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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1988)
Reviews "Nothing's Shocking" Jane's Addiction Warner Brothers Records ★★★★★ About 20 years ago, an English rock quartet formulated an idea for a sound that would alternate between the heavy rock of the time and the light melodies of folk groups. The band was Led Zeppelin. Since Zeppelin’s 1980 breakup, scores of groups, such as Kingdom Come, have sprung up and shown how well they can imitate Zeppelin. None of them, however, have struck the balance between The Spin Mike Crawford, guitar, bass, vocals; Todd Hearon, guitar, bass, vocals; John Kenny, guitar, harmonica, vocals; Paul Bernhard, drums. Brazos Landing, Saturday, Oct. 15 ★★★ The music world is full of cover bands, ranging from those who cover classic rock tunes to those who can play note for note every song .on the current hit parade. The Spin is primarily a cover band, although they do have some originals. They do not fit readily into the above categories for cover bands. They’re one of the tightest cover bands around and they choose some good songs to do. Performing Saturday night at Brazos Landing, the one- fourth local band (drummer Paul Bernhard is a local musician, the other three are from Waco) played a combination of covers and originals to an appreciative audience. The band’s originals include songs such as “Yesterday In White,” “So It Seems” and “Stop the Rain,” light and heavy. Los Angeles band Jane’s Addiction does not copy Zeppelin’s music and the members are not shaggy- haired Robert Plant clones. However, Jane’s Addiction is the only band to have mastered the idea of weaving screaming guitar solos and simple acoustic melodies together. “Nothing’s Shocking, ” on Warner Brothers Records, demonstrates the band’s ability to blend such musical opposites in a way that is fresh and original. The band’s touches of heavy metal, postpunk and psychedelic grafts a decidedly modem sound on the music. “Had A Dad” and “Ted, Just Admit It... ” are the two best examples of the band’s brand of hard rock. Guitarist David Navarro rakes the strings on searing guitar solos on both songs while drummer Stephen Perkins pounds out furious drum rolls with a deafness radius of 100 yards. which all have a progressive edge to them. Some of the band’s material sounds similar to the music of the Australian neo-psychedelic band the Church. The members also have a good array of songs to cover ranging from music by classic rockers such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to songs by current favorites like the Smithereens and R.E.M. I know, I know, it seems like just about everybody covers R.E.M. nowadays. Now I’ll grant you that one, but check out the Spin’s version of “Driver 8. ” All four members of the group are talented musicians able to use their abilities to keep their covers interesting. Other memorable numbers in the Spin’s set included a powerful version of the Beatles’ “Back in the U.S.S.R. ” and especially the Rolling Stones’ “Dead Flowers. ” Anybody who covers this song is OK in my book. The guys do a great job of this one with solid guitar and rhythm work plus some good harmonizing on vocals. Review by Shane Hall Meanwhile, against the thundering of instruments, vocalist Perry Farrell sings interesting and insightful lyrics in his gutsy voice. “Ted, Just Admit It... ” is a look at today’s visual media where the news is “just another show with sex and violence. ” “Jane Says” is another great track and the best example of the band’s lighter, folkier side. Navarro strums an acoustic guitar, backing Farrell’s vocals. Although the music is of a lighter nature, Farrell’s lyrics are not. On “Jane Says,” Farrell gives a disturbing look at a drug addict. “Nothing’s Shocking” is one of the year’s best albums. However, with the bizarre picture of flame-headed Siamese twins on the cover, the album may be innappropriately titled. The music inside is shocking only in the sense of how good it is. Review by Shane Hall saw ¥? £*7 JL tLJrj&mJL./W JLJLfHk JCmJLP iSPxAmjMOi Music Express Says "Goodbye" To The Vinyl Disi Of Yesteryear & is Quitting The Record Bizness! FOR • BIG DAYS... Monday October 17 Sunday October 23 ALL RECORDS by ALL ARTISTS on ALL Labels Including ALL Import Titles & 13” Singles will Be on Sale “BELOW OCR COST ’-Nothing Held Back! —HAJKJb 1U IJUMJriiliJb 1 1 UlL/JbaK— Shelf Price! Sale Price | Shelf Price I Sale Price | 3.B* j 7." 4. 98 5." I 3. 98 | 9. 69 5. 68 : 6." I 9." 1 5. 98 Higher Priced Records Comparably Sale Priced! 1st Come, 1st Served! \ o Rainchecks & All Sales Final MiKirexPRESs OPEN M-F 12-9 ; 725.B UNIVERSITY DRIVE A 1 7J.1 SVngjpMcDonalds’* \J X. / *X X Thursday, Oct. 20,1988/At Ease/Page 5