Pilgrims of the Mind: What's your Shrine? “lifts your spirits” reviewed by Chris Jones Coal Chamber: Chamber Music “kinda fake” reviewed by Brenndan Laird If you're looking for a disc full of every over-used special effect in heavy music, Chamber Music is for you. Coal Chamber is a very young band and they have yet to con- vert interesting sound into interesting song. The problem lies'in the lyrics that take one tiny statement and bang you over the head with it. This album doesn't let you interpret anything, rather it just dumps itself in your lap. By far the most interesting track is their cover of Peter Gabriel's Shock The Monkey, where we are treated with an appearance by Ozzy Osbourne. My suggestion is to get this disc, burn your own copy of the cover tune, and return it. One thing Coal Chamber did put some effort into is their fashion. The back of the J card reveals the members fully clad in the modern glam/goth fashions that are very hip today. If you look long enough, however, you get this feeling like the band members are only playing dress up and that the tat- toos wash off and the nose rings are only clip-on. I'd say that's a good way to describe the impression that Chamber 1997 is almost ancient history in the electronic sphere, but this full length Pilgrims:-release still deserves to be talked about. What's your Shrine? is one of the most impressive offerings to date from the Vancouver scene. Pilgrims of the Mind is Stephane Novak, who has been releasing sporadically for some time with various labels across the country, and finally hooked up with Van- couver's Map Records for this project. Most of What's your Shrine? falls nicely into the soft spot that Vancouver has for House, and doesn't exactly seek to blow our minds into ~ (gasp) some uncharted-branch of electronica. But what Stephane does with these House beats is very refined. He keeps the pace relaxed, dipping down into dub and ambi- ence, and wraps all the rhythms in swirling synths and melodic tones that really lift your spirits. It has a constant concern with being sexy, but Shrine somehow manages to pull enough celebration and ethereality into its grooves to warrant the spiritual reference in the title. What's your Shrine? is one of those rare releases from a smaller scene that offers vision beyond any one genre. Pilgrims of the Mind does not ride a single exploratory current, but sits back in contemplation of what is important, and results in a distinct success - musical elec- tronic music. Music gave me: fake and fleeting. Slipknot: self-titled “good and heavy” reviewed by Brenndan Laird If you are looking for a good and heavy disc for the holidays give Slipknot's self-titled album a try. Don't let the Gwar'esque costumes on the jacket card sway you. Despite their endorse- ment of the tremendously clichéd metal aesthetic, these boys have really come up with a rich and unique sound. If bands like Korn are your favourite but you've got a thirst for something much heavier, Slipknot can quench it. The album stays fairly consistent throughout but still keeps things interesting. If you have an appreciation for percussion, this album is thick with it. Most of the tracks attack you with a wall of sound. The aggres- sion is complimented by the abilities of the musicians. The hint of drum and bass adds another tasty spice to their intensity. Several tracks feed you a melodic chorus... something you could skip down the sidewalk humming until the rest of the song smacks you in the privates. Tracks like Wait and Bleed and Spit It Out are my personal favourites because of their successful blend of melody and aggression. Overall, this album is a good pick for the modern metal fan. Sara & Tegan: Under Feet Like Ours : : " “it’s alr ight reviewed by Elizabeth FitzZaland Described by one ECIAD student as being "like Ani Difranco, if she wasn't as talented with a guitar, didn't write excellent lyrics, and she performed with the twin sister she does- n't have," Sara and Tegan are nineteen year old playing twins from Calgary. They've recently released their first album, Under Feet Like Ours, and have been touring about the country pro- moting it. Your basic singer-guitar-drum band with an occasional cello or sibling thrown in, Sara and Tegan have opened for per- formers such as Juliana Hatfield and Kinnie Starr...and that may. be the best way to describe their music; they'd make a good opening act for someone else...with so much terrible music out there, | wouldn't say they're bad. | didn't cringe once while lis- - * tening to their CD (though | did snooze a bit and not in that fluid, serene, Sarah McLachlan sorta’ way). Their music is aver- age; nothing awful, nothing memorable - which explains the vagueness of this review. A couple of their songs are encouragingly less middle- of-the-roadish than the majority. Freedom is a little more engag- ing (| bothered to open my eyes and check out what track it = was) with a strong beat and rhythm as well as some variation in .~. the singing. Other songs on the album include tracks about the turmoil of being separated from your. twin, the oppression of ~~ working at a coffee shop, and the stupidity of "selling out" (I~ don't know what else they'd have to do to sell out...). a Folk? Punk? Pop? | dunno, all those categories seem to dissolve into one another. Tolerable? Yes. Good? Sure. Interesting? No. For whom to buy this album for Christmas? : Insomnia-ridden friends or 13-year-old teensters who are just... happy to receive. for a while | couldn’t figure out why all my CDs were getting scratched... fs Coal Chamber: Chamber Music “kinda fake” If you're looking for a disc full of every over-used special effect in heavy music, Chamber Music is for you. Coal Chamber is a very young band and they have yet to con- vert interesting sound into interesting song. The problem lies in the lyrics that take one tiny statement and bang you over the head with it. This album doesn't let you interpret anything, rather it just dumps itself in your lap. By far the most interesting track is their cover of Peter Gabriel's Shock The Monkey, where we are treated with an appearance by Ozzy Osbourne. My suggestion is to get this disc, burn your own copy of the cover tune, and return it. One thing Coal Chamber did put some effort into is their fashion. The back of the J card reveals the members fully clad in the modern glam/goth fashions that are very hip today. If you look long enough, however, you get this feeling like the band members are only playing dress up and that the tat- toos wash off and the nose rings are only clip-on. I'd say that's a good way to describe the impression that Chamber ‘Music gave me: fake and fleeting. Slipknot: self-titled “good and heavy” reviewed by Brenndan Laird Ifyou are looking for a good and heavy disc for the holidays give Slipknot's self-titled album a try. Don't let the Gwar'esque costumes on the jacket card sway you. Despite their endorse- ment of the tremendously clichéd metal aesthetic, these boys have really come up with a rich and unique sound. f bands like Kor are your favourite but you've got a thirst for something much heavier, Slipknot can quench it. The album stays fairly consistent throughout but still keeps things interesting. If you have an appreciation for percussion, this album is thick with it. ‘Most of the tracks attack you with a wall of sound. The aggres- sion is complimented by the abilities of the musicians. The hint of drum and bass adds another tasty spice to their intensity Several tracks feed you a melodic chorus... something you could skip down the sidewalk humming until the rest of the song smacks you in the privates. Tracks like Wait and Bleed and Spit It Out are my personal favourites because of their successful blend of melody and aggression. Overall, this album is a good pick for the modern metal fan reviewed by Brendan Laird yCOMPACT DIGITAL AUDIO for a while | couldn't figure out why all my CDs were getting scratched... ohise Pilgrims of the Mind: What's your Shrine? “lifts your spirits” reviewed by Chris Jones 1997 is almost ancient history in the electronic sphere, but this full length Pilgrims release still deserves to be talked about: What's your Shrine? is one of the most impressive offerings to date from the Vancouver scene, Pilgrims of the Mind is Stephane Novak, who has been releasing sporadically for some time with various labels across the country, and finally hooked up with Van- ‘couver's Map Records for this project. Most of What's your Shrine? falls nicely into the soft spot that Vancouver has for House, and doesn't exactly seek to blow our minds into (gasp) some uncharted-branch of electronica. But what Stephane does with these House beats is very refined. He keeps the pace relaxed, dipping down into dub and ambi- ence, and wraps all the rhythms in swirling synths and melodic tones that really lift your spirits. It has a constant. concern with being sexy, but Shrine somehow manages to pull enough celebration and ethereality into its grooves to warrant the spiritual reference in the title What's your Shrine? is one of those rare releases from a smaller scene that offers vision beyond any one genre. Pilgrims of the Mind does not ride a single exploratory current, but sits back in contemplation of what is important, and results in a distinct success - musical elec- tronic music. Sara & Tegan: Under Feet Like Ours “it’s alright” reviewed by Elizabeth FitzZaland Described by one ECIAD student as being "like Ani Difranco, if she wasn't as talented with a guitar, didn't write excellent lyrics, and she performed with the twin sister she does- n't have," Sara and Tegan are nineteen year old playing twins from Calgary. They've recently released their first album, Under Feet Like Ours, and have been touring about the country pro~ 4 moting it. ‘Your basic singer-guitar-drum band with an occasional cello or sibling thrown in, Sara and Tegan have opened for per- formers such as Juliana Hatfield and Kinnie Star...and that may be the best way to describe their music; they'd make a good ‘opening act for someone else...with so much terrible music out there, | wouldn't say they're bad. | didn't cringe once while lis- tening to their CD (though | did snooze a bit and not in that fluid, serene, Sarah McLachlan sorta’ way). Their music is aver- | ge; nothing awful, nothing memorable - which explains the vagueness of this review. ‘A couple of their songs are encouragingly less middle- of-the-roadish than the majority. Freedom is little more engag- ing (I bothered to open my eyes and check out what track it was) with a strong beat and rhythm as well as some variation in the singing. Other songs on the album include tracks about the 3 turmoil of being separated from your twin, the oppression of | working at a coffee shop, and the stupidity of "selling out” (I don't know what else they'd have to do to sell out...) } Folk? Punk? Pop? I dunno, all those categories seem to dissolve into one another. Tolerable? Yes. Good? Sure. Interesting? No. For whom to buy this album for Christmas?. Insomnia-ridden friends or 13-year-old teensters who are just happy to receive.