consumed with the topicsoflove and, oddly enough, monsters, yet without any formal musical train ing, Jad and his brother David have been chasing absurdist expression ism for nearly 20 years, banging away until something hummable emerges. Their efforts thus far were re cently compiled in the Safe House retrospective “Greatest Hits,” which boasts 69 tracks, some of which are older than Ben Lee, but, incredibly, are still just as contemporary, just as cohesive to the independent sound. And of course, “Hot” does not disappoint. Though Jad is nudging 40, he is still eternally youthful in his optimism, and quite the rocker, powering his troop through the al bum and shrieking like his one time protege, Kurt Cobain. As if that signature wail were only native to Aberdeen. Not quite. The majority of this new little gem is Fair’s unique take on rough, fast-paced electric indie punk. This particular record’s cast is quite im pressive,especially the fierce drum ming of Gilles Rieder. And though Jad is the center of attention, the work of John Sluggett and Mick Hobbs on guitar and Jason Willett on bass definitely do not go unno ticed, either. On tracks like the terribly addic tive “Vampire,” “Well,” and “Vast Continent,” they hammer out tapable, powerful tunes that seem almost rushed in their creation, but are even more appealing as a result. For the wimps, like me, there are some softer, more sissy numbers that you can’t help but smile at. Bouncy, quirky treats like “True Believers” are so happy, about love and such, one can ’ t help but wonder if Jad is being ironic or not. That’s the kid in him. That simple innocence that proclaims “I’m so dumb,” because he spilled the beans in “Sleep Talk.” How could you not love the guy, who asks “Do you have any dating tips? What should I say or do?” in “Lucky Town,” and then concludes, “I think she’s cute. But what’s new?” Like Lou Barlow on lithium, Jad is obsessed with love, though, un like the former, his luck can’t get any better. And while his cohorts perform some really cool musical stunts with “Hot,” the members of the band will always fluctuate. Except for Jad, whose heart is Half Japanese. — Matt Kudlacz “Breathe* Loud Lucy Geffen Records Grade: B+ It’s hard to say just what the appeal of Loud Lucy is. There’s nothing pretentious here. Just three guys making music. They aren’t angry. They aren’t depressed. They aren’t a melodrama. They’re just three guys making records, like “Breathe.” “Ticking,” like most tracks on the album, is a vaguely appealing song. There’s something suave about it, but you can’t really say why. The guitar work is straightfor ward, the bass lines are powerful yet not flashy and the drums arc basic. “Over Me” slides in and out of being an electric song and an acous tic song, which is a nice touch. A backing female vocali st for this song adds a bit of gentleness to it, like icing on the cake. The most interesting song by far is “On The Table.” Christian Lane, guitarist/vocalist, proveshe can play gentle guitar with a very haunting sound. This song isjust enchanting. Even when the electric guitar kicks in, it’s soft, warm and fuzzy. If nothing else, the album is worth getting for this song. Catchy and thought-out. Since the record was produced by Brad Wood, producer and col laborator to indie idol Liz Phair, it’s no surprise that there are a few similarities, but nothing majorly noticeable. Just the things that make a band good. Well thought-out lyr ics, a sound that doesn’t rend your ears with pain. You know, the basic stuff. If anyone, Loud Lucy sounds like a happier version of Buffalo Tom, not to slight either band. Both bands are quite distinct, though. It’ll be hard to mistake one for another. There’s heavy rockon “Breathe” like “Not Here” and “Clear World,” but there’s also soft rock like the album’s title track, “Down Baby,” “Meet You Down” and “Awaiting Time.” A ton of influences can be heard in Loud Lucy, but they have a good sound and a vague sense of whole someness. There’s somethinggood about these guys that maybe no one can put a finger on. Maybe that’s why they’re so intriguing. Go search for the answers yourself. — Cliff A. Hicks “Ages 3 and Up” Supernova Amphetamine Reptile Records Grade: D You know,- Supernova seems pretty good when you only hear one (rack from the band, like the song on the “Clerks” soundtrack. But when you get a whole album that sounds the same, you get tired of it. “Ages 3 and Up” could’ve been called “Ages 3-12.” The songs are simple, to say the very least. The singer sounds like a little kid trying to be Johnny Rotten, the guitarist plays the same ri ffs and chords over and over again, and the bass is often so loud that you can turn it down to next to nothing and it would still overpower everything else. “Up& Down” by itself is a pretty good song. Nothing stunning, simple melody, simple riff, simple beat. Good song. That song, how ever, is the high point of the album. “Hippy” could be thrown off the ' album and I don’t think anyone would really miss it much. It’s 14 seconds of pointless material that proves the band wanted to fill space. “Sea Stunt” isn’t bad, either. It’s nothing great, but it doesn’t sound like the rest of the album, which is something. “Close Encounters” is kind of fun. Mindless, but fun. But I’m grasping for straws. The main problem with this al bum i s that everything runs together into a big, unenjoyable mess. Un less you REALLY liked Supernova and can handle a whole album of indiscriminate songs, pass on this one. — Cliff A. Hicks Whoopi Goldberg ‘thrilled’ to host Oscars BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. —elude “Ghost” and “Sister Act,” pre- and Sciences announced Tuesday. Whoopi is back on tap for the Oscars, sided over the 1994 Academy A wards Jones, a seven-time Oscar nomi The actress was selected by Quincy ceremony. nee, was awarded the 1994 Jean Jones, who is replacing Gil Cates, the Last year, the honor went to David Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the producer of the past six Oscar shows. Letterman, who received mixed re- Academy’s Board of Governors. ‘i’mbackandl’mthrilled,honey,” views and was not asked to return. The awards are set for March 25, Goldberg said in a statement. “Thank Jeff Margolis will direct the ABC with nominations announced Feb. 13. you, Quincy.” show for the eighth consecutive year, Goldberg, whose film credits in- the Academy of Motion Picture Arts — Associated Press YOU SAT YOU CAN RIDE? PROVE IT. M0TW6YCUE BWEMTIi UCEMtl Howard 6. Nichols 8381 Center Awe. Hometown 27670 ANY STATE, USA Ibhhhhhhhhhbhhhhhhhp A motorcycle operator license is more than a legal document. It’s proof that you are a rider of a certain caliber. 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