Lords of the Underground Keepers of the Funk (EMI)

The Lords second album is out and they’ve lost little of the street smart sound that was so prevalent on their debut album ““Here Comes The Lords’’, but they don’t capture the sound that made them so popular with songs like ‘‘Chief Rocka’’, or ‘Madd Skillz’. Still, it’s a very good follow-up that features the production skills of Marley Marl. The single

‘Tic Toc’’ could be one of the new year’s top }\i

hip hop cuts. (3.5)

Various Sony Music Sampler (SONY)

A veritable cornocopia of music by some of Sony’s top artists. It moves along the musical spectrum ranging from the hip hop sounds of NAS (‘‘The World is Yours’’) and Xscape (‘‘Tonight’’), to the rock stylings of Jon Bon Jovi (‘‘Good Guys Don’t Always Wear White’’) and Spin Doctors (“‘Cleopat- ra’sCat’’). Anexcellentalbum, unfortunately you won’t find it in stores because it’s just a promotional release.

(5)

Various 1-800-NEW-FUNK (ATTIC)

Prince has gathered together some of the newcomers of funk and some of the veter- ans of R & B together to put out an album showcaasing the freshest new sounds in funk. The ‘‘Atomic Dog”’ himself, George Clinton, joins artists such as Nona Gaye (Marvin’s daughter) and Mavis Staples in this Minneapolis product.

(3)

Various Shopping OST

(POLYGRAM

A soundtrack/of a movie that I’ve never heard of, featurin eri, artists that ’ve never heard of. The 2 cuts ars basically a fusion of techno/hip hop/alternative, but nothing really stands out. ’s single, ‘‘Don’t Look Back’’ is blase at best, and Stereo MC’s ‘““Wake Up’, is basically boring. The one interesting track is Credit t6 the Nation’s ‘‘Call it What You

Warren G

Regulate...g funk era

(November 15, 1994

(POLYGRAM)

Warren G is quite heavily influenced by George Clinton’s P-Funky sounds on this album: whichis yet anotherlaid ba

gangsta album. It’s a mix of melo

painfully short by most measures. be offended by the misogynist tone of hi Ho Draft’’, which really has no placg on this CD. (3)

Public Enemy Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess |Age

(POLYGRAM)

The Enemy is back, following ‘*Greatest Misses’’ CD, with some

Black pride and history. The lyrics ar¢ rugged and intelligent, and the beats hard and pump- ing. Good, but not up to the past stan ds of excellenceof the lyrical terrorist Chugk D.

(3.5)

The The Solitude

(Sony) This is one of the bands we all grew up

with and promptly forgot. Hearing this CD brought back all the memories. Ypu may recognise some of the songs from old The The recordings, or fromthe soundtrack of ‘/Three- some’’. ‘‘That Was the Day’’ was revamped from the original ‘‘This is The Day’’. I strongly encourage you to check this out, if only for one song: ‘Dogs of Lust’’. Once you get past the scary album cover, you’ Il discover a CD with just plain music. No real message- -and that’s why I like it. Lots of guitar, but no annoying feedback. Rock without grunge... 3 hard combination to find these days. (4) --Aldera Chisholm

Voice of the Voyager

Bodycount Born Dead (EMI) _ Ice-T’s band does their best imp sion at hard core heavy metal. Too m

yelling and swearing, and not enough musi ability or thought went into this album.

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David Serads The Blue Guide

(RWRD)

The promo for this album calls D: Serada the next Leonard Cohen... | differ. This guy sounds like your typi poppish, overly commercial, unoriginal, ing-to-cater-to-the-mainstream-market comer. I admit that the guy does\have musical ability, and a very clear tone of vo but you’d think that he’d put it to better then sappy love songs. Don’t let\the deceive you, this stuff is not blues. Dept ing, yes, but not blues. I wish] could say nicethings about this album, seeing ashe’ independent Canadian artist and all, bul fact remains . . . he’s a cheap Michael Bo rip-off. Mind you, if you like that in stuff, this is definitely for you. (2.5)

-- Cate Hanus

Uisce Beatha (pronoynced: ka baha)

(Festival Records) Uisce Beath/is a traditional ' band from Halifax’ No, they are not ” Rankin Family/they’re MUCH bet that. They us¢traditional instruments° the Irish whistle, bagpipes, harp and® lin. They are gifted musicians who? mefsed in their specific style. Mai™ Celtic music pales when compared ' mastery of Uisce Beatha. They definitely worth listening to over ae again. (4.5)

-- Cate Hanus