Page 10 THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1975 Bowie combines English rock with soul By JOHN VANORE Music Reviewer I’ll bet this is my most timely review. Just as TAMU’s very own Secret Society of Swishes writes in to Listen Up, looking for acceptance, another release by our favorite twinkie, David Bowie, hits the record racks. About two months ago I told you how Bowie’s stage act, when transferred to vinyl, sounded like nothing more than eighty minutes or so of heavy breathing. Well, he has a new album, this one hot out of the recording studios, and I thought I’d see if he could redeem him self after “David Live.” “Young Americans,’’ the new pearl of wisdom, shows darling David on the jacket looking about as masculine as Olivia Newton-John (Sorry, Olivia!). As usual. His PR men have been telling writers lately that he is not, was not, and never has been queer, hoping to help change his image. But the pretty face, bracelets, and ef feminate grasp on the cigarette (probably a Virginia Slim) make him look like more of a queer than before. Back to the album itself. The title cut is all over the airwaves, for better or worse. Musically, it’s not bad. The run-on lyrics sound like some sort of off-the- wall socio-political commentary on American life. Personally, I thinK it’s too heavy on the saxes and congas, since Tm accus tomed to Bowie’s forte being rock and roll, rather than a reggae/soul sound. “Win” is like nothing Bowie has ever done before. Soft guitars and Negro blues-style back-up vocals in a nice slow song make for a fine ballad. “Fascination” has got to be the best selection on the album, and his best offering since “Rebel Rebel.” It shows a lot of Stevie Wonder influence, which is not bad at all, and it is also reminiscent of some older Foghat. The lyrics actually sound intelligible. Considering some of the turkey tongues on this LP, listening to “Fascina tion” was a sheer delight. “Right,” which closes Side One, is an attempt at copying WHAT'S YOUR SHOPPING PLEASURE? fTTJ GIVE Wholesale prices hm been reduced on hundreds of grocery Hems. It's no big deal. ^ *#•»•** ww 1 S’.St'rHHsJr * FRIENDLY CHECKERS this stnJioj htUaJou, PICfilY WIGGLY HAS THEM WEVE GOT THE BEST pledge to lower all prices as soon as we are able to. Shop Piggly Wiggly m ro shwe you )TW$ AVt * 1516 TEXAS AVL ST. UGfSTWioN ^ . '*4t S fIt S Az -jOAS Quantity Rights Reserved msi PRICES GOOD THURSJRI., El SAT., MAY 8,9,10,1975 GIVE FAMILY PACK CUT UP FRYERS BOSTON ROLL ROAST 19 CLUB CHUCK ROAST CHAR-BROIL STEAK RIB STEAKS Swift Proten boneless . . . Swift Proten . _ Boneless . Swift Proten Bone in .. . 29 SHORT RIBS, ■ „ PORK SAUSAGE ‘f 39 CALF LIVER Swift Proten Boneless . Swift Proten Heavy Beef Neuhoffs Smoked . Neuhoffs Sliced • • / lb. pEg. FRUIT DRINK ‘2« I CURE 81 HAMS 69 J LITTLE SIZZLERS 139 i SPLIT BROILERS 79* LINK SAUSAGE Hormel's Boneless lb. Hormel's . . . . 12 or. pkg. US DA Grade A for charcoaling . . lb. 8 02. we. . pkg. . . D Shift's Br °wn 'N S e quality chek 5 lb. bog NEW REDUCED EVERYDAY LOW PRICES BEAN & BACON SOUP FABRIC SOFTENER. ■ d%fA. 64 if, MARGARINE. . . . ■ Vfe- 57* LEMON PIES ... l , L £ J wl ' h -. 1 *2°» VIENNAS TOWELS CHOC. SVRUP Swift Sausages Bounty Paper . . 2 $ 02. 5 cans Giant .167 ct roll 02. can ALUM. FOIL Piggly Wiggly 12“ x 25' roll 2S pure, undiluted soul, and it doesn’t come off well. It endsup as one of those songs that floats in a sea of mediocrity. Some flashy guitar playing in an in strumental interlude halfway through the song falls sadly short of salvaging the song. Side Two opens with "Some body Up There Likes Me/’afair tune very strong on saxes (a la Bowie) and vocal back-ups Bowie seems to be losing confi dence in his ability to hold his songs together by virtue ofhis own singing, and he needs help here. Remember “Pinups,’ where Bowie did his own interpreta tions of English rock and roll, circa 1964-67? 1 thought it was great, and so did almost everyone else. Well, he’s lost his knack for doing other artists stuff, if this, his most recent album, is an indicator. Redoes "Across the Universe,” that Beatles’ number, and tocallita total abortion would be to over rate the song. It starts off like a 45 rpm record played at 16, and it doesn’t get any better. Bowie’s voice isn’t right for this kind of stuff, and he should know it. I was shocked because John Lennon went so far as to play guitar on this mess. Nuff said here . . . this song just plain stinks. “Can you Hear Me con tinues in the vein of “Win, soft and smooth. I guess he’s trying real hard to change his image from the old days of Ziggy Star dust. Bowie’s old self creeps through in “Fame, ” which is a good song for the bump. Its lyrics are cynical — an artist slipping in here and there to let it be known that success hasn’t really gone to his head. Commenting on this albumas a whole is like the proverbial glass of wine. An optimist says it’s half full, and a pessimist labels it as half empty. So it is with this album — is it half de cent or half lousy? Do you like soul? Or English rock? How about the two combined? What you get on “Young Americans is a mixture of two styles, stirred gently with a dash of Bowie, to produce something new, uni- que, and, for the most part, en joyable. Thanks to Ernie at Musidand for supplying me with the copy of the album used here. SWIFTS PREM Senator predicts HOT DOS SauCeTP-.j. 49' HE COStS Luncheon Meat 12 or. can VANILIA WAFERS Robert's 14 02.1 Hl-C ASSORTED FRUIT DRINKS 46 OZ. 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PORK CHOPS «,«. f/JQlrs . limit I cenpee fe e fimilr AUSTIN (AP) — Sen. Bob Gam- mage said Monday his proposal to inform Texans about the new con stitution will cost the state between $400,000 and $900,000 before this November’s vote. The Senate Committee on the Texas Constitution approved Gammage’s bill that would go beyond the standard publishing re quirements concerning any prop osed change in the constitution. Gammage, D-Houston, told the committee that the bill would per mit the secretary of state to prepare and mail explanations of the state charter. The explanations, in tabloid form would he mailed to residential and non-commercial postal patrons at least 30 days before the election. Information on how to obtain Spanish-language versions of the explanations will be printed in Spanish on the front pages of news papers in the state. The current constitution requires only that the Secretary of State pub lish summaries of the eight amend ments of the new constitution in major newspapers before the elec tion. He is also required to send copies of the amendments to each county clerk. Gammage told reporters after the hearing that “it was the sense of the committee to spend whatever was necessary in this very important matter. ” For Battalion Classified Call WE ACCEPT GOVERNMENT U.S.D.A FOOD STAMPS OR COUPONS 845-2226