Fu Manchu
King of the Road
You goddam
kids get that van off my lawn! This is not a fucking drag strip! Young
lady, I know your father and he would never let you outta the house
in that tube top. Jesus Christ, I haven't seen a bong that big since
'73 . . . and what the hell is that you're listening to?! Fu Manchu?!!
___Yup, it's Fu Manchu's seventh full-length
release and their comin at ya with amps and doobies blazin. If Rob Halford
and Lita Ford had a kid in the back of a '69 Chevelle (y'know assuming
Rob were straight and all) the little tyke might've grown up to play
and sing like Fu's Scott Hill. This is no-nonsense rubber on asphalt
groove without a lot of big words gettin in the way of the power chords.
___You delinquents turn that shit down!
Ian Anderson
The Secret Language of Birds
Ian Anderson
has been a busy fellow. In August of '99, the group with whom he's synonymous
- Jethro Tull - released its 30th album, J-Tull Dot Com. A half year
later, up springs The Secret Language of Birds, Anderson's third solo
effort. If it's a point of confusion as to where Anderson ends and Tull
begins, this album is no exception. Backed by Tull guitarist - of 31
years - Martin Barre and Tull pianist Andrew Giddings, Birds features
folk-inspired minstrelsy that could weave into any Jethro Tull anthology.
___Compared to Dot Com, The Secret Language
of Birds favors the acoustic. In fact the crunchy driving blues influence
that defined some of Tull's hits is nearly absent here. In its place
is the merry bard, flute in hand, singing about love and landscape.
There's an Eastern influence that surfaces, as on "The Water Carrier."
Anderson keeps this flavor from being a gimmick by deftly integrating
it with the Celtic/rock melodies - a great example being the exotic
"A Better Moon."
___Anderson produced all but one of Tull's
extensive catalogue and the practice shows on this collection. What
also becomes obvious upon listening is that this is an album, not a
collection of radio-ready singles - no surprise coming from one who's
early work epitomized '70s album rock. The pace accelerates gradually,
preparing you for some upbeat instrumental tracks, and like all good
albums, this one leaves you with a fond sense of journey and completion.
Rage Against
The Machine
The Battle of Los Angeles
What is
it about upper-middle class life that it inspires so many righteous
radicals? Che Guevara was well provided for as a child and went on to
med school before hooking up with Fidel. Vladimir Lenin's dad was a
successful government official. In music we've got Chuck D who is not
exactly from the hood and of course rich ranters, Rage.
___If you liked Rage Against The Machine
or Evil Empire, you'll dig their third U.S. release, The Battle of Los
Angeles. Twelve tracks of angry, all turned inward on the hometown.
The subjects are patent Rage: division of wealth, homelessness, bigotry,
injustice. "Voice of the Voiceless" is an anthem to political
prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. The music is tight - no one's a star. Zack
de la Rocha's street poetry is typically cutting. You might want to
listen to this CD quietly at first to catch all of the diction . . .
on second thought, fuck that. Point your speakers toward The Hills,
crank it up and read the lyrics sheet.
Shelby
Lynne
I Am Shelby Lynne
Reinvention
is a word that carries too many negative connotations, so let's call
what's happening on Shelby Lynne's new album, I Am Shelby Lynne, a growth
spurt. Seems Shelby's been pidgeon-holed as a Country artist these past
ten years. Her interests and talent needed room to stretch, thus her
exodus from Morgan Creek to Mercury. But growth spurts come with growing
pains and the noticeable moments of discomfort on this disc stem from
Lynne clinging to her cheesy, country roots - as on the track, "Where
I'm From". Luckily, these moments are few and songs like the up-tempo
"Life Is Bad" or the soulful "I Thought It Would Be Easier"
more than make up for the flaws on this CD.
___Overall, this disc is a self-conscious
smorgasbord of Lynne's styles. It may be interesting to see which of
these directions, if any, prevails on her next project.
Steve
Stevens
Flamenco A Go Go
Steve
Stevens has gotten around in his 20-year career as gun for hire. Most
folks know him from his time with Billy Idol, but he's recorded and
toured with the likes of Thompson Twins, Ric Ocasek, Michael Jackson
andJapanese pop star, Kyosuke Himuro. In between stages and studios,
he even managed to pick up a Grammy in '86 for best pop instrumental.
And if the diversity of a guitarist who records with Vince Neil and
Joni Mitchell could ever be questioned, along comes Flamenco A Go Go.
Here are 10 tracks of new-age-flamenco pop, Stevens' first recording
as front man since Steve Stevens Atomic Playboys in '89.
___The CD is as multifaceted as it's creator,
ranging from the traditional "Hanina" (with guest vocalist
Faudel), to the evanescent "Velvet Cage", to the bracing "Our
Man in Istanbul". The string work is worthy, never overwrought,
at times reminding me of DiMeola; there's even a humorous nod to Eddie
Van in "Dementia". This is not a disc for purists, but if
you're into a light wedding of Spanish-acoustic, rock and Jazz guitar
you might like this one. You may also want to check out Stevens' collaboration
with Zappa's Terry Bozio and King Crimson's Tony Levin, Black Light
Syndrome (Magna Carter Records). This '97 release by Bozio Levin Stevens
features more of Steve Stevens' Spanish-influenced guitar work.
