2002 music and movie review
The best and
by Kevin Fallon
editor-in-chief
Good: The rock revival.
Bad: It’s already become trendy.
Bands such as the White Stripes, the Hives,
and the Strokes brought real rock ‘n’ roll back
into the spotlight and reopened America’s ears
to some fun, fresh, and raw music. The best part
is these bands made it possible for more edgy,
dangerous bands to come from the underground
and find a larger audience.
The down side is, like everything new and fun,
the music industry has already sunk it’s vampire
fangs into this genuine rock ‘n’ roll, made it
trendy, and sucked the lifeblood out of a great
thing. Mediocre knock-offs, such as the Vines
were the first to jump on the bandwagon. The
Vines are to rock what Candlebox was to grunge
and what Sum 41 is to punk: a cheap knock off.
But unlike other genres, rock ‘n’ roll is not a
trend, people are just remembering how great it
is. The masses have spoken: rock ‘n’ roll will
never die.
Good: Eminem brings the controversy.
You either love him or hate him; either way
The best albums
Wilco: “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”
The record label originally did not
think ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” would
be a commercial success and re
jected the album. The company told
Wilco to fix the album or leave the
label. Wilco, being a band who
doesn’t compromise, chose the lat
ter. In an ironic twist of fate, Wilco
made their best-selling album, and
more importantly, the most beauti
ful record of the year.
worst in music
to say anything shocking or edgy. That’s what
music should be about. Looking back, it did seem
a little empty without him.
Bad: Avril Lavigne the anti-Britney.
Lavigne was annoyingly marketed as the anti-
Britney with such songs as “Complicated” and
“SkBer Boi.” Not convinced? Well, Britney
totally dresses like a preppy and Avril so totally
dresses like a skater chick. Now do you see?
Lavigne claims she writes her own songs. It
doesn’t really matter. She is still a product like
Britney. At least Britney has her looks going for
her.
Good: Tom Petty smashes the industry.
With his latest CD, “The Last DJ,” Petty blasts
corporate rock and the evils of the music industry.
Although, music has made Petty himself a bit of
money, its still positive that a big name stood up
for the little guy. Companies charge $2O for a
CD and then wonder why people download
music. Forgive us if we don’t feel guilty for
stealing. Power to the people.
Ugly. The dull Erie radio.
The rest of the country embraced new, edgier,
k - B he ff Er
Of 2002
radio stations that play “new” music stayed
fixated on commercial mall rock such as Creed
and Nickleback, boy bands, and played-out nu
metal. When will Erie radio realize that people
don’t want to hear the same old thing. They need
to take a chance and mix up their music selection.
Remember when radio was supposed to keep
listeners on the cutting edge of music? I don’t
either.
Ugly. Still no student radio station at Behrend.
For years, there have been rumors that the
students will finally get their own radio station
to run. It still hasn’t happened.
Not only would a student radio station provide
a place for students to share music they like; it
would also give students much needed
experience. Although, WPSE promises to keep
students glued to their speakers listening to stock
market reports. Behrend rocks!
Good. Christina Aguilera gets dirty.
Ok, so Christina Aguilera has always been on
the dirty side, but this year she gave the phrase
“scantily clad” new meaning. Her latest release
“Stripped,” is a departure from her “Genie in a
Bottle” days. On one level this gets a “good” for
One of the most successful produc
tion teams, The Neptunes, release
their debut album as a breath of fresh
hip-hop air. "In Search 0f...” brings
some soul, funk, and politics back to
hip-hop. Word to the N.E.R.D. Es
sential line: “You can’t be me, I’m a
rock star. I’m standin’ on the top of a
cop car”
fZm -4
gy; ■
N.E.R.D. “In Search 0f...”
all the homy guys out there.
But on a more serious level, it represents a
break from the teen-pop image. Unlike Britney
Spears, who remains schizophrenic about
whether she is a good girl selling herself to teens
or a naughty girl selling herself to adults,
Aguilera has made up her mind. This represents
what we have all been waiting for: the end of the
kiddie-music trend. No one shows this more
clearly, than Aguilera.
Good: The new Nirvana song is released.
The surviving members of Nirvana and
Courtney Love were finally able to settle the legal
issues surrounding the unreleased song, “You
Know You’re Right.” Okay, so maybe it is just
one song, but it was what fans have been waiting
for since “In Utero.”
PHOTOS: Top form left: The White Stripes
(from NME.com), Tom Petty (rollingstone.com),
Christina Aguilera (blender.com), Eminem
(eminemworld.com). Bottom from left: Avril
Lavine (rollingstone.com), The Strokes
(thestrokes.org), Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
(rollingstone.com), The Vines
(rollingstone.com).
Coldplay: “A Rush of Blood to
the Head”
Brit-rockers Coldplay follow up
their 2000 debut “Parachutes”
with an elegant and passionate al
bum. “A Rush of Blood” is little
more in touch with the rock side
but no less romantic. Essential
tracks: “The Scientist” “Green
Eyes” “Politik”
Honorable mention:
■ f
Foo Fighters: “One by One”
Red Hot Chili Peppers: “By the
The Yea Yea Yeas: “Self-titled”
Eminem: “The Eminem Show”
and “8 Mile Soundtrack”
The Roots: “Phrenology”
The Hives: “Veni Vidi Vicious”
Bright Eyes: “Lifted or The Story
is in the Ground, Keep Your Ear
to the Soil”
Pearl Jam: “Riot Act”
section b
Kevin Fallon
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