Reviewer looks at musicians, video game
I'm still reeling from the noxious effects
of the Pokemon soundtrack I reviewed last week, but I'll do my best to
soldier on through the bleakness of musical offerings from our lifeless
pop culture.
First, a little tonic from Ani Di Franco,
who's been making brilliant music for years and has cultivated a solid
fan base with minimal radio exposure.
Her new album, "To the Teeth," is a folk-pop
masterpiece.
Her songs are slices of life with political
overtones.
I take points off for being politically
inconsistent.
Also, her political messages become diluted
on the album's "love" songs.
Overall, she deserves praise for her anti-capitalist,
pro-feminist lyrics.
Jason Kosareff
Lyrics such as, "Confuse liberty with weaponry/
and watch your kids act it out," are good medicine for an apathetic society.
Too bad no one is listening, Ani.
I must admit, I enjoy slam-dunking on wimpy
Long Beach State basketball players.
I think I made No. 15 pee in his pants
when I pulled a 360-degree dunk on his derriere.
I was unstoppable as I flew to the hoop,
melting paint off the floor and bringing down the house.
Most fun of all was the fact that I was
playing for a real basketball school like the University of Kentucky.
NCAA Final Four 2000 for the PlayStation
uses the latest gaming technology to create a simulated world in which
the athletically inept, such as yours truly, can experience the thrill
of victory over decimated competitors.
However, after 20 minutes I discovered
that I don't particularly care one way or the other who wins a basketball
game.
Something I already knew from watching
the real thing.
For sports fans, Final Four 2000 will not
disappoint.
Your season schedule even includes a stop
at The Pyramid, where you can slaughter the 49ers.
The only thing this game really lacks is
a challenge. I'll stick with role playing games, but I give props to 989
Sports for the design and the attention to player movement.
Les Rythmes Digitales mixes up some
Euro-disco, trance and techno for a solid, though sometimes lagging new
album, "Darkdancer."
One benefit to LRD is that they conclusively
prove that the French just can't rap. They just sound a bit silly.
Lack of street credibility, if you know
what I mean. LRD is square in the rave genre and is a welcome sound when
dancing on Ecstasy in laser-beam filled warehouse until dawn.
Finally, Land of Thin Dimes offers
up some hardcore slop out of San Francisco. What does SF know about hardcore
anyway, except maybe in the genre of gay porn?
I give LTD credit for attempting to mix
electronic music into their guttural sludge, but the effort falls just
a thin dime short of worthwhile listening.
So, stick a finger in your ear and dig
out that ball of crud, because I'll be giving you the scoop again next
week.
Once I get over the severe case of toxoplasmosis
I contracted from the Pokemon soundtrack, this column should be blazing
with hip-hop and R & B.
I should have a slogan of my own by then,
too. |
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