Sound Bites

  MEST "Wasting Time"

Mest “Wasting Time” Maverick
Records

Mest has emerged on the punk scene, sounding perilously close to
Green Day, wailing on about love in a fashion that is part Sid and
Nancy and part junior high. In songs such as “What’s
the Dillio” and “Drawing Board,” listeners are
confronted with the infatuation that is part and parcel with puppy
love and irrational childhood crushes. “Change,” on the
other hand, is more ska-inspired and has a laid-back Sunday picnic
feel that explodes into fast guitars and pounding drums. Tony
Lovato (on lead vocals) questions what he can do to salvage a
relationship that is constantly changing at the hands of a fickle
woman. Half of the song has listeners bopping along with its easy
rhythms while the other half has them rocking out. Mest delves into
familiar subject matter in a very trite and pedestrian fashion, but
that is not where the value of this band lies. The energy and
passion with which they pound out their infectious rhythms is what
will hook nearly anyone in favor of moshing and punk appeal. The
intros of many of the songs show a hint of how eclectic the band
can be, but the music always reverts back to the same urgent
pounding. “Wasting My Time” starts off in the form of a
ballad with light and airy guitars and light tapping of the drums
in the background. It could easily be mistaken for the likes of a
Celine Dion pop masterpiece, if not for Lovato’s vocals. Of
course, all of this comes crashing down in a fury of noise.
“Random Arrival” has an electric guitar intro that is
quite obviously heavy metal, but it all gives way to the same Green
Day-inspired ferocity. Tony, Matt, Jeremiah and Nick are four
punkers who look and sound more SoCal than their true south-side
Chicago roots reveal. Their Midwestern roots cannot, however, be
forgotten, especially since the band found the inspiration for its
name from a case of Milwaukee beer. Mest’s “Wasting
Time” is one album that may not make the political statement
of the moment but it will definitely set the mood for those raucous
and light-hearted moments. Aphrodite Manousos Rating:
5

Black Eyed Peas
“Bridging the Gap”
Interscope Records

The Black Eyed Peas are back again with its long-awaited
sophomore release. Its 1998 debut, “Behind the Front,”
yielded the party pleaser “Joints & Jams,” in which
the Peas weaved rhymes and tossed down beats like nothing else.
Their new album, “Bridging the Gap,” is itself just as
enjoyable an experience with a funky blend of jazz, soul, hip hop
and Latin beats. Guest appearances include Wyclef Jean, rap
powerhouse De La Soul, Grammy winner Macy Gray and a repeat
performance by Kim Hill (“Joints & Jams”). The
subsequent cuts, like the rest of the record, are upbeat bits of
musical genius. The Peas are quick to point out that the guest
appearance of Gray is not a publicity stunt. As group member Will I
Am was quick to point out to MTV News, Gray appeared on the
trio’s first album, which was released before her solo debut.
Unfortunately, the record is not without its rough spots, but
thankfully these are not too frequent. It would be wise to skip
“On My Own” and the title track, “Bridging the
Gap,” both of which lack the individuality of the rest of the
album. The singles “BEP Empire” and
“Weekends,” however, were made for dancing ““ but
then again, so is the rest of the album. Overall, this strong
sophomore effort bridges the gap between various musical genres.
Dria Fearn Rating: 8

Papa Roach
“Infest”
Dreamworks Records

Infestation is a common problem with ants and other insects, but
with Papa Roach’s latest release, infest is what this band is
doing to the world. “Infest,” the apt title of its CD,
contains 11 songs for listeners to feast on, including such
already-released hits as, “Last Resort” and
“Broken Home.” Both songs are very personal to lead
singer and songwriter Coby Dick, and appear to be reflective of
other songs on the album, all of which have meaningful lyrics.
While its latest release, “Broken Home,” concerns the
always prominent issue of divorce and its effects on children,
“Between Angels and Insects” focuses on consumer
culture. Variety is the spice of the album, with each song
presenting different themes and beats. The song titled
“Revenge,” for instance, is about a woman stuck in an
abusive relationship whose only way out is through eventually
killing her boyfriend. Overall it appears as if Papa Roach’s
lyrics grapple with many of the myths and questions found in modern
culture. “Binge” focuses on an alcoholic’s need
to drink, while “Tightrope” deals with the pressures of
young adults and walking the fine line between what is considered
right and what is considered wrong. With Jerry Horton on guitar,
Tobin Esperance on bass and Dave Buckner in control of the drums,
Papa Roach seems to have risen from the doldrums of rock music into
the limelight. Its tour schedule reflects such popularity: the band
just finished a tour with Korn and Powerman 5000, and is already
starting anew with an aggression-management tour starring Limp
Bizkit and Eminem. A unique sound that mixes punk-like aspects with
rock, Papa Roach’s style is the perfect companion after a
long, hard, not to mention bad, day. Its songs are loud and upbeat
with enough variety to keep the CD playing from one song to the
next. Barbara McGuire Rating: 9

Shaggy
“Hot Shot"
MCA

Shaggy’s latest album offers an eclectic compilation that
combines reggae rhythms, hip hop influence and pop appeal. The
native Jamaican is assisted by the writing and producing team of
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (who have worked with the likes of Mariah
Carey and Janet Jackson). Jam and Lewis’s contributions
include the club-driven single “Dance and Shout.”
Shaggy’s lyrical ability complements the wonderfully chosen
sampled hooks, resulting in quite a musical accomplishment. He is
joined by a slew of artists, including T-Lo (of the R&B trio
Next) and up-and-coming pop singer Samantha Cole. Shaggy last
garnered the attention of the mainstream Top 40 scene in 1998, when
he appeared on the original motion picture soundtrack for
“How Stella Got Her Grove Back” with the Jam and
Lewis-produced “Luv Me, Luv Me,” which also appears on
this release. Other standouts are the title track “Hot
Shot,” the pop-infused slow jam “Angel” and the
socially conscious “Keep “˜n It Real.” The slow
jams are gems, but unfortunately the album’s strengths are in
the upbeat dance cuts, of which there are too few, leaving the
listener wanting more. Ultimately, Shaggy has the natural ability
to lay down vocals in rhythmically satisfying ways, making the
record enjoyable, but the missing dance tunes leaves something to
be desired. Dria Fearn Rating: 7