The Battalion • Page 2
Aggie Life
Monday April 3, |, Monc
When it comes to Led Zeppelin, there is no beating the real thing
Tribute album lacks star power it deserves
By David Winder
The Battalion
Encomium: A Tribute to Led, Zeppelin
Various Artists
Atlantic Records
★★★ (out of five)
Singers have been copying the vocal style of Robert Plant since
Led Zeppelin formed. Guitarists in every style of music have been
influenced by Jimmy Page.
So it’s hard to understand why a tribute album to one of the
most important bands in the history of rock’n’roll would feature
such a weak line-up.
The groups included on Encomium range from a one-hit wonder
that is no longer together (4 Non Blondes), to a group that peaked
in the mid-80s (Duran Duran), to a group that has yet to record an
album (Never the Bride).
It’s as if all the talented bands backed out at the last minute
and sent the producers scrambling to find something.
Performances by Hootie and the Blowfish, Stone Temple Pilots,
Sheryl Crow and Tori Amos are the only thing that saves the al
bum from being a total waste.
Blowfish vocalist Darius Rucker’s baritone voice fits nicely with
the style of “Hey
Hey What Can I
Do.” STP easily
has the best track
on the album with
their soulful cover
of “Dancing Days.”
Sheryl Crow
shines with “D’yer
Mak’er,” putting
more sexuality
into the lyrics
than Plant proba
bly thought possi
ble.
Plant also turns up on the album, doing a duet with Amos on
“Down by the Seaside.”
It’s too bad he didn’t sing on some of the other group’s covers. At
least part of them would have been worth listening too.
The 4 Non Blondes make “Misty Mountain Hop” sound like a pa
thetic sequel to their only hit “What’s Going On.”
The female duet Never the Bride goes as far to change the lyrics
of “Going to California” so that they can sing about a man instead
of a woman. I wonder what their version of “The Lemon Song”
would sound like.
Hootie and the Blowfish
The worst cover since Ugly
Kid Joe did “Cats in the Cra
dle” has to go to Duran Duran
doing “Thank You.” The music
quality is nowhere close to the
original and Simon LeBon
sounds as if he is crying while
he sings.
He must have figured out
that you actually have to have
talent to make songs with
depth sound good.
Cracker (“Good Times Bad
Times”), Blind Melon (“Out On
The Tiles”), Helmet with
David Yow (“Custard Pie”)
and Rollins Band (“Four
Sticks”) do decent covers but
nothing to get excited about.
The biggest surprise was
that no one attempted to do Zep classics “Stairway to Heaver.
“Kashmir.” Hard rockers such as “Whole Lotta Love,” “Heartb:;
er” and “Black Dog” were not covered either.
It’s probably for the best that they weren’t redone since the;
bands that could do them justice aren’t on the album anyway
Retreat
offers
“The thing that men
and women need to do is
stick together.
Progressions can’t be
made if we’re
separate forever”
— A Tribe
Called Quest
unique
insight into
cultural
differences
on campus
I n my few years here at Texas A&M, one statement
comes to mind concerning race relations — we’ve got a
messed-up campus.
It’s amazing that in a place where we are supposed
to learn about each other to prepare us for a profession
al life, we spend most of our time ignoring each other
and bickering about our differences instead of learning
about them.
I had lost all hope in the improvement of cultural con
flict on campus, until this past weekend.
I attended University Awareness for Cultural Togeth
erness. U-ACT is a student retreat with the goal of im
proving multicultural and diversity awareness on cam
pus. For three weekends this semester, A&M students
have traveled to the cultural metropolis of Snook to learn
about other cultures, and in turn, about themselves.
I was a bit skeptical going into the retreat. Having
never been to Fish Camp, I figured it would be just an
other big yell practice with a few words about diversity. I
was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong.
I found myself actually having fun. The activities were
done in a way that everyone could relate to and enjoy. I
was more open to talk to people so that they could under
stand where I was coming from.
We examined common stereotypes used for different
ethnic groups. This discussion was incredibly enlighten
ing, as some shared their own personal experiences
with discrimination and ignorance.
“Should white people feel guilty about slavery?
“What is correct — black or African American?” “Is the
word ‘nigga’ in rap music offensive?”
These were just a few of the many topics we explored.
It was refreshing to see how open everyone was in relat
ing their personal experiences. I began to understand
how other races feel about all these things I had won
dered about.
There were no tense situations, no accusations and no
finger pointing. We just talked to each other. It’s amazing
what can be accomplished by just talking to each other.
And while U-ACT provides the forum for learning, it
also provides the forum for fun. I was dreading playing
third-grade type “get to know each other” games. But
there I was, laughing along with everyone else. I didn’t
care if I looked childish or foolish. I was there for a reason
— to learn — and I wanted that knowledge no matter
what the process.
I went from not knowing most of the people there to
knowing I had made several friends. By the time I left,
we were laughing, thanking each other and even plan
ning reunions. n .
Perhaps the most important observation I made was
when I stopped talking, listening and being a part of the
group. I stepped back for just a moment, and in that mo
ment I saw things I had never seen before at Texas A&M
— people of all different backgrounds, races and sexual
orientations sitting together and talking, joking, laughing
and having a great time. Together.
For that moment, A&M was where I wanted to be. It
was what A&M should be. Maybe it is what A&Mci:
be.
No sooner than I had started feeling that some son
progress was possible here at A&M, I witnessed yet a: ;
other example of ignorance and stupidity. I attendedSfl
urday’s screening of Pulp Fiction at Rudder Auditorial
and was horrified by some of the audience member;
When the word “wetback,” and when derogatory stale
ments about Jewish people were mentioned in the mov
a few isolated “whoops” were heard from the crowd. “Ho*
disgusting,” I thought.
Then I remembered where I was.
But I also remembered what I had gained from i I
ACT. And for those students who attended U-ACT ti
weekend, I think we all saw a small glimmer of hops
Sure, there are still going to be those ignorant, racistpeo
pie on this campus, and everywhere else for that mate
But with programs like U-ACT, it shows that there ispo
tential here.
U-ACT is not going to save the A&M campus. But at
least it provides an opportunity for people of all differer
cultures to come together and learn about each othe
And learn about ourselves.
Phc
Rob Clark is a senior journalism mof
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