Arts & Entertainment
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10,000 Maniacs' new album explores Eden
with powerful poetry and catchy melodies
By TODD BLACKMON
Arts & Entertainment Editor of THE BATTALION
10,000 Maniacs
"Our Time in Eden"
Elektra Records
With the release of their new
album, 10,000 Maniacs takes a
troubled look at the struggles of
heavenly belief, and guides the lis
tener through the bitterness of a lost
Eden. The album is powerful, in
triguing and quite possibly the best
album the Maniacs have produced.
One thing I've discovered
about 10,000 Maniac's previous al
bums is that the catchy upbeat
melodies seem to contradict the
serious, thought-provoking lyrics.
"Our Time in Eden" is no excep
tion, but that's not to say such
contrast is negative. In fact, such
diversity makes the band that
much more enjoyable.
The album's most appealing as
pect is Natalie Merchant's clear,
bright voice. The simple, catchy
melodies are enjoyable even if you
don't concentrate on what she is
saying. Merchant's voice grabs
10,000 Maniacs' new album has
deep lyrics and upbeat melodies.
the listener's attention away from
the songs' meaning.
However, that doesn't mean
the words should be ignored.
Each song is like poetry in blank
verse, and I enjoyed reading the
lyrics before I listened to the
songs.
Many of the songs are filled
with Biblical themes and imagery
and deal with the struggles and
hopes of Christian beliefs.
The lyrics of "Eden" illustrate
the Maniacs' views on the mixed
blessings of paradise: "We are
the roses in the garden, beauty
and thorns among our leaves. To
pick a rose you ask your hands to
bleed. What is the reason for hav
ing roses when your blood is shed
carelessly?"
The song "If You Intend" con
tinues questioning, saying: "God,
if you persist you'll die like this,
and wither in the midst of your
first season, cut down with no rea
son. How can you be so near and
not see everything?"
Merchant is backed by the Ma
niacs' usual lineup — guitarist Rob
Buck, bassist Steve Gustafson,
drummer Jerome Augustyniak,
and Merchant's own haunting pi
ano playing. The folksy pop
arrangements the band creates
provide a nice backdrop for Mer
chant's voice. On several songs
string arrangements add to the
emotional depth of the lyrics and
lend added strength.
The emotional depth of the
song lyrics is a primary strength
of the album, but the listener
doesn't have to agree with Mer
chant's subject matter to enjoy it.
"Our Time in Eden" is truly a
record lover's time in paradise.
Cellist performs at Brown Bag luncheon
By ANAS BEN-
MUSA
Reviewer of THE BATTALION
The resounding
notes of a cello
will be heard at
Wednesday's
Brown Bag Con
cert at 12:30 p.m.
in 402 Academic.
Cellist David
Garrett will play Antonio Vival
di's "Sonata No.5 in E minor" and
Sergei Rachmaninov's "Sonata in
G Minor, Opus 19."
Accompanying him on the pi
ano will be Junko Ueno.
Garrett is currently performing
with the Houston Symphony Or
chestra.
He is well-versed in the stan
dard repertoire of the Baroque,
Classical, and Romantic eras.
In addition, Garrett is an estab
lished professor of music and has
taught at Ball State University, the
University of Texas at San Anto
nio and Trinity University.
KAMU-FM 90.9, Texas A&M's
public radio station, will broad
cast his performance.
The Brown Bag Concert is pre
sented by the OP AS Stark Series
and the Department of Philoso
phy and Humanities' Music Pro
gram.
'A River Runs Through It'
meanders without a plot
By JENNY MAGEE
Reviewer for THE BATTALION
"A River Runs Through It"
Starring Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, Tom Skerrit
Directed by Robert Redford
Rated PG
Playing at Post Oak Mall Cinema
A river might have run through it, but I never
exactly figured out where the river was running
to.
"A River Runs Through It", Robert Redford's
latest directing excursion, is a story in the purest
sense of the word. Unfortunately, it is a story that
lacks an extremely impor
tant essential — a plot.
The story is told by Nor
man McClain (Craig Shef
fer), who is a product of
Montana Presbyterianism
with an order of fly fishing
on the side.
At his father's sugges
tion, Norman is telling the
story of his family. Primari
ly, Norman's memories meander through the re
lationship he has with his brother Paul (Brad Pitt).
Unfortunately, it takes two hours and 10 min
utes to establish the fact that Norman is the smart
sibling and Paul is the charming rebel.
Norman is the one who has inherited the re
served perception of his father's sermons, and
Paul is destined for trouble from the outset.
But however different the two brothers may
be, they are bound by one love — fly fishing.
In the clear waters of their river, they learn and
practice the art of fly fishing. It is something that
separates them from the world, yet binds them to
each other.
First of all, let me begin by saying that the
scenery in the movie is absolutely incredible. I
am seriously ready to pack my bags and head out
for Montana. If you are a nature freak the movie
is worth seeing on that count alone.
However, to put it bluntly, I spent the entire
movie waiting for something of great significance
to happen.
This might have been because in the opening
narration, Norman relays to the audience a mes
sage from his father, who said, "Norman, one day
when you are ready, you should tell the story of
our family; only then will you understand."
Maybe it's just me, but I always take those
"only then will you understand" lines as a big
hint. I sat up a little straighter in my chair and
prepared for something monumental. Needless
to say, all I got out of that was a big backache.
I have come to the conclusion that the basis for
"A River Runs Through It" is life. Not exception
al or unique life, just plain life.
I feel like some sort of artistic degenerate for
not being able to appreciate the simplistic quality
of the movie. But I want some suspense, some
sort defined story line, or at least some romance.
No one even kisses.
Pardon me for being girlie, but I find that to be
a darn shame when you have a movie that stars
Brad Pitt and Craig Sheffer.
I don't want to give the impression that the
movie was a total flop. There was just never any
thing defined or concrete about the direction of
the story's message.
But maybe that was the point. I mean, a river's
flow is constant. It does not matter to a river if to
day is your wedding day or if you got lemon juice
in your paper cut today. It doesn't matter. The
river will still follow the same course.
All right, this is a real neat analogy and all, but
I don't want to have to work this hard to justify a
movie.
While "A River Runs Through It" was a scenic
trip, the water was a little too calm for my taste.
FAMINE IN EAST AFRICA
f or rhetoric?
Come join E>ula Abdue as
he discusses the famine and
civil strife of his native region.
Thursday, November 5
401 Rudder
7:00 p.m.
Presented by the MSC L.T. Jordan Institut
For more information, call 845-8770
t’l Awareness
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Package includes:
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