By Scott MacDonald

Various artists

Keep it Slammin’(Sony) Created to capitalize on the commer- cialism of this summer’s World Cham- pionships of Basketball held in Toronto, this CD contains + a versatile 13 man (song) roster. Up front it starts off with a mixture of funk (Devon’s ‘‘Keep It Slammin’’), old school rap (Kurtis Blow’s classic ‘‘Basketball’’) and hip hop (US3’s ‘‘Cantaloop’’)| Toss in a little alternative (Red Hot} Chili Pep- pers’ ‘‘Magic Johnson’), rap (Lords of the Undergrounds’ “‘ ykillz’’), and jazz (the Harlem Globetrotters’ theme ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’’) offthe bench and| you have a winning lineup. The perfect CD to listen’ to while shooting hoops in your driveway.

(4)

Chapter 29

Scenery (Crystal Palace)

While listening to this album I was suddenly flooded with memories of the summer before I went into grade seven. Then, it hit me: these guys are a bad ‘90’s version of a combination of two bad ‘80’s groups: Platinum Blonde and A-Ha! Their mindless lyrics go very well with the crappy syntho-pop melo- dies that they try to pass offas songs. In fact, the titles of the first two songs pretty much sum up the entire album: “*Useless Party”’ and ‘‘Waste of Time.”’ (1)

October 4, 1994

ectic circus

Boogie Monsters Riders of the Storm: The Underwa-

ter Album (EMI)

Nothing but a generic De La Soul bunch of wannabe’s attempting to be philosopha-rappers. They fail to pull off the street-smart sound, and overall their CD belongs in the bottom of a lake.

(2)

Various

Reggae: Classic Song in a Reggae Groove (EMI)

Reggae used to be a form of music termed as alternative. On this CD, though, the best term would be com- mercialized. It’s the type of music that you would find ina waiting room featur- ing songs like Phil Collins’ ‘‘ Another Day in Paradise’, the Kingsmen’s ‘‘Louie Louie’? and Rod Stewart’s

“*Some Guys Have All the Luck’’ done in Jamaican style. It even features the eternal (infernal) disco ‘classic’ ‘“The Tideis High’’ by Blondie. You’re going to hear this while waiting in many eleva- tors.

(2.5)

Magic Affair

of Culture Beat (another German group), although not as successful. (3.5)

Buckshot LeFonque

Buckshot LeFonque(Columbia) The Tonight Show’s Branford Marsalis fuses basic jazz and bebop with the harder driving sounds ofrap and hip hop to create funk worthy of Herbie Hancock. Excellent listening music, need I say more?

(4.5)

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