6B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ENTERTAINMENT
Owls album escapes garage-rock nest for more mature, progressive edge
Andy Gassaway Jayplay writer
They made their first foray into rock with the screamingly emo band Cap'n Jazz while still in high school, then metamorphosed into the now-defunct Joan of Arc.
Now, vocalist Tim Kinsella and company continue to rock the free world under the moniker Owls, unleashing a self-titled LP on Jade Tree Records that is exploratory, puzzling and guaranteed to be the perfect soundtrack to your next post-punk pity party.
The complex, atmospheric sound of Owls, although clearly keeping one foot in the garage, ventures into territory that brings to mind some of the more tolerable aspects of '70s progressive rock.
Don't panic — this album is completely devoid of 10-minute guitar solos and songs about hobbits and mountainsides. It's definitely not like Yes or King Crimson, and as far as I know, Owls do not hatch from pods in concert.
But, like the progressive bands of old, the band jettisons out of the parameters of conventional rock by using dramatic musical technique.
The real treat in listening to Owls is the top-notch musicianship. Victor Villareal's squeakyclean guitar work is relentless and noodling complemented by Samuel Zurick's bass phasing effect. Mike Kinsella's math-rock drumming takes multiple twists in each song.
Above it all, Tim Kinsella mumbles, moans and screams bizarre lyrical collages which,
profound or not, are delivered with unabashed off-key conviction.
Even so, Owls make it painfully obvious that the band doesn't take itself too seriously. Despite the majestic desperation these songs seem to project, they still have titles like "Life In the Hair Salon-Themed Bar on the Island."
Owlls is similar to a musical serial novel. Clocking in at more than a half-hour, the album is best when enjoyed in its entirety. Each of the eight hook-free songs has its own personality. They retain a similar tempo from song to song, which may prove tedious for impatient listeners.
Also, when Tim Kinsella happens to string together a lyric that he finds particularly moving, he tends to strangle it to death by
screaming it repeatedly. The songs never quite reach any kind of climax until the multi-layered vocal montage that closes the record.
Most importantly, Owls creates a mood that remains in tact from beginning to end. Granted, it's an introspective bummer of a mood despite the record's sarcasm, but its consistency is nonetheless engaging.
It's not perfect, but therein lies the appeal of Owls. Hearing a band create music of this breadth within the guitar-bass-drums confines of traditional rock 'n' roll is uplifting, even if the general feel of the record is not.
Contact Gassaway at 864-4810
All alone, Folds still has what it takes
By Lauren Beatty Jayplay writer
What once was five (but really three) is now just one.
Ben Folds, former lead singer and songwriter of the trio Ben Folds Five has recently released a solo album.
Titled Rockin' the Suburbs, the album is full of upbeat, funky tunes, jazzy swing numbers and pretty ballads.
This is not Folds' first solo effort; he released Fear of Pop in 1999. The album wasn't much of a success, even with the help of William Shatner on backup vocals.
Rockin' the Suburbs was released Sept. 11. Folds played all of the instruments himself.
The album sounds a lot like a Ben Folds Five album, so fans of the band will remain fans of Folds since the band has parted ways.
The highlight of the album is the title track, "Rockin' the Suburbs." Fans may notice a
harder edge to the song. But Ben Folds Five fans, don't worry — it's just a guitar.
It's rare for Folds to use a guitar; his former band consisted of just a drum, a bass and a piano.
The addition of a guitar to Folds' falsetto is a good one, and he should use it more often.
In "Rockin' the Suburbs," Folds sings about being male, middle-class and white, and he sarcastically tells about the hardships it brings.
Humor is evident throughout the album, just as it was in Ben Folds Five's music.
The video for the song has played on MTV and parodies other angry white-boy rappers like Limp Bizkit.
The song is easily the best on the album and Folds knows it.
That's not to say the other songs on the album aren't good. On others, Folds sings of love, family and growing up.
It's a reflection of his own life. It's Ben Folds Five broke up,
Fans were no doubt disappointed when the band broke up,but Folds' solo record will win them over eventually.
Folds has married and become a father of twins.
"Annie Waits" is the first song on the album and another winner. It's catchy right from the start. The song has a happy, sing-a-long beat complete with rhythmic hand claps.
Many of the other songs have the same kind of upbeat tempo, but the album is never boring.
Folds makes sure to vary the lengths of songs and breaks up the novelty feel of the CD with sad ballads.
"Fred Jones Part 2" is one of
those ballads. Folds sounds melancholy and the piano is subdued. Cello, which is the only instrument Folds did not play, can be heard in the background.
The song is simple and ends with Folds singing, "I'm sorry, Mr. Jones." As he croons, he really does sound sorry.
Overall, Rockin' the Suburbs is good fun. All of the tracks are catchy and humorous. The la-la la choruses and danceable beats will hook listeners at the beginning and keep them listening until the end.
In the ballads, the piano solos are fantastic and Folds makes the most of them.
Fans were no doubt disappointed when the band broke up, but Folds' solo record will win them over eventually.
And if the sold-out show at the Granada last night is any indication, Ben Folds will be just as popular solo as he was as a member of his former band.
Contact Beatty at 864-4810
IMPERIAL GARDEN WHERE QUALITY COMES FIRST
THURSDAY, SEPT.27, 2001
WHERE QUALITY COMES FAST.
2907 W. 31st St.
841-1698 841-3370
Open 11-3 and 5-9 everyday
BEST BUFFET IN LAWRENCE!
We Buy, Sell & Trade USED & NEW Sports Equipment
FRIDAY ONLY
11:30-2:00
$6.75 all you can eat
Homestyle Enchiladas
Sliced pork, rice and
beans,
Cheese and onion
flour enchiladas
WINTER AND
SPRING BREAK
BEACH & SKI TRIPS
On Sale Now!
www.sunchase.com
1-800-SUNCHASE
PLAY IT AGAIN
SPORTS
OPEN FOR DINNER
Tues-Sat 5:00-9:30
841-PLAY
1029 Massachusetts
10% OFF For take-out and delivery
446 Locust St.
841-3837
$1.00 OFF
Dinner Buffet
for 2 or more people
DINE IN ONLY
Serving Lawrence for almost 50 years.
50¢ OFF
Lunch Buffet
for 2 or more people
DINE IN ONLY
2001 JIMMY JOHN'S FRANCHISE INC
p = = = = =
Weekly Specials
Tear this out and pin it up all week so you'll never miss a special!
Country Western Bar
ASTROS
$2.50 16oz. dom. bottles
CADILLAC RANCH
$1 big beers &
$1double wells
$2.25 Dos Equis pints Messiahmyass
EMERSON BIGGINS HARBOUR LIGHTS
$2.50 16oz. dom. bottles
$3.75 pitchers
$3 premium draft,
$3.50 frozen Margaritas
Coco Loco
$2.50 pitchers, $2 wells,
$1 anything, retro night
All flavors of Pete's Wicked Ale 6pk $4.99
$4.75 Biggin's size
margarita on the rocks
$1.50 Miller High Life bottles,
$3.00 22oz. Rolling Rocks
$.75 draws, $1.50 dom liters,
$2.25 almost anything,
$2 bloody marys/screwdrivers
$1 anything
HIRD LIQUOR
Red Stripe 6 pk $5.99
$2 domestic bottles
$1.50 u-call-it, DJ & dancing, 1/2 price burgers
$3.00 Coronas
$1 Capt. Morgans, Retro Dance, $2.50 big beers
Marlboro racing promotion 9-2 win a free trip to racing school
$2 Wells
$2.00 Rolling Rock longnecks
2 for 1 margaritas Great Specials
World Class Dance Party World Class Dance Party
JACK FLANIGANS
JET LAG LOUNGE
$2.00 Red Bull & Vodka Simplexity
$1.50 Bud / Lt bottles,
$2.00 180 & Bacardi
$2.00 well drinks
2 for 1 margaritas Vespers & Ghostie
THE OCTOBERFESTS
ARE IN:
RAOUL'S VELVET ROOM
SET EM UP JACK'S
$3 Biggin's size Labatts draws
WEDNESDAY
$2.00 Boulevards
$3.00 Biggin's size Shiner Bock
$1 Bucher & Miller HI Life cans, $1.50
$9.25, well 7.25, live music
$1.75 premium draws
$2.99 big beers
$1.50 Bud/Bud LT. pints
OLD CHICAGO
ALL IN
$3 Stoll drinks, 105.9
Lazer Dance Party
Ride the bus to all KU
home games
Home football games
$2.00 Boulevard draft plints
$2 Smirnoff ice / Twisters
DJ Bobby Keys
$2.50 Jackaritas, $3.50 S.
Hurricanes, DJ/Dancing
Sam Adams Octoberfest 6pk $5.99
Pete's Octoberfest 6pk $4.99
Karaoke!
$3 Biggin's size Bud Lt.
$1.50 import drafta
WineSpecials!
Bud Lt.
$1.75 dom, bottles, $3.25 micro beer
liters, $3.75 premium liters
$1 anything
No Cover for Ladies
$2.75 Long Island Ice Tea, free pool
NASCAR party during race, $2 16oz draws Bud/Lt
$2.50 imports
$5 pitchers, choose winning team = free dinner buffet
$2.50 20 oz. Coors Lt
$2.50 16oz Bud & Bud Lt bottles
$6.95 margarita pitchers
$2 Coronas, $.50 tacos
$2.50 20 oz. Miller Lt
$2.00 house wines, wells,
domestic beers
$2 Margaritas & Coronas
$1.50 25 oz. big beers
$2 Mexican Beers
$5 pitchers Bud & Bud Lt
Import night $2.00 import and micro beers
$2.00 pints domestic and micros
10% off all cases of wine and liquor
$2 big beers
$.25 wings
$3 premium bottles, $2.75 call drinks,$4 double calls
2 for 1 on most drinks
2 for 1 burgers and $2.00 domestic big beers
$2.00 Boulevard pints
$4 32oz Bud & Bud Lt,
$2.25 Rolling Rock and Captain Morgan drinks
$2.00 double calls,
DJ Jerett
$2.00 domestic bottles,
$.30 wings
HIRD RETAIL LIQUOR
Check out Kansan.com for more drink, food and entertainment specials with profiles of Lawrence's bars and restaurants.
4