The Cadre

By Matthew Hennessey

The state of Britpop today is a little bit up in the air. It certainly dominated the airwaves for the past couple of years as the Oasis/Blur tangent gave rise to other promising, monosyllabic acts such as Pulp and Cast. Menswear, The Verve and countless others tried to wrestle for the top of the already over-saturated pop/rock genre. It seems quite appar- ent, as Oasis’s new album doesn’t appear to be as cata- strophically enjoyable as their first two, that Britpop is on the decline along with Grunge and 90’sPunk.

As Husker Duand the Replacements were influential at shaping the Grunge era, The Smiths had their part to play in creating a thriving Britpop scene thatawakened in the 1990’s. It was not a new scene (see Beatles/Stones/Zombies) but neither was Seattle. The charactered, falsetto wail of Morrissey and the brilliant pop melodicism of Johnny Marr’s guitar defined the path that allowed the Gallaghers and Damon Albarn to be household names in North America.

The Smiths began creating pop sensibility in 1984 with the release of The Smiths. They followed up a year later with Meat Is Murder which thrust dark, introspective telltales into UK charts. Morrissey’s lyrics and his unorthodox vocal style quickly outlined the uniqueness of The Smiths. The track, “How Soon Is Now?” has become synonymous with this British group -- hey, it’s even been-used on a Labatt’s commercial. Marr's post new-wave approach to guitar playing is the real treat to The Smiths sound, and is sadly lacking from Morrissey’s later solo projects.

Only three years after their debut, The Smiths called it quits with the release of Strangeways, here we come in 1987. The album produced some of the most important Smiths songs like “Stop me if you think that you’ ve heard this one before” and “Girlfriend in a coma.”

The album as a whole was not perfect; the second track, “I started something I couldn’t finish” witnesses Morrissey obviously screwing up and asking co-producer Stephen Street to do the song over again. We know now that they didn’t.

The Smiths were never commercially successful, but they were prolific; easily seen in their compilation Louder than bombs which has 24 tracks contained. They were highly influential in the 80’s Britpop scene along with New Order and The Cure. Their depressing lyricism recalls the Grunge ethics of the 90’s and Marr’s bright guitar attack is copied in many

pop groups today.

Meat Is Murder (Reprise: 1985) the headmaster ritual-rusholme ruffians-I want the one I can’t have-what she said-that joke isn’t funny anymore-how soon is now?- nowhere fast-well I wonder-barbarism begins at home- meat is murder Strangeways, Here We Come (Reprise: 1987) a rush and a push and the land is ours-I started something I couldn't finish-death of a disco dancer-girlfriend ina coma-stop me if you think that you've heard this one before-last night I dreamt that somebody loved me-un- happy birthday- a a vulgar picture-death at one’s elbow-I won't share you

November 18, 1997

things hr gen adn th ence all I their choices are fiae to waite large. For example, Antonia, who is a young widow. at the b Sane neutated tak rae wae: hea : er aging mother passed away is in streak penetrates ii generations. Her daughter becomes a painter, the oe lepataiy becomes a: well as an amateur music composer, and the great- BERGE E Or, even at het young age, already expresses herself in writing. ‘

Not a whole lothappens. We see these people grow alder make choices, and live their lives, but apparently the point seems to be that ultimately oneis responsible for his or herown destiny and that the rest of society cannot pass judgement on the basis of what a person is. This is apparent in the fact that Antonia has made everyone feel welcome in her home. Over the years, we see many different guests, from a married couple who both are mentally handicapped, to the local young priest who suddenly gets a change of heart about the rigid doctrines of religion.

The descendants of Antonia are also} of this ideal. Antonia’ Ss daughter, the painter, wants a child but not a husband so through a perhaps heartless deception she is able to get someone into a hotel room with her just long enough to get the job done. Also, the granddaughter, when she gets married, has a different notion of family, as it is her husband who is more enraptured by the thought of taking care of the child, its mother concentrating on more intellectual pursuits. And finally, although we only see the great-granddaughter of Antonia as a young child, we know that the eae way of ae and ereativity will mb off on her.

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Program Guide

D.J.: Kelly Mason hosts Musical Sound Scapes Mon. 12:00 - 1:00; Tues. 2:00 - 3:00; Thurs. 1:00 -2:00

And any other time... "I just randomly grab a whole wack of C.D’s"

The Sour Hour D.J.s: John Jarvie & Todd Maclean tS Thursdays, 8:00 - 9:00pm ,

An interactive, topical talk-show with eclectic music to spice itup. Saniad Toditialh to vctjebioae anything and everything! “We also take requests.”

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