New Releases
(Rating Scale of 1-5)

Artist:	"BEE GEES"
Title:	"STILL WATERS"
Label:	Polydor
Available:	Any Major Music Store
Reviewed By:	Mary Ellen Gustafson
Rating:	5

Another band that's stood the test of time has a new release out as well. For the past thirty years, the Brothers Gibb (that's where the name BEE GEES came from - B. G.'s) have shared their incredible harmonies and melodius songs with the world. Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb have been cranking out hits since their first international one, "N.Y. Mining Disaster, 1941," and haven't stopped since. Whether releasing their own albums, or writing songs for other major acts such as "Woman In Love" for Barbara Streisand, "Chain Reaction" for Dianna Ross, "Hearbreaker" for Dionne Warwick, and "Islands In The Stream" for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, (And those are just the #1 hits!) they just write fantastic music.

Now, just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of their first worlwide hits, comes "Still Waters." The album debuted on the Amercan Charts at #11 - their highest debut in nearly twenty years. The new single, "Alone," was released May 19, 1997 with a B side of "Stayin Alive' - Live." The BEE GEES were also VH-1's "Artist of the Month" in the U.S. in May, and "Artist of the Month" in June for VH-1/Europe. With recent appearances on both "Oprah" and "The Tonight Show, With Jay Leno" bringing in top ratings for both shows, it's obvious even after a several year hiatus from releasing albums of their own, they are still one of the top bands in the world. They created a whole way of life with the smash "Saturday Night Fever" sound track, and had three #1 hits from that album alone. It's also the best-selling sound track album of all time.

After listening to "Still Waters," it's easy to understand why the BEE GEES haven't lost their appeal. Age hasn't chaged the special harmonies and falsetto voices one bit. And thirty years of experience has made their music stronger and more mature. The album opens with the second single to be released, "Alone." As far as sound goes, this tune almost harks back to the days of their disco ballads, but with very 90's lyrics. "I Surrender" has a wonderful a capella intro and the trademark backup vocals and harmonies that have made the BEE GEES famous. This one should also find its way to the dance club floors. The next song, "I Could Not Love You More" is a sensitive ballad that pretty much qualifies as a lullaby. The title track, "Still Waters Run Deep," also has an a capella intro (In case you've been on a deserted island or something and haven't heard it yet!) and wonderful harmonies. This is a quiet song with very powerful lyrics, delivered as only the BEE GEES can.

With a minor key melody line, "My Lover's Prayer" is another power ballad with really moving lyrics and trademark harmonies. Picking the pace back up again is "With My Eyes Closed." This song has some interesting beat and voice effects that give it a "hook." With a kind of rock/country wail of guitar, the intro to "Irresistible Force" is just the first change from the other tunes on the album. This one has a sound and flavor of it's own. Lots of different voice effects, pace, and key changes make this the most interesting track on the album. I'm also pretty partial to this particular song. Back to the dance club (with that 90's disco sound) we go with "Closer Than Close," another song you should have heard somewhere by now.

The power ballad "I Will" features the BEE GEES trademark falsetto voices and harmonies. This one also has some really beautiful background instrumentals that set off their voices to perfection. Another favorite of mine, "Obsessions," belongs to the slow dance crowd, with it's backup falsetto voice effects, soulful lyrics and harmonies, and matching instrumentals. Another unuasual sounding track is "Miracles Happen," with it's minor key intro accompanied by what sounds like an orchestra, and a melody line that stands out. The band also works all their voice, pause and key change tricks on this one.

The final track on the album, "Smoke And Mirrors," is also something of a lullaby, with really great lyrics, and harmonies, that move into a beat driven number. This one also stands out among the other songs on the album. The BEE GEES have used every possible effect in vocals, instrumentals, pace, and lyrics to put out one fantastic album. There's not a bad song on this record, and even if you weren't a BEE GEES fan before, this album should make you a convert, and is worth every penny you spend to get it!

Artist:	"FAITH NO MORE"
Title:	"Album of the Year"
Label:	Reprise Records
Release Date:	6/97
Available:	Any Major Music Store
Reviewed By:	Mary Ellen Gustafson
Rating:	4

According to the music industry gossip mongers, FAITH NO MORE was on the verge of breaking up just a few months ago. 15 years and 7 albums later, they would be no more. Except gossip is usually not true. "There has been speculation that the band was going to break up ever since our first album," laughs bassist Billy Gould, who started the band in 1982 with keboardist Roddy Bottum and drummer Mike Bordin. "There have been points every year for the past 20 years where it looked like the band might not go on. It happens once every six week."

Of course the band did give indications they were splitting. Vocalist Mike Patton was working on his second solo album, Roddy Bottum started up "Imperial Teen," and Mike Bordin went off to play with metal king Ozzy Osbourne for a while. But after all their "extra-curicular" activities were completed, everyone was ready to come back Home to FAITH NO MORE, and in rare form at that, after listening to their new release "Album Of The Year." Along with guiatarist John Hudson, this followup to "King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime" according to Gould, "Has a much moodier vibe. 'King For A Day' was a very angry record, and it was stripped down. We made it like that intentionally because we all needed the feeling of getting punched in the face."

"Album Of The Year" was recorded in stages, while various members of the band were on the road or involved in other projects. Gould, co-producer of the album, had to juggle the work in progress around whoever was in town on any given day. And after the initial session, the group started over and produced the album from a second session - and agrees it's a stronger product because of it.

The album's first single, "Last Cup of Sorrow," the third track on the album, and the first layed down in the second session, is a heavy rocker where FNM takes advantage of special effects to get the point across. Using whispers, spoken word, echoe mikes, and keyboards to get to a minor key, but great sounding chorus of ". . .your last cup of sorrow. . ." The opening number on the album, "Collision," is a combo of heavy rock, a bit lighter melody line with some great harmonies and a bit of hardcore mixed in. Overall, it makes for quite an effect. Using some great instrumental effects, and light sounding vocals, "Stripsearch," borders on alterna/rock bringing "Alice in Chains" to mind. Actually a few of the songs on the album reminded me of "Alice in Chains." But back to "Stripsearch," the song gets heavier and heavier as it progresses, and the use of instrumentals on this one is superb.

At least the name of the next one should relate to some of our readers - "Naked In Front Of The Computer." This one has rock/rap vocals and a harsh beat until it reaches the chorus which is sung in true FNM fasion. "Helpless" is a quiet, minor key number, with gruff vocals and spare instrumentals. Using a combination of Middle Eastern sounding instrumentals and vocals for the intro and 'spaces' between the rock/rap portions, is the song "Mouth To Mouth." The standout lyrics in this number are "I can't dress up a dead man/I can't bring him back to life." Back to that great guitar wail and heavy beat is "Ashes To Ashes." Their is almost an air of expectation throughout the song, produced by the instrumentals and the melody line. Kind of a "skip along with me beat" accompanies "She Loves Me Not." This is most definitely a different sound for FNM and this album! Some great guitar licks open "Got That Feeling," a hard driving number that doesn't hold anything back. Slowing down to a much heavier rock beat, and meloncholy sounding melody and lyrics, is "Paths Of Glory." This is actually a pretty interesting song in the way it's put together. Almost creepy sounding in a way, but it pulls you in.

"Home Sick Home" is kind of a weird sounding number, with off key instrumentals backing the melody line, which is sung in a low, gruff voice part of the time, then harmonized, then regular pitched vocals. The last track on the album, "Pristina" has a long intro that moves into another meloncholy, creepy sounding number, but the instrumental and vocal effects used are quite clever.

I found this album a little strange but very interesting. The few hardcore portions that crept in were just the right touch at the time they showed up. The vocals were really good overall, as were the harmonies and insrumentals. The only reason I rated it a 4 instead of higher, is because although it is a very good album, and creative in some parts, I didn't feel the full potential of the band came through on this one. For FAITH NO MORE fans, this is a must have, and the same for hard rock or hardcore fans. If you're borderline in these genres, you may find it as interesting as I did, or you may hate it. If you have the chance to "test drive" the album before buying it, I would advise doing so if you're not sure about FAITH NO MORE. Since I'm sometimes a borderline, especially in hardcore, I would have bought it myself after checking it out at the store, so I hope that helps. For you fans though, you don't need the "test drive." It may not be your favorite album by FNM, but it's certainly worth adding to your collection.

Artist:	"POSTER CHILDREN"
Title:	"rtfm"
Label:	Reprise Records
Release Date:	4/97
Available:	Any Major Music Store
Reviewed By:	Donn Jehs
Rating:	5

I don't necessarily like to compare musical groups to one another, but in this case I feel compelled to. From the moment I first heard this album it brought one thing to mind almost immediately: The Moody Blues. I can only say that PCI impressed me much as the Moody Blues did when I picked up their album "On The Threshold of a Dream" back in the late 60's. Even the opening of this album has much of the same flavor with the 'technofeeling' start of "Black Dog."

The changes in tempo, the instrumental variations, and the lyrics, all grabbed me from start to finish. Each cut is a comment on life in modern times, like "Music of America," with its sendup of the record industry and what comes across the airwaves. It is rare that a group has such powerful lyrics AND musical inventiveness in one package, but with their latest album POSTER CHILDREN have put it all together.

However, this group does not use the synthesizer to achieve their musical uniqueness. Rather, it's simply guitar, bass and drums used to their limits. Perfect examples of this are "21st Century" and "Sleep," with the use of the brushed cymbals and short staccato chords from the bass.

The band, out of Champaign, IL, is Rick Valentin (guitar, lead vocals), Rose Marshack (bass, backup vocals), Jim Valentin (Rick's brother on guitar), and Howie Kantoff (their sixth drummer). Rick and Rose are original members from 1987 and were joined by Jim and Howie later.

There really isn't a weak song on the whole album, and a couple are likely to hit the playlists, especially "21st Century." My personal favorite was "Happens Everyday." This is also an enhanced CD, and the computer graphics are a bit more high tech than some of the others I've run into. It uses 3-D and you need to move yourself around much like a game to get to the various sites and info. Some may find it more trouble than it's worth just to find out about the band, but it's obvious a lot of work went into making the enhanced portion as unique as the musical portion.


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