THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 10, 1994 TAG: 9409090099
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEW
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
Public Enemy, ``Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age'' (Def Jam) - The negative reviews started in July, with Rolling Stone and the Source dissing this comeback effort more than a month before its release. So the album begins with leader Chuck D haranguing the naysayers. But now that the record has finally dropped, it's not hard to agree with the early critiques. There's nothing new going on here, save a handful of fashionable soul-style samples. Otherwise, ``Muse Sick'' is 70-plus minutes of familiarly frenetic sound, built around an embarrassingly dated scenario that finds a ``President Duke'' declaring slavery lawful again in the year 1999. Ho hum. David Duke disappeared from view two years ago, around the time Chuck D's inspiration did. ``Muse Sick,'' with its endless recycling of conspiracy theories (AIDS as an anti-black plot, for instance, on ``Race Against Time'') is simply tired.
Once in the forefront of rap sonics and rhetoric, PE has seen its crown taken by the likes of Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg, whose gangsta lyrics and antics Chuck D views as inexcusably decadent.
But Chuck's closed ranks with gun-toting, drug-rehabbing Flavor Flav. Such contradictory actions might be forgivable, were Chuck not so ready to proclaim PE's righteousness at every turn. That attitude curdles the ``Muse Sick.''
- Rickey Wright
``Dead'' album
Body Count, ``Born Dead'' (Virgin) - No ``Cop Killer'' here. For that matter, the second album by Ice-T's speed metal outfit offers nothing on the order of ``There Goes the Neighborhood'' or ``Momma's Gotta Die Tonight'' either. All those songs, highlights of the band's controversial 1992 full-length debut, threw outrageous humor in the face of racist authority, making it some of the most effective protest music of the decade.
Now, though, Body Count seems content to curse a lot and proclaim its continued badness. When an actual issue crosses its path, as on the anti-war ``Shallow Graves'' or the anti-spousal abuse ``Who Are You?,'' the group has little to offer beyond bumper-sticker sentiments and empty threats. Worse, the lame songs tend to show up Body Count's occasionally sloppy playing. One happy thought: Maybe Ice is saving it all up for his next rap disc, scheduled for release next year.
- Rickey Wright
Mel sings Bing
Mel Torme, ``A Tribute to Bing Crosby'' (Concord) - Bing Crosby sang the definitive verson of ``White Christmas'' and his musical talent was a large part of his acting career. So it's ironic that today Crosby's acting legacy dwarfs his accomplishments as a singer in the public eye.
Mel Torme has chosen to honor Crosby with a collection drawn from the films that Crosby did for Paramount Pictures. Despite songs by such gifted songwriters as Jimmy Van Heusen, Richard Whiting and Richard Rodgers, this album works better in concept than in reality.
Torme comes across with a carefully controlled vocal warmth. He obviously has a great deal of respect for the material and for Crosby. Yet it might be that Torme is simply too respectful here. Most of the tunes are lesser-known relics of the pre-rock era, And most are taken at slow to medium tempos, giving the proceedings a sameness of sound.
Yet this is not a recording without redeeming qualities. Torme's ``Moonlight Becomes You'' is sublime, bringing out the pure romaniticism of Johnny Burke's lyric. Torme is equally on the mark with Crosby's signature ``Pennies From Heaven.'' Yet the bottom line is that there's simply not enough life here to sustain one's attention over the 16 songs.
- Jack Frieden
Same old
The Jesus & Mary Chain, ``Stoned & Dethroned'' (American/Blanco Y Negro) - This is getting pushed as the Chain's turn toward acoustic guitars and quiet melodicism. But for some sunny sentiments at disc's end, ``Stoned'' is exactly what the group's fans would expect, just a tad softer. The knowingness of previous outings is gone, replaced by rote talk of self-loathing, black nights, drugs. . . . Even the appearance of Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval on ``Sometimes Always'' doesn't charge the atmosphere, although it is a canny commercial move.
- Rickey Wright MEMO: To hear music from this week's reviews, call 640-5555. Press 2468. ILLUSTRATION: CHRIS CUFFARO photo
Body Count is content to curse a lot and proclaim its badness on
``Dead Again.''
DEF JAM RECORDING photo
Public Enemy used to be at the forefront of rap rhetoric, but ``Muse
Sick-N-Hour Mess Age'' is a lame and tired effort.
File photo
Mel Torme honors Bing Crosby on a new tribute album.
COLIN BELL photo
The Jesus & Mary Chain's newest, ``Stone,'' is exactly what fans
would expect, just a tad softer.
by CNB