spite their chosen name, the Philosopher igs do not offer anything earth-shattering or pn original in the lyrics of their first album. nost all the songs tell the story ofa man who b loved and lost, and is trying to regain his eyet again. (Sigh.....) Heart-wrenching as lay be, this topic is over-donein modern pop sic. Lyrics aside, this recording is very bd. The Philosopher Kings are a rather nted rhythm combo (piano, percussion, fs) embellished by trumpet, saxophone, gui- and keyboard. Their mellow jazz and funk ion was perfect for the cool, rainy, October moon on which I first gave the disc a spin. tald Eaton, lead vocalist, has a voice that Tms you up inside like a steaming cup of hot bcolate or acrackling fire in the hearth. This ording is very versatile in that it can per- tly fit any listening occasion. It’s soothing play when you are curled up reading a good bk, but could also create a romantic atmos- Te or serve as great background noise for a

axed party.

deve Ellis

ok this CD home ‘cause, I admit it, I sort of Robert Palmer; however, the best thing I Say about this CD is that it has a really neat Ve graphic. It also gave me the opportunity See if the fast forward button on the player rked. I can’t name any songs that were at St minimally better than the rest, because Y all sounded the same. Most of the songs Ow the typical ‘‘love the girl, lost the girl”’ me. The problem seemed to be that slow, Py songs were put into a rock format, and it didn’t work. The title track was an inter- ng mishmash of digitalized noise. Oh, ! Some of you may find this CD’s redemp- in the fact that Nino Bettencourt is a guest St. Then again, maybe not. Do not buy this unless you are masochistic or you really Py Robert Palmer. Same thing, I guess.

tldera Chisholm

Pato Banton

Collection

(IRS Records)

Pato Banton and the Reggae Revolution: if this name sounds familiar-- you’re right. Pato Banton has shared his talents with UB40 and

‘opened for Ziggy Marley’s North American

tour. This collection of reggae is light, enter- taining and has a great dance beat to it. This CD also has a song with a message ‘‘Don’t Sniff Coke.’’I give Pato a 3: good beat, strange lyrics.

(3)

-- Jennifer Caseley

nine below. zero™ sa ae Pe

Nine Below Zero

Hot Music For A Cold Night

(Pangea/EM])

A superb modern blues album. Nine Below Zero is a rare commodity in the blues commu- nity, a completely original band. Their sound is defiantly unique. The guitars are heavy, the harp is wailing and the groove ranges from hard rock to funk-blues.

The only song not penned by the band members is the classic R&B standard ‘‘I’ve Never Loved A Man (The Way I Loved You)”’ with sensational guest vocals from Alannah Myles. There is no mystery as to why Eric Clapton had this group open his Royal Albert Hall dates this spring. Hot Music For A Cold Night is a winner for any fan of progressive blues-rock.

(4) -- Mike Beagan

Mark Curry

Let The Wretched Come Home

(EMI) Thisis onc of the most original releases I hav heard in a long time. The style is a cross between acoustic punk and rootsy folk rock. All of the instruments are well-played, and they combine for a soulful, multi-layered sound.Curry is a very competent songwriter.

The melodies are simple, yet not derivative, _

and the lyrics are realistic reflections of hard living ina tough time. This album’s major flaw is Curry’s tendency to sing incredibly fast, occasionally getting ahead of the melody and ruining many potentially beautiful tunes. Unfortunately, this vocal trait mars the entire disc with very few exceptions.

(3.5)

-- Mike Beagan

MDRKE MUSIC

Alpha Blondy and the Solar System

Dieu

(EMI Music)

France’s Alpha Blondy, lead singer and pro- ducer of this album, has his own unique reggae style. His opinionated songs address serious issues like abortion and war, while his raspy voice and bilingual vocals combine with a Bob Marley sound to make this a very original album. I recommend it for French speakers and reggae lovers alike.

(3.5)

-Jason Roberts

Larry Norman

In Another Land

(Solid Rock Records)

Originally released in 1975, Jn Another Land was re-released in the US last year but only now made it to Canada. The wide variety of songs on this CD is startling. The sound runs from blues-based rock to quiet acapella melodies,

but it all flows smoothly together. The lyrics are excellent and meaningful, but you have to listen carefully to understand them. On the

whole, the CD has a solid message; however,

it’s not for everybody since many would be

annoyed or even deeply offended by Larry’s

words. You either love him or you hate him. In

the ’70s they said he was ahead of his time.

Today, few people know what to make of him.

This is music you can’tjudge until you listen to

it.

(4.5)

-- Marko Peric

Smashing Pumpkins Pisces Iscariot (EMI) " This here is an assemblage of, well, stuff. Songs never meant to come out, some written with such high hopes...all special to the heart." That pretty well sums up this compilation of B- sides, outtakes and covers. Most of the songs have a special meaning to the band which may be lost on the listener. Not exactly a bad idea, but it pales in comparison to Siamese Dream. Had this album been released first, it would have been phenomenal, but now it’s just more Smashing Pumpkins.

The songs are filled with the same angst-ridden, angry, ferocious lyrics found on their other albums, but a sentimental side

emerges (especially on *‘Blew Away’’ and the Stevie Nicks cover ‘‘Landslide’’); however, this is no CD for wimps. The bottom-heavy guitars abound and often drown out the afore- mentioned trademark lyrics. For those of you who don’t necessarily want a change from Siamese Dream, this is an equitable supple- ment and a worthwhile purchase. (4)

-- Joel Gillespie

Ian McNabb Head Like A Rock (Polygram)

Ian McNabb plays vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist on this album and serves up some quality tunes with great, dripping slabs of ragged guitar sounds. Unfortunately, Head Like A Rock manages to leave the listener unsatisfied.

There are no bad songs on this album, but with an average track length approaching seven minutes, many seem too bloated to be fully entertaining.

The musicianship is top-notch and there are a few diamonds in the rough. The guitar- drenched “‘Child Inside A Father,’’ for in- stance, is exceptional

This disc is worth a spin, but listen before you buy.

(3.5) -- Mike Beagan

ze . October 11, 1994