oMUSIC
Review
Continued from Page 12C
Marillion
Clutching at Straws
EMI
Someone really ought to tell
Marillion that art rock just isn’t
as popular as it used to. Even
the art rock demi-gods Genesis
realized that and made the
beeline for mainstream.
And at least someone should
teach the band members if they
are going to be an art rock band,
they should be able to disguise
it well enough so non-art rock
fans are able to appreciate the
music.
"Clutching at Straws" is as
art rock as an art rock band can
be these days. Which is fine. I
suppose, if one is a fan of such
music. Otherwise, the grand il
lusions and allusions are lost to
an unappreciative audience.
And "Clutching” is not a
BAD art rock album, it seems
out of place. The lyrics are filled
with interesting discretions
and stories,, and musically the
band performs solidly. Fish, the
lead vocalist is sounding good,
as do the rest of the British
quintet: Steve Kothery on
guitar, Mark Kelly on
keyboards. Pete Trewavas on
bass and Ian Mosley on drums
and percussion.
"Hotel Hobbies” is an in
triguing look at the characters
who hang out and consume il
legal substances in less-than
five-star hotels. While "Just for
the Record" tells the tale of an
alcoholic who has not come to
terms with his illness yet.
However, songs like "White
Russian” and "In com
municado” fall short of their
noble goals. "Incommunicado”
deals with the trials and tribula
tions of a celebrity and leaves
the listeners thinking "ah. poor
baby. Life is hard, isn't it?"
The two highlights of this
record are "Torch Song” and
"Sugar Mice.” Both are more
on the mellow side with less of
the art rock grandeur that tends
to make the rest of the album an
noying. These two are the
closest Marillion get to
recreating its English number
one hit "Kayleigh," which also
introduced them stateside.
People who enjoyed
"Kayleigh" may be disap
pointed in "Clutching at
Straws." If they can get past the
overwhelming guitar and drum
parts in some spots, however, it
may be enjoyable
Pick Hits
Hem's whet to expect to be
the hot choices on record buyers
and rock critics' lists:
|ohn Cougar Mellencamp
The lonesome lubilee
The first single "Paper and
Pire" has taken off, and the
follow-up to "Scarecrow”
shows the continued progress
Mellencamp made on that
album However, what remains
to bo seen is if Mellencamp can
shake off the inevitable com
parisons to Bruce Springsteen
Something else to watch is if
"The Lonesome Jubilee" can
match the success of
"Scarecrow." which spawned
five hit singles.
R.E.M.
Document
The ultimate college band has
come out with another album,
its first real studio record since
“l.ifes Rich Pageant" ("Dead
Letter Office." the latest
release, was a collection of
previously unreleased tracks).
The first single. "The One I
Love" is nothing short of
beautiful and is bound to attract
more to R.E.M 's ever*
expanding audience
The Cars
Door to Dtwr
The Immensely popular
"Heartbeat City" and a myriad
of solo projects may prove to In*
a difficult hurdle to overcome
for this Boston-based quintet.
Ami those who have followed
The Cars through the band's
climb to success over the years
will have to decide for
themselves if the increasingly
pop sound is to their liking.
Under the careful hand of Ric
Ocasek. the Cars have released a
solid record that should do
well. howover.
Michael Jackson
Bad
Obviously the most talked
about record of the year. "Bad"
may be a victim of overkill
before its been on the racks for
three months. Critical response
to (ackson's follow up to the
monster-hit "Thriller" has been
lukewarm at l>est. but the public
has responded favorably
enough. Although it will take
awhile for it to top "Thriller" if
it ever does. Only time will tell
And for those who scoff at
lacksun and his Image, well he
may lie a little weird, hut
wouldn't you la* a little strange
if you had to top the biggest
selling record of all time?
Students can also look for
new re/eases from the likes of:
linin' Springsteen. .Sting. Pink
Floyd. Banatuirama. I’t't Shop
Hoys. INXS. Hush. Fltou lohn.
Mick /agger and Hilly Idol to
name a few. Hotter pray your
financial uul chinks come in
time . .
mmm. LARRY EDWARDS 683-3635
U LISA FARQLli 484-4061
TERRY CONNEVILLE 344-2242
unmiii CINDY HOOKLAND 485-7622
Wm DIANA KIRKPATRICK 344-6013
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