X.raves s livi 1G one Various Artists Reality Bites Soundtrack (BMG) The soundtrack to the fabulous gen x movie of the year is filled with alternative favourites Like Dinosaur Jr, Lenny Kravitz, and Crowded House, and a U2 classic. There are also lesser-known college bands thrown in, along with a remake of ‘‘Baby of Love Your Way’’, a cheesie pop song from the seventies now with a new pseudo-reggae twist. The album cannot be mentioned without a discussion of the Knack’s ‘ ‘My Sharona’’, which also made the soundtrack. An irritating song that is very likeable. Nostalgia, I suppose. ke This latest release in a series of dance albums is probably the best yet. The mainly house music tunes are strung together by some decent mixing and sampling, and the cuts are quite good, with the exception of the remake of Boston’s ‘More than a Feeling’’. Check out the dance mix of 4 Non Blondes’ ‘‘What’s Up’’ - it’s rather cool. © Chris Sheppard: Pirate Radio Sessions Vol.I (Quality) Yet another release for both Quality Records, the K-Tel of et eee eye v7 ‘ ¥) Cs | a ey 0e ’ ae vey News ne Vari arti Club Cutz Volume 5 _ (BMG) the nineties, and Chris Sheppard, Ontario DJ turned techno guru. This album also runs without breaks between the songs, but with less production than Club Cutz. The purpose of this album is to demonstrate to mainstream Canada that an underground, independent techno scene exists. It is a worthy demonstration. Many of the cuts seem almost primitive, - because of the lack of commercial production, but this is to be expected with underground cuts. : . —__Radikal Techno... Too Radikal (Quality) This release is also another volume in a series of techno compilations. The cuts on this album are very fast and very well produced, but in comparison to anything XL Recordings In the immortal words of Master T (who really should be shot), this MuchMusic compilation album is ‘*...full of slammin’ tracks, cool cats’’. The first question I asked myself when I got this CD was: ‘“‘How did I miss the first 3 volumes?’’. The second question was: ‘‘Who the hell are these performers-- LSU, YMT, Rag Team?’! (that’s the correct spelling-and yes, they are a Tag Team clone); but it doesn’t matter, it’s a long CD (27 songs, 79 minutes) and over half of the songs are excellent dance- hall/make-ya move tunes. The best of the bunch include Simply Majestic’s ‘‘DJ‘S Put This in the Mix’’, ‘“‘Everybody Salsa’’ by Tribe, and E.F.A.’s ‘\Pump it up Cea) CLUB HOUSE | 100% CANADIAN DANCE | Like U.K. Seduction, this other MuchMusic release is - full of artists that I've barely heard of. Seeing as how it’s an accumulation of Canadian dance music artists, I felt somewhat ashamed; however, this CD shows how far Canada has to go to match up to our : more prolific neighbours when it releases, the selections on this album are not very ‘*radikal’’ and would be categorized under progressive house. The 14 songs are mixed together well, and I am sure the album is great for dancing, although I have yet to test it out. How about Electric Circus in the Pitx(3.5) tA. Fn BRN 3 comes to House music. The best of the bunch is Carol Medina’s track ‘*‘And the Song Goes’‘, which is a little above average. The CD isn’t bad, but you won’t hear these songs when you/re out on the weekend. & More music that evokes memories of Saturday nights spent -downtown. If you need a quick Myron’s fix (that might get me a free drink), simply throw this tape in your stereo and crank to 7 (my Livingroom glassware began to vibrate at 6). Just more songs mixed in together to make you move. ‘*Another Night’’ by MC Sar and the Real McCoy is the type of cut which could make your grandmother get down and dance. Other notable tracks include Black Box’s ‘‘Rockin to the Music’’ and Zoran’s ‘*Hooked on oust! G5) Well, UPEI ALL ofte MAESTRO FRESH WES | Nah, Dis Kid Can’t be from Canada?!! The premier rapmaster Wes they are Canadian, from Canada has returned with his third delivery on the hip-hop charts. As with his past successes, Scarborough’s Fresh Wes (Wesley Williams) has created songs containing seriously fresh rhymes-some of the best lyrics that I’ve ever heard. For example, from his song ‘\Check My Vernacular’! he rhymes off../'My rhymes are bionic, far from demonic, my phonics supersonic, while yours are embryonic’’. One of the preeminent rulers of rap, Canadian or otherwise, the Maestro is truly conducting things with his latest album. Sy them in glowing terms. They’re more along the rap wanna-be’s such as One more thing: the beach this summer. 1. Don’t rent ‘‘JFK’’, RASCALZ Really Livin‘ ae Well, like Fresh but that’s about all that I can say about lines of the prepubescent crowd of Kris Kross and ABC, but that’s where the resemblance ends. There’s not a lot of talent here, they’re just young artists trying to follow a trend. DOMINO Getto Jam See the previous “review, only substitute ‘wanna-be gangsta’ for ‘prepubescent’! . He/s just another ee brother from da in Long Beach, trying to make a buck. After ‘\Getto Jam’, which is among the top five songs in the U.S. right now, the CD is seriously lacking ir some of the fine! points, such a: originality 5 SCI v1 Welcome to Americ If he was a immigrant, I’m no sure that Americ would be too happy t have him. He tries t live off th controversy that sor titles like ‘‘Niggé Like Me’’, **Gim Your Shit Nigga’’, ar ‘*] Shot da Bitch: bring him; not exact a CD for the faint | heart. He tries | use all of t! ‘gangsta rap’ tric and play the role the biggest 0. hustler around. N much talent, he’s ju another angry you me eo is is it - the final chapter in the book of my sophomore yéa the insight of this column has come from a mere second-year student). will consider writing for the XPress (It’s really a unique endeavo My motto :/’Take Care and Dream Big’’ was not picked arbitrari think these five words are drastically underused, and I hope you will think of them whi If, to the world, you’re nobody, to somebody, you're the we hat really ma BY FAITH HU (Yes, that’s rig shall leave Remember 1 Now for some words of wisdom to hold you off ‘til next ' 2. Not every sad woman has loved and lost. 3. He who laughs last didn’t get the jok 4. Always borrow money from pessimists - they don’t 5. Confusion starts when you make something perfeg Above all, remember the three L’s (Living, Loving, and Laughing) and re go together. Have a good summer, my comrades, and don’t be sad-- Maybe It’s a good movie, but the guy dies (Oops...Did I ruin i Maybe she go