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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1988)
Reviews Rough Night In Jericho Dreams So Real Arista Records ★★★ V2 Athens, Ga., has been highly touted by the music press and college radio stations around the country for its music scene. R.E.M. was the first band to put the small college town on the musical map with their blend of neo-1960s folk rock and contemporary southern stylings. Since then, a great deal of attention has been focused on the sounds emanating from the city’s many music clubs. The 1987 documentary film, “Athens Inside/Out,” showcased much of the talent in Athens. Among the bands featured in the film is the power trio Dreams So Real. Formed four years ago, Dreams So Real have recorded an album and a single, both produced by R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. “Rough Night In Jericho,” on Arista Records, is the band’s major label debut. With this debut also comes Dreams So Real’s attempt to distinguish themselves from their Georgia contemporaries. Avoiding R.E.M.’s obscure, esoteric nature, “Rough Night In Jericho” features simple, but meaningful love songs whipped up into an enjoyable mix of Byrds-like rhythm guitar and biting southern rock leads with an occasional tinge of psychedelia. A strong melodic sound is present throughout the album. The greatest strength of “Rough Night In Jericho” is in the vocal department. Vocalist/guitarist Barry Marler possesses a gutsy, powerful voice, as best shown on the title cut of the record. The catchy two-part vocal harmonies of Marler and bassist Trent Allen, however, are spectacular. The vocals are consistently clean, as songs such as “City of Love” and “Bearing Witness, ” the album’s best track, demonstrate. The latter also features a guest appearance by Phil Shenale on keyboards. Catchy harmonies, good melodies, and some power trio rock ’n’ roll: “Rough Night in Jericho” is the freshest sound to come out of Athens in some time. Review by Shane Hall The Flesh Harvesters David Martin, guitar, vocals; David Norrid, guitar, vocals; Mike Metzger, bass; Todd Harwell, drums. The Cow Hop, Friday, Oct. 7. **y 2 The Flesh Harvesters’ Friday night show at the Cow Hop revealed them to be a band that would be great if they played all instrumentals. As they are with vocals, they range from fair to middling. Vocals were a definite problem throughout the evening. Guitarists/vocalists David Norrid and David Martin both have weak voices judging from how hard it was to hear them over their instruments. Only occasionally could the lyrics of their songs be deciphered over the music. On the bright side, however, the Flesh Harvesters are talented musicians, able to chum out solid, progressive rock ’n’ roll rooted in such artists as Lou Reed. Norrid and Martin are solid guitar players whose sound is not dissimilar to the ’60s-oriented style of many contemporary southern “STRICTLY PLEASURE” 1111 11 1 r l f 11 1 I 1 1 Enjoy Tocwted Carl ic 6 reod Hat "broccoli > Fioshroom O p 444-m i-' 1 ' 1 1 rTI ViTT l I . cm: I 00 Bar Drinks I 50 Call Drinks 75C Draft Beer I 00 Bottled Beer and Wine 4-8 Monday-Friday 8-11 Saturday GIZMO’S 846-7275 109 Boyett Northgate Page 4/At Ease/Thursday, Oct. 13,1988 rockers. Martin and Norrid ground Bass guitarist Mike out fuzz-toned guitar licks, Metzger and drummer Todd accompanied by Metzger Harwell made for a steady and Harwell, rhythm section throughout Original songs, however, the night’s show. Harwell are the majority of a Flesh pounded the drums with Harvesters show. One of hard hitting force while their best Friday night was Metzger filled the sound out the dirge-like “Black Slacks. ” with thumping bass hooks. Metzger thumbed a simple, The guys were at their booming bass line while best when doing covers of Harwell slammed his the Velvet Underground, cymbals and snare in whom Norrid cites as “a accompaniment to Martin major inspiration ” for the and Norrid’s psychedelic band. Their version of the guitar chords. “Black Slacks” Velvets’ “Who Loves the was also one of the few vocal Sun ” was one of the highlights of the show, highlights of the evening, as Review by Shane Hall Photo by Kathy Haveman Flesh Harvesters David Norrid, lead vocalist, and Mike Metzger, bassist, performed at the Cow Hop last Friday night.