University Daily Kansan
Friday, March 7, 1980
For high-grade rock, look to Britain
By RICK HELLMAN
Staff Renorter
The most exciting rock music made today is once again coming from Britain. A new crop of bands, nurtured in the hothouse and making it intelligent danceable rock.
As usual, it has taken the American public some time to catch on to this trend, so it's taken a look at the cream of the crop of some new releases by these groups.
The Clash "London Calling." This record has been compared to great two-record sets like "Exe on Main Street," "Tommy" and "Mommy." It, it blows, it blows all right off the turf.
AND THE PRICE is an attractive feature of this package. Two records' complete with lyrics and great photos, for less than eight backs!
But that's just a tamer for the powerful songs inside. The Clash has matured from the street-punk person of their first two albums, and the maturity looks good on them.
"London Calling" is a mixed bag incorporating reggae rhythms, rockabilly and mid-'90s soul influences into a coherent, vital whole.
For the first time the Clash has made extensive use of instruments other than drums, bass and guitar. On "London Calling" they add horn sections, organ and piano to their palette, and they are worked with mattey and naturally by producer Gay Stevens.
Joe Strummer's lyrics touch subjects from the apocalypse to commercialism without being heavy-handed. His voice has never sounded better. With more control, he reveals the browful growl that was just under his face of the earlier carrk/eggro shouting.
THE AMAZING THING about "London Calling" is the consistent quality of its four sides.
This is an album with no bad songs. More than a few of the nineteen tracks have the revelatory, inspirational quality that great rock 'n' roll is about.
Elvis had it. The Beatles had it in their early days. The Clash has it. Get it.
The Pretenders-"Pretenders." This
The Pretenders = Pretenders. This
British-American aggregation is led by Chrisie Hynde, a former rock journalist who decided to quit carpeting and put her money where her mouth was.
Hynde possesses one of the most voices this side of the late Billie Holiday, and the hard rocking of her backpack band shows it off to unique advantage.
Hyde comes across as tough, self-asserted and in firm control of her own sexuality, motivating force in the rock genre.
THE APPEAL TO the sensual is reflected in the band's musical style as well. The rhythms of song like "Space Invasers" and "Beehive" are grounded and groove and wallow into its jazzing in the dance.
Pretender James Honeyman-Scott's guitar is a versatile instrument. He can play a litening melody line or strike power chords with the best of them. All the songs on this
album (no duds here either) have a classic quality to them, recaling another, previous British invasion. A fine first album from a band who are just lust for today.
The Specials' The Specials.' This record has come in for a lot of criticism because the skai, the precursor to reggae, is this year's fad in England. White youths, including the Specials, have taken to sporting pork-hats and suits in emulation of the "rude boys" of the mid-1960s. Some call it shameless blackface, others just dance to the beat.
AND THE BEAT is, indeed, danceable. The Specials sound like the bastard offspring of Pat's Blue Riddm Band and the Sex Predals. Their approach to ska is noteworthy. They don't play pop movement, owing, not least, to the production of Elvis Costello.
"Nite Klub," for instance, reveals the Specials' ironic sense of humor.
"Nite Klub, what am I doing here...
watching the girls go by, spending money on beer."
"Do the Dog." "It's Up to You" and "Stupid Marriage" all contain the Specials's snide comments on society while maintaining that punchy beat.
What it all adds up to is a good time. You can dance and not think about the lyrics, but they're always there when you sit down and listen.
That is, finally, what these three records have in common, a fresh, intelligent approach to rock 'n roll that strikes a delicate balance between the assertive and pandering poejo "tooobie" and "party."
That's something sorely needed in the sea of mediciety that passes for the rock scene today.
THE CROSSING OPENING SPECIALS
PITCHERS $1.25 DRWRS 35c
4-6 Mon.-Thurs.
2-6 Friday (F.A.C.)
Formerly CRTFISH BAR N’ GRILL, THE CROSSING now open 4-12 (except FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB)
THE YELLO SUB'S East on 23rd, across from WENDY'S Food Coming Soon.
YELLO SUB OPEN 11-2 A.M., SUNDAY 11-12 MIDNIGHT
THE CROSSING-AT 12TH & OREAD
sua films Presents THE 14TH INTERNATIONAL TOURNEE OF ANIMATION
Scenes from two Tourneau features: 'Special Delivery,' from Canada (left), and Richard Williams' 'The Power'
Plus: "Homebody," a short film by KU alumnus Steve Johnson Friday, March 7 3:30, 7:00 & 9:30 pm $1.50 Woodruff Auditorium ★ No Saturday Performance —No refreshments allowed—
(For students only.)
Precision At A Discount.
Precision haircutting is our technique for cutting the hair in harmony with the way it grows. So as it grows it does not lose its shape. Your hair will grow good after five days as it does after five minutes.
Come by for a special student discount card. It's good for a whole year, and entitles you to 10% off any Command Performance service. Including our precision haircut.
A precision haircut with shampoo and blow-dry costs just fourteen dollars for guys or gals, less 10% of course. We also offer permanent waves, a conditioning and no appointment needed, just come in.
Take advantage of our offer, it's precisely what you need.
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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Original-music band strives for success
By SCOTT FAUST Staff Reporter
In Strong Hall records, most of them are listed as "former students"—droonouts.
Members differ on the band's function.
Equipped with $15,000 in musical paraphernalia, they work to tighten their progressive rock, to hone it to a more advanced level for local clubs and recordings.
But in the cramped basement where they practice daily, members of the Lawrence band, Kara, are musicians.
"It's fun," Dave Frederick, electric guitarist, said recently. "We have long range goals, but fun is definitely the motivation."
But Bass guitarist Glenn Elmer said, "We're seriously into making albums, we don't do this for fun."
The band's soundman, Ed Rothrock said,
"But if this all flaws, what the hell?"
The group did a benefit for National Health at the Lawrence Opera House in New York, and they ended them by a $1 admission bash in Fredericks and Rothrock's apartment, 1147
The band, begin last summer, has given a demo tape to KJHK radio. They expect their music to receive some play in the next couple of weeks.
However, they are far from monetary success.
They must pay for their equipment before they can make a profit on their work. At their January concert party, after paying for refreshments, their profit was only $9.
Elmer said the band's all-original work had a very experimental emphasis, along the lines of European progressive groups such as Yes, Gone and King Crimson.
"I think our ability to play all different types of music is one of our strong points," Elmer said.
In their lyrics, products of fleeting inspiration, the band members said they strive for the positive.
"I can't analyze that." he said.
He said his music instructors told him,
"Play these chords, don't play those chords."
Elmer, originally from El Paso, Texas, said he left KU after the spring semester, 1979 because the KU School of Music was restrictive.
Only Frederick, Shawnee junior, and Rothrock, Overland Park freshman, are KU students, but all have been at some time.
"I learned more in a month out of school than in a whole year at college," he said. Jim DeRigue, drummer, originally from Fairway, gave up on KU twice, quitting both times two weeks into the semester. Karen Burfein the group's vocalist and acoustic guitarist, she departed KU after last week to spend her time creating with the band.
She said she had been singing on her own for a long time and snapped the chance to join the band. She hesitated at first because of the band would be making some money good.
But making it big isn't all that easy. Even in Lawrence, there are scores of bands whose musicians believe they have what it takes.
All the Kara members spoke glowingly of the pot of gold at rainbow's end, and Elmer said there was delight in enjoyment too.
"I try not to think about what it could become," he said. "I just revel in each moment.
The chances of making money in rock and roll are 1000 to one.
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