John Waite
No Brakes
EMI America
★★★★★
"Every time / think of you
it always turns out good"
The Babys
"Every time I think of you
I always catch my breath”
John Waite
Every time I think of John
Waite I think of The Babys, the
most under-rated of the late
1970s formula bands. They had
a few hits, some decent albums
and a hell of a lead singer
named Waite. But they didh't
sell enough records, lost their
keyboard player, Jonathan
Cain, to Journey, and finally
disbanded.
It may have been the best
thing that ever happened to
John Waite.
After a so-so first album, Igni
tion, Waite has come back with
a vengeance. With a new and
more explosive band featuring
lightening-quick guitarist Gary
Myrick, Waite wails more than
he's done on all previous al
bums combined.
"Saturday Night," a relent
less rocker, opens side one in
grand fashion. Waite and Myr
ick attack the song with the sub
tlety of a train wreck. Waite has
always had a great rock'n'roll
voice and it's been pushed to
even greater limits by Myrick's
incredible guitar work.
The hit single "Missing you"
follows, and although it's a
good song, there are even bet
ter songs on the album. Its
placement after "Saturday
Night," however, drastically
slows the tempo of the album.
Among the better songs on
the album is "Restless Heart," a
California-style rocker in the
Jackson Browne vein. Waite's
voice proves much more versa
tile than it did with The Babys.
There's also some really nice
slide guitar work by Myrick.
In "Euroshima" Waite ex
pounds on the "push-button lo
gic" of world powers and the
dangers the future holds.
"There's no phoenix rising, the
future's stillborn," he warns.
It's a powerful rocker.
When Waite and Myrick are
at their best, you can feel the in
terplay between them, espe
cially on songs like "Dreamti
me/Shake it up." They hold
back on the verses and let loose
on the chorus. And they really
rip up the ending.
The chemistry between the
two could be the missing el
ement for John Waite's success.
If nothing else, it should make
for some great rock'n'roll.
The FIXX
Phantoms
MCA Records
★★★l
The FIXX continue to do on
this album what they did on
Reach the Beach; for the most
part they play fun, danceable
music that caters to young
adults rather than 16-year-old
girls. The album Phantoms has,
at the very least, technically,
fundamentally good music.
But while it's mostly enjoya
ble, it's just not all that mem
orable.
Not to say that Phantoms
isn't worth a listen. The group's
sound is basically the same as
before. There are upbeat, funky
songs and slower, eerie ones.
Those in the first group,
"Sunshine in the Shade," "Lost
in Battle Overseas," "In Sus
pense" and "Are We Oursel
ves," have great rhythms that
make it near impossible to sit
still while you're listening to
them. Bassist Dan K. Brown
and drummer Adam Wood are
essential to the group. The
foundation that they set down
as the "rhythm section" make
these songs stand out. These
guys define the sound of the
band.
"Are We Ourselves" is an ex
cellent example. Brown and
Wood drive the rest of the band
on with a manic, syncopated
beat. This and the other songs
with that audible punch show
the band at their frenzied best.
The album could use more of
this.
About half of the album how
ever is taken up by darker,
more brooding songs that are
interesting to listen to but just
don't stay with you. Play these
songs as many times as you
want and they just won't stick.
The best thing about them is Cy
Cumin's emotionally stirring
voice. It's perfect for the songs,
but a half hour or so after listen
ing, it's tough to remember any
distinchons between them.
If you're willing to take a
chance on buying an album that
you may only enjoy half of, pick
it up. Those few good songs
could be worth it.
But if you're looking for an al
bum that's consistent, solid
throughout and a "can't miss"
pick, well... give it a listen first.
Registration for
M
ill 1984 Fall Craft Workshops
/l\
Begins September 10
Welcome to another exciting semester of MSC Craft Center Workshops! These workshops are sponsored to introduce you to
new crafts and expand your existing skills. Come in and find the artist in you! For further information call 845-1631.
Workshops:
Times:
Dates:
Fees:
Instructors:
Basket Weaving
6:00-8:30
Sept 24, Oct 1, 8
$14
Perry
M
Basket Weaving
6:00-8:30
Oct 29, Nov 5, 12
$14
Perry
Batik
6:00-7:30
Oct 15, 22, 29, Nov 5, 12, 19
$15
Athens
Glass Etching and Sandblasting
7:00-9:30
Oct 22, 29, Nov 5
$12
Taylor
Matting and Framing
7:00-9:00
Sept 24, Oct 1, 8, 15
$18*
Gillis
Quilting
7:00-9:00
Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov 5
$22
Metzer
Beginning Pottery—Handbuilding
5:00-7:00
Oct 23,30, Nov 6, 13
$18*
Moore
Beginning Pottery—Wheel
7:30-9:30
Oct 16, 23, 30, Nov 6, 13, 20
$25*
Claus
T
Beginning Stained Glass
7:00-9:30
Oct 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov 6
$25*
Sink
Decoy Carving
6:30-9:30
Oct 30, Nov 6, 13, 20
$22*
Carter
Drawing
6:00-8:00
Oct 16, 23, 30, Nov 6, 13
$18
Finney
Flower Arranging
7:00-9:30
Sept 18, 25, Oct 2, 9
$18
Merrill
Glass Etching and Sandblasting
7:00-9:30
Sept 25, Oct 2, 9
$12
Taylor
Airbrushed T-Shirts
6:00-8:00
Oct 3, 10, 17
$12
Athens
Beginning Pottery—Wheel
5:00-7:00
Sept 19, 26, Oct 3, 10, 17, 24
$25*
Dobbs
Beginning Stained Glass
7:00-9:30
Oct 10, 17, 24, 31, Nov 7
$25*
Sink
w
Bike Maintenance
7:30-9:30
Sept 19, 26, Oct 3, 10
$15*
Wilson
Intermediate Pottery—Wheel
7:30-9:30
Sept 26, Oct 3, 10, 17, 24
$18*
Dobbs
Matting and Framing
7:00-9:00
Oct 31, Nov 7, 14, 21
$18*
Gillis
Watercolor
6:00-8:00
Oct 24, 31, Nov 7, 14, 21
$18
Graham
Woodshop Orientation
7:30-9:30
Sept 19, 26, Oct 3, 10, 17, 24
$25*
Godfrey
Airbrushing
6:00-8:00
Oct 11, 18, 25, Nov 1, 8
$18
Finney
Th
Beginning Pottery—Wheel
5:00-7:00
Oct 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov 1, 8
$25*
Dobbs
Calligraphy
6:00-8:00
Oct 11, 18, 25, Nov 1, 8, 15
$20
Smith
Coffee Tables
7:00-9:00
Oct 4, 11, 18, 25
$20**
Helton
Flower Arranging
7:00-9:30
Sept 27, Oct 4, 11, 18
$18
Merrill
Jewelry Casting
6:00-8:30
Oct 11, 18, 25, Nov 1, 8
$24*
Rhea
•Class few include a Craft Center membership card that allows for shop use outside of workshop hours.
••Coffee Tables is an advanced class that requires all students to purchase a woodshop card and be certified on the table saw and the thickness planer.
All nonstudents must purchase a $2.00 identification card when registering for all classes.
Reviews by PETER ROCHA
Albums courtesy of Music
Express