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 ADVANCED W TUTORING GROUP! SERVICES MON 4/3 TUE 4/4 WED4 /5 THU 4/6 SUN 4/9 MON 4/10 Student Counseling 'etp£ine, RHYS 208 Ch. 32-33 MATH 308 aTs MEEN 212 Test Review Ch. 3-4 MEEN 212 Test Review Ch. 4-5 MATH 308 MEEN 212 Test Review Ch. 5 MEEN 212 Practice Exams (A) MEEN 212 Practice Exams (B) MATH 308 TUTORING We also have private tutors for many classes! For more information call our TICKET OFFICE in Burger Boy at: 846-2146 fire you a aood listener? 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