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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 10, 1997)
-------fet-_£----_ :r Pi& •' *.. I -wupiasi” mmtwn Grade: A As one of England’s most eclec tic and tortured musical ensembles, Janies has assembled alWn after album of twinkling Brit-pop Angst — “Whiplash” proves to continue this trend with renewed^ vibrance and vision. Enjoying a cult following in En gland, James sailed into the U.S. mainstream on its joyous exultation of troubled love with “Laid,” 1993’s hit single and title track. Awash in pop popularity, a tour weary James faltered soon after its appearance at Woodstock amid fi nancial disaster and musical claus trophobia. Lead vocalist Tim Booth departed to record with American composer Angelo Badalamenti in New York, leaving James to heal on its own. Booth returned to a famously emotional band in the midst of musical reincarnation and discov ery. The result is an instrumentally challenging and beautifully com posed album of carpe-diem pop, politically-oriented musings and flashes of nonchalant techno tink ering. «. ^ ^ As with “Laid” and L994’s questionable release, “Wah Wah,” Brian Eno plays a heavy hand in production, and his fingerprints are all over several of the tracks, ac counting for the techno textures and cascading vocals. Tracks such as the bass heavy “Play Dead” and the sullen “Wa tering Hole” contrast sharply with many of the pop gems on the al bum. “Play Dead” is a distinct Eu ropean techno mix with a sensitiv ity that only James could contrib ute. «■ The album’s first single, “She’s a Star,” is strongly reminiscent of the energy and yearning that pro pelled “Laid” up the charts. Fol lowing in this vein are a couple of guaranteed hits including the stringed inspiration, “Tomorrow,” as well as the bouncing and urgent “Homebqy.” However, techno and bass are not particularly new frontiers for James, nor is the yearning senti ment of its emphatically energized pop songs—what “Whiplash” ac complishes is the successful co-ex- - istence of the two. Techno and pop are divided on some tracks but more frequently are fused, redefining the band’s sound without losing its style. “Whip lash” is the statement of a band re focused, impassioned and uncom promising in its identity — look ing forward but not forgetting the past. — Bret Schette Widespread Paste ... “Beiabs ft Bstterflies” Caprlcem Recerds Grade: B When new bands aren’t striv ing to take their music to an un precedented “alternative” level they are getting into the very roots of modem music. Within the past few years acts such as The Black Crowes, Count ing Crows, Sheryl Crow, (is there a pattern here?) and The Wallflow ers have reaped considerable suc cess by playing straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll. The band Widespread Panic is taking its music to a simi lar level with its album, “Bombs & Butterflies.” The album is a consistent col lection of country,blues and south ern rock. The guitar stylings of John Bell and John Keane are complimented by the soulful organ of John Herman. The overall sound is a synthesis of Georgia style rock (The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Georgia Satellites) and the Memphis R&B sound of the ’60s (Booker T. and the MGs). The chemistry of the band can best be heard on the tracks: “Thll Boy” and “You Got Yours.” While the band is very tight and instrumentally talented, there is very little new ground covered. The music is played confidently, but it lacks a sense of youthful energy behind it. There is really nothing on this album that can be identi fied as being purely unique. The band’s jolid spund will in sure its longevity. But without a little innovation, this band will not live up to its name of being “wide spread.” — Patrick Kelly Thack’s incredible Courtesy photo From Staff Reports If there are any fans of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix in this town, they should be at the Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14th St., tonight and Tuesday to check out Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers. , A 15-year member of the leg endary blues-rock band The Night hawks, guitarist Jimmy Thackery has been on his own for nearly a decade. He tours with his two-piece back-up band the Drivers, consist ing of bassist Wayne Burdette and drummer Mark Stutso. He’s been featured in issues of CMJ, Blues Revue, Guitar and Guitar Player magazines, and has four solo albums out on Blind Pig Records: “Drive To Survive,” “Empty Arms Motel,” “WildNight Out” and “TYouble Man ” He’s been compared ad nauseiim to the late great Stevie Ray, and with his raw, gritty, blues and-rock guitar prowess and trade mark black hat, it’s an easy com parison to comprehend. Thackery and the Drivers take the stage about 9 p.m. There’s a $6 cover charge. Shooting claims second rapper in six months SHOOTING from page 12 The shooting comes six months after Shakur was shot in a drive-by attack in Las Vegas as he rode in a car with Death Row Records president Marion “Suge” Knight. Shakur died six days later. Wallace was considered a rival of Shakur, who had accused him of in volvement in a 1994 robbery when Shakur was shot several times and lost $40,000 in jewelry. Wallace, who denied any involve ment, was conspicuously absent from a high-profile “rap summit” in Harlem last fall, called to ease tensions be tween West Coast and East Coast rap pers after Shakur's slaying. Wallace most recently lived in Teaneck, NJ., in a gated community where most residents were reluctant to comment on his death Sunday. But one girl who used to live near Wallace remembered him well. “He always said, ‘Hi.’ He was re ally nice,” Christine Girado, 13, said. “We would get all excited.” The rapper had brushes with the law in both New Jersey and New York, including his arrest in Teaneck last summer for alleged weapons and marijuana possession. Also, he was arrested in June 1995 for allegedly robbing a man and break ing his jaw in Camden, N.J. In March 1995, he was arrested in New York after allegedly using a baseball bat to deter would-be autograph seekers. -p-:-- - ' --wm-: - Quality Wnuin*! Reproductive Health Care at Affordable Priceel ✓ Birth control options xf * ✓ Free pregnancy testing .. ✓ Abortion services v ... and much, much more! For an appointment call: 441-3300 2246*0* St. 441-3333 3705 Soefh St. • CoIl£ STRESSING *«■ ou« COLLEGE ANXIETY DISORDERS SCREENING DAY sponsored by UNL Counseling & Psychological Services Free help is available: Monday. March 10 I • educational materials '-‘iW • confidential meeting with a doctor • ■■•30 a.rvvJpO pjm. or mental health professional Nebraska Union • take an anxiety disorders screening test > . • view a video For more info.) 472-7450 Do you have signs of an anxiety disorder? sleep disturbance social anxiety easily fatigued difficulty concentrating restlessness anxiety attacks This week at UPC Stand-up comedian March 13, 9:00-11:00 ^ Union Crib T.V. Appearances include: • Comic Strip live • MTV ttVniiJIaklk! • Comedy CLub Network _. _ • Uptown Comedy Club r\Y/QDC^Ssp • Hanging with Mr. Cooper W centel\^