Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1984)
Heavy heavy-metal parody Spinal Tap From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack “This is Spinal Tap" Polygram Records Once or twice a year that great American institution, the novel ty record, makes its way onto the charts. The latest entry is Spinal Tap's From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, “This is Spinal Tap." With a title as cumbersome as its subject matter, the sound track album dishes up an ap petizer of vintage psuedo-sixties schlock, but saves the main course for an array of irreverent, heavy-metal parodies. The members of the British quartet are (ostensibly) David St. Hub bins (guitar and lead vocals), Nigel Tutnel (lead guitar and vocals), Derek Smalls (bass), and Mick Shrimpton (drums). The songs cover most of the typical heavy-metal themes, and many cuts ape styles of specific groups. "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" is an upbeat number reminiscent of Boston's "Smokin'," with Nigel's self indulgent and, at times, off-key guitar leads, electronically masked vocals, and a flashy but feeble organ solo. The subject is sex with pre pubescent girls and owes its pedigree to Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean." St. Hubbins belts out the saucy lyric, "You're sweet but you're just four feet/And you still got your baby teeth/You're too young and I'm too well hung/But tonight I'm gonna rock you." "Heavy Duty" is a plodding tribute to all those songs that plug themselves by talking about how great rock'n'roll is. It features extra-low echoed vocals and a duel between syn thesizer and guitar with each trying to play a higher note than the other. Both eventually go completely out of control. "Big Bottom" has a throbbing, monotonous beat and flatulent synthesizer outbursts. St. Hub bins is the titanium-voiced mega-stud as he sings, "I met her on Monday/It was my lucky bun day.. . I love her each week day/Each velvety cheek day... Big bottom, drive me out of my mind/How could I leave this behind?" "Stonehenge" is a swipe at ponderous attempts to fuse classical music and rock, and be philosophical at the same time. The song opens with desolate whistling sounds and lonely chords, accompanied by a spoken narrative about the Druid race. It moves to standard rock bombast with swirling syn thesizer motifs, back to eerie sound effects with more narr rative, then to a sprightly man dolin playing Irish folk music, and once more to the spoken Druid bit. It is the least obvious of the parodies, because its thematic and musical elements have been used with such great ITALIAN KITCHEN Specializing in Homemade Pizza and Italian Food DELIVERY SERVICE 5 P.M. UNTIL 10 P.M. Meat Balls ^ Lasagna ^ Calzoni Sandwiches Spaghetti ^ Ravioli Monday thru Thursday 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday noon - Midnight Sunday 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. and don’t forget Tuesday night all the spaghetti and game bread you can eat for $2.95 484 0996 2673 Willamette (between Ace Electronics and the Black Forest Inn) success by bands like Rush and Wishbone Ash. The rest of the album is equal ly overblown, and continues to borrow bits and pieces from other rock songs, using them in all the wrong places and for all the wrong reasons. The record is a success because it manages to make heavy metal, and other forms of dinosaur rock, look insipid without being that way itself. These novelty discs tend to lose their appeal quickly, and this one is probably no exception, but it does retain an endearing quality. Perhaps the final paragragh of the Rocklopedia Brittanicus’ en try on the band (reprinted in the album) best sums it up. “Though neither a critics' nor a public favorite, Spinal Tap con tinues to fill a much needed void." Kevin Frank You'll get there faster with a Resume from ODE Graphic Services! §>OOTE Just Downstairs in the EMU 484-3014 Earth River Records & Tapes |r Mow at our ‘ BRAND NEW LOCATION We offer- the best selec tion of used records & tapes and pay the top price for your used records & tapes! Find all Hew Hit Records on sale How at our new location: 770 W 11th (next to Diana's new store) 342-2088 U'N'IVER'SITY OF OREGON CLASSIC SUMMER RENEWAL OF BODY & MIND June 18-August 10,1984. Summer Session time schedules are now available. Pick up your copy at the Summer Session office, Room 333 Oregon Hall, or in the Registrar's Office, and file an intent to register card today. Classes begin June 19, so make plans now to treat yourself to an Oregon Summer. Visa and Mastercard accepted.