Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1998)
Dada on road to a comeback dada self-titled MCA Records Grade: A+ It’s nice to see that even the most jaded critic can be wrong now and then. In the aftermath of its incredible debut album, “Puzzle,” it seemed dada was going to be in a sopho more slump forever. The first release by the California trio was simply dazzling. “Puzzle” took listeners’ ears by force, snagging attention with catchy melodies, playful lyrics, masterful vocal harmonies (an unheard of for a rock band in 1992) and an alluring power-pop texture. While neither of the two albums that followed, “American Highway Flower” and “El Subliminoso” were bad, neither held together with as much consistency as “Puzzle.” Critics were beginning to think that dada was destined to become a singles band, with each album being half tune-heavy and half filler material. Oops. With its self-titled fourth album, dada provides more than enough ammunition to dispel all concerns. An incredible retum-to-force, “Dada” asks no quarter and gives no mercy. Dada has reappeared on the American pop scene with a relent less barrage of crystalline power pop and solid west coast rock that re-anchors its place as a self-pro pelled musical machine. There isn’t a single bad song on the album, and after two or three lis tenings, at least five or six choruses have firmly imbedded themselves in the listener’s mind. It’s one of those albums - where singing along isn’t just encouraged, it’s practically mandatory. From the dual-tempo “Beautiful Turnback Time Machine” to the achingly beautiful “Goodbye,” whatever creative*energies dada lacked in their past two albums, they’ve rediscovered in spades. Songs hold together with solid rhythm laid down by drummer Phil Leavitt, and guitarist Michael Gurley and bassist Joie Calio add more dimensions to the band’s faceted sound. What has always set dada apart from other bands is its incredible ability to harmonize. Here all three guys sing together flawlessly on track after track. The vocals rise and fall, giving depth to fiendishly play ful lvrics. Just as important are the instru mental achievements, and dada doesn’t slouch on this front either. “Dada” is a mixed bag of emo tions. A couple of the songs are almost completely acoustic, such as “Goodbye,” “Outside” and “Agent’s Got No Secret.” Others dance on the edge of surf-rock, most notably “California Gold,” which slyly spins a sample of “Low Rider” sliced into the track. “Spinning My Wheels” gets backing from a string section arranged by Paul Campbell (who is better known as the father of Beck). On top of all of this, “Dada” Please see REVIEW on 10 By Cuff Hicks Senior editor I.R.S. Records’ financial collapse had to feel like a bad omen, but power-pop trio dada trudged on, landed a new label and has returned with a guitar-hook vengeance. “We had a difficult time on I.R.S.,” drummer Phil Leavitt said during a phone interview Thursday, “and we were in limbo for about six months (after the label went out of business), but we all really believed in what we’re doing together. We moved and we got through that period. I’m proud of that.” Touring in support of its fourth album - the self-titled debut on MCA Records - dada plays the Royal Grove, 340 Comhusker Highway, tonight. Dada formed in 1990, after guitarist Michael Gurley and bassist Joie Calio left their former band, Lewis & Clark. The two recruited Leavitt to take care of percus sion and together began spinning catchy pop songs with quirky, asinine and, occa sionally, thoughtful lyrics. At the time, Gurley was working as a part-time car salesman and had the luck to sell a new sports car to I.R.S. Records founder Miles Copeland. Like any ambi tious musician would, he slipped one of his demo tapes into the stereo and set it on. Copeland drove off listening to the tape and then drove back to sign Gurley the next day. “Mike and Joie have known each other for a long time,” Leavitt said. “They want ed to focus on their harmonies, so that led to them playing as a duo in coffee houses, and ultimately they wanted to expand it. Please see DADA on 10 Courtesy Photo POP TRIO DADA comes to Lincoln’* Royal Grave this evening to support its newest release to date. Its self-titled MCA debut uses the engineering and producing talents of Danny Kortchmar. Art focuses on Latino culture By Sarah Baker Senior staff writer An often underrepresented segment of American history takes center stage at the Sheldon Art Gallery this week. “The Latino Spirit: Hispanic Icons and Images” opens at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery tomorrow. The show encompasses the works of more than 30 Hispanic artists and focuses on their singular ethnic culture. George Neubert, director of the Sheldon, said this exhibit is unique for the gallery. “We don’t usually bring in shows that only focus in on a certain culture,” Neubert said. “This show explores the strong, rich traditions and culture that Hispanic artists have made to American art.” The show includes works that employ a medley of different media: photography, prints, paintings and sculpture. All the works are part of the Sheldon’s permanent collection, Neubert said, but about one-third of the collection has never been displayed. A good portion of the artists are intema tionally known - Diego Rivera, Jose Clement Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros - but the rest are from a younger, more obscure generation of Hispanic artists. Neubert believes the exhibition’s appeal will be considerable because of the variety of both medium and artists. “The group has a younger, lesser-known portion to it, but not lesser in importance,” he said. “It’s really a diverse representa tion.” He added that the show is identifiably centered around Latino, Chicano and Hispanic images. The opening of the show coincides with National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Folklore, mythology and Catholicism u This show explores the strong, rich traditions and culture that Hispanic artists have made to American art.” George Neubert Sheldon director are central to many of the works in the show, as well as images of the Southwest and depictions of everyday rituals. The exhibition was coordinated with help from the El Museo Latino in Omaha. The director of El Museo Latino, Magdalena Garcia, will give a presentation focusing on the exhibit as part of the Sheldon’s “Wednesday Walks” series on Nov. 18th. An expanded version of the exhibit will be presented at El Museo Latino in February 1999. 1 Neubert hopes students will take the time to come and see the show. “We want to let people know that the Sheldon has a broad focus of American art,” he said. “This culture is a part of our history and this show gives us European-Americans the chance to become educated.” “The Latino Spirit: Hispanic Icons and Images” opens tomorrow at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 12* and R Streets, on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus. Admission to the gallery is free. For more information or to arrange a tour, call the Sheldon at (402)472-2461. _ Courtesy Photo MORE THAN 30 HISPANIC ARTISTS are represented hi the Sheldon exhibit “The Latino Spirit: Hispanic Icons and Images.” The exhibition employs a variety of media and will travel to Omaha’s El Museo Latino next year. A *
