Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 1996)
r Dr. A. Benton Cocanougher, Dean College & Graduate School Business Administration and Dr. R. Malcolm Richards, Head Department of Finance hope you will join us for a presentation by Monday • March 25,19% General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. 11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. 26 March 1996 Texas A&M University C use ©0 ROUND 113 College Main^ 5 ^ (409) 846-6620 Used CD’s $ 4.99 - $ 7.99 All New Releases $ 10.99 Live & Rare Imports We pay up to $ 5.00 for used CD’s 2 for 1 trade on Used 3 for 1 trade on New Large Selection of Posters, T-Shirts, Calendars, Postcards, & Stickers Special Orders Always Welcome Sting's quality of music rises with Mercury Falling By Amy Uptmor The Battalion P I K E F E S T featuring ROBERT EARL KEEN JR. live in concert Saturday, March 30th at the Texas Hall of Fame Doors Open at 8 p.m. TICKETS: $10.00 advance/ $12.00 at the door available at Marooned Records, Cavender’s Boot City, and the Texas Hall of Fame FREE ADMISSION with PikeFest Ticket to CrawFish Boil at 3 p.m. behind The Hall featuring: Live Cajun Zydeco Music BENEFITING THE MPA Sting may be one of the few remaining relics of the early ’80s who is still producing quality music, and he is only improving with age, as is apparent on his new album, Mercury Falling. In keeping with the pattern of his last sev eral solo albums, Sting has once again created a very different sound and style on Mercury Falling. In sharp contrast to Ten Summoner’s Tales’ dark, moody sounds and lyrics. Mercury Falling is a lively, popish album. Don’t be misled by these happy sounds, though, for Sting makes it clear that he has not relinquished his “King of Pain” title or his sense of mystery on this album. Some of the most upbeat songs on the al bum are about being dumped. “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying,” despite its air of happi ness, deals with the classic “I dumped you but I hope you’re doing well” scenario. Sting sar castically responds, “I’m so happy I’m laugh ing through my tears.” The theme is repeated Album Review Sting Mercury Falling A&IVI Records in “You Still Touch Me” (“I seem to hear the raindrops saying / You won’t come back”). Other high points of the album include the uplifting “Let Your Soul be Your Pilot,” and the exquisite “La Belle Dame Sans Regret,” which is written entirely in French. Sting completes the thematic circle of the album by beginning and ending it with songs using the theme of “mercury falling.” The al bum’s first song, “The Hounds of Winter,” brings in the beginning of the day as it begins “Mercury falling /1 rise from my bed / collect my thoughts together / I have to hold my head.” The album concludes with the painfully beautiful “Lithium Sunset,” in which Sting seeks healing through the setting of the sun as he sings, “Take this heartache / of obsidian darkness / and fold my darkness / into your : yellow light ... see mercury falling.” This song may be the closest Sting has come to perfection in a song since he left The j Police. Lyrically and musically speaking, itis poetic and haunting. Sting’s sound is always marked by unique instrumentation, and the same holds true on Mercury Falling. Ranging from steel guitar and harmoni ca to a full horn section (compliments of ex- Jay Leno sidekick Branford Marsalis), the sound perfectly compliments the mood of every song and adds to the soulful, pop sound of the album. But the term “pop” should not be a turnoff. The sound and style oi Mercury Falling may be much lighter and even more radio worthy than his past albums, but the depth and emotion is still outstanding. Sting fans can look forward to a change of pace with every album, and Mercury Falling falls pleas antly in line with that pattern. Bad Hair Day shows why singer is classified as 'Weird By Dave Winder The Battalion The King of Parody is back, and in his latest effort, Bad Hair Day, “Weird” A1 Yankovic shows why he is a reigning monarch. The parodies are per fect; the original songs humor ous, and the polka medley is the best it has ever been. Almost every parody on the al bum could rank as one of Yankovic’s best. “Amish Par adise,” sung to the tune of Coolio’s “Gangsta Paradise,” starts it all off, and from there the laughter begins. “And I’ve been milkin’ and plowin’ so long that even Ezekiel Album Review ‘muFmmci / “Weird” Al Yankovic JHB )( flw 'Nj&kLr' Bad Hair Day Scotti Bros. thinks that my mind is gone.” Next, Yankovic parodies U2 and the hit from Batman Returns, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me,” with “Cavity Search.” Yankovic goes to the dentist’s of fice and begs the doctor to “Numb me, Drill me, Floss me, Bill me.” None of Yankovic’s original songs are outstanding, but they can bring about a slight-to-a-medium chuckle. “The Night Santa Went Crazy” would have to be the best non-parody song on the album while “Every thing You Know Is Wrong” and “I Remem ber Larry” are not bad. The best thing that Bad Hair Day has to offer though is the “Al ternative Polka.” On every album that Yankovic does, he pays trib ute to his favorite instrument, the accordion, by doing popular songs with a polka flavor. Most of the songs end up sounding so good that you wonder why the bands did not record them as a polka in the first place. This time around, Yankovic “improves” upon songs by Beck, Stone Temple Pilots, Sheryl Crow, Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M., Alanis Morisette, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Pep pers, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden and Green Day. The only thing I wish Yankovic would do different would be to put a little edge in his humor. On past albums he has had fun with several subjects ranging from the conservative right to the liberal left. On this album, though, he just stays in the middle. It is still aw fully funny, so he must be doin' something right. s 3b V>i : WOMEN’S WEEK ‘96 MARCH 22-29 Texas Women: A Sense of Community WOMEN’S WEEK STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOMEN’S PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT LIFE SELECTED PROGRAMS OF INTEREST TO STUDENTS Friday, March 22 Mncheon & Women’s Week Awards Presentations 12-1:30 PM Student Recreation Center, Archery Room, 2nd Floor Keynote: Award Winning Texas Author Ruthe Winegarten COST: $5 for students, $10 lor non-students SPONSOR: Women’s Week Committee Ruthe Winegarten Reception and Book Signing 2- 4 PM J. Wayne Starke University Center Galleries SPONSOR: Women’s Week Committee ‘The Struggle of Equality for Women” 3- 4 PM 302 Rudder SPONSOR: Phi Gamma Chi Monday, March 25 Resource Table Fair and Women’s Health Screening 10 AM-2 PM MSC Flag Room SPONSOR: Women’s Week Committee, A.P. Beutel Health Center Brown Bag Luncheon: “Romantic Relationships: What’s Your Style of Loving?” PLEASE PREREGISTER FOR PROGRAM BY CALLING 845-4427 12:15-1:15 PM MSC Cafeteria SPONSOR: Student Counseling Services “Waiting to Exhale: Book Signing, Terry McMillan” 5 PM MSC Bookstore Evening with Terry McMillan Speech and Filmscreening of “Waiting to Exhale” 7 PM Rudder Auditorium SPONSOR: MSC Black Awareness Committee, COST: $5 Women’s Week Committee, MSC Film Society, MSC Literary Society, Texas A&M Bookstore TYiesday, March 26 Brown Bag Luncheon, “Women’s Health: Nutrition and Fitness” 12:30-1:30 PM MSC Cafeteria SPONSOR: Aggie REACH “Women’s Changing Roles and Responsibilities in the Community” 7-9 PM 601 Rudder SPONSOR: Women’s Week Committee “Take Back The Night” 9 PM Rudder Fountain SPONSOR: Texas A&M < National Organization for Women (NOW) Wednesday, March 27 Brown Bag Luncheon, “Women’s Health: Sexual Health” 12:15-1:15 PM MSC Cafeteria SPONSOR: Aggie REACH “Sexual Harassment 1996: Scholarly Definitions and Everyday Realities” — Teleconference 12-2 PM 601 Rudder SPONSOR: Department of Student Life “Straight Talk About Women’s Health” 4:15-5:15 PM Student Recreation Center, 2nd Floor SPONSOR: A.P. Beutel Health Center “Overcoming Obstacles, Facing New Challenges”—Panel Discussion on issues facing Graduate Women of Color 6-7:30 PM 302 Rudder SPONSOR: Hispanic Graduate Student Assn., Black Graduate Student Assn. “Effects of Pornography” , 8-9:30 PM 302 Rudder SPONSOR: Women’s Studies Undergraduate Group ‘He Said/ She Said” 12:30-2 PM MSC Flag Room ‘Playing the Game ” 8:30-9:30 PM 302 Rudder Thursday, March 28 SPONSOR: Bridge Builders SPONSOR: A.W.A.R.E. Aggies Working for A Rape-Free Environment Friday, March 29 Brown Bag Luncheon: “Body Image and Eating Disorders: Why Aren’t We Satisfied With the Way We Look?” 12:15-1:15 PM MSC Cafeteria Matuschka: Beauty Out Of Damage 2:00-3:30 PM I. Wayne Starke Univ. Center Galleries Women’s Programs Open House 3:30-5 PM 112Koldus SPONSOR: Student Counseling Services SPONSOR: WW Committee & Women’s Studies Hosted by: The Women’s Week Student Advisor Committee L _ for more information and full schedule of events contact Department of Student Life, Women’s Programs @ (409) 845-1741 or drop by 112 John J. Koldus Student hours... not banker’s hours! Fast turn around on student loans plus Full service banking 7 days a week! Being a student at Texas A&M™ is an exciting adventure. At First State Bank, we know that the right bank can help you manage your finances during your college years and beyond. Now First State Bank is here, in Bryan, to help you with all your banking needs. First State Bank offers all you Texas A&M™ students: • Unlimited First State Bank ATM use with no annual fee • A personal banker assigned to your account • Student loans with quick turn around • Student checking accounts • VISA/MasterCards • Banking by Phone with First Voice We’re easy to find, right inside the WAL-MART Super Center: Open 7 Days a Week Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 Am - 6:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM FIRST STATE & BANK MEMBER FDIC 409-731-8899 2200 Briarcrest Drive Experience,! n Through ny Student Coven and Student to observe mm I've lived ie S failures. 11 '^e exp'ie % ana t he a Having se/ec in the Studeit qualifications course of this -, r Fees — We d h&M. We lave a , • Oppose all dr • Worl towarc fee allocation proc Require a 3/1 Prove a fee increa: Student Needs deeds/)y not cav Nation." • Develop str dorms on West Ca •Develop on-l • Keep low-cos Parking — "P. ft shatter."