Soundbites

Wednesday, May 6, 1998

Soundbites

Dan Bern, "Fifty Eggs," (Work) Dan Bern has been billed as the
"best-reviewed underground artist in America today." It’s easy to
see why Bern has garnered such acclaim after listening to his
second release, "Fifty Eggs." His acoustic styles don’t really fit
into any category other than all-around good music. With his
talents as a song writer, it’s surprising that Bern’s still
underground.

"Fifty Eggs" combines well-written music and clever lyrics.
Bern’s wicked sense of humor, when added to his sharp guitar hooks,
makes for some killer songs. From the angry sounding "Tiger Woods,"
to the defiant yet subdued "Rolling Away," the disc contains
pleasurable listening material throughout. Bern’s songs chronicle
off-beat ideas, such as his friend’s desire to have sex with
Madonna or a musician’s smoking out with Jesus, while searching for
inspiration. His best lyrics come in the form of self deprecation,
which he pulls off masterfully in "One Thing Real" ("I’d like to
leave America for some place where they would / not know a word of
English and I might be understood").

Bern possesses depth as a musician, evidenced in the intense
"Jesus Freak" or the unlisted "Suzanne," a pleasant, jangly ballad
that closes the album. He doesn’t merely sit back and rest on his
lyrical talents; he augments them with great melodies. Often, it’s
just straight-up acoustic guitar work, but he also can put a song
together around other instruments, like the breezy accordion of
"One Thing Real" or in "No Missing Link," which features just about
the angriest cello solo that can be found in a rock song. Well,
just about the only cello solo that can be found, actually. Touches
like these help make "Fifty Eggs" quite an accomplishment. Brent
Hopkins A

Gang Starr, "Moment of Truth," (Noo Trybe) It’s been nine years
since Guru and Premier (otherwise known as Gang Starr) stepped into
the scene with a song called "Manifest." Now after a four-year
hiatus, the duo returns to please eager fans with their fifth
album, "Moment of Truth." Easily one of the most anticipated
hip-hop albums in years, this effort lives up to the underground
hype.

For their fifth effort, Gang Starr sticks to the formula that
made them underground legends: DJ Premier lays down hypnotic beats
while Guru drops exceptional lyrics with one of the smoothest
voices in music today. Guru describes the project perfectly on the
opening track: "The rhyme style is elevated, the style of beats is
elevated, but it’s still Guru and Premier".

Although Guru has not worked with Premier for four years (an
eternity in hip-hop), he sounds better than ever, dispelling the
myth that skills fade with time. On the song, "Royalty," Guru
displays some nice word-play over a melodic DJ Premier track
("major affect to your sector / I’m the corrector / live and direct
waving my mic like a scepter").

One of the true gems on the album, "Above the Clouds," features
a guest appearance by Inspectah Deck of the Wu-Tang Clan, the man
whose words "blow trees back and crack statues." Once again,
Premier puts together a beat that sends chills down the listener’s
spine. It also exemplifies Premier’s knack for picking the perfect
samples, this time opening with a sample from a JFK speech. To
start the second verse, Inspectah Deck comes in, and immediately
his words hit like a ton of bricks: "I leave scientists mentally
scarred / triple extra large /wild like rock stars who smash
guitars … invade your zone / ruin like ancient Rome / I span the
universe and return to earth to claim my throne."

Highlights of the 20-track album include the first single "You
Know My Steez" and "Work," a classic Premier track which leaves the
listener wishing the beat would last longer. "Moment of Truth" has
everything that a great hip-hop album should have: unforgettable
lyrics, phenomenal beats and the coming together of those elements
in a harmonious flow. Tenoch Flores A

Various Artists, "Meet the Deedles," (Mercury) While ska hangs
on to its younger audience by a string, the motion picture industry
continues to soak up its popularity. It manages to incorporate
every bubble-gum tune into their soundtracks as if the music alone
will take away from a less-than-decent film. Well, you might not be
willing to spend the $5 on a cheesy kid flick, but in the case of
"Meet the Deedles," the soundtrack carries real promise for the
those still in love with poppy tunes.

The album includes a great variety of tunes from those ska-pop
bands everyone knows and loves. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Save
Ferris and Cherry Poppin’ Daddies give the album its ska expertise
and add to the fun with their songs. Meanwhile, the less mainstream
Dance Hall Crashers and Hepcat give the album picks that almost
outshine their ska-siblings. Dance Hall Crasher’s "Lady Luck"
combines that hyper dose of vitality to real beats and a catchy
rhythm. Hepcats "I Can’t Wait" also contains a unique sound that
breaks away from the drab, monotonous hole amateur ska often falls
into.

The album’s light feel and happy bounce makes it a cool
pick-me-up when you feel like just getting silly all over again
with ska … for old time’s sake. Michelle Zubiate B

Davina, "Best of Both Worlds," (Loud) From start to finish of
"Best of Both Worlds," Davina pines, longs, laments and
contemplates love’s burning dilemmas. And while the matters of the
heart remain nothing new to R&B’s heartache-heartbreak lyrical
mode, Davina’s low-key, smoky liquid vocals keep her sound floating
high above the muck of rhythm(-less) and blues-based, whining
crooners.

With the relaxed, jazzy syncopation of Erykah Badu and the
danceable rhythms of Janet Jackson’s velvety voice, most of the 13
tracks signal for the lights to go low, the air to simmer foggy and
thick and the dance floor to clear for the cheek-to-cheek
couples.

The best of the deep-throated tracks include "So Good," with its
mysterious rattles and creeping lazy beats, and "I Can’t Help It,"
with its quicker paced, vibe-esque chords.

The collection ends on a jazzy spin with "My Cryin’ Blues,"
where throaty scats and scoobies waver with an accompaniment of
minor piano chords and hotel lounge drum tisks.

Though the rest of the songs seem to get lost as one melds into
the next, the album longs for the mood of melting and meshing,
blurring and crossing, spilling over, one right into the next.
Nerissa Pacio B+ DAN BERN

"Fifty Eggs"