B
rtENi
aio*
'eticallj
:s abom
iis soft,
r| ageto
>d peoe-
iriousof
'd "Hit
'stake®
5 musit
'ideo,
;s I sail
ted/
m imai
y defmt
iy ofiis
hearioj
irch tlui
ittan bji
doesni
contem.
-free,
ig- ami
if whicl
id DVD,
e Heal
i the to|
ie Bom
mm
SB
: a vei;
ires will
pop oi
the besi
'special
e rappei
>r a
lew two-
entertainment
THE BATTALION
BeRt
Continued from page 8A
9A
Thursday, February 5, 2004
Me Review V 2,002
Outkast
‘Speakerboxx/The Love Below’
Arista Records
Prince vibes. The track, “Love Hater” is a jazz
arrangement laced with Hendrix-style guitar howls
and “wahs.”
Big Boi and Andre 3000’s decision to diverge
worked to widen the musical palette of this release.
The two have made the most of their opportunity to
exercise artistic freedom with an energy that defies
convention. In other words, they’ve shaken up the
rules like a Polaroid picture.
- David Shackelford
Sales and audience reception of Outkast’s newest
album, “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below,” is at its
peak just in time for the Grammy Awards. And oh,
are they nominated. For a group that the
Independent (London) called one of the most under
rated hip-hop acts of the past 10 years, Outkast is
now set to earn its stripes - six to be exact, includ
ing Album of the Year, Best Rap Album and Record
oftheYearfor"Hey Ya!”
Double albums are seen as daunting for pop
music consumers and customarily appear as compi
lations. When the Beatles’ “White Album” was
released, critics fussed that, aside from being too
weird, the 30-track set was too much to take in.
lether Outkast’s Big Boi and Andre 3000 planned
it, they bypassed the double album dilemma by
splitting their efforts. The end result was their fifth
release, "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below,” two solo
projects in one package.
Outkast has retained its sense of adventure. Its
brand of blended southern soul, funk, rap and psy
chedelic genres has earned the duo a reputation as
theavant-gardeofthe Dirty South movement.
The band’s newest undertaking never dwells on
one style for too long. Big Boi’s "Speakerboxxx”
announces itself with a chorus that rides on satisfy
ing bass volleys. Then the record rips into gear with
“GhettoMuzik,” a hardcore rave/shag-soul stop-and-
go where whizzing synthesizers brake for slow
swaying “oohs" to pass. The hip-hop fusion carries
through the bulk of the disc, w hich signs off with a
funk snippet. Throughout "Speakerboxxx,” Big Boi
hits upon social issues, metaphyiscal life-death
questions and indulges in a little Bush-bashing.
Conversely, Andre 3000 looks inward for inspira
tion, piecing together his own intimate and sexually
graphic realities with every track.
He even contacts his version of God: “Damn,
you a woman," he says. The cascading jazz piano on
the intro track of "The Love Below” signals Andre
3000's departure from the hip-hop essence of
Speakerboxxx." Thick with psychedelic funk and
falsetto. "The Love Below” pulses with erotic
Evanescence
“Fallen”
Wind-Up Records
<r> o o o o
"Fallen,” the second CD by Evanescence, contin
ues in the vein of spiritual Goth, leading with the
disc’s radio hit single "Bring Me to Life,” as well as
a host of equally enjoyable songs. The band’s
unique blend of dark moodiness and spirituality is
suffused throughout the songs. Once again, Amy
Lee’s voice is a powerful addition to the songs. The
styles range from heavy, guitar-riff driven songs to
softer songs driven mainly by Lee and a few instru
ments playing in the background. Each song is
impressive and plays to a different feeling with little
of the repetitiveness common to most current
albums being released.
Of the 11 songs available, "My Immortal ”
“Bring Me to Life,’’ “Tourniquet” and "Going
Under” are the best tracks. Each of them is power
ful and hard-hitting but still moving. “My Immortal”
is Lee at her finest, and she grips the listener in a
way that few songs have the ability to do. The rest
of the tracks, though not as good as the previous
four, are still good in their own right. They all have
a unique feeling to them and can be listened to in
nearly any setting. Evanescence has made yet
another great album that continues to use its style of
Goth and spirituality in a blend not often seen. This
originality may pay off for their campaign to win
"Best New Artist” on Grammy night. It will be inter
esting to see if they can keep their talent consistent
in future records.
☆
- Paul Cozbx
ut it si
iy-
ries. i
for Bes
.iminateJ
some of
hat
J
Sophomore, tom btwn poly sd and history major • Reads Marx while
exercycling in Melrose fitness center • Wants to come back to Melrose
after a year of foreign study • Championship rock-scissors-paper player
LAUNCH PAD FOR INTERESTING LIVES.
2to4bdrms pool fitness center academic and annual teases busline computer lab
please visit us at 601 Luther St. West,
www.melroseapartments.com or call 979.680.3680
Join Melrose Idol - Win $1000!
Now Leasing for May and August2004. No Deposit.*
PARJMENJS
MSC Voices of a Generation
“America remains an open-policy
nation of opportunity for anyone
who is willing to work hard in
pursuit of their vision of
the American Dream.”
- Ericka Dunlap
-¥•
2004
Wednesday, February n, 2004
7:00 PM
Rudder Theatre
Admission is free
Tickets available at MSC Box Office
Or call 845-1234
& 845-1514 http://voices.tamu.edu
The Best in Adult Entertainment
— Happy Hour Daily until 7pm -
s 2.00 Well / $ 2.00 Drafts
Sun.: $ 2.00 Wells
Mon.: $ 1.25 Drafts
Tues.: $ 3.00 Domestic Longnecks
Wed.: s 2.00 Wells
Thurs.: s 1.25 Drafts
Jager Promo s 3.00 Shots
Friday, February 13*
2 for 1
Cover
with
Student ID
Sat. - Wed. 5pm-2am Thurs. - Fri. 2pm-2am
(979) 690-1478
4075 S Highway 6 ■ take Rock Prairie Road exit
Join The Legacy
RUN FOR ’04 CLASS AGENT
If you are Interested in serving the C/OSS of '04 by connecting your
Classmates to each other, Texas A&M University and
The Association of Former Students, attend a
mandatory pre-election informational Meeting
held at the
Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center
Tues., Feb. 10 & Wed., Feb 11 at 5:30 p.m.
♦*2 of the 3 members of vour team must be present to run**
Class Agents Teams will share the responsibility of writing Class
Newsletters, coordinating Reunions and serving on the Leadership
Council of The Association of Former Students. Each team must possess
great communication skills, dedication and loyalty to
the Class of ’04 and Texas A&M.
For more information please contact:
Rosella Garcia ’00 at 845-7514 or RGarcia00@AggieNetwork.com
The Association
OF FORMER STUDENTS*
I u
3645 Wellborn load
Bryan, TX11801
Pk mmoo
Comb fee WHY WE (ant Be Beat!
• 6" Quiet Walk
” 100% Private Bathr
• Laundry Room in each Bungalow
• High fpeed CoMputer Lab
• 1,1,4 BedrooM + Jo Much Morel
i
Individual Learer
Fully Furnirhed
Color TV
Screened Veranda
Great IWnitiei
Hurry in & Reserve Your BRAND NEW Bungalow Today!
fee Uf on-line @ www,caMpufIo<Jqe,co/vi