■ CD review
Take a musical journey from pop to punk, gospel to R&B
Jimmy Eat World creates a dark feel while The Used
relies on screaming vocals for its rebellious sound
BY AMY LICHTY
PULSE REPORTER
Jimmy Eat World is one of the
best bands to listen to on a road
trip. The pop-rock sound and cre
ative lyrics pump travelers up for a
long road ahead and the slow, mel
low tracks help them chill out and
relax during those winding roads.
Jimmy Eat World’s newest album
“Futures” is worth a listen, both on
and off the road.
The album begins with the up
beat, funky hit “Futures.” After lis
tening to the song just three or four
times, I could already sing along.
As the CD goes on, the songs are
hit-and-miss. (For example, “Just
Tonight” isn’t a best effort, but
“Drugs or Me” is a relaxing exam
ple of how wonderfully Jimmy Eat
World can perform mellow songs.)
With lyrics such as, “Can we take a
ride? Get out of this place while we
still have time,” from their song
“Work,” the road trips are just waiting
to happen. There’s a blend of sounds
from “Bleed American,” the 2001 hit
CD, and earlier “Clarity,” which still
remains my personal favorite. “Fu
tures” has a darker feel than previous
CDs, with drugs and addiction tend
ing to be the topic of many of the
songs. But all in all, fans should be
well satisfied with Jimmy Eat World’s
latest (although not greatest).
Another great talent with some
amazing CDs under his belt is the
one-and-only Ben Harper. In his latest
“There Will Be a Light,” Harper is
joined by the Blind Boys of Alabama.
The new album features heavy
gospel sounds and highly religious
lyrics. Impressively, Harper wrote or
co-wrote seven of the songs himself.
Song titles such as “Pictures of Je
sus,” “Church on Time,” “Mother
Pray” and the title track let listeners
know what they’re in for. “Where
Could 1 Go?” is classic Harper, with
soulful lyrics and exquisite guitar
riffs. “Church House Steps” is
another favorite, with a deep bass
sound coming from the Blind Boys
and an emotional Harper singing the
lyrics beautifully. “There Will Be a
Light” is a definite must for true
Harper fans.
“Tfension-filled” is how The Used
describes its newest album, “In Love
and Death.” This 41-minute, 49-sec -
ond CD is packed with rocking guitars
and screaming, strained vocals. The
Used sounds like it’s trying to be
mainstream but rebelling against the
thought of it, as romantic and sweet
lyrics about love get screamed at the
top of lead singer Bert McCracken’s
lungs. The first song on the album,
the terrible “Take It Away” is fortu
nately followed by “I Caught Fire,” a
catchy tune with mediocre lyrics. The
entire album seems to be just that —
mediocre. However, there are a couple
of songs worth a second listen, such
as “Lunacy Fringe.” The Alternative
Press called this CD “one of the most
anticipated albums of 2004. ” If that’s
true, then this fell a little short.
Har Mar Superstar’s “The Handler”
is funny, crude, funky and smooth all
at the same time. How much of that is
intentional is anyone’s guess. The
■ Forgotten television
The ghost of childhood past still
solves the greatest mysteries in life
Moral lessons and a
diverse cast are mainstays
of PBS's 'Ghostwriter'
BY DAHVI FISCHER
PULSE REPORTER
“CSI” and “Law & Order” may have
been up for Emmys, but in my book,
nobody solved a crime like the
“Ghostwriter” crew.
From discovering that Mr. Brinker
burned down his own store to figur
ing out that Janice was Max Mouse,
Tina, Jamal, Gaby, Alex and of course
Ghostwriter itself never let anyone
down with their crime-solving skills
in the heart of New York City.
The other day, a friend of mine was
at my apartment. We were rummag
ing through videos, and she came
across a Ghostwriter video. We
cracked up — I forgot I had taken that
video with me to college, and my
friend was just laughing in disbelief.
We gave each other a look, and silent
ly knew that we needed to relive our
childhood for 95 minutes.
From the beginning of the show,
with credits and the unforgettable
theme song, to the nail-biting sus
pense throughout the tape, we were
constantly reminded of how incredi
bly awesome this show was and still
remains.
The show, which ran on Sundays at
6 p.m. on public television stations
around the country in the early 1990s,
is filled with lessons of journalism,
detective work, friendship, relation
ships, trust and loads of other morals.
One standout feature is the cast of
characters — diversity is a mainstay
of the show. It offers viewers a chance
to learn about Tina’s Asian culture,
while learning about the “bodega,”
the Spanish name for the shop that
Alex and Gaby’s Mexican family
owned. The show also included an
African-American character, Jamal,
and a Caucasian, Lennie.
For me, the word “rally” still calls
to mind an image of the “Ghost
writer” team gathering to compare
notes, and it takes me back to hear the
*Ait aXY '4 U * YXYt Y
Courtesy
The PBS show
"Ghostwriter” was
a fun, campy
adventure set in
New York City.
term “word” (featured prominently in
the theme song) used as a cool way to
say “yeah.” Who can forget Calvin,
the team’s consistent enemy who al
ways tried to bring the gang down?
Every show has it’s heartthrob, and
“Ghostwriter” is no exception. “Saved
By the Bell,” had Zach Morris and
A.C. Slater. “Ghostwriter” gave us
Alejandro “Alex” Fernandez, the
adorable youth played by David
Lopez. The Columbia-born actor, cur
rently 25, made young hearts swoon.
Unfortunately, the actor, who attend
ed Rutgers University in New Jersey,
LVu < *WV<V* C*V*
hasn’t graced us with his on-screen
presence since his glorious “Ghost
writer” days, but I have looked him
up on various Web sites and am hap
py to report that he has become even
sexier with age.
Although the “Ghostwriter” days
are nothing but a memory, it will for
ever live on in my mind. Sadly, 1 will
be the first to admit that there are
times when I have anxiously antici
pated a little help from an om
nipresent, invisible friend.
dahvifischer@ daily emerald, com
«.*-* *.l.t t,J, 4.4.4*A. *.«. A.«.K
SIMMY bA 1 WORLD
Jimmy Eat World’s
latest album,
"Futures," is no
masterpiece but is
still a worthy
addition to the
band's catalogue.
chubby and balding Har Mar
Superstar sings with a strangely simi
lar voice to Justin Timberlake and
proves that he is just as talented as
that pop-tart. The smooth R&B sound
makes one want to get up and dance
and laugh at the same time. With
lyrics like “Har Mar is so sexy, he gets
all the ladies. 1 want him to touch me
cause I want to have his babies,” from
the audience-participation track
“Tf-ansit,” listeners can’t help but
chuckle. Har Mar makes up for silly
lyrics by having a truly fabulous
voice, groovy beats and a great per
sonality.
amylichty@ daily emerald., com
Saturday Market is still open for the
next three Saturdays, just a few blocks
away at the corner of 8th & Oak. Stop
by for great food, free music, fun
shopping and a cool place to
hang your jack-o-lantnern.
Local Crafts •
Every Saturday • 10 am -
www.eugenesaturdaymarket.org
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