Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Music

FEATURES

Sophomore effort worth the wait

Dan Julian
February 20, 2002

Natalie Imbruglia knows the concept of transforming from a no-name artist to a national icon overnight all too well. Her 1998 debut, “Left Of The Middle,” stormed up the music charts and was propelled by the single “Torn.” She finally answered the yearning of her fans with her latest, which was worth the wait. From the acoustic guitar work to the calm background formulas, this record showcases Imbruglia at her best. Each song has its own mood and explores a theme of living in the moment, including “Do You Love?,” which features some captivating vocals and a dreary overtone. “Goodbye” resonates a wrenching form of desperation, as indicated with this verse: “And I don’t understand the things I do/But I’ll probably be fine/As long as I keep moving/I’ll try to write it down ... till the words won’t play/’cause there’s no easy way to say ‘Goodbye, goodbye.’” “Hurricane” is a deeply emotional tune, sung with a deceptively calm voice.

FEATURES

Pub Domain more than just folk

Dan Julian
February 7, 2002

It wades in folk waters, but this album delivers more than just the typical folk sounds. With hints of both Celtic and bluegrass influence, it is a well-rounded piece of work. The band recruited new artists with strong local reputations including Jason Portier (Dumpster Cowboys, The Lash) on bass, Bob Bryan (Steppin’ In It, James in Flames) and Emily Peterson on concertina and whistles. “Out of Here” is an up-tempo song similar to something Jewel or Ani Difranco would do, with Peterson innocently creating a flowing flute pattern in the background.

FEATURES

Halsteads solo effort delivers

Dan Julian
February 6, 2002

Reflective and bittersweet - this is Neil Halstead’s songwriting. The frontman of Mojave 3, Halstead illuminates perfection in every song with his long-awaited debut solo effort. Halstead plays these songs in an intimate manner, inviting the listener along on his personal journey. The beat is always minimal, but strong enough to keep things steady and calm.

FEATURES

Smooth vocals carry record

Dan Julian
February 6, 2002

Clarence Greenwood (aka Citizen Cope) shows promise with this record. Singing about everything from political conflict to love themes to emotional ballads, he crafts an amazing album that will earn him national acclaim. “If There’s Love” skids into Lenny Kravitz or Nelly Furtado territory, while “200,000 (in counterfeit 50 dollar bills)” fits the repetitive criteria of the rest of the record, but is saved by the relaxing lyrics and a sleepy breakdown. It’s incredible how Greenwood can use sometimes cheesy lyrics and make them sound amazing, such as with this verse from “If There’s Love”: “You give me strength to beat the odds and overcome my fears/You make me feel like I belong under the sun/You never grow old because you’re forever young.” Original?

FEATURES

Fortune 500 is money

Andrew Fifer
February 1, 2002

The buzz around campus is warranted. If you were wondering whether the new album from Fortune 500 is worth adding to your collection - wonder no more. The three solo artists - Crimson, Agony and Dux - hook up to put out an impressive debut album from the upstart label TrailBlaze Records. So many times underground rappers put out albums just to stake claim to having a record to brag about around their neighborhoods.

FEATURES

Band strikes a chord on disc

Dan Julian
January 30, 2002

Improvisation is key to a band’s aura. If it can occasionally jump off its routine and veer off on some random tangent, that’s when the true spirit of the artist is showcased. Ekoostik hookah’s seventh disc is a laid-back record infused with random jaunts of improvisation at its best. It fuses a Stevie Ray Vaughn vocal influence with an old-school bluegrass tinge. It has plenty of breakdowns and the album’s motivation is built in its overall simplicity.

FEATURES

Record follows stereotype

Dan Julian
January 30, 2002

Here we go again. It’s nice to see artists out there still playing rock ’n’ roll writing their own music and attempting something other than the mainstream - but being able to differentiate between a band’s songs is key as well.

FEATURES

Artist breaks the rules on latest

Valentin Narvaez broke all the rules when he recorded his solo record. By writing and performing every instrument on this album, he did something that other artists attempting the same feat have failed to do - he made a fine sounding recording. “The Stars are Bombs Luring Overhead” segues to a combination of what would happen if rock band The Cars got funky, but progresses into an easy-going tune with a solid beat. “Red Skies” is held together by a familiar indie-rock drum pattern, and Narvaez’s vocals are soothing and melancholy at the same time.

FEATURES

Mineral a smooth addition to electronica genre

Dan Julian
January 16, 2002

Synthesizers are great. And when they are applied to relaxing groove-based music, only good things can result. The new record by Himawari is electronica that is impossible to dislike. Mixing computer-generated effects with easy going Depeche Mode-influenced rhythms, this album flows like a calm river with the occasional rapid to toss and turn its direction. “The word” is a mesmerizing song that features the passionate and sexy voice of Lena repeating a phrase that, after a couple of listens, becomes perfect. “Chu chu” is a bit hesitant, tossing and turning from mellow confidence to obscure paranoia, all while building toward a powerful conclusion that never comes. Lena’s vocals are strikingly similar to Bj?rk, while the background noise hints at solid dance music at times.

FEATURES

Point an ecclectic mix of electronica, nature

Dan Julian
January 16, 2002

From the introduction of “Bug (Electric Last Minute)” to the solemn goodbye of “Nowhere,” Cornelius manages to place the right note with each mood of the song and matches themes accordingly on this album. Using the sounds of nature isn’t uncommon, as the flowing of water, the chirping of birds and beetles, the sound of pouring rain and blowing wind are used effectively.

FEATURES

Orange soundtrack is juicy

Dan Julian
January 14, 2002

On this soundtrack, it rains when it pours. The good songs are amazing and perfect for a mix tape, whereas the weaker songs are terrible. With great numbers by the Foo Fighters, 12 Rods, Pete Yorn and Creeper Lagoon,this record is one of the early forerunners of “best soundtrack of 2002.” The only downfall is that it is more directed toward the pop-ridden theme of the MTV generation than connoisseurs of quality music. It features “Butterfly” by Crazy Town, the most annoying song of 2001, along with a weak tune by Bad Ronald and an Offspring song, “Defy You,”which sounds more like Limp Bizkit than decent alternative rock. “Everything’s Cool” by Lit is nothing out of the ordinary for the band, while Cake’s piece of the pie tastes very good. Perhaps the best part of the disc are the two great songs by Brian Wilson, “Lay Down Burden” and “Love and Mercy,” which both hum with the easy going sweetness of Wilson’s intrigue. Phantom Planet also contributes “California,” a great song accompanied by a tickling of the ivories. Despite some of the songs shooting it in the foot, this record shines more than it dulls and is saved by contributions from some of the best names in rock.

FEATURES

Solo artist keeps new album honest

Honesty is extremely important in music, and Tony Melonakos handles the task well on his second release and debut full-length album “Beginning the Victory.” The album, written and performed by the general business administration and pre-law freshman, focuses on the tragic and sometimes comedic value of a young adult’s reality. Most of it is Melonakos and his acoustic guitar, and among the topics he sings about are idolization of John Cusack, through the eyes of a lonely bench-warmer on a basketball team and obsession with the female form. None of it is distasteful, but sometimes the lyrics are too obvious or too predictable. “Night And Day Mares” is a powerful ballad, molding heart-wrenching verses with whimpering strings, while the opening track, “Brad Pitt,” features Melonakos singing about wanting to be the acclaimed actor, while a woman counterpart sings about “wanting to get a piece” of the star.

FEATURES

Bands third album shows variation

Dan Julian
January 9, 2002

Power chords and uneducated guitar solos galore - meet the Deadlines. On this record, the band incorporates the fun, somewhat grown-up aspect of rock ’n’ roll while grasping its straight-up punk rock roots. The sexy, swaggering vocals of Shaun Sundholm is obvious on “I Want a Stalker,” somewhat familiar of the late Joey Ramone, but not as good. Most of the chords are easily accessible in nearly every punk rock bands’ Palm Pilots, but it doesn’t seem to matter.

FEATURES

Pagano disappoints with teen tunes

Dan Julian
January 9, 2002

Move over Britney. Nevermind, just let this little lady chill just outside of your spotlight, because she’s trying. Lindsay Pagano molds the country-tinged style of Leanne Rimes with the harmonization effects of Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera. This album is basic teeny-bopper sing along happy music.