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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1981)
LPs Nothin’ Matters and What if it Did John Cougar Riva RVL 7403 John Mellencamp is one of the better examples of what the rock business can do to a musician if he isn’t careful. Mellencamp left his home town of Seymour, Indiana and went to New York City search ing for stardom. What he found was a manager and record company who changed his name to Johnny Cougar, put him in a leather jacket, and tried to sell him as a midwes tern version of Bruce Spring steen The result was Chesnut Street Incident, an album of Springsteen imitations. The next line of a story like this generally would have Mel lencamp going back to Indiana to become an assistant man ager at the Seymour Burger King. But Mellencamp, under the slightly altered moniker of John Cougar, signed with a new Polygram/Mercury Records, Riva, released one non-U.S. album, and, with his next album, scored a hit sin gle. "I Need a Lover” was all over top-40 radio in the sum mer of 1979, and the pull yourself-up-by-your boot straps tale of John Mellen camp/Cougar was only slight ly tarnismed by the fact that Pat Benatar had a minor hit of her own with a far superior version of the song. I like Nothin' Matters And What If It Did, Cougar's latest effort, a lot more than I should Cougar is a raspy-voiced singer with a reasonable amount of songwriting talent. Chesnut Street, and, to a lesser extent, Cougar's other previous albums, ran into problems because they were based on the premise that he was something more. The charm of Nothin' Matters is that it accepts Cougar’s limi tations, and, by doing so, seems to turn them into vir tues. Nothin' Matters is a modest, quiet album made up of songs in the mold of Bob Seger’s medium tempo ballads. The best songs on Nothin' Matters, such as “Don't Mi sunderstand Me” (hit single material if ever there was sucm a thing), “This Time” and “To M.G., Wherever She May Be” work the same territory as Seger’s ballads without sounding like imitations. Nothin' Matters is a record that can be put on the turnta ble when you’re not really in the mood to pay attention; it’s a perfect background for reading a book, or taking part in a seduction. Cougar’s walk ing a fine line, and what saves him from falling into the syrup of England Dan and John Coleyville is his talent for writ ing lyrics that reward those who decide to listen closely. Occasionally Cougar goes for shock value, such as the rather explicit instructions a lover gives the singer in "Ton ight.” Comic relief is provided by "Cry Baby,” a 24-second ser ies of double entendres which, according to the songwriting credits, is “traditional,” but will never rival “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” at tent revival singalongs. Cougar falls down only twice: “Hot Night in a Cold( Town,” which bears the dis tinction of being the most fee ble Springsteen ripoff ever written (and which, it should be pointed out, is the only full length song on the album Cougar didn't write), and "Cheap Shot,” a bite-the hand-that-feeds diatribe about record companies and radio stations. Even with those two turkeys, Nothin' Matters is still six-for eight, a .750 average which isn’t bad in any league. John Cougar isn’t a great artist, but he's done more with less talent than many major stars, and he’s made an album that's better than it has any right to be. Phil Bernstein Black Sea XTC Virgin Records VR-1-1000 Black Sea is XTC’s most mature and most commercially palatable album to date, which may finally bring long-overdue financial success to the band. Well-crafted songs, intel ligent lyrics, a sharp sense of humour, strong vocals, unique harmonies and tight musician ship have been trademarks of past XTC albums, and Black Sea is no exception. Singer, songwriter, guitar player and band leader Andy Partridge displays once again that he is one of rock and roll’s most talented wise guys. The album begins with "Respecta ble Street,” a rude Partridge ode to suburban snobbery: It's in the order of their hedger ows/it's in the way their cur tains open and close/it's in the looks they give you down their nose/all part of decency's jig saw, I suppose. The vocals are delivered with that sardonic sneer, which Partridge manipulates over Terry Chambers’ pound ing drumbeat and Dave Gregory’s metallic guitars. Other songs are stellar ex amples of Partridge's unique blend of cynicism and op timism, and his ability to create a memorable pop song. "Rocket From a Bottle” is an exhilarating love song which somehow manages to avoid cliche; ‘‘Living Through Another Cuba” is new wave salsa number about life in the nuclear age. ‘‘Towers of London,” is probably the finest XTC song ever recorded. Showing Par tridge at his best, he displays his abilities to take the best of old and new and blend them into something completely original. Echoes of Lennon and McCartney ring out in the haunting harmonies. The only cut that doesn't work is “Travels in Nihilon,” a rock-n-roll raga that takes the “wall of sound” concept to ridiculous extremes with droning guitars, voices, per cussion, and basses all adding to a dense fog that is entirely unlistenable. The individual perfor mances on the album are ex ceptional. The combination of Gregory and Partridge, both immaculate guitarists, is un beatable. Chambers' propul sive, quirky drumming and Colin Moulding’s tasteful bass lines provide an irresistable beat Steve Lillywhite’s production is, as on earlier XTC albums, extraordinary. What is missing from Black Sea is the inspired lunacy which distinguished songs like "When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty” and "Scissor Man" on their previous album, Drums and Wires. XTC seems to be moving in a more mature, coherent direction, which should please some fans and annoy others. But they remain in a class by themselves, refusing to be classified or pigeon-holed, retaining their own thoroughly unique sound. Black Sea is a fine album and would serve as an excel lent introduction for anyone not familiar with XTC. Those who go for a lighter, more frivolous sound would do well to pick up a copy of Drums and Wires instead — perhaps still the definitive XTC album. An even better idea would be to buy both albums, so XTC doesn’t join the ever increas ing ranks of talented bands who never made in in America because they did not blend well with the offal which per meates American airwaves. Richard Redondo It’s Spring Cleaning Time in The Book Department Come upstairs and take advantage of these great bargains. Look for our special 50% off tables upstairs in The Book Department. UO BOOKSTORE 13th & Kincaid Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30 Sat 10:00-2:00 Textbooks 686-3520 • General Books 686-3510 • Supplies 686-4331 THE WORLD IS YOUR CAMPUS # Three World itineraries are offered in the academic year 1981-82 sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh. AROUND THE WORLD sails September 9. 1981 from Seattle OLD WORLD/NEW WORLD (Europe. Africa. South America): sails March 4. 1982, from Ft. Lauderdale MEDITERRANEAN WORLD: sails June 20. 1982. from Baltimore More than 60 university courses, with in-port and voyage-related emphasis Faculty Irom University of Pittsburgh and other leading universities, augmented by visiting area experts Participation is open to qualified students from all accredited colleges and universities Semester at Sea admits students without regard to color, race or creed The S S Universe is fully air conditioned. 18.000 tons, registered in Liberia and built in America For a free color brochure, write: Semeater at Sea, IX'IS, University of Pittsburgh, Forbes Quadrangle, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, or call toll free (800) 854-0195 (in Califor nia call (714) 581-6770). IMPORTED coffee (Sb tea. Bv the'Vound or bv the C up Kinko’s 764 E. 13th 344 .7894 Bean of the Month Decaffeinated Columbian $5.90 lb. Compare Our Prices Emerald classifieds bring results
