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In their newest release, Superdrag hopes to build on the success of their previous album Regretfully Yours, (highlighted by the hit song "Sucked Out," that earned consistent air time on MTV and local radio stations.) Their latest offering to the public is Head Trip in Every Key, whose first single is "Do The Vampire."
On Superdrag's latest album they look toward the past. The cover is a picture of a woman whose clothes, make-up and headphones are references to the 1970's. Further references to the past are present at the website, which has numerous black and white photographs.
Superdrag's music combines a pop-like sound with modern rock lyrics. Though the lyrics are often dark, they are typically complemented by an upbeat musical background. Examples of the content clashing with the music are particularly noticeable in the songs titled "Hellbent" or "Do The Vampire" that are considerably uptempo. The band seems to be creating music that is a parody. Superdrag's sarcasm and sense of humor are visible in the plays on words present in the previous album title (Regretfully Yours,) and song titles ("Annetichrist").
The opposition between the music and content is particularly noticeable because of the level of production in the recording. The lyrics are relatively clear and audible, which distinguishes it from other grunge rock albums. At times vocals begin softly, but the words can eventually be discerned.
Other notable musical transitions are visible in the song "Shuck and Jive" that begins with a heavy guitar sound and transforms briefly into a softer tune then reverts to its previous style. The last song on the album "The Art of Dying" makes use of an array of musical instruments.
Many of the songs do sound similar and are relatively short and fast, which makes the album quite easy to listen to. Beneath aesthetics, the album has sarcastic tones caused by the clash between the pop music style and the overtones in the lyrics. The band's tour will pass through Detroit on April 24 at St. Andrews Hall.
by Meg Travis, MBA1, Spring Swing Committee Co-Chair
A talented live band, plenty of dance floor, roaming entertainers, casino tables with faculty dealers, fabulous prizes, and of course, the knowledge that it's all for a good cause. Need any more reasons to attend the revamped Spring Swing for Charity on April 17th?
The Spring Swing for Charity will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Michigan Chapter with proceeds from ticket sales and corporate sponsorships. Companies already signed on for donations include Arthur D. Little, Deloitte & Touche Consulting, General Motors, and General Electric. Highlights of the evening will include a raffle with fabulous travel prizes, door prizes from local stores and restaurants, psychics available to help you with your love life, caricature artists to make fun of you, great food, and an open bar. The entire UMBS community is invited to the event, although those attending must be 21 and over as IDs will be checked at the door.
Tickets go on sale Monday, April 6th in the student lounge, and will be available until Monday, April 13th. Tickets will also be sold on the weekend in the lounge, or may be ordered through your SGA section representative. Tickets are $20 for students, and $50 for faculty, staff, and alumni. Transportation will be provided to the event, which will be held at the Fox Hills Country Club in Plymouth, MI. When purchasing tickets, sign up for one of two bus departure times: 8:15pm or 9:15pm. Check with your section social chairs or SGA representative for pre-party locations. The Spring Swing for Charity is a "black tie optional event," and begins at 9:00pm and ends at 1:00am.
* Friday, April 17th, 1998
* Fox Hills Country Club
* Plymouth, MI
* 9pm 1am
* Buses depart at 8:15pm and 9:15pm
* Tickets $20/students,
* Tickets $50/faculty and staff
Brought to you by the Global Citizenship Club, the Student Government Association, and the Dean's Office
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Right: Bral Spight certainly has his priorities in order. Who cares about atmosphere, architecture, and ambiance when you've got the MSJ to keep you engaged! |
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| And Away We Go with the MSJ? Flying high, it's those dashing MBA2s (left to right): Dan Skeeters, Kelly Hutchinson, Ken Daub, and Darren Starr. The MSJ: neverleave solid ground without it. |
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| Ever have the feeling you're being watched? Mike Chludzinski learns that just about everybody wants to read the MSJ. |
It's May and everyone else has gone off to their internships in Chicago, New York, or San Francisco, but your internship is in Ann Arbor or Detroit. Naturally, you're wondering, "What the &%#% am I going to do with myself this summer?" As a public service to those of you who will be in town for the summer, here are some things to keep you busy.
Any discussion of summer in Ann Arbor has to start with the Art Fair. The Art Fair is really three art fairs that take place at the same time (July 15-18 this year) where artists from all over the country show up and try to sell just about anything. The fairs take over State Street, Main Street, South U. and Liberty and last for four days. It's a great opportunity to people watch, check out various wares of art, and drink a beer in the middle of Main Street. And of course all the stores in town have sidewalk sales during the fairs.
Another main attraction is the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, which runs from June 19 through July 12. The top of the parking structure adjacent to the Power Center is transformed into an outdoor amphitheater complete with a beer garden and food stands. Every night there are free concerts; free movies play Sunday through Thursday nights. In addition to the free concerts and movies, several big-name acts come into town and play at the Power Center. This year's performers include the Robert Cray Band, Willie Nelson, and the Capitol Steps.
So you like motor sports? No problem. In June the unlimited hydroplanes compete in Thunderfest on the Detroit River and the Indy Cars race in the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle. The Indy Cars also race at Michigan International Speedway (in Brooklyn, 1 hour southwest of AA) in July, while NASCAR has two races at MIS, one in June and one in August.
Still haven't had enough sports? There are plenty of golf courses in the area, and if you go up US23 there are some really nice ones. The March 29, 1998 Detroit News has a complete listing of courses in the area that includes prices. Tiger Stadium is best when it gets warm out (sit in the upper deck if you want to see the fly balls.) The Argo Canoe Livery rents canoes that you can take up and down the Huron River. Go swimming at the Fuller Park Pool, or relax at the Arb, Gallup Park, or any of the Metroparks. For you mountain bikers, head towards Island Lake or Pinckney State Recreation Areas. A full listing of mountain biking trails can be found at www.mmba.org
For those shop-o-holics out there, I recommend the factory outlet stores at Birch Run, located halfway between Flint and Saginaw. It's a 70 mile trip, but there are some great deals if you look around. I once had my credit card company call to notify me of unusual account activity due to all the stuff I bought there. The Somerset Collection has the upscale stores for those of you with the big signing bonuses.
If the Ann Arbor bars start getting dull, Royal Oak may have what you want. It's about a 45 minute drive at night, and is chock full bars and restaurants packed with recent MSU and U-M grads that live in the Detroit suburbs. If you head downtown, Greektown has several good restaurants, and the Post is a dive bar with a great jukebox.
Of course, eventually you will want to get out of town. The amusement parks at Cedar Point are about 2.5 hours away, Cleveland is 3 hours, and Chicago, Toronto, Traverse City, and Cincinnati are all about 4 hours (assuming you drive like me.) Just watch out for the Ohio State Police they do not like people from Michigan.
For a complete listing of what's going on in the next week or two, check out the Arbor Web at http://arborweb.com or call the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitors Bureau at 995-7281.
MBA1, Section 6 is teaming with the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society to coordinate the 1998 Ann Arbor MS Walk. Section members have been planning since November to make this year's event a success. Our goal is to help raise funds for the MS Society, while providing a day of fun for all who participate in the Walk on Sunday, April 19th. The Ann Arbor MS Walk has two distances to accommodate all fitness levels: 5K or 15K. By walking for the 15,000 Michigan residents with multiple sclerosis, you'll be helping to find a cure for the number one disabling disease of young adults.
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease that randomly attacks your nervous system, wearing away the control you have over your body. MS is a devastating disease because it is so unpredictable. Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 40, but the unpredictable physical and emotional effects can occur throughout life.
Students on the planning committee are managing a number of key aspects of the Walk including determining the course, marketing and promotion, coordinating the volunteers, organizing corporate sponsorship, hiring entertainment and managing traffic on April 19th. Section 6 invites all UMBS students to volunteer to help with this very worthy cause. We can use your help both the day of the walk and in preparation and planning. There are many ways to get involved, no matter how much time you have available. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mark Rodrigues for more information.
For students interested in participating in the Walk on April 19th, pledge forms are available in the Admissions Office. Section 6 challenges you to walk the extra mile for MS!
People always tell me that they can't cook because it takes to much time to plan the menu. I've always felt that if you keep a certain amount of basics in your pantry, you can create a multitude of meals on the spur of the moment. Of course, I might stock things that you don't. Tequila, for instance. As has been said many times before, there has to be something in Tequila in addition to alcohol to explain the sort of behavior of those who have over-imbibed. Actually, though, I love cooking with it. It gives foods that I think of as Mexican just a little "edge".
I'm also quite fond of kasha. Traditionally used in Russian and Jewish cooking, kasha (toasted buckwheat groats) makes a great substitute for rice.
Here's what I had in my kitchen the other night:
2 chicken breasts (boneless & skinless)
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
_ cup tequila
1 small can chopped green chiles
1 15 oz. can Mexican tomatoes (with liquid)
1 15 oz. can hominy (with liquid)
pinch of cumin seed
a generous grating of pepper
_ cup kasha
1 cup water
Heat a large saute pan with medium-high heat. Add a teaspoon or so of oil, just enough to keep the chicken from sticking. Add the chicken breast, and saute for a minute, until the side to the heat has turned white. Turn over and move to the edge of the pan, and add the onion (a chopped green, red, or hot pepper would go great here, too) and stir. Add the garlic, and stir. By now, the other side of the chicken should have changed color. Add the tequila and deglaze. Add the chiles, tomatoes, hominy, cumin & pepper, stir, cover, and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for about 20 minutes, turning the chicken occasionally.
Meanwhile, make the kasha. Combine the kasha & water and simmer, covered, over medium low heat for about 15 minutes until the water is absorbed.
Serve the chicken breast over the kasha and enjoy!
Speaking of tequila, if you have a chance to buy Sauza Commerativo (a little over $20 a bottle), do it! It is the smoothest I've ever had. And please don't use it to cook with or for margaritas this is best savored like a single malt scotch straight!
If you have any questions or recipes request please e-mail me at prautenb@umich.edu!
Aretha Franklin
A Rose is Still a Rose
Arista Records
Three stars out of five
As artists such as the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and Fleetwood Mac head on into their fifties and beyond, the world is always a little hesitant when such aging stars decide to release new albums. We prefer to remember our heroes when they were in their prime, and when they venture out with new material, the same questions arise. "Are they doing it for the money?", "Do they even sound good anymore?", "Didn't they die?", and possibly the most pertinent question, "Is the new album just a rehashing of their old stuff, or something fresh and new? (i.e. Does it suck?)"
All of these questions naturally come up with Aretha Franklin's new work, A Rose is Still a Rose. For the fifteen-time Grammy winner, Aretha has been without any memorable efforts in recent times. Things looked ominous from the beginning, with the standard icon resurrection story forming around the album. A whole flock of today's top producers, headed by (of course) Puff Daddy, gathered for the making of A Rose. What resulted is a pleasant surprise. While most of the music is tired pop/R&B standards, Aretha's many talents save the day, creating a very enjoyable and light record.
The standout track on the album is the title song of the album. "A Rose is Still a Rose", produced by Lauryn Hill of the Fugees is a refreshing departure from most of the other songs on the album. The hip-hop driven, tough, woman-to-woman tale starts the album off on a strong note. Puff Daddy smoothes things out for the second song, "Never Leave You Again". Probably the most surprising thing about the jazzy track is that there are no song samples. Puff Daddy shows that he is capable of putting together a solid tune without plundering the hits of the eighties. After the first two tracks, Aretha is left to carry the burden. The music on the rest of the album is flattened by its standard pop diva forms. Songs like the Mariah Carey-esque "Here We Go Again" (produced by Jermaine Dupri, who has also worked with Carey), have a generic feel, like they could be the songs of any current pop diva. The overuse of synthesizers also serves to cheapen the sound a bit, adding to the run-of-the-mill feel of the majority of the music.
Yet despite all of what is wrong and plain on this album, Aretha is able to take it and bring life to the project. While the music is a distant relative of the Motown sound she ruled, the lyrics and message are the same. The songs carry the independent, strong woman stance that have filled her greatest hits. She is noticeably at ease in her singing, and her impeccable sense of timing and rhythm lets her voice sail through each song. While her voice has thinned out a tad at her ripe age of 55, Aretha has an infectious energy that lifts what would have been an otherwise dull album. Good news, the Queen of Soul is back and still shining, just next time let's hope she sticks to Lauryn Hill as the sole producer.
Eric Reed's (left) latest release "Pure Imagination" hits the right notes.
Gregory Tardy, (right) hailed as one of the best of the next generation of jazz artists.
sdua@umich.edu
"Some artists just aren't satisfied. They believe there's always a bit more juice to be squeezed from that orange. And many times, through a little extra effort and inspiration, they come up with work that surpasses even the highest expectations. Over the last few years, Eric Reed has proven to be one of these artists. Pure Imagination, Reed's latest outing, assures that his yen for thoroughness is an utterly passionate endeavor." -Chris Wheat, Impulse Records
Are you looking for soft music that you can relax to, study to, and perhaps, even slow-dance to? Maybe, you want to just spend your money on one versatile CD? Then, Eric Reed's album is what you are looking for. Eric uses his pianist skills along with his creativity to create a program associated with Broadway. He states, "I wanted to inform people that you can take a real obvious piece like 'I Got Rhythm,' and make it a fun, interesting song. Pure Imagination is a record that lets people know there's nothing really wrong with these songs themselves; its just that some tunes have been prostitute to a degree-used over and over again without regard. I wanted to use my arranging skills to revitalize music that seems to be rehashed year in and year out."
Reed includes cherished pieces by Bernstein, Gershwin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and Sondheim. Each piece is treated with respect and playfully! For example, he takes Bernstein's West Side Story classic "Maria," and includes a tiny bit of the "The Simpsons" theme. The title of Reed's album comes from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Eric explains he is just trying to connect with people, he just wants his career to last and to keep making records that the public really wants to listen to. He admits that artists can get too comfortable, but the challenge is to constantly push yourself.
In the words of Chris Wheat, Eric Reed has challenged preconceived notions of identity, and constructed a modern gem!
What do you think Serendipity sounds like? Perhaps, you are looking for a little fast paced jazz, something to speed up your day, put you in a better mood, or something to move to quickly.
For, Gregory Tardy, the artist behind Serendipity, it is a musical journey that is a reflection of his struggles to play alongside jazz masters through America's famous jazz capitals New York City and New Orleans.
But this Tenor Saxophonist, has come past his struggles and earned the praise of many jazz masters including Elvin Jones, Tom Harrell, Rasheed Ali, and Billy Hart.
The first song on Tardy's album is "Forgiveness," which reflects his passion for Christianity. His second song, "Blues to Professor Pickens" is a tribute to the pianist Willie Pickens. The seventh song, "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever," is a modern twist to the 1997 R&B hit by the star, Maxwell.
Tardy's wife, Janel has contributed to his success too. She inspired him to write an original song, which sounds like a classic, entitled "JL's Wish." The song "Ah-ite" is written for his friend and fellow musician, Russell Gunn. JL's Wish and Ah-ite are both on Gregory's CD.
This musician began his career as an award winning classical clarinetist, but his career changed when his mother switched to jazz and asked him to play with her. Tardy states "It was a painful transition from classical to jazz, and people didn't take me seriously at first. Then when they heard me play years later they were freaked out because they couldn't believe how serious I was."
"With the encouragement of accomplished performers Ellis Marsalis and Bobby Watson, and the experience of playing with great musicians like Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis and Roy Hargrove, some of Gregory Tardy's dreams have now become reality with Serendipity."-Chris Wheat, Impulse Records
"Tardy...works with acres of mood...like a bit of etiquette in a hailstorm." -The New York Times
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