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by A. Thomas Mamaux
Collegian Staff Writer
This space was originally reserv
ed for The Cure's new album 'Kiss
Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me'. After I got
my hands on R.E.M.'s new album
`Document' The Cure went straight
to the trash can. I got 'Document'
two days before the deadline was
due and was inspired to stay up late
to type this review because the
album is that good. I listened to the
first song 'Finest Worksong' four ,
times in a row. "The time to rise
has been engaged/good better best
to rearrange/ I'm talking here to
me alone/I listen to the finest
worksong/the finest that I've ever
heard." Michael Stipe, lead singer,
is telling the truth. It is one of the
Your key
to cultural
events at
Penn State
Behrend
finest songs.
Michael Stipe sometimes on TV
seems arrogant and long-winded,
but really he is just plain amazing.
He is the driving force of R.E.M.
His lyrics are not always clear cut,
but they always show some of his
own idealism. R.E.M., like U 2,
was one of the greatest
underground bands. Now whether
they want it or not, they will be
pushed up the charts and to the
front of the crowd. 'Document' is
short for documentary which
Michael Stipe classifies as a Corn
mercial. This album is their
commercial.
The first song 'Finest Worksong'
is an automatic winner. Bill Berry's
drums are relentless while Peter
Buck spills a load of guitar work
onto the song. Stipe's voice really
comes through strong. 'Finest
Worksong' is inspiring and the
lyrics are good.
The next song 'Welcome to the
Occupation' is a plea to change
American policies in Central
America. "Hang your freedom
higher/ listen to the congress pro
pigate the confusion/fire in the
hemisphere below." 'Exhuming
McCarthy' is about American
business that drives it point home
with live recordings from McCar
thy's speeches. 'Strange' makes
Stipe sound deranged. This song
will get a lot of airplay from the
college radio because of the cons
tant driving beat that makes the
song danceable and singable.
I think the song 'End of the
World As We Know It (And I'm
Still Fine)', is R.E.M.'s version of
a rap song gone reckless. The lyrics
are so fast that they are hard to
Whether you prefer Bach
or boogie-woogie, the
classics or comedians, Penn State-
Behrend provides programs that
are in perfect harmony with your
cultural tastes.
Cultural Series
The Wright Brothers
August 26,1987, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. Juggling, storytelling, mime and
acrobatics from a vaudeville comedy
troupe
The Astonishing Neal
August 27, 1987, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. A journey into the world of ESP
and hypnosis with the psychic entertainer.
The Phil Giordano Quartet
September 19, 1987, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. Big band jazz in the tradition of
Count Basie and Woody Herman.
Don Kamin: "Masquerade"
October 6,1987, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. The internationally acclaimed mime
creates a comic vision of American life.
The Dulcimer Music of
Kevin Roth
October 12, 1987, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. A kaleidoscope of music and poetry
t rom an innovative dulcimer player.
Pascual Olivera and
Angela Del Moral
October 30, 1987, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. Vibrant style and impeccable tech
nique inform the work of ballet and
Spanish dance artists Pascual Olivera
and Angela Del Moral.
Mr. B
November 10, 1987, 8 p.m. Winter-
green Cafe. Blues piano in the style of
masters such as Blind John Davis and
Sunnyland Slim.
Pennsylvania Dance Theatre
November 16, 1987, 8:30 p.m. Erie
Hall. Contemporary dance from a com
pany known for its talent and creativity.
Third Stream Jazz
January 21, 1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
All that jazz T , land, swing
PENNSTATE
FM Erie
catch. The beat is so fast that the
words heard are quickly forgotten.
Stipe sings "offer me solutions/of
fer me alternitives/and I will
decline" which shows us part of his
theology and why R.E.M. does not
sacrifice originality .for corn
mericial success.
`The One I Love' is the first
single and will probably be the first
video. It is a slow love song with a
twist of violence. 'King of Birds'
uses a sitar and an .army drum beat.
It is like a folk song with its
overlapping verses. 'Old
Longfellows 151' starts out with a ,
distorted guitar that reminded of
psychedelic rock. Peter Buck keeps
jabbing distortion into the song the
whole way thru. The last song
`Maps and Legends' was recorded
live. Stipe's voice is drowned out in
Jonathan Frid
January 25, 1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. Jonathan Frid, Barnabus Collins
on TV's cult classic 'Dark Shadows,"
weaves a ghoulish selection of stories
from Edgar Allen Poe, Stephen King
and others into a terrifying cloak
of horror.
Big Lou and the Move
January 30, 1988, 10 p.m. Wintergreen
Cafe. Rock around the clock with music
from the 'so's and '6o's.
James Moeser
February 7, 1988, 4 p.m. First United
Methodist Church (707 Sassafras Street).
Concert organist James Moeser, dean of
Penn State's College of Arts and Archi
tecture, gives a performance The Wash
ington Post has called "a strange and
wonderful experience:
\Tinie Burrows:
"Walk Together Children"
February 11, 1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. The tragedy and triumph of the
Black experience in America in a one
woman show of prose, poem and song.
The Hancock Chamber Players
February 20, 1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. A rich and varied repertoire of
classical music from America's only trio
of oboe, horn and piano.
CI airsea rch
March 11, 1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. Irish ballads, ditties, reels, jigs and
'war marches performed on the harp and
traditional Irish instruments.
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
March 22, 1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture Hall.
The Play's The Thing uses a variety of
theatril styles to trace the relationship
between two people through the ages.
Alpha Omega Players
April 14,1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture Hall
The Repertory Theatre of America's
national touring company, celebrating
its 20th anniversary, presents a Neil
Simon play.
Bruce 'n Bizarre
April 19, 1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. Comedy stars Scott Bruce and John
Bizarre team up in an act that includes
stand-up and sketch comedy, audience
The Beh rend
College
Fire
the beginning but recovers. I would
be a good idea to see R.E.M. live.
All of R.E.M's songs have a
great bass and drum section thanks
to Mike Mills and Bill Berry. Peter
Buck provides plenty of guitar
work. Usually a strong rhythm lac
ed with blazing leads. Plenty of
muscle here. Some may not like
Stipe's voice, complaining of a
nasal twang, but it has much im
proved since the days of 'Reckon
ing'. His voice never lacks passion.
You can tell he puts all he has into
each song. His lyrics are like no one
else's. Stipe is purely original.
Overall it is a sound album which
will spring to life if given the
chance. You better turn the stereo
up loud when you listen to 'Docu
ment'. It is naked, raw edge music
with lyrics that punch.
The Voyager Crew
September 2, 1987, 8 p.m. Erie Hall.
Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager recount
their historic nine-day, non-stop flight
around the world.
Peter James
September 3, 1987, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. Intelligence expert and ex-spy
Peter James discusses CIA operations,
the Iran-Contra scandal and how the
Soviets spy on the United States.
Rev. Arthur Langford
January 18, 1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. A moving dramatic portrayal of
Martin Luther King, Jr. marks the 20th
anniversary• of the civil rights leader's
assassination.
Dr. Alvin Poussaint
February 1,1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. Dr. Alvin Poussaint, associate
professor of psychiatry at Harvard
Medical School, is a social activist and
The Cosby Show script consultant.
Ellen Goodman
March 21, 1988, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. An evening with the Pulitizer
Prize-winner whose columns ". . . touch
readers in a very personal way, like a
reassuring squeeze of the hand..:'
(Time magazine).
George McGovern vs.
William F. Buckley, Jr.
March 28,1988, 8 p.m. Erie Hall. The
liberal former senator debates the editor
of National Review on "Resolved:
Foreign Policy is Better Entrusted to the
Republicans than the Democrats:'
Dr. Ralph Abernathy
April 12, 1987, 8 p.m. Reed Lecture
Hall. Past director of the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference, Dr.
Ralph Abernathy preaches on behalf
of racial equality and justice.
All events are free and open to
the public. For more informa
tion, please call 898-6159.
Collegi
PA
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