■GIELIFE
BATTALION
5
Tuesday, February 5, 2002
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3
MINI UMM
Bush
Golden State
Atlantic Records
With the release of its fourth stu
dio album, Golden State, British
alternative rockers Bush revisits the
winning sounds and styles that
made its 1994 album, Sixteen
Stone, multiplatinum.
The two albums released since Sixteen Stone followed the
band through electronica and techno productions, which
brought the group little commercial success.
This release promises to please at least those insatiable fans
whose very souls pulsed to the baseline in "Comedown,"
whose fists clinched with empowerment over the guitar
rhythm in "Machinehead."
Often termed the pretty boys of early 1990s music, Bush
flickered in Nirvana's shadow and Pearl Jam's wake, but as
those storms calmed, Bush became one of modern rock's
notable plaintive voices.
Wu-Tang Clan
Iron Flag
Sony/Columbia
It seems like only yesterday that
Wu-Tang Clan fans waited at least
three years for the group to release
a new album.
While the wait sometimes _
seemed like an eternity, faithful
fans could always rest assured that the Clan would deliver.
Cut to 2002: only a year has passed since the release of The
W and the rap group that many consider the greatest of all
time has returned with another chapter to add to its ongo
ing saga with Iron Flag. It seems it has chosen to strike while
the "iron" is hot. But just how much heat could it possibly
bring after such a short hiatus? Apparently not much.
While the nine Clansmen are consistent in terms of lyrics,
the beats on this album leave much to be desired. The fact
that RZA did not produce every song will have some hardcore
fans shaking their heads in dismay. While most of his contri
butions (about three-fourths of the album) are above aver
age, little is reminiscent of RZA's groundbreaking work on
classics like 36 Chambers and Only Built for Cuban Linx.
What makes things worse is the inclusion of beats by pro
ducers outside the camp, such as Trackmasters and Nick
"Fury" Loftin, which break up the flow of the record. Known
for his ability to skillfully produce an entire album, RZA has
made a mistake by loosening his grip. While this is nothing
new, it is the first.tiroe this problem has emerged on one of
the Clan's groups efforts. Where 36 Chambers, Wu-Tang
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Listeners will find Golden State a cast back to the angry
1990s as lead singer Gavin Rossdale and company blend
Bush's warm overdriven guitar rhythms and engaging base riffs
with delicate lead guitar work, a facet of Bush music rarely
found in previous work.
"The People That We Love," the disc's first release, has
received loads of airplay in constant rotation at radio stations,
and deservedly so. Bush returns to its fan-farming roots in this
jam with explosive guitar parts and energizing baselines. The
track garnered added publicity after Bush renamed it from
"Speed Kills" after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Through "Inflatable," Gavin wears his broken heart on his
sleeve, delivering a soulful eulogy for a love gone bad and
protests the emotional abuses of the same situation.
Other tracks like "Headful of Ghosts" and "Superman" bleed
with great guitar tone and overall musical splendor.
Simply put, those who liked Sixteen Stone should check
out this disc, which is best described as a second volume
to that album.
(Grade: B)
—Thomas Phillips
Forever and The W each had their own distinctive feel, for
the most part Iron Flag plays like a bunch of slap-dash B-
sides and leftovers that did not fit on its previous albums.
Though few and far between, Iron Flag has a few highlights.
The first single, "Uzi (Pinky Ring)" is the quintessential posse
cut, with seven of the group members dropping verses in
quick succession. RZA's keen ear provides the backdrop, with
horn-laden samples that sound like a kung-fu flick scored by
Al Green's backup band. Also of interest are "In the Hood"
and "Y'all Been Warned," a worthy second single.
Unfortunately, this is where the quality hip-hop ends; the
remainder of Iron Flag is not worth the time it takes to lis
ten. In addition, the Wu are evidently starting to feel the
effects of Ol' Dirty Bastard's absence, enlisting the talents of
old school riot starter Flava Flav (of Public Enemy fame) for
a zany guest appearance on "Soul Power." Perhaps the man
they call ODB, who has been in prison for two years now, is
the missing ingredient.
While possibly the best rap group in overall talent, the Wu-
Tang Clan could work on its consistency. A disappointing
pattern seems to be developing. It seems every great Wu
album in recent years has been tainted by a sub-par follow
up. The trend continues in 2002, first with Ghostface Killah's
flop (Bulletproof Wallets, a mediocre successor to 2000's
incredible Supreme Clientele) and now Iron Flag. With
chinks in its armor exposed, hopefully upcoming releases
from Method Man and Raekwon will keep the Wu army's
fickle fan base at bay for at least one more year.
(Grade: C-)
—Gabe Patterson
V-
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1
Lucas, Christensen
divulge little of Episode II
|pNEW YORK (AP) - Like everyone
involved with the project, Hayden
Christensen will not say a lot about the
latest Star Wars prequel. Then again,
there are some things he cannot say
because he does not know them.
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
As Anakin Skywalker, the 20-year-old
Christensen said he is clueless as to how
his character's voice drops to James Earl
Jones' distinctive boom.
"I think he becomes half-mechanical,
and, um, the dark helmet," he says in the
March issue of Vanity Fair magazine.
"Maybe that has something to do with his
voice getting lower?"
Series creator George Lucas will not say
much either about Star Wars: Episode II —
Attack of the Clones, which opens May 16.
But he will divulge that the romance
between Anakin and Amidala, played by
Natalie Portman, is "a love story in the
Star Wars tradition."
"I'd call it a love haiku more than a love
sonnet," Lucas told the magazine. "It's
shorter than a traditional love story, and
thinner than a traditional love story."
Learn More. Do More.
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Wehner Building Kleberg Building
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
February 5-6, 2002 February 6, 2002
If you are unable to attend but would still like to apply, please visit our website.
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7 P.M. • KOLDUS 111
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