Friday, September 5, 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 9
New Helmet guitarist alters band's sound as group gears up for show
New York's helmet will play at the Jayhawk Music festival this weekend. The gates at the festival, which will be held in Clinton Park, are scheduled to open at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
By Rachelle Detweiler
Kansan staff writer
Watch out down front when Helmet plays at the Jayhawk Music Festival. Things could get tasty.
Helmet is known for drawing a rougher crowd with large mosh pits, but their concerts have not been too damaging, said Jacki Becker, event coordinator for Pipeline Productions.
"Helmet is just fantastic music," Becker said. "They took hard-edge underground music and made it more mainstream."
The New York hard rockers' lineup will include songs from their newly-released album, "Affertaste."
But with the addition of a new guitarist since recording their
album, people should expect a slightly altered sound.
Chris Traynor, new guitarist and former member of Orange 9mm, said that he had not changed individual notes since joining Helmet. But his style doesn't always adhere with the band's. It has a looser, less refined blend than that on the recording.
Traynor said he constantly debated whether or not people actually listened to music at live shows. People are more interested in dancing than checking for slight style variations, he said.
Helmet did not expect a perfect adaptation to their sound, but building bonds with an B-year-old band is difficult, Traynor said. His musical experience has given the band a new perspective, he said.
"The feedback I've had is positive," Traynor said. "But few people will come up and tell you, 'You suck,' to your face."
Compared with Helmet's four previous releases, Traynor said
"Aftertaste" was trimmed lyrically and structurally.
John Stanier and Henry Bogdan are the best rhythm section in rock today and make average music amazing, he said.
But Stanier, Bogdan and the entire band discredit Helmet's fame. They are more concerned with producing better music, even though they never practice.
Helmet may deny rock-star status, but other groups' reactions prove that Helmet has had a significant influence on the music scene.
"I know that they have contributed to the rock vocabulary," Traynor said. "People have gotten bigger than Helmet from taking Helmet's style."
But the style is not easily stolen because of singer and song writer Chris Hamilton's jazz influence.
Fundamental jazz principles within Helmet's music are the result of Hamilton's musical training.
"There is a jazz influence with timing, swing and structure," Traynor said. "It's like a giant,
mechanical big band."
Even though Helmet's music can't be easily copied, the band's image or lack thereof - has been copied by many groups. Traynor said since other groups had opted for low-key images, the band would sell better if they had dread locks and tattoos.
But no hair growth or tattooing sessions are on the band's agenda. For now Helmet will keep their image and their style, hoping to realize they're the rock stars fans say they are.
Musical discharge
Kansan staff writer
Ashlee Roll
Smashmouth-Fush Yu Mang-
Interscope Records
The best thing about this album is its title. It comes from the movie "Scarface," in which Al Pacino's character says "fush yu mang" a lot. With that said, it is time to dispel the myth that the
album is good.
It's not. The first single,
Walking on the Sun, is a '60s, retro feel good pop song that sounds nothing like
the rest of the album. This San Jose-based band has created an album that musically is all over the place - one minute punk, the next ska, and then pop. They need to find a cohesive sound, or better yet, stick with the one that works. Walking on the Sun is nothing but false advertising. Buyer beware.
Oasis-Be Here Now-Epiic Records
The band that wants to be the Beatles has put out its third album. As celebrities, the members of the band are quite rude
I soon found myself appreciating the catchy songwriting of Noel Gallagher and the vocal stylings of his brother, Liam. The album is basically a continuation of their previous albums, Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory. With their newest effort, they have incorporated some trippy Sgt. Peppersweave Beatles influences. These effects get a bit pretentious after a while, but so do the band members, so it works for them. Definitely good.
311-Transistor-Capricorn Records
I liked this band much better when they were called Urban Dance Squad. I also have a hard time respecting a band that mentions itself and a previous album in songs
We're from the grassroots so big up to our friends/every crew/every click/sic/) and every possie.
Renegade sound system three elemen/three elemen/three
eleven/three
eleven/three
eleven/three
eleven/three
eleven...
You get the idea. When this album first came out, I overheard a
fan saying, "Dude, you know they made this album to just sit back and smoke with." Yeah, exactly. Regardless of how boring and redundant this new album is, 311 fans are going to like it. They are pretty loyal that way. Transistor is as about as mature as 311 is going to get. It is slower and more mellow than their previous three albums, and that equals maturity in the music business. If you can get past trivial song lyrics and overused melodies, you will love the album.
Radiohead-OK Computer-Capitol Records
From one of the most under- rated bands around comes one of
the best albums of the year'. Since they first had a hit with the song Creep, they have just continued to
get better. OK Computer stays true to the electronic/rock style of Radiohead. But at times, it has a haunting quality that makes the listener stop and truly take notice of the song. In the age of one-hit wonders, it is nice to see a band consistently grow and produce good music.
Sarah McLachlan-Surfacing-
Arista Records
If you need to satisfy that soulful female vocalist craving, this is the album to do it. With all the female singers out there, McLachan should be considered an old pro at her art. Her distinctive
voice and candid songwriting make it hard to find fault with her albums. With *Surfacing*, McLachlan delivers an
outstanding performance. What sets this album apart from her others is the exploration of her darker side.
However, if you like peppy, upbeat songs you might want to look elsewhere. After a while, one can feel mired down with all that introspection.
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