The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 22

Page 9 The Anniston Star. Saturday. Feto. is. t0M mi itoe fflip sidle 'Wean Business' a showcase for Jimmy Page's guitar look pretty old.

borders on the self-indulgent. So the rest of us may not want to stay around long enough to hear the other good points of this album. Sheila MuUaa I 7Z if-. bination of synthesized drums, vocals and piano playing that gives this song energy and the potential to be a Top 40 hit on both the and Pop charts. Jellybean Johnson, formerly of The Time and currently with The Family, helps out with a very dramatic guitar solo on "You Can Be Mine." "The Pleasure Principle," "He Doesn't Know I'm Alive" and "Control," the title cut, are also songs with the potential to become chart busters.

The only regret that a listener may have with this album, and a very small one at that, is seven songs out of nine are geared to the dance audience. Jackson, as with all The Jacksons, is best at delivering soulful ballads. And this album only has two: "Let's Wait Awhile" and "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Tun), which sounds a lot like "The Lady In My Life" by her brother, Michael Jackson. But, in all, "Control" is a delightful album that carries Janet Jackson into another stage of her career. Bill Boykins as classic reflections of what a hard album this is to listen to.

"Thank God For The Bomb" a hard-driving song with a lot of muddy guitar and even muddier Ozzy Osbourne vocals. Gean the mud off yourself and out of your ears and here's what you get: "War is just another game, Tailor made for the insane. But make a threat of their annihilation And nobody wants to play. If that the only thing that keeps the peace Then thank God for the bomb. Thank God for the bomb! Thank God for the bomb! Thank God for the bomb! Nuke ya! Nuke Real heavy, Oz, real heavy! And while we're in the philosophical mood, my friend, let us not forget your title song, and also your record world tour theme "The Ultimate Sin." You tell me in this song that "I warned you then and I'm warning you now, if you mess with me you're playing with fire." Come on Oz, I already got burned when I agreed to review this album.

That was my "Ultimate Dave Wolford 3 Is Run-DMC quitting rap? Is it worried the rap market is limited? Kurtis Blow and his compatriots have survived the hype around the old-time art. Maybe Run-DMC, for all their pronouncements about being hot emcees, doubt their stuff can sell. Maybe its a idea though for Run-DMC to switch gears. Good as they may sometimes be, their days are numbered. In my view, they don't begin to compete with Kurtis Blow, they were embarrassed by Sheila E.

in the movie Krush Groove, and they don't have the imagination of Doug E. Fresh or even of the Fat Boys. And they're good singers. Sure, their songs sound like the New Edition, but they're sweet and playable. Maybe they'll stand out among the other pretty voices.

Jonathan Sapers Stereotomy Alan Parsons Project No ladies in bathing suits and high-heeled shoes for the cover of Alan Parsons' latest album. Instead, the cover of "Stereotomy" uses psychodynamies to entice the buyer. Clever packaging is great and can sometimes sell an album. But in the case of "Steroeotomy," the album's musk could stand alone. Plenty of intriguing concepts appear on the entire album.

The musicianship and neat cover harmoniously attributes to the overall magnificence of this innovative creation. Unusual phrases and unexpected pianissimos are evident throughout the album along with other "tricky" devices. But they escape sugar coating and keep the album interesting. Most noticeable about the collection of songs is the fine musicianship that, save for Bary Brooker's harsh vocals on "Limelight," makes this album a worthwhile endeavor for Parsons and great entertainment for the listener. The title song, "Stereotomy," opens side one on the upbeat and is somewhat conforming for Parsons.

The album is enhanced by the songs on side two. "Where's The Walrus?" and "Chinese Whispers" are both instrumentals with really exciting things happening on them. Ladale Lloyd Pop, rock and country albums for review are supplied by Newsom Records and Tapes in Quintard Hall. Christian musk albums are supplied by Christian's Divine Workshop. II The question with this album is, at what point does the music stop sounding like the insistent hammering of a pneumatic drill and begin sounding like music? Happily, the answer is at the second hearing.

"Nasty Business" is the second album for The Firm, a four-man band that includes guitarist luminary Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin fame and lead vocalist Paul Rodgers of Bad Company fame. Their objective, they decided, was to turn out popular music that would appeal to a wide read commercial audience. It appears they've succeeded. Some of the songs on the album do work. For example, "Spirit of Love," is a good song, with fine guitar work by Page and a solid backup behind Rodgers.

Its message is not overly ambitious, but it is pleasant. And "All the King's Horses" features fine synthesizer work to back up Page and vocalist Rodgers. One of the stranger cuts on the album, "Live in Peace," is obviously a reference to the troubles Britain is experiencing in Northern Ireland. However, the whole premise of the song is that people will just wake up some day, and decide to quit fighting. Come on guys, it just ain't so.

Centuries of human history should at least tell you that. Besides, with this song, The Firm is trying to elbow into the political commentary market that U-2 has cornered so well. The lyrics in "Live in Peace" are weak. For example: "Why can't we live In peace We live in troubled times The shadow of an island nation Troubles ever remind And chills the heart ot every nation. One note: The "island nation" refers to Britain here, not Northern Ireland.

Or consider: "Why can't we live in peace? Why can't we have no release? You and we don't know why So many people cry. As one might expect, given the awesome guitar talent of Page, this album is basically a showcase for his guitar ability. Witness the intense guitar riffs on the "Tear Down the Walls" and "All the King's Horses" cuts. Therefore, the ardent Page fan will be thrilled with this album. But one cut especially, "Cadillac," proves that there is a fine line between playing music that showcases one's musical talent effectively and playing music that The Ultimate Sin Ozzy Osbourne C'mon Ozzy, give me a break! I mean really now, do you expect me to believe you're really trying to further the cause of good ol' heavy metal rock 'n' roll with the clap trap on your new album, "The Ultimate You oughta be ashamed of yourself! Heavy metal rock 'n' roll is suppose to get the blood rushin' and the feet stompin'! It's suppose to make you fantasize about being on stage beltin' it out or play in' your guts out.

"The Ultimate Sin" makes you want to put the turntable on 45 or 78 to get it over with! Your trademark, Oz, is decapitating reptiles and rodents with your teeth at live performances. You're a bad boy, buddy, and with this album, you definitely are "bad." The poor quality of this recording and your trademark go hand in hand. They deserve each other! The guitar work in some parts of this album are admirable and you really get the feeling lead guitarist, Jake E. Lee, is fixing to get cranked up and then all of a sudden, Oz, you open your mouth. Why man, why? I guess you do it for the sake of humdrum lyrics and to show the world how bad (awful) a singer you are.

Oz, my man, you are the "Chop Sticks" of rock! Boring! B-O-R-I-N-G! On the back cover of this album, Oz, you thank over 70 individuals who without their support, encouragement or whatever, this album would not have been possible. What are you trying to do man, ruin these people's lives? One of the credits is to "all friends at the Betty Ford Center." Believe me, in order to discern any of the lyrics and reason behind most of these songs, a couple of six packs would probably be in order. Too much thunder and not enough lightning, Oz! Sorry! I hate to rain on your parade but this album really disappoints me. I will say, though, that your choice of song titles really made up for a lot of optimism I had when .1 first put the stereo on "play." These titles speak for themselves as far as what's in store for the listener of this album: "Never," "Shot In The Park," "Secret Loser" (hey Oz, is this your "Never Know Why" and "Fool Like You" (for buying this album, probably). Two other titles must be included Force M.D.'s Run-DMC Imitation is the since rest form of flattery and a good way to make a buck.

Everyone makes money from imitating people. Pepsi thinks New Coke stole its Cola. Huey Lewis thinks Ray Parker Jr. imitated his song "I want a New Drug," with the song "Ghostbusters." Some people think the Rolling Stones imitated the Beatles. And everyone thinks that New Edition is supposed to be a revived Jackson Five.

So why shouldn't Run-DMC recreate New Edition? Those cute kids are making millions and they won't have to stop until they can't gloss out their moustaches. you ask. And well you might. The group is one of the more famous members of the slew of rap groups that have appeared on the scene since rap has become a household word. What are they doing playing sugar-candy love songs? Who knows.

But that's what they're doing on their new album. Sure, they rap a bit. In one cut, they even rap it up with the Fat Boys. But the war never comes off. The contestants are too conciliatory, somebody was pulling punches.

But most of the rest of the album is made up of sweet, high-voiced love songs that sound just like the New Edition. But these guys have more than just moustaches. They Control Janet Jackson The Minneapolis sound is everywhere. Radio stations across the country are playing the high-tech beat. The drum machines, synthesizers, high-pitched guitars and steamy vocals are now used throughout the music industry, made popular by rock and pop star Prince with his hit album and movie "Purple Rain." Artists throughout the music industry are influenced by the sound.

Such songs as "Love Bizzare" and "The Glamorous Life" by Sheila "Sugar Walls" by Sheena Easton, "Crimes of Passion" by The Family which were all arranged and produced or co-arranged and co-produced by Prince and "Oh Sheila" by Ready For The World are only a few bit songs that carry the sound made famous by the Minneapolis star. And now there's Janet Jackson. Teeny-booper Janet Jackson? Yes. A mature sounding Janet Jackson. With her new album "Control," Jackson derived a great mixture of songs under the realm of Jimmy "Jam" Harris and Terry Lewis of Flyte Time Productions, both former members of the group The Time.

"What Have You Done For Me Lately," the first single released from the album, has a great com.