Arizona Summer Wildcat
Wednesday June 11, 2003
Deftones
Deftones
Frustration. Angst. Anger. Desperation. Disparity. All of which are key themes in the new self-titled Deftones album. These guys have been churning their heavily distorted guitars for at least a decade and now seem to have meshed into a sullen, sunken, dark, operatic band of brothers.
The feel on this album is epic and weighty, with no real sense that things are looking up anytime soon, except for first single "Minerva," in which singer Chino Moreno blesses everyone.
That might be the problem though, because although there are lyrics printed in the CD booklet, they are almost indecipherable when Moreno moans and wails them. This is perplexing, but at the same time understandable.
The guy is angry and frustrated, and his vocal delivery reflects his emotions. However, for someone who actually wants to relate the feelings conveyed in the lyrics, it'd be nice to enunciate a few phrases here and there. Maybe the peanut butter needs to come out of the mouth.
The fact is, these guys have a rabid fan-base. People love them, for the same reason they love bands that you'll never understand. So why, after all this time, do the Deftones feel just as angry as when they began?
Moreno was once quoted in an interview fawning over Radiohead and hoping his band could someday reach that kind of musical peak. Both Radiohead and the Deftones do make music with similar themes, albeit in different ways, but neither seems to be getting any closer to answering any problems.
That's just it though. They're not here to give answers but to perfect music to accompany the questions.
Rating: This album is so hot it will melt even if you don't leave it in the 200-degree heat on the dashboard of your car. Proceed with caution.
- Kevin Smith
Jewel
0304
Jewel released her eagerly awaited fifth album, 0304, June 3, but the result of all the time in the studio came up short.
The album sounds like Jewel has been hitting the clubs with Britney Spears rather than yodeling the heart-wrenching love songs of her past. All 14 tracks seem to carry the same tune with repetitive beats and a high-pitched voice. Didn't this gal say she lived in a van in Alaska? This album sounds more like she grew up toting a Prada bag and lunching with music industry bigwigs.
What happened to the hippie chick Jewel we all grew to love on the Pieces of You album? Though Jewel seems to be expanding her musical style, all she really has done is mold herself into what sells.
Whether it be pop, rock, folk or dance, Jewel is trying it all in what seems a desperate attempt to ditch her bohemian sheik image of the '90s to compete with today's teeny-bopping leading lyricists.
Rating: You might want to use this album as a Frisbee, or as a coaster for an ice cold Corona because that's about all it's good for.
- Hayley Contant
Radiohead
Hail To The Thief
At this time and place in history, does it really get any better than a new Radiohead LP? There is no other music-making collective right now that could dream to enter their stratosphere. Often imitated, never duplicated.
The last two Radiohead albums, Kid A and Amnesiac, saw the band evolve so quickly from OK Computer that many thought they were floating weightlessly into a distant galaxy, never to return. Hail is Radiohead touching down home on planet Earth.
From the schizophrenic opener "2+2=5," in which singer Thom Yorke walks from crooning into an all out spastic marathon in the break of a beat, to the swinging closer in which he raps and coos about a "Wolf At The Door," this band is in a groove.
"A Punch Up At A Wedding" is simply one of the best Radiohead songs ever recorded. The bass line and piano are so complementary; they should become infamous and be heard on classic rock heavy rotation in 15 years.
There is a problem however, but it is not with any of the songs contained on the album. Just about every other review of this album seems fixated on trying to dissect Yorke's lyrics as being overtly political and having a sharp edge targeted towards the president ("Hail To The Thief" was a slogan used to describe George W. Bush's election win). However, the band has denied this and Yorke recently said in Spin, "If the motivation for naming our album had been based solely on the U.S. election, I'd find that pretty shallow."
The media's use of this record's title and content as a political tool without warrant is pretty shallow. It's music. Enjoy it, love it, live it, but get a life.
Rating: Break out the sunscreen and toss some ice in your pants - this album is hotter than the Arizona summer sun.
- Kevin Smith
Less Than Jake
Anthem
Tradition seems to stick. They said it themselves a few years ago.
Now, even though they are under a new record label, it appears that tradition has in fact stuck with Less Than Jake.
While there is definitely something new about the 14 "punky" tracks on their new CD, Anthem, several of the songs also sound familiar.
For example, if you close your eyes while listening to track number 13, "Screws Fall Out," you might begin to think you're listening to an older song, such as "Crazy Glue."
But just because you can predict the tune or the words, as in the case of the ever-so-repetitive "She's Gonna Break Soon," don't think of it as a bad thing. It just means you'll want to start the whole thing over again and sing along to the songs that sounded new, as well.
And if you do decide to do that, pop the CD in your car and listen to it there, because, on the whole, the new songs make for great music to cruise Speedway. Although, if you're looking for the horn sounds that appeared in the earlier songs, that's the one thing that you'll find less of.
But hey, since you'll be in the car, you can add your own horns, if you so desire.
Rating: A nice temperate 80-degree day in the shade. Not enough to make you shiver or make you pass out from heat exhaustion, but just right.
- Kristina Dunham
