New CD release ‘Coil’ conceals ‘buried treasure’
By Evan A. Denbaum
Freelance Reporter
I ' oad the Wet Sprocket’s
new album, Coil, has a CD
-L booklet that unfolds like a
map. On one side, song lyrics
are printed. On the other side is
a collage of images: a world of
deep blue hues, juxtaposed with
the mask of a universal face, and
a seascape hiding treasures
beneath the water’s surface.
The mask represents the
facade erected by opening songs
like “Whatever I Fear” and
“Come Down,” which hide the
album’s true nature. These first
few tracks, which are instant
radio singles, have the pace and
punch necessary to satisfy
music’s pop culture. They are
fast and fun, drive-time tunes
reminiscent of “All I Want,” the
COURTESY PHOTC
Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Coil features a hidden track that can b«
accessed through the band's web site: www.houseoftoad.com.
DreaKtnrougn, nit single respon
sible for the band’s previous
story through poetic imagery:
“When you are light like a little
uiuum, 1 C7U1 , gUlllg
platinum.
As the collage sug
gests, however, this
“music for the mass
es” is only the water’s
surface, reflecting
today’s pop-music
trends and traits.
Dive beneath the
surface and there is
buried treasure —
meaningful music
with wise and witty
lyrics.
“Don’t Fade” is a
song filled with rich
guitar rhythms and
REVIEW
Coil
Toad the Wet Sprocket
★★★★
(rich, moody music)
uuy, nymg Kites ana
shouting to the
world. You’re shout
ing to the world your
joy...” As the song
slowly builds in
intensity, the voice
and lyrics become
more desperate.
Finally, it breaks
down to a solitary
^ guitar and fades
away to a deep,
reverberating voice,
filling the moment.
“Amnesia” is a
brief but feverish
anthem, destined to
tne nearttelt, pleading voice ot
lead vocalist Glen Phillips. He
confides in the listener, telling a
become the band s second
encore and concert finale. This
song begins and ends with
screaming guitar feedback and is
a melodic roller coaster in
between. Although it starts with
a steady voice and a solid pace,
the song soon begins to roar,
Ripping guitar chords and an
impassioned voice take over,
only to be silenced by quiet, lay
ered vocals, echoing in stereo
from ear to ear. Just as quickly,
the music intensifies again and
the ride continues, but the song
eventually ends with the same
abruptness as each change.
And while those two songs
are the album’s heart, track 10 is
its soul. “Little Buddha” begins
with a single guitar, and then a
soft and gentle voice speaks
Next, from the quiet comes the
subtle sound of string instru
ments. Gaining prominence, the
violins’ and violas’ sound twists
and turns a haunting melody,
testing the waters of dissonance.
Enter a solitary snare drum,
marching the song along.
The vocals and strings spar
playfully, with moody cellos
accentuating the lyrics. The
words are mocking, literally
laughing at the listener, but so
disarming is the music that they
don’t sting: “Life is suffering,
tee-hee, ha-ha ... Cold and shud
dering, tee-hee, ha-ha ... Lost
and struggling, tee-hee, ha-ha.”
Instead, the message proves
ponderous and the lyrics unfor
gettable.
Finally, for the technocrats
out there, Coil also features a
hidden track titled “Silo Lulla
by,” which is only accessible
through the band’s web site —
www.houseoftoad.com. The
song, while certainly worth a
listen, can be more trouble than
it’s worth, especially for those
still running relatively slow
modems.
The web site, however, is
truly beautiful — both aestheti
cally and for its simplicity of
design. It’s also quite compre
hensive, with links to tour date
information, the official Toad
newsletter and a complete
discography. There’s even an
explanation for the band’s most
unusual name.
So Coil, for the passing “alter
na-rock” fan, is maybe an album
best enjoyed through radio
releases. But for those who cher
ish Fear and hold such songs as
“Pray Your Gods” sacred, Coil
will be a deep, rich and moody
musical experience.
Exhibit embodies University Museum of Art’s leoacv
By Shannon Sneed
Oregon Daily Emerald
I ' he life and accomplish
ments of a key contributor
-L and founder of the Univer
sity Museum of Art’s permanent
collection will be celebrated in an
exhibit opening on June 14. “Pre
cious Cargo: The Legacy of
Gertrude Bass Warner,” offered in
conjunction with commencement
festivities and the museum’s 65th
anniversary, will illustrate Warn
er’s personal journeys and mem
oirs, as well as pieces from the col
lection she gave to the University.
Warner was an American who
traveled throughout Asia in the
early 1900s and amassed an exten
sive collection of Asian art, with
pieces ranging from ceramics to
swords. When Warner moved to
Eugene several years later, she be
friended Prince Lucien Campbell,
then the president of the Universi
ty, and donated her collection to
the University in 1922.
She was also a key planner of
the construction of the Museum of
Art, and when it opened ten years
later in 1932, her pieces formed its
core collection.
Warner saw the display of her
art as a chance to bridge under
standing between Asian and
American cultures and to help
erase existing stereotypes.
“[The exhibit] examines Warn
er’s desire to bring the culture of
Asia to Oregon,” said Heather
Brown, a public relations and col
lections assistant for the museum.
“It represents how art is truly the
bridge that helps overcome gaps in
our cultures. ”
The exhibit will be shown in
three galleries in the museum. The
first will feature Asian artifacts
that Warner collected from 1910
1930, such as a throne used by the
Chinese imperial family, swords,
sword cases and ceramics. The
second gallery will display Warn
er’s personal journals, travel logs,
photographs and letters from her
journeys in Asia. The third gallery
will display some of the history
and preliminary sketches of the
construction of the Museum of
Art.
The exhibit will also feature
several pieces from the museum’s
archives that have never before
been displayed.
“This is an opportunity to get to
know the museum now because
we’re unearthing part of our lega
cy,” Brown said.
Warner worked hard to create a
peaceful understanding between
Asia and America, both through
her art collection and through sev
eral exchange programs that she
established.
“[The exhibit] is more than just
a collection of art,” said Lawrence
Fong, associate director for the
museum and curator of the exhib
it. “It is the hope for peace through
the shared experience in viewing
the beauty of art.”
Exhibit tours and refreshments
will be offered at an open house
on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The exhibit will continue through
September 28. For more informa
tion, call 346-3027.
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