Page 10 Friday, September 13, 1985 The Capitol Times
Sting’s debut solo LP: Jazzy
Stings’ first solo album,“The
Dream of the Blue Turtles” is
as unusual as its name. Produc
ed during the rumored break
up of The Police, it seems that
Sting is turning away from his
recent musical success and
moving toward other styles of
music.
I think the biggest surprise on
the album is that Sting chose
not to play bass, except for one
song, “Moon Over Bourbon
Street,” rather, he chose to play
guitar. Fans who have seen his
video of “Message in a Bottle”
know that Sting is a fine guitar
player. His guitar style has un
doubtedly been influenced by
Police guitarist Andy Summers
who is known throughout the
music industry for his simple
guitar lines. An example of this
can be heard on Sting’s “For
tress Around Your Heart” in
which the song begins with a I encountered yet another
simple yet very effective guitar surprise when hearing some of
line. As the other instruments the lyrics on “Dream of the
enter, this line becomes the bass Blue Turtles.” They are simple,
of the verse. Sting switches to straightforward and often
a funky guitar beat during the blatantly political.,.ln “Rys
cfkirtftf ; ar* ta&felW"^Mrfs*HSting dims Hhaf ®tn£re
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ihuaat&oaaat,
counterpoint to the rythym of
the song.
Sting, a former school
teacher, composed all the songs
on “Dream of the Blue
Turltes.” Although a couple of
the tunes are reminiscent of The
Police, others are entirely uni
que. “Childrens Crusade” for
example, becomes almost sym
phonic with its arrangement of
horns, but midway through it
becomes a contemporary jazz
jam highlighting the playing of
saxophonist Bradford Marsalis.
Also in this vein is the title
track, “Dream of the Blue
Turtles” which is a song that
can only be called Jazz. Those
who are surprised at this em
phasis Sting puts on Jazz
throughout the album should
know that Sting was a Jazz
musician before joining The
Police.
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Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 232-9794
Fox’s
Market
EMMZEZ
is no historical precedent/ to
put the words in the mouth of
the president/ there’s no such
thing as a winnable war/it’s a
lie we don’t believe anymore.”
Our only hope according to
Sting is “if the Russians love
their children too.” The nuclear
age is addressed in “We Work
the Black Seam.” It says: one
day in a nuclear age/ they may
understand our rage/ they build
machines that they can’t con
trol/ and bury the waste in a
great big hole...but deadly for
twelve thousand years is carbon
fourteen.
Despite the “heavy”
messages and a reliance on
“higher” musical forms, Sting
has released an album that is
simply fun to listen to. Check
it out.
Did you know?
Any student who works for
the university - in the work
study program, graduate as.sis T
tant program of on wage
payroll is
tlife $25 pdncing permit feel
Any student who was
unaware of this exemption and
has already purchased a park
ing sticker can apply for a re
fund at police services in
CRAGS Building, according to
Supervisor of Safety and Police
services Charles Aleksy.
Refunds will take anywhere
form six to eight weeks accor
ding to Aleksy, and persons ap
plying for exemption should
bring some form of verification
of their employment at the
university
Vlkl>
- Jon Dunnavent
\ln&i
Reconstruction
REM at their best
If one phrase could describe
the band R.E.M. it would have
to be “electronic folk punk
Georgia style.” Their third
album, “Fables Of The
Reconstruction” is un
mistakably R.E.M.
The Athens based band con
sists of lead vocalist Michael
Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck,
bassist Mike Mills and drum
mer Bill Berry. On R.E.M.’s
first two albums “Murmer”
and “Reckoning,” Don Dixon
(producer for Let’s Active) and
Mitch Easter (member of Let’s
Active) handled the production
chores adequately as Rolling
Stone magazine voted
“Murmer” the number one
best new album - 1983 and the
band number one best group -
1983. Record magazine gave its
praises as well: “Murmer”
number one top debut album -
1983 and number three best
album - 1983.
“Murmer” got some mild
commercial success but virtual
ly no airplay beyond college
radio. Their 1984 release
“Reckoning” sold better than
“Murmer” and two cuts,
“South Central Rain” and
“Pretty Persuasion” got some
airplay.
This time out Joe Boyd
covered the production in Lon
don and “Reconstruction”
comes across sounding very
polished^making excellent use
of string and keyboard effects.
There are eleven tracks on
“Recontstruction” none of
which are searing haFd rock
tunes. R.E.M.’s musical style is
a soft of new wave with a coun
try influence. The Erst two cuts
on the album seta mellow tone,
but the third, “Driver” is-an
upbeat danceable cow-punk
song. If you had a tamborine it
would be difficult not to join
in.
“Life And How To Live It”
is a very upbeat tune with a bass
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line reminiscent of “Pretty Per
suasion.” The ending though is
a bit to abrupt for my liking.
Starting off the flipside is the
current single “Can’t Get There
From Here.” Although it is a
good lively song with excellent
guitar work, one listen tells you
it’s the obvious commercial bid
on the album. The next tune is
a catchy, light melody called
“Green Grow The Rushes.” I
wouldn’t be surprised to hear
John Denver do a version. The
B side’s third cut “Kohoutex”
has a guitar sound similar to the
sixties group The Byrd’s.
The fourth song is the only
disappointing track on the
album. Instrumentally the vocal
work turns me off after the first
chorus. At 2:41 its the shortest
song on the LP. Just as well, its
not your typical R.E.M.
quality.
The last two songs on
“Reconstruction” are pretty
laid back. The last tune
“Wendell Gee” is my candidate
for best song on the album.
Subtle keyboard, easy banjo
pickin’ and soft violin come
together really well in this relax
ing country rork ballad. Pic
tures of Americana come ,to
mind just as in the group
America’s “Ventura
Highway.”
Fables Of The Reconstruc
tion is a great album, blending
country* and liteVr *wave in
fluences into a finely polished
rock package. Put on the head
phones, kick back in an easy
chair and enjoy. If you’re tired
of the common place, check out
the R.E.M. releases, you won’t
be disappointed.
Serious R.E.M. fans should
also check out the B side of the
single “You Can’t Get There
From Here” which contains the
previously unreleased “Band
wagon.”
Steve Roberts
* . '-4. ■