
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 18, 1994                    TAG: 9406180022 
SECTION: DAILY BREAK                     PAGE: E7    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Medium 
DATELINE: 940618                                 LENGTH:

BOSTON IS DISAPPOINTING IN LONG-AWAITED RETURN

{LEAD} BOSTON, ``Walk On'' (MCA) - Nothing on this new Boston CD comes close to the stunning intersect of technique and emotion of the group's epochal first album. Large hints as to why this might be come in leader Tom Scholz's liner notes. Self-righteous and equipment-nerdy to the extreme, Scholz seems obsessed with justifying the eight-year silence between ``Third Stage'' and ``Walk On'' by attacking Boston's former record company and letting the reader know that we still play our instruments without resorting to digital foofaraw.

So what? Scholz, mastermind of the lineup on Boston's 1976 debut, took two years to design and build a new studio for recording ``Walk On.'' He spent three more constructing this derivative record. And maybe six minutes writing songs.

{REST} New singer Fran Cosmo delivers the usual Boston fantasies of escape and romantic overprotectiveness like the student of album rock he obviously is. Unfortunately, Professor Scholz has written these stories before, and the thin concepts he proffers in the liners don't do much to flesh out statements like ``I Need Your Love,'' ``Surrender to Me'' and ``We Can Make It.''

Real-world concerns do rear their heads; Scholz includes booklet public-service touts against domestic violence and fur. But there's not much reason to walk his way.

- Rickey Wright

\ It's Mick plus violins

Symphonic Music of the Rolling Stones (RCA Victor) - At last, the music for Mick & Keith on Ice. Cheesy arrangements and underpowered vocals. Michael Hutchence of INXS sounds as if he just woke up. Maire Brennan of Clannad sings a turgid ``As Tears Go By.'' Tenor Jerry Hadley strives heroically in a ponderous, Arabian version of ``Sympathy for the Devil'' that could serve if someone makes ``Indiana Jones Meets the Foo-Foo People.''

Jagger himself is convincing with ``Angie,'' but his lone contribution is the only listenable track on the disc. Orchestras can rock and rock bands can have orchestral sweep, but each is powerful in its own particular way. The song is ``Gimme Shelter,'' not ``Gimme English Horn.''

- Mark Mobley

\ Nothing fancy

The Blazers, ``Short Fuse'' (Rounder Records) - For those who like their rock devoid of fancy studio wizardry or boring virtuosity, the Blazers are it. The band is from the same geographic and stylistic neighborhood as Los Lobos, and this sizzling national debut was produced by Lobos singer and guitarist Cesar Rosas.

Like their musical mentors, the Blazers offer a grab-bag of roots rock, blues, R&B and Latino dance styles. But this quartet's deceptively simple rock 'n' roll is more rooted in sounds of the '60s. Straight-ahead bass-drum-guitar arrange-ments recall the spirit and energy of Chuck Berry and the Animals while never sounding retro or tired.

- Eric Feber

by CNB