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CD REVIEWS
nbie’s sound dead; Smith makes winning melodies
ib Zombie
billy Deluxe
fen Records
Halloween virtu-
ing around the
lob Zombie has
rily unchained
from his band
ombie to serve up
Deluxe on a
i platter. Zombie
jin emerges from
io with songs re-
around his obses-
th old horror
comics and other
1 debauchery,
of the cuts on
> are laced with
's trademark tem-
ges and throaty
wo definite corn-
tracks, “Dragula”
iperbeast,” stand
teing as radio-
as this genre can
■wise, true Zombie
will be pushing
the repeat button on
“Living Dead Girl” and
“Meet the Creeper.”
However, the master of
disaster falls short with
the badly edited “How to
Make a Monster” and the
overly mixed “What
Lurks on Channel X?”
The majority of the
songs are unfortunately
under three minutes in
length, leaving the listen
er wondering why the
workaholic Zombie did
not bother to stretch the
songs out longer.
Maybe he divert his
energies toward laying
out the morbid, 24-page
album insert.
Ultimately, Hellbilly
Deluxe is not convincing
enough and simply does
not draw the listener into
Zombie’s macabre realm
as they should.
Still, no one else in in
dustrial rock can pull off
this kind of sideshow
quite like Zombie without
getting laughed off the
stage.
Hopefully, Rob Zom
bie’s next project will in
volve his fellow band-
mates. In the meantime,
keep your fingers crossed
for another remix album.
(B-)
— Quatro Oakley
Elliot Smith
XO
CD Courtesy of Dreamworks
Although Elliot Smith
has been singled out as one
of the artists on the fore
front of the alt-folk move
ment, anyone who listens
to his work can tell you
recognition is not really a
motivator for Smith. His
real talent, and the force be
hind his music, lies in the
construction of a great
melody.
XO, Smith’s fourth al
bum (and his first since
signing with Dream
Works), is a perfect exam
ple. Smith stretches his
musical boundaries by us
ing overdubs, horns and
even strings, but the soul
ful delicacy of his earlier
work remains. TLacks like
“Sweet Adeline” and
“Baby Britain” showcase
both Smith’s amazing
songwriting and his ability
to be soulful and catchy at
the same time.
In addition. Smith lets
his do-it-yourself attitude
shine by not only writing
the parts for each instru
ment but playing almost
every one of them him
self (he even arranged
the strings).
The result is no less
than breathtaking. With
the release of XO, Smith
proves beyond all doubt
that, although his music
may eventually be pushed
into the limelight, it is still
perfectly comfortable in a
coffee shop. (A)
— Riley LaGrone
Gomez
Bring It On
CD Courtesy of Virgin
As one of the 12 artists
selected to compete for
Britain’s prestigious Mer
cury Music Prize this
year, Gomez has simulta
neously captured an au
dience and won the favor
of critics and the press.
That’s no small feat
for a band with a grand
total of one album under
its belt.
Bring It On, the de
but album from
Sheffield, England’s
Gomez, is in fact a
groundbreaking album.
As one of the few
non-electronica groups
to come out of the UK in
the past few years,
Gomez combines influ
ences ranging from the
Grateful Dead to the
Beatles, laying down
track after track of mu
sic that is as engaging as
it is experimental.
“78 Stone Wobble”,
the album’s first single,
gives a nod to Rubber
Soul (they are British,
after all) while songs
like “Whippin’ Pic
cadilly” and “Get My
self Arrested” show ob
vious ties to good old
Americana.
Play on Gomez, and
show Britain the light.
(B +)
— Riley LaGrone
ATTENTION ALL ID STUDENTS
The P.A.I.D. Kick-off BBQ
is Friday Sept. 18th
6:30-8:30 pm
Rec Center Poolside
COME FIND OUT ABOUT THIS EXCITING NEW YEAR!
did you SIGN your
CONTRACT?
don’t forget your I 999 Aggieland yearbook
student organization contracts that are now
available in the basement of the Reed
McDonald Building in Room 004.
Please call 845-2681 for more information.
Don’t miss out on your
chance to be in the last yearbook of this
century!
HURSDAY,
o™. SEPT. 17
in and advics:
lea as natu. Foster, a blues musician,
il alter wor y a t Fitzwilly’s at 9:30 p.m.
women'spr -i '
ping duty', oor, an alternative-rock band,
t publicpo iy at Cowhop at 9:30 p.m.
nd use the:
;ted and m Creager, a country musician
?s and bell College Station, will play at
/v Canyon at 9 p.m.
not expect
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FRIDAY,
SEPT. 18
ional String Band, an
:ic 3-piece ensemble from
5 Station, will play at Coffee
i at 9:00 p.m.
i Lane, a Latino jazz funk
/vill play at Crooked Path Ale
at 9 p.m.
1962), will be shown by the
Im Society at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
i badgesin s:: Twisters, a classic rock
math andsf will play at Fitzwilly’s at
vith theintc i.m.
•us on theadsbry Traces ” an exhibit of 20
the environ by Mary Stone will run
uphases istoday at the Local Color
ipleted her.'7- 2501 Texas Ave., College
r the evolulU-
/ much tIA
ATURDAY,
SEPT. 19
eye, a rock band, will play at
^ ZjOp at 9:30 p.m.
>ogs. an electric blues band
Dollege Station, will play at
! Station at 9 p.m.
' i, 7. ■
SigfF# for your free email account at wwvv.hotmalI.com.
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tless Panhandlers, an original
and from College Station, will
t Crooked Path Ale House at
rorm, a rock band, will be play-
th Kid Fantastic at Cow Hop
0 p.m.
>m Nature, an exhibit of prints
Iph Scott, will be held at the
s Valley Museum of Natural
y through October 15.
n in the Brazos Valley 1820-
, will be exhibited at the Bra-
alley Museum of Natural His-
irough October 25.
rd Borein: Artist of the Amer-
A/est will be exhibited at the
Forsyth Center Galleries
|h October 11.