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Wednesday, November 27, 1996

SOUNDBITES

Tricky "Pre-Millennium Tension" (Island) Tricky, the British trip-hop king, established himself with the 1995 critical smash, "Maxinquaye," a showcase of ambient loops and hip-hop rhythms. Now, he follows that up with a darker, more hip-hop-driven album with a post-modern-industrial feel to it. The album's first track, "Vent," is a brooding song with a P.J. Harvey-meets-Massive Attack (Tricky's old outfit) vibe ("Gone insane/Hijack a plane/Don't push me/'Cause I'm close to the edge"). "Piano" haunts with resonance as well, with erratic beats and random lyrical interjections. Tricky experiments with rap a bit with the urban avant-garde "Tricky Kid" ("They used to call me Tricky Kid/I live the life they wish they did/I live the life don't own a car/Now they call me superstar"), and the starkly tender, early '80s-influenced "Makes Me Want to Die." Tricky specializes in hypnotic, creepy songs ("Christiansands") but Tricky's main problem is that his music is hard to digest. Songs like "My Evil Is Strong" sound bombastic and have no rhythm, something the average listener probably won't sit through without heading for the "skip" button. However complex and abstract his music is, Tricky is still a master technician of music. His unique sound, a hybrid of instruments with synthesized loops and sound effects, is uncompromising and unparalleled. "Pre-Millennium Tension" is an aptly named album of Trent Reznor-like synthesized orchestrations. It evokes a disturbing mood that booms and creeps all the way through. Mike Prevatt Grade: B

Bush "Razorblade Suitcase" (Trauma) It's been two years since Bush came out with its debut 5 million-selling album, "Sixteen Stone." Now these English rockers are back with fun for all those who doubted their credibility, with the credibility leader in producing, Steve Albini (after all, he produced Nirvana, the standard-bearer of credibility in "alternative" music). The fun is in listening to Nigel Pulsford's beautifully expressive guitar work take songs through all the paces of a modern rock track. The fun is also in listening to drummer Robin Goodridge and bassist Dave Parsons actually play a song that's enjoyable because of the emotion it evokes. The disappointing part of "Razorblade Suitcase" is singer Gavin Rossdale's whining about how "you will get yours" in "Cold Confusion." The major criticism of Bush has always been of its lead singer and his pretty-boy attitude when it comes to presenting himself to the public. All the little girls love him and that makes the critics jealous enough to make Spin magazine proudly proclaim that you "shouldn't hate them because he's so beautiful" on the recent cover with Rossdale's grinning mug on it. If Rossdale would just pull back on trying so hard at singing teenage pop songs like "Glycerine" from "Sixteen Stone," then Bush would be fine. Case in point is the the track "history" that is a rock song for the '90s with Rossdale's standard stream-of-consciousness writing style at its best. But on most songs, when he starts a chorus, it should never sound like he's whining. Though he genuinely sounds like he's whining because of his style, he should try to just sing and let the lyrics bring the emotion to him because the lyrics are fine. He shouldn't pump the lyrics with whininess that makes them sound like pleas. Bottom line: If you're a fan, buy it. If you've come to have an aversion to Rossdale's vocals, then this album will make you never want to listen to Bush again. Michael Nazarinia Grade: C

Ocean Colour Scene "Mosley Shoals" (MCA) With a retro-rock sound and blazing guitar solos, Ocean Colour Scene has a chance to join the ranks of fellow British mates Oasis and Bush in making it big in the States. Six years of setbacks, turmoil, and natural disasters couldn't stop Scene from releasing its UK chart-topping album "Mosley Shoals." Simon Fowler might be the frontman but it's Steve Cradock and his electric guitar that gives life to the songs. A combination of late '60s rock with a touch of blues, Scene delivers songs dealing with hardship, heartache and redemption wrapped around smooth guitar riffs and strained vocals. Most of the songs on "Shoals" wallow in sadness with slow turtle-paced beats, with the exceptions of "The Riverboat Song," which starts out with a 30-second guitar solo brilliantly performed by Cradock, and "You've Got it Bad" and "The Day We Caught the Train," which are the bands most rock-pop tracks. Scene's influence comes heavily from the Beatles, which is a good thing, but is taken too far on one of the best tracks, "The Day We Caught the Train," when lead singer Fowler blatantly steals Paul McCarthy's distorted vocals and rhythm from "I Am the Walrus." Besides the one misdeed, Ocean Colour Scene offers a refreshing departure from the current happy-pop/glam-rock coming out of Britain these days. Trinh Bui Grade: A-

Keith Murray "Enigma" (Jive) Keith Murray has got more energy than a hyperactive, motor-mouth second grader. On his sophomore album, Murray channels this excessive energy into some of the best battle rhymes ever heard. Dealing out battle rhymes to squash wack emcees is what Murray does best. On his sophomore effort "Enigma," he continues to rap in his trademark style, with his raspy voice reciting lyrics filled with obscure vocabulary. Even when he makes up words (like beautifullest), Murray's boundless energy is his main attraction. This energy is evident on the album's first single, "The Rhyme." Murray metaphorically speaks of his rhymes as an uncontrollable monster that "punches phony M.C.'s dead in their esophagus." The album does not lag with guest appearances by Redman, Erick Sermon and Jamal. Murray's rhymes are backed up with beats produced mostly by fellow Def Squad member Erick Sermon. Some of the beats compliment Murray's energetic delivery, but others fall short and sound tame in comparison. "The Ummah," A Tribe Called Quest's production entity, also contributes some excellent production. Nelson Saldua Grade: B+

Chaka Khan "Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan (Volume 1)" (Reprise) For the past 25 years, Chaka Khan has consistently recorded excellent music. In a time where the label "diva" is used to describe seemingly every rhythm-and-blues female singer, Khan's songs show her legitimate claim to the label. On this album, she has selected 11 songs from her extensive discography and added five previously-unreleased songs. "Epiphany" contains classics like "Ain't Nobody," "Through the Fire" and "I'm Every Woman." It also includes a live version of the Stevie Wonder-penned "Tell Me Something Good." "I Feel For You" is Khan at her best, meshing pop, funk and rap music. Written by Prince and featuring Stevie Wonder and rapper Melle Mel, "I Feel For You" is an example of Khan's ability to transcend musical and generational boundaries. The only disappointment in the song selection is the glaring omission of "Sweet Thing." The new material on "Epiphany" includes "Never Miss the Water," a dynamic duet pairing Khan with Me'Shell Ndegeocello. On this and the other new songs it is evident that Khan is not showing any signs of slowing down. Her voice is still as powerful as ever and she still can sing a song like few others can. Nelson Saldua Grade: A-

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