Thursday, April 11, 1991 Morissey's latest boring and uninspired b Brad Kane The Collegian It's been four years since the breakup of one of music's most revered acts, The Smiths. Four long, uplifting, happy years. You see, one needs The Smiths for the purposes of bringing depression and melancholy into one's life. It's a function that has come unfulfilled by any contemporary act. But former Smiths' lead singer Morrissey is still trying to convey thoughts of doom as a solo act. The problem here is that he's just not doing that great of a job. On his second album of original material, Kill Uncle (the first was 1988's Viva Hate), Morrissey comes up a bit short in terms of quality once again. It's been this way for the past few years for one of the industry's more highly regarded vocalists. A slew of hit singles through 1988-1989 gave Morrissey a solid start on his solo career, but the past two years have been a bit dull. Maybe the well has run dry. Maybe Morrissey needs the services of Smiths' guitarist Johnny Man once more. After all, Man wrote the Satu day Night at 41 i ep o rt 6% 1 0; 14. dv e o f b C# ggae Food Music Dancing Prizes S pm 12 am Sponsored by: Student Programming Council Commuter Council Residence Life Staff accompanying music to Morrissey's words while in The Smiths. The words today are pretty much the same - it's the music that's gotten boring and uninspired. On Kill Uncle, for instance, the tone of the album is dominantly traditional. Just by looking at the title of the track "There's a Place In Hell For Me and My Friends," a prospective listener can tell that this will not be an upbeat piece of work. "Hell" is one of the better tracks on the record, making good usage of the combination of piano and strings that Morrissey has prepared into his music. The song brings to memory some of the more melancholy Smiths' titles, most prominently the beautifully crafted "Asleep" from Louder Than Bombs (1987). Morrissey is naturally at his best when singing of tales of woe, which explains why the album's finer points are depressing tunes, such as "King Leer" and the dreamy "Driving Your Girlfriend Home." But as Morrissey has branched out since leaving The Smiths, his repertoire has expanded, leading the way for Comes to 13thrend The Collegian the entry of some more upbeat, shall I say danceable (gasp!) tunes into his material. Songs such as "Our Frank," the record's first single, and "Sing Your Life," possibly the most optimistic song Morrissey has ever penned, qualify in this category. To top it off, the above two tracks are two of the better on the album. (Ahh-What is the world coming to? Well, at least Morrissey hasn't become as happy, and somewhat annoying, as, oh, REM shall we say). This happy stuff isn't all good though, of course. The song "Found, Found, Found" tries to take the same path forged by the above two songs, but fails miserably due to its drumming bass line and loud, blaring guitar - an element slightly out of place in a Morrissey song. Well, where does one turn these days for that soothing brand of depressive pop that at least the ears of this reviewer crave so much? Nowhere in the present, that's for sure. Indeed, there is no substitute for the real thing. Hand me that Smiths' tape, would you please? L,.-..-- .... .. ...:.-'.--,-.. -- --( kr .. 6 , - i.-...:\,\;.%-: &1 1 °"""i SQ DUB IA Up close with... Name: Ursula Davis Birthdate: May 12 Birthplace: Berlin, Germany. Current job position: Communication. Very first job: Art, theater critic for Berlin's daily paper Telegraf. Secret vice: Lust for double chocolate mousse. Three things that can always be found in your refrigerator: Nail polish, water, baking soda. Movie you could see again any time: Berlin Alexander Platz by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Book you could read again any time: "Iliad." Whom you would most like to have dinner with: Salvador Dali (1904-1989). Your ultimate dream vacation: On top of a palm tree in Bora - Bora. What actress would you have portray yourself in a movie based on your life?: Whoopi Goldberg. Behrend's best kept secret: The Gourmet Cappuccino Cafe'. Accomplishment you are proudest: Moving from Paris, France to Pittsburgh. People may be surprised to kn0w...1 have an accent. Things you could do without: Racism, sexism, botulism er 1. „ t he, Barbato's 57 . ; Italian Restaurant 0 7 3512 Buffalo Rd. id, Wesleyville :4 lobo,— 899-3423 **WE DELIVER OUR ENTIRE MENU** Large Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza for Only $6.99 plus tax ot.******. CONGRATULATIONS to the new Brothers of Sigma Tau Gamma HA=ll "Nxlzylplk" Gwin Paul "Bocephus" Harpst William "Cornelius" Herriott Julio "Jerky Treat" Lergier Robert "Vibrator" Mannion Andrew "Epilady" Richardson Kenneth "Emission" Sharek (Hi Pat!) Darrin "DeCon" Sloan Marvin "Butnik" Snider William "Spud" Sybert Michael "Beeker" Zablotny Page Assistant Professor of Expires 4/18/91
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