Monday, 7/7/97 Soundbites
The Seahorses "Do It Yourself" (Geffen) Finally, the long
awaited release by ex-Stone Roses guitarist/songwriter John Squires
is here! "Do It Yourself" is the debut of the British guitar
maestro’s new band, the Seahorses, which picks up where the Stone
Roses left off on their last release, "Second Coming." "Do It
Yourself" is the work of a master songwriter, clearly influenced by
such greats as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Paul Weller. While too
many British pop bands have copied such influences and styles with
little variation or character, the Seahorses at least make it
distinguishable from those they emulate with their flair for guitar
(and sometimes synthesized) experimentation and harmonizing. The
highlight of the album is summer-cruiser "Love is the Law,"
complete with an infectious chorus and climactic jam. "Love Me and
Leave Me," co-written by fellow Manchester pop star Liam Gallagher
(singer of Oasis), shines with contagious hooks and lyrical depth.
"The Boy in the Picture"and "Round the Universe" also stand out on
this 45-minute work of polished and sophisticated rock. Mike
Prevatt A- Various Artists "Batman and Robin" (Warner Bros) Holy
Batsounds! Predicted to be one the summer’s big sellers, the
soundtrack features enough alternative and R&B acts to satisfy
anyone’s tastes, provided you’re past your retro-music phase. The
offerings on the album are eclectic, fresh and simply impressive.
The Smashing Pumpkins are in prime form with their computerized and
rhythmic thrash piece, "The End is the Beginning is the End." R.
Kelly gives us his most sweeping and mature ballad yet with "Gotham
City." And R.E.M. lends its glammy stadium-rocker, "Revolution."
Others include works by Underworld, Me’shell Ndegeocello and Bone
Thugs-N-Harmony. Whether these songs were actually inspired by or
have anything to do with the movie remains to be seen. However,
taking away the bat symbol still leaves you with one out-of-bounds
compilation that hurdles you into the future of pop music. Mike
Prevatt A- phajja "seize the moment" (Warner Bros) While the
group’s name means "new beginning" in Arabic, there doesn’t seem to
be anything new about this R&B trio. With drum beats and
rattles that could’ve been picked up from Aaliyah’s "Four Page
Letter" in phajja’s "This One," and a harmonious intro to "Why Do
Ya Wanna Pick On Me" that sounds like Prince’s "7," these sisters
of Chicago must have left their originality in the Midwest. The
album tries to return to the days when breathy ballads bombarded
the charts. "So Long" and "Sad Story" create soothing refrains to
hum. But whether the album will travel further than the confines of
a car is doubtful. The three airy voices intertwine so lightly and
slowly that even the slight tapping of cymbals overpowers the bland
blend of perfectly on-key yet completely undynamic harmonies. While
heartache-centered lyrics are inevitable in the world of R&B,
they wither in the hands of phajja. The most original song is "Ohh
Ahh," but even then, painful flashes of Alvin and the Chipmunks’
version of "Ooh Eii, Ooh Ah Ah" intrude upon the initial relief.
Keep the album in the glove compartment for those traffic days when
a numbing sensation appears to be the only way out, but otherwise,
leave this "new beginning" group to start over. Nerissa Pacio
C+