11011: Conan's Reviews
By: Conan the Agrarian, Disco Lord of Tulsa, w/ Input By omnicolorNow, Digital Darkness has a monthly book, movie, and music review. The reviews are of lesser-and-greater-known media, so expect some names you know, and some you don't. Hopefully, you'll get to enjoy something you never heard of before.
1. Music
A. Puff Daddy, "Missing You"
I really didn't know what to think about this song when I first heard it. Sting, I am sure, would be amazed to hear his song translated into rap format. Musically, it flows, because the original melody of "Watching You" (the Police) has a sonorous flow to it. The rapping of Puff Daddy is also low-key (almost crooning as opposed to more blaring vocal rap such as that of the departed Tupac Shakur). Needless to say, it had a nice ring to it, and on that note (no pun intended) I liked it.
I, however, disliked the subject matter, because I felt that the lyricism was too maudlin and forced. In other words, to cash in on the grief surrounding the notorious B.I.G.'s death, an elegy was composed and immediately mass-marketed. While Puff may well feel intense grief, I sincerely doubt that he would make it into a marketed song this quickly. Also, the musical genre seems record-company-induced. I don't see any Police influence on rap or even hip-hop. While rap, hip-hop, industrial, and techno all have influences from post-goth bands like Kraftwerk and New Order (Ministry and Flava Flav sample Kraftwerk, while Quincy Jones ran the label for New Order), I see no influence from cheap 80's rock-pop in rap in general. However, I do suspect that Puff Daddy's record label is a subsidiary of the same label that the Police used; thus, when the execs decide that nostalgia and elegy sells, they dig into the bin of old washed-up stars, find a melody, add a forced lyric, and sell it. End of story.
In conclusion: Enjoy it for the sound, not for what it really is; a poor attempt to squeeze the last bit of money out of fans.
Music = 4 nipples
Content = 2.5 nipples.
B. Depeche Mode, "Ultra" (Mute/Lib/Geffen, 1997)
This album was a delight on all accounts, surprising me. Because of frontman David Gahan's ongoing drug problems, I thought the band would end. Because of the sappy, analog "Songs Of Faith and Devotion" I thought that the music would become commercialized neo-grunge. Because of the hideously stiff Devotional tour, I thought that the band had become too old to perform.
I was wrong on all counts. The band did survive, Gahan ostensibly cleaned up and minus one member, Alan Wilder (who never played an instrument anyway, his role was soundboard man) continued. While certainly commercialized in the sense that they played "The Tonight Show", their music has returned to an older Depeche mode sound, one that evokes memories of "Black Celebration." The tonal quality is very mellow and smooth, almost "creamy" although the use of minor keys in such songs as "Useless" or "Sister of Night" imply that Depeche Mode remains depressed and gothified for a while yet. Combine that with Gahan's singing of dark lyrics, and Goths will have a treat to enjoy. I particularly enjoyed "It's No Good" (second single) and the many, many instrumental pieces (Jazz thieves, Uselink, etc.). Depeche Mode instrumentals have always been wonderful as b-sides to singles (examples include Oberkorn, Sibeling, Memphisto, and so forth). The inclusion of many instrumentals on the album as well as on singles (Slowblow and Painkiller), plus the excellent remixes by Hardfloor and One Inch Punch make the album and the associated singles must-buys for fans and newcomers alike.
Conclusion: although mellow and a little slower, it's certainly great music, especially if you like goth (think Bauhaus or Dead Can Dance), not the shit like Marilyn Manson. And you though DM would go the way of 808 state...
Also, I recommend that DM fans and Trance fans listen to "Trancemode Express 101," a trance tribute to DM. The first and last track are absolutely PHENOMENAL! Hard-driving beats, subtle synth-string, and powerful bass lines compliment "Behind the Wheel" and "Master and Servant" respectively. The latter has made me a Latex Empire fan for life. The two vocal tracks, "Get The Balance Right" and "Fools" are great too!
Music: 7.5 nipples
Content: 6 nipples (a bit too heavy for me)
Trancemode Express 101: Music: 8.5 nipples
Content: 8.5 nipples
C. Various Artists/D.J. Oakenfold/Perfecto/Perfecto Fluoro, "Fluoro"
(Perfecto, Perfecto Fluoro, and Sony, 1997)
This son of a bitch cost me $35. A double CD, it contains some great techno, particularly trance and a little breakbeat. The peculiarity is that in between some tracks, classical-ish music, such as "Craven Leaves" from "The Secret Garden" is played to lend ambience to an otherwise hard-pounding party album. Don't expect a lot of lyrics, but enjoy the best of Red Sun, Moon, Juno Reactor, etc. as well as wonderful scores such as "Little Buddha" (from the insufferable Keanu Reaves film). My personal favorites are "This Love" (Red Sun), "Jungle High" (a REALLY fast-pounding piece from Juno Reactor), "Prophase" (great trance piece from Transa), and the last track on the second CD whose name escapes me (drum & bass/jungle/acid jazz). In other words, it appeals to all styles of techno, and there is even a funny pseudo-classical piece by, of all singers, Bjork. In fact, it is the only vocal piece of the entire compilation, save the sampling of dance hall song "Banks of Babylon".
Disappointments: Besides its incredible price, some of the classical pieces (such as one from "Dracula") were SO slow and mellow that they left me almost asleep. Furthermore, this isn't something you can listen to in one stretch. Listen to one CD, identify your favorite songs, and listen to the other one another day. Otherwise, the music will simply numb your mind. While different from each other, techno is techno, and WILL hypnotize you worse than most infomercials.
In conclusion: Worth the buy, but because of price and layout problems I qualify it as "excellent," not "exceptional."
Music: 9.5 nipples (Pick of the month!)
Content: 8.5 nipples (numbs the mind)
D. Verve Pipe, "The Freshmen"
Three words: GET OVER IT. Useless depression, ten thousand different versions of the fucking song, and dumb lyrics ("She was touching her face"... so what?) make this song a chore to listen to. When the vocals begin to get an edge (the third or fourth chorus) you expect the guitar riffs to become hard and harsh, but instead they remain the same. In other words, this song has the hints of an angry edge which could redeem it, but never crosses that edge. Too bad.
In conclusion: Sappy lyrics and sluggish music which reaches its hypothetical climax two minutes after the song actually ends. P-U, and a double shit on Verve Pipe for submitting to play on the Jenny McCarthy show.
Music: 3 nipples
Content: 1 nipple
E. Erasure. "Cowboy" (WB, 1997)
A profound disappointment. Most people remember Erasure as the poppy synth-techno band of the early 80's. Songs like "Who needs love like that?" and "Oh L'amour", while sappy in lyrics, had primitive enough sounds to make it seem dancey. Later on, with "Chorus," Erasure met what I later realized as its climax. Songs like "Chorus" (in a trance CD Maxi single), "Breath of Life," and "Love to Hate You" actually HAD a breath of life in them. Now I love to hate later erasure. While the Capella remixes of "Always," "Run to the Sun," and "I Love Saturday" made their next album tolerable, and while their ABBA tribute album was amusing, their last two albums have been too damn lovey-dovey. This album is a prime example.
Perhaps the fact that Andy Bell has HIV has made him very introspective, but a lot of these songs have become even creamier versions of their first albums. Songs like "In my Arms" and "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" are great songs to play in a dimmed room to champagne, but aren't the dance beats I'm used to. Call me an old timer! Plus, the music is SO refined, SO smooth, that it puts you to sleep! Again, great music for prospective fucking, but not something to play in your car. I must make a confession, though; because Erasure led the techno-pop craze during the New Wave days of the 80's, they are light-years ahead of the rest; even though the music is smoother than smooth jazz on valium, you cannot possibly mistake them for any other band who ever played. It is precisely BECAUSE of this level of sophisticatin that they are so smooth and flowing. While the flow of music may unsettle you in it's unnatural perfection, you can't place why because you've never heard music of this calibre before. Even at their worst, Erasure is better at what they do than most modern-generation bands.
What about the remixes, you ask? Well, I took the opportunity to listen to the remix of "In My Arms" and I am sad to say it is a clone of the "Deep Club" remixes of U2's "Discotheque" and Pet Shop Boys "Se a vida ‚". There is only one saving grace: Andy Bell's operatic voice. That man can SING, and it amazes me that he can.
Conclusion: Not dancey. Not peppy. Not poppy. Bad remixes. Great vocals. Great for romantic evenings. Caveat emptor; this is not Erasure like Erasure defined itself so long ago. Yet, the "soft" Erasure is still distinct from any other band I have ever heard, and I must give credit for that. If you like soft and slow, this is for you. Otherwise, stock up on back albums, I think we're in for soft times ahead.
Music: 5.5 nipples (sappy but still VERY sophisticated)
Content: 4 nipples (too goddamn creamy and corny)
2. Books
A. "The Power of Myth" (Bill Moyers/Joseph Campbell, 1987)
A candid interview betwen genuine friends, this book expresses Joseph Campbell's study of myth in a sociological and psychological setting in a very intimate way. While his books in the "Masks of God" series are very verbose and jargonistic, and while his lectures have been insufferably boring, this interview gets the point across with no problem. Study of how chimps react to storms, by having dominance displays as if the sky were the "alpha male ape" show the first beginnings of mythology. Historical progression shows the relation of the god archetype to aspects of our psyche, and the book in general is an excellent illustration of how the primitive human desires of love, war, and fear of death become manifest in our dreams and myths.
This book sparked my interest in myth, plus it is an excellent way to broaden one's horizons. i can not stress the wonderfulness of this book any more; truly, one can "get the meaning of it all" after one reading.
Form: 8.5 nipples (interview flows and is easy to read)
Content: 10 nipples (Pick of the month!)
1. Music
A. Puff Daddy, "Missing You"
I really didn't know what to think about this song when I first heard it. Sting, I am sure, would be amazed to hear his song translated into rap format. Musically, it flows, because the original melody of "Watching You" (the Police) has a sonorous flow to it. The rapping of Puff Daddy is also low-key (almost crooning as opposed to more blaring vocal rap such as that of the departed Tupac Shakur). Needless to say, it had a nice ring to it, and on that note (no pun intended) I liked it.
I, however, disliked the subject matter, because I felt that the lyricism was too maudlin and forced. In other words, to cash in on the grief surrounding the notorious B.I.G.'s death, an elegy was composed and immediately mass-marketed. While Puff may well feel intense grief, I sincerely doubt that he would make it into a marketed song this quickly. Also, the musical genre seems record-company-induced. I don't see any Police influence on rap or even hip-hop. While rap, hip-hop, industrial, and techno all have influences from post-goth bands like Kraftwerk and New Order (Ministry and Flava Flav sample Kraftwerk, while Quincy Jones ran the label for New Order), I see no influence from cheap 80's rock-pop in rap in general. However, I do suspect that Puff Daddy's record label is a subsidiary of the same label that the Police used; thus, when the execs decide that nostalgia and elegy sells, they dig into the bin of old washed-up stars, find a melody, add a forced lyric, and sell it. End of story.
In conclusion: Enjoy it for the sound, not for what it really is; a poor attempt to squeeze the last bit of money out of fans.
Music = 4 nipples
Content = 2.5 nipples.
B. Depeche Mode, "Ultra" (Mute/Lib/Geffen, 1997)
This album was a delight on all accounts, surprising me. Because of frontman David Gahan's ongoing drug problems, I thought the band would end. Because of the sappy, analog "Songs Of Faith and Devotion" I thought that the music would become commercialized neo-grunge. Because of the hideously stiff Devotional tour, I thought that the band had become too old to perform.
I was wrong on all counts. The band did survive, Gahan ostensibly cleaned up and minus one member, Alan Wilder (who never played an instrument anyway, his role was soundboard man) continued. While certainly commercialized in the sense that they played "The Tonight Show", their music has returned to an older Depeche mode sound, one that evokes memories of "Black Celebration." The tonal quality is very mellow and smooth, almost "creamy" although the use of minor keys in such songs as "Useless" or "Sister of Night" imply that Depeche Mode remains depressed and gothified for a while yet. Combine that with Gahan's singing of dark lyrics, and Goths will have a treat to enjoy. I particularly enjoyed "It's No Good" (second single) and the many, many instrumental pieces (Jazz thieves, Uselink, etc.). Depeche Mode instrumentals have always been wonderful as b-sides to singles (examples include Oberkorn, Sibeling, Memphisto, and so forth). The inclusion of many instrumentals on the album as well as on singles (Slowblow and Painkiller), plus the excellent remixes by Hardfloor and One Inch Punch make the album and the associated singles must-buys for fans and newcomers alike.
Conclusion: although mellow and a little slower, it's certainly great music, especially if you like goth (think Bauhaus or Dead Can Dance), not the shit like Marilyn Manson. And you though DM would go the way of 808 state...
Also, I recommend that DM fans and Trance fans listen to "Trancemode Express 101," a trance tribute to DM. The first and last track are absolutely PHENOMENAL! Hard-driving beats, subtle synth-string, and powerful bass lines compliment "Behind the Wheel" and "Master and Servant" respectively. The latter has made me a Latex Empire fan for life. The two vocal tracks, "Get The Balance Right" and "Fools" are great too!
Music: 7.5 nipples
Content: 6 nipples (a bit too heavy for me)
Trancemode Express 101: Music: 8.5 nipples
Content: 8.5 nipples
C. Various Artists/D.J. Oakenfold/Perfecto/Perfecto Fluoro, "Fluoro"
(Perfecto, Perfecto Fluoro, and Sony, 1997)
This son of a bitch cost me $35. A double CD, it contains some great techno, particularly trance and a little breakbeat. The peculiarity is that in between some tracks, classical-ish music, such as "Craven Leaves" from "The Secret Garden" is played to lend ambience to an otherwise hard-pounding party album. Don't expect a lot of lyrics, but enjoy the best of Red Sun, Moon, Juno Reactor, etc. as well as wonderful scores such as "Little Buddha" (from the insufferable Keanu Reaves film). My personal favorites are "This Love" (Red Sun), "Jungle High" (a REALLY fast-pounding piece from Juno Reactor), "Prophase" (great trance piece from Transa), and the last track on the second CD whose name escapes me (drum & bass/jungle/acid jazz). In other words, it appeals to all styles of techno, and there is even a funny pseudo-classical piece by, of all singers, Bjork. In fact, it is the only vocal piece of the entire compilation, save the sampling of dance hall song "Banks of Babylon".
Disappointments: Besides its incredible price, some of the classical pieces (such as one from "Dracula") were SO slow and mellow that they left me almost asleep. Furthermore, this isn't something you can listen to in one stretch. Listen to one CD, identify your favorite songs, and listen to the other one another day. Otherwise, the music will simply numb your mind. While different from each other, techno is techno, and WILL hypnotize you worse than most infomercials.
In conclusion: Worth the buy, but because of price and layout problems I qualify it as "excellent," not "exceptional."
Music: 9.5 nipples (Pick of the month!)
Content: 8.5 nipples (numbs the mind)
D. Verve Pipe, "The Freshmen"
Three words: GET OVER IT. Useless depression, ten thousand different versions of the fucking song, and dumb lyrics ("She was touching her face"... so what?) make this song a chore to listen to. When the vocals begin to get an edge (the third or fourth chorus) you expect the guitar riffs to become hard and harsh, but instead they remain the same. In other words, this song has the hints of an angry edge which could redeem it, but never crosses that edge. Too bad.
In conclusion: Sappy lyrics and sluggish music which reaches its hypothetical climax two minutes after the song actually ends. P-U, and a double shit on Verve Pipe for submitting to play on the Jenny McCarthy show.
Music: 3 nipples
Content: 1 nipple
E. Erasure. "Cowboy" (WB, 1997)
A profound disappointment. Most people remember Erasure as the poppy synth-techno band of the early 80's. Songs like "Who needs love like that?" and "Oh L'amour", while sappy in lyrics, had primitive enough sounds to make it seem dancey. Later on, with "Chorus," Erasure met what I later realized as its climax. Songs like "Chorus" (in a trance CD Maxi single), "Breath of Life," and "Love to Hate You" actually HAD a breath of life in them. Now I love to hate later erasure. While the Capella remixes of "Always," "Run to the Sun," and "I Love Saturday" made their next album tolerable, and while their ABBA tribute album was amusing, their last two albums have been too damn lovey-dovey. This album is a prime example.
Perhaps the fact that Andy Bell has HIV has made him very introspective, but a lot of these songs have become even creamier versions of their first albums. Songs like "In my Arms" and "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me" are great songs to play in a dimmed room to champagne, but aren't the dance beats I'm used to. Call me an old timer! Plus, the music is SO refined, SO smooth, that it puts you to sleep! Again, great music for prospective fucking, but not something to play in your car. I must make a confession, though; because Erasure led the techno-pop craze during the New Wave days of the 80's, they are light-years ahead of the rest; even though the music is smoother than smooth jazz on valium, you cannot possibly mistake them for any other band who ever played. It is precisely BECAUSE of this level of sophisticatin that they are so smooth and flowing. While the flow of music may unsettle you in it's unnatural perfection, you can't place why because you've never heard music of this calibre before. Even at their worst, Erasure is better at what they do than most modern-generation bands.
What about the remixes, you ask? Well, I took the opportunity to listen to the remix of "In My Arms" and I am sad to say it is a clone of the "Deep Club" remixes of U2's "Discotheque" and Pet Shop Boys "Se a vida ‚". There is only one saving grace: Andy Bell's operatic voice. That man can SING, and it amazes me that he can.
Conclusion: Not dancey. Not peppy. Not poppy. Bad remixes. Great vocals. Great for romantic evenings. Caveat emptor; this is not Erasure like Erasure defined itself so long ago. Yet, the "soft" Erasure is still distinct from any other band I have ever heard, and I must give credit for that. If you like soft and slow, this is for you. Otherwise, stock up on back albums, I think we're in for soft times ahead.
Music: 5.5 nipples (sappy but still VERY sophisticated)
Content: 4 nipples (too goddamn creamy and corny)
2. Books
A. "The Power of Myth" (Bill Moyers/Joseph Campbell, 1987)
A candid interview betwen genuine friends, this book expresses Joseph Campbell's study of myth in a sociological and psychological setting in a very intimate way. While his books in the "Masks of God" series are very verbose and jargonistic, and while his lectures have been insufferably boring, this interview gets the point across with no problem. Study of how chimps react to storms, by having dominance displays as if the sky were the "alpha male ape" show the first beginnings of mythology. Historical progression shows the relation of the god archetype to aspects of our psyche, and the book in general is an excellent illustration of how the primitive human desires of love, war, and fear of death become manifest in our dreams and myths.
This book sparked my interest in myth, plus it is an excellent way to broaden one's horizons. i can not stress the wonderfulness of this book any more; truly, one can "get the meaning of it all" after one reading.
Form: 8.5 nipples (interview flows and is easy to read)
Content: 10 nipples (Pick of the month!)
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