Section B • Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, March 30, 2000
music reviews
Billboard Top 10 singles
1. "Maria Meria," Santana (feat, The Product G&B), Arista.
2. "Say My Name," Destiny's Child.
Columbia.
3. "Breathe," Faith Hill, Warner Bros.
(Nashville)
4. "Amazed," Lonestar, BNA.
6. "Thong, Song," Sisqo. Dragon/Def Soul.
7. "There You Go," Pink, LaFace,
8. "Show You The Magnificent 56
8. "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely," the Backstreet Boys. Jive.
9. "Get It On Toni," Montell Jordan.
9. "Get It On Tonite," Montell Jordan. Def Sou.
10. "That's The Way It Is," Celine Dion, 550 Music.
Billboard Top 10 albums
1. No Strings Attached, 'N Sync, Jive.
2. Sunenmatural, Santana, Arista.
3. War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc), Ice Cube. Lunch Mob/Best Side.
4. Reinventing The Steel, Pantera. EastWest.
Unleash The Dragon, Sisgo, Dragon.
Dr. Dre - 2001, Dr. Dre, Aftermath.
On How Life Is, Macy Gray, Epic.
WWF: World Wrestling Federation
Aggression, Various Artists. Priority.
The Writing's On the Wall,
Destiny Carr
10. Devil Without A Cause, Kid Rock. Lava.
(c) 2000, BPI Communications Inc., and SoundScan Inc.
Stomping Ground
Goldfinger
Buy it
Goldfinger's first studio album in three years features harsh lyrics and driving rhythms that capture punk in all its glory. While at times this latest album seems strained, Goldfinger's constant touring has helped the band remain tight musically. That's good, because it's the high level of energy that saves Stomping Ground.
"The End of the Day" answers critics that hate punk rock. A good song, but the angst-ridden rebel thing has been done to death. Tackling other popular topics with perhaps the catchiest song on the album, "Counting The Days" is a venue rock anthem on par with Ben Folds Five's "Song For The Dumped." A real crowd pleaser for sure.
Continuing the activist theme, "You Think it's a Joke" is a song about people that see intolerance and seek comfort in material possessions. A harsh eye-opener from a band that actively supports PETA and other anti-hate organizations. A cover of the '80s hit "99 Red Balloons" ends the album, and it's been Goldfingerized and reworked to perfection.
While there are plenty of good songs on "Stomping Ground," Goldfinger does have a few problems. "Get Away" seems to be just a reworked version of an older Goldfinger song, while other tracks like
"Forgiveness" almost bores the listener. Stomping Ground can stand on its own as an awesome album.
Justin Parlette
Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise Time To Discover
Buy it
It's been half a century since Robert Bradley was born without sight in Alabama, but the second album from Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise is evidence that he has seen much in those 50 years. Time To Discover is a blues-rock masterpiece, anointed with the grace of Bradley's ritty, sweet voice.
"Higher" introduces the album with funk guitars and the vocals of Kid Rock, whose presence is less than stellar. Unfortunately, he appears again on "Tramp," showing off his producing talent, which results in nothing more than a cheesy destruction of an otherwise solid song. Other than that, the Surprise is tight, showing that the members' musical mindsets are similar.
Steady rhythm and blues organ tied to Bradley's emotional Alabama drawl create a sound that makes you move and understand something you might not have before. The element that sparks this reflection is Bradley's retrospection on life and love. As Bradley's falsetto work on "Mr. Tony" resounds with the influence Motown has on
his music, we are reminded that he is building upon an entire century of blues and soul. Time To Discover allows us to look back along with Bradley, an artist who lost his sight but never his musical vision.
— Melineh Kurdian
Kristie Stremel
The Detour EP
Buy it
Buy it
Former Exit 159 lead singer/songwriter Kristie Stremel has released her first collection of songs since the Kansas City, Mo. band broke up last year, and this six song EP is worth tracking down. Featuring five new songs and one new version of an old Exit tune, The Detour EP not only has a clever name, it delivers a welcome break from the rap invasion taking the local scene by storm.
Songs like "Easiest Thing" and "White Trash Ballad" are stories of frustration that are delivered with such raw emotion the listener almost imagines these tales being acted out in front of them. Stremel's song-writing talents are highlighted by a remake of "What Gives," taking what used to be a harder rock song and turning it into more of a folkish ballad that outshines it's predecessor. "Claire's Song" is a heartfelt song of friendship and maybe a little more; it's simple and poppy, but good.
New songs by a talented songwriter makes
The Detour EP something any fan of the local scene should track down.
Justin Parlette
Catatonia
Equally Cursed and Blessed
Burn it
Catatonia hit it big with the United Kingdom's pop lovers with previous albums, but can they win over the Yankees?
The five Welsh pop stars' third album, Equally Cursed and Blessed, contains the energy Catatonia seems to be known for. Cerys Matthews' Cardigan-esque wispy voice inhabits every track, standing as a unique selling point for the band. However, the fun, Brit-pop sound of this quintet is not as captivating as one would hope, considering they have all the right ingredients.
Matthews is a dynamic front woman, and the other four Catonianians sway from sweet to bitter riffles to support her. Such seems to be the formula of pop; almost too accessible to be interesting. On "Karaoke Queen," discoladen beats accompany Matthews as she sings, "It's just a three-minute song / It doesn't last very long / But it'll take you to a place I know you'd rather be," a proclamation of pof faith, shattered images — short attention spans and all.
— Melineh Kurdian
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