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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 1989)
Thursday, April 27,1989 The Battalion Page 13 how ;t‘t paid at all for wo it ee shows, and then : from El Paso to Col- play f or a handful of ions were put aside Thelonious Monster et with the introduc- Cheap Tric k used on rick at Burlohn al- an through a set that te result of audience oius Monster is likea hurricane, with Bol) f sincerity and clarity if the swirling storm d him. They take the ash and combine it usicianship and dis- that make sure the ■ is understood, lifts and boots, theit jw, the musicians of ms ter made a three- ,sual show, moving tire stage while For- he microphone and ; the spaces between >f his wide repertoire r relating the tale of our thus far, Forrest ■nee “If you thinl i’, you got anotliet and then led the a short version of Jusiness Like Shot a powerful version mes’ “You Can’t Al- Eou Want,” Forrest e thing about us- »r bands’ stuff. Not ssarily, but we can formed cover songs i and Black Flag, 'orrest’s disclaimer, >b on. I nests portion of the seemed surprised e member knew the of Thelonious gs. I requested Weekend,” a moving it of the rock ’n'rol ars on their latest ris album, Stonw how I knew about I told him I write nent section of The iughed and said, pens when you’re a i get a critic and a d 12 other people aotograhers, a Bat her became part of 'orrest grabbed his ed taking pictures e middle of a song, Tied to the camera 'ting it to a batten »o he followed For- Cage as he snapped idmates. rendition of Iran My Lover” and a of the 60*year-old □Person classic “See • Is Kept Clean, jnster does both Weather), and an . on of Robin Trow -agle” highlighted a itd moments, that is talented, has > on an incredible is something to sa' r. Next time the' _ybe the crowd the' up. Rock needs more bands like the Rolling Stones By Had Binion CORRESPONDENT Have you heard the latest? The Rolling Stones’ concert tour will kick off in September. That is great. Not only is my man Keith Richards still alive, but he’s actually going to tour. He’s been touring for more than 20 years, and although he looks like a pair of 12-year-old Converse high tops, he’s still cranking out the tunes. I wonder how many times he really did go to Switzerland to get his blood changed. It looks like they forgot to put the drain plug back in last time. Richards is a trooper, however. Even after the Stones’ breakup, he managed to find himself someone who gave him almost as much trouble as Mick Jagger, his hero Chuck Berry. Richards put up with Berry’s attitude during the “Hail! Hail! Rock-n-Roll” flop/movie about Berry, and they both lived to tell about it (a couple of times I thought one of them was going to end up in the hospi tal to get a Stratocaster removed from his forehead). After reading some of Rich ards’ opinions on new talent in a recent interview in Rolling Stone, I started thinking that he didn’t like anything but the Stones (and INKS). But then I analyzed things. What, Keith? You say you don’t like Miami Sound Machine? George Micheal is a wimp? You’re my kind of guy 1!! It’s time more people wajjed war on the garbage that is being produced for the top-40 radio market. If we eliminate just a few hands from the mega-buck traveling concert-tour scene and put them in the Ramada Inn bar in Killeen, we would all feel better about ourselves. Here’s a list that I like to call the top 10 acts Had loves to hate. 10. Europe This group of guys has been whining and crooning too long. They look like life-size, mutant Barbie dolls and use videotape in stead of film when they shoot their videos, which makes it look like a soap opera. 9. Samantha Fox Wow! This girl’s really big on uh, talent! Yeah! She needs to stick with the trashy posters and stay out of the studio. 8. White Lion I wonder exactly how many people get physically ill when they hear “Little child. . .,” at the beginning of their popular(?) song “When the Children Cry.” 7. New Order That stuff is barf. 6. Information Society That stuff is worse. 5. Rick Astley Who gave this guy permission to pollute the airwaves? He should be imprisoned (in another state) for messing with Texas. 4. Bonjovi I’m so sick of those stupid ly rics, i.e., “Take my hand girl, we’ll make it, I swear” or “I’ll be there for you, these five words I swear to you.” Seems like he swears an awful lot. I wish he’d swear not to make any more stupid albums. 3. Debbie Gibson/Tiffany Same thing. I wish they would go back to high school or where ver it is they came from and try to be happy with that. 2. Winger That’s amazing! The singer can play the bass without even touching it! Well, I understand that there is a lot of pointing and hair tossing to be done as a rock idol. Oh gawd! 1. Poison The mother lode. The cream of the crop. The overlords of the poser kingdom. The world’s la mest band. I really think they wish they were Kiss. They flatter them selves with album titles like “Look What the Cat Dragged In.” If I had a cat, I would hope that he had better taste than that. I affectionally refer to these kings of Clorox as Posin’, but that’s only because Tm a gen tleman. Film adaptation of King’s ‘Pet Sematary’ falls victim to poor casting, weak ending “Pet Sematary” Starring Dale Midkiff and Denise Crosby Directed by Mary Lambert Rated R **'/* By Shane Hall REVIEWER Stephen King’s books generally are not known to make great movies, although many have been adapted. The results have ranged from bril liant (“The Shining”) to dreadful (“Children of the Corn,” “Firestar- ter”). The majority have been medi ocre. “Pet Sematary,” which opened Friday at the Manor East Three the ater in Manor East Mall, is based on one of King’s best and scariest books. Like so many other film adapta tions of books by the master of ma cabre literature, “Pet Sematary” falls into the mediocre category, al though it is not without its moments. The story centers on Louis and Rachel Creed (Dale Midkiff and Denise Crosby), who move with their two children into a new home in Maine. The Creeds’ elderly neighbor, Jud (Fred Gwynne, who still looks and sounds like Herman Munster), shows them a cemetery for pets that The chief disappointment about “Pet Sematary” is the film’s casting. Both Midkiff and Crosby’s perfor mances are so lifeless that they easily could pass for dead. Another weakness is the film’s ending, which is much more explicit and much less subtle than the nov el’s. “Pet Sematary” does offer some Pet Sematary” is one of King’s best and scariest books. Like so many other film adaptations of books by the master of macabre literature, “Pet Sematary” falls into the mediocre category, although it is not without its moments. have been killed in the road. Beyond the cemetery, however, lies an Indian burial ground with the power to resurrect the dead. Louis unwisely uses this ground to bring his son Gage, who was killed in the road by a speeding truck, back to life. funny moments, most of them in volving a character named Pascow, a dead man whose purpose is to steer the characters away from their fates. His role is little more than a cliche borrowed from many horror mov ies, but it works here because of the scenes’ humor. Then there also are some scenes that are so bad, they’re funny. The audience at the film when I saw it was laughing much of the time. The movie is director Mary Lam bert’s second film (her first was the surrealistic “Siesta”). Lambert shows talent as a direc tor, particularly in cinematography. The constantly-moving camera helps make the movie more interest ing to watch and heightens the ten sion of some scenes. There are also some interesting set designs. The design of the pet cemetery itself, with its crude mark ers made of rotting wood, gives off the proper sense of forbiddance and the suggestion of the evil beyond. The script, written by King (who also has a cameo role in the movie), is the greatest strength of “Pet Sema tary.” , Unlike, say, “Children of the Corn,” this script adheres closely to the book. Unfortunately, the casting choices couldn’t do the script more justice. Debut album by new Michigan talent gives buyers money's worth, delivers soulful folk, rock ’n’roll Gregg Alexander Michigan Rain A&M Records ★★★★ By Suzanne Hoechstetter REVIEWER If you want the most music for your money, you need to buy Gregg Alexander’s debut album, Michigan Rain. This talented 20-year-old mu sician from Grossepoint, Mich, sings a combination of folk and rock ’n’ roll in his American slice- of-Iife songs. Alexander is a conglomeration of Bruce Springsteen without the factory and John Cougar without the farm. He’s just a regular guy who sings about common con cerns of many young Americans that range from finding real love to being afraid of what’s happen ing in world politics. He presents his music in poetic, sometimes painfully honest lyrics. Alexander writes and sings all his own music, some of which he has been working on since before he was 16 years old. He also plays electric and acoustic guitars on the album. After listening to his debut, which is described on the album cover as the soundtrack to Gregg Alexander’s home movie, the lis tener feels that he knows the mu sician because he includes so much of himself in his music. Most of the songs are not opti mistic but “realistic.” In “Don’t Cry Mrs. Davis,” Alexander sings about the futility of war as he de scribes the final moments of the life of a soldier who is about to be killed in action. Michigan Rain is such a good album because the songs are var ied and have so much emotion in them. Alexander sings from his soul. The title track of the album, featuring Rick Nowels and Alex ander on guitar, is a humorous look at a night of passion in which two young lovers melt the Michi gan snow into Michigan rain. Alexander uses sarcasm in many of his songs to emphasize issues he considers important. In “The World We Love So Much,” he sings in an anguished voice, “Love — we know that love stuff NEVER lasts — and we’ll dance on the graves of our enemies, you know it’ll be a blast. Kaboom baby kaboom!” Nothing on the album is in cluded just for art’s sake. Alexan der is artistically talented, but he doesn’t exploit his talent by shov ing it upon the listener. He is sub tle and doesn’t over-do anything. He might play an occasional gui tar solo, but he doesn’t let it domi nate the song. Michigan Rain is symmetrical. The songs jump from sad to sexy to serious. “Loving You Sets Me Free” is a ballad that comes right before “Cruel With Me,” a swanky rockin’ song that sounds like something the Rolling Stones would sing. The next track, “Save Me From Myself,” is a song about depression and contemplating suicide. But Alexander doesn’t let the listener feel sad for very long, be cause the next song, “Every Now and Then” is an upbeat song about cruising the town in search of a good time. I hope Gregg Alexander gets some recognition for his efforts on Michigan Rain. It’s a great al bum that will not be outdated anytime in the near future. Like its title, it continues oblivious to time but not without affecting it. Thanks to Music Express for lending this album for review. leut here i FAMOUS FIRSTS FIRST AIRPLANE The Wright Brothers began experimenting with kites in the 1890’s and in 1903 became the first to sustain flight for 852 feet over the beach at Kitty Hawk. m r 4Wt FIRST CAR FIRST LOVE She was the only one who didn’t laugh when you fell off the jungle gym and broke your leg. She even let you win at checkers. What a woman! The world’s first motor car, the Lenoir, named after its inventor, ran at an average speed of 4 miles per hour. In 1863 the 11/2 horsepower vehicle made its first drive of 6 miles in only 3 hours. UMVERSITY TOWER It’s time to introduce another Famous First, University Tower. In August, the privately-owned and managed property will open as a dormitory. At University Tower you’ll find 24-hour on-site security, a huge bedroom and private bath, full meal plans, an exercise and weight room, study rooms & com puter room, an indoor pool, a sport-court, a volleyball pit, laundry facilities, housekeeping service, and a shuttle bus to campus. It’s the first and only dorm of its kind at A&M. Call or come by for leasing information for Fall/Spring ’89-'90! The Private Dorm of the 90's University Tower 410 South Texas Avenue (409) 846-4242 1-800-537-9158 University Place I -□ University Dr. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY > University Tower is managed by one of the most experienced student housing management company in the United States. Dr. Richard A Bems, general manager for Wallerstein Property Management, manages dormitories at the University of Texas at Austin and Arizona State University for over 1800 students. Defensive Driving Course April 28, 29 May 1,2 May 10,11, May 23, 24 College Station Hilton For more information or to pre-register phone 693-8178 24 hours a day. I cut here AGGIE SURVIVAL KIT Let Pizza Hut help you thru those last few weeks of school! May 1 thru May 9 Open till 4 a.m. (Northgate and Delivery Only) CALL 693-9393 NO COUPON REQUIRED i Small Thin 'N Crispy Cheese | Pizza and 1 Pepsi for I $4.99 Id -riuT i i i i i i J i i i i i i | Good April 17 - M«y 12 No Coupon RMiuirvd. fToocxnyj Extra) 1989 Ptzza Hut9 a Good Acrl 17 • May 12. No Coupon Rapuirad. (Topping! Extra) 1989PtzzaHut9 La HBi mam mam mam mam amm mm amm amm mam mm warn mmm mam amm m J Medium Cheese Pizza and i 2 Pepsi Drinks for | $6.99 { Group Study Special i Large Cheese Pizza and 6 1 i i i i i i ! ^Good April 17 - May 12 No Coupon Rapuirad. (Toopng* Extra) 1989 Ptrra Hut9 J l $9.99 I ptOT] 1 PEPSI 11 -Hut./