Around Campus on Crutches

FACTORY

Around the campus on crutches

From January until March I was on crutches after being involved in a dumb car accident. I was left with a broken femur and a pair of crutches, both of which I have come to despise. I am finally off the crutches and limping around the campus with the aid of a cool-looking wooden cane. Since being on crutches has been a huge part of my life these past few months, I figured I’d write a handy guide for those who have been similarly afflicted.

The first and by far the best aspect of being on crutches is sympathy. You will be showered by waves of sympathy, so you better lean how to milk it for all it’s worth. People will let you get ahead of them in lines; They open doors for you; they smile at you and want to hear about your accident. But the best part of being crutch-bound is the female attention it garners. As soon as you hear a girl say: “Oooh, what happened to you? Poor baby” you know you are in for some quality sympathy. I guess the crutches bring out the motherly instincts in some women. 

Next thing you have to consider about crutches is that it is NOT easy! Don’t be fooled. You don’t use your underarms to lean on the crutches. All of the weight is borne by the hands, and it hurts. I’ve got callouses with personalities of their own on my hands. It is a ton of work. That’s why we always have that pained expression when you see us hobbling around campus. It’s not the broken leg that hurts, it’s our damn hands. 

An important thing to get as soon as you are crutch-bound is the fabled elevator key. This key allows you access to all the elevators in all the buildings. All you have to do is go to the Health Services office, fill out a billion forms, leave a $10.00 deposit, and voila, you got the key! The key is great for avoiding all the steep stairways we have in our school. But most importantly, you can give your friends a free ride up and down, thereby improving your friendships. You can also offer a cute stranger an elevator ride and possibly get a date out of it. 

I didn’t get a handicapped parking permit. I wanted access to those sweet, handicapped spots, but I felt too guilty. I’d rather save it for those who really need them. Besides, I never parked too far, thanks to the faculty spaces and the God-given maintenance parking lot.

A note about the handicapped doors at Hutchinson Hall: Not only do they not open automatically; But they are heaviest doors on campus. Do you have any idea how hard it is to try to open one of those doors while balancing on crutches? I urge maintenance, or whomever oversees that, to get it fixed. 

The easiest doors on campus are in the college center because they are automatic doors that DO work. Other buildings should install these automatic doors to make it easier for the truly handicapped people to have access to their education. Geez!

Anyway, apart from the idiots and airheads that insisted on calling me Cripple, Gimp, Handi-Boy, and Stumpy, being on crutches for a little while wasn’t such a bad experience. It takes a lot of getting used to. But if you know how to use it to your benefit, it can be a lot of fun. So, go out and, as they say on Broadway: “Break a leg!”

The Associated Collegiate Press National Convention

The A.C.P. National Convention

David Zayas, Assn’t A&E Editor

As I am writing this, I am flying over the great landscape of the American West on my way back home from San Diego, California. I think I’m flying over Arizona now because I thought I saw Mel’s Diner somewhere down there. But I didn’t see Vic Tayback. Maybe he’s up here. 

You know, you never realize how beautiful America is until you see it from the heavens. From my tiny airplane window, I can see the impressive vastness of our country. I am reminded of that old song “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks.

When that song first came out, my brother Deadeye told me that the lyrics were found in the wreckage of a plane crash. It was presumably written by one of the passengers as the plane plummeted earthward. Being a kid, I believed him and that was it for me. It was Tear-City every time that song came on the radio. 

I haven’t heard that song in over seven years. 

The other day, I came across a tape by the band Too Much Joy. They were previously known for their hardcore covers of 2 Live Crew and LL Cool J songs. And guess what, friends & neighbors, on this tape they do a cover of “Seasons in the Sun”. 

It starts off like the original, but quickly succumbs into a guitar-heavy, frantic beat. The vocals sound very sarcastic and sound oddly like “Weird Al” Yankovic. It was strange, because even though the lyrics were the same, it did not depress me. Actually, it was too much joy to listen to. 

I brought it with me to San Diego, but I seem to have left it back at The Bristol Court Hotel. I wish I had it right here, right now. I need it. 

And you may ask yourself: How did he get there? 

And you may ask me: “David, you Puerto Rican Stud Muffin, what were you doing in San Diego anyway?”

Funny you should ask.

My Copy Editor, Leah Edsen and I were chosen by Kean College to represent them at the 1992 Associated Collegiate Press National Convention at the Pan Pacific Hotel in San Diego, California. It was totally an honor. 

At first, I was a bit apprehensive because I was in crutches after suffering from a broken femur. But then I thought: “What the hell?” and I went for it. I do not regret it. 

During the convention, I attended lectures and workshops that significantly altered my perception of journalism and helped me focus on what direction I want the paper to take for next semester when I get to run things (Heh! Heh!). Everything I learned at the conference will be of immediate benefit to The Independent, especially the Newspaper Design/Redesign workshop. 

The best part of the weekend, however, came at the end of our daily lectures. This being a “National Convention” there were college students from all over the United States. I, of course, being the charismatic and social person that I am, managed to meet up with nine of the greatest people there. 

They were:  Brad from Virginia who know what to do with a good set of maracas and a Mexican Hot Dog; Karyn from California, a caring woman loves to host parties at Room 309; Jason, also from California-picture a hybrid between Tom Petty and the guy from Nirvana, but with much better hair and attitude; Debbie from Washington was the first person I met and, by far, the smartest and truest (and first!) real hippie I’ve ever known;  Steven, from California as well, knew good jokes and was not afraid to try “alternatives”; Marnett (Ca.) was the wildest 30-Something I met and really cared about Handicapped Seating; Reina (Ca.) was an exotic Spanish speaking lady or Japanese ancestry who was a true Dancing Queen; there was also Mike (Ca.) who was our illustrious leader and living proof that there are hip, real people in California; Last, but not least, Sherry from Virginia. She was the most beautiful and understanding Southern Belle that has carved a palace within my heart of stone. Oh, and she loves to say: “Ya’ll.” 

These nine people made my weekend the best in an otherwise miserable existence. They will be missed. 

Among the adventures I had were: walking what seemed to be 345 miles through the Gas Lamp District; discovering that in Tijuana “Americans have no rights”; Playing a game of truth telling and drinking called: “I never”; dancing in crutches to “Pump Up The Jam”; meeting a 20 year old beauty named Sandy; having the sudden realization that San Diego is New York without the bad attitude; my first trolley ride: and getting carried across the Mexican-American border by two beautiful women after I hurt my leg. What fun!

Looking out of the plane window now, I see that the sun has set across America, creating a dark gap between my comrades and myself. It’s funny how you can miss people you have known for less than three days. I wonder if I will ever see them again.

Oh wait! I think I see something. Yes! I can see Vic Tayback now. He’s right outside of my window and he is singing.

“Goodbye, my friends, it’s hard to die when the birds are singing in the sky.”

Accident/ Capsule Reviews

FACTORY

Accident/ Capsule Reviews

Well, this year has turned out to be as crappy as last year. Calamity has struck the Zayas Clan once again in the form of a dumb accident. Two Saturdays ago, I was on my way home from an evening out dancing at The Pipeline with two buddies. I was asleep in the back seat when some numb nuts ran a red light and smashed into our car. One moment I was dreaming about runny eggs, and the next, I was being rescued by the “Jaws of Life”. How dramatic!

The results were a broken femur and a ton of sympathy. The doctors say I might be able to walk unaided by May. But will I be able to slam dance?

Until my bad luck streak ends, I will continue to reminisce about the great musical releases of 1991. Now that I have a lot of time on my hands, I have been revisiting some of my favorite musical moments of this past year.

Welcome to My Dream – M.C. 900ft Jesus. Perfect follow up to their 1989 debut Hell with the Lid Off. Whereas that album was composed using mostly electronic sounds and samples, Welcome to My Dream features more organic and acoustic sounds. There are horns on several tracks and some even sound downright jazzy. It’s a fine and very musical album; But where is DJ Zero? My favorite tracks: “The City Sleeps”, “Killer Inside Me”, and “Adventures in Failure”. 

Death Certificate- Ice Cube. This is Cube’s post-Muslim conversion “concept” album. The negative and positive sides of life are represented by the “Death” and “Life” sides of the disc. Staring with the “Death” side and ending with the “Life” side, ultimately leaves us with a hopeful outlook on life. It sounds like we are witnessing his rebirth through his new-found faith. Don’t get me wrong, Ice Cube still sounds like he will kick your ass. But does he still drink St. Ides? Fave trax: “Giving Up the Nappy Dug Out”, “True to the Game”, and “No Vaseline”. 

Big Electric Metal Base Face – Die Warzau. Die Warzau’s follow up to their amazing 1989 debut Disco Rigido, is about as funky as industrial music can get. Taking obvious musical inspiration from Parliament and Meat Beat Manifesto, they go off into politically charged lyrical territories with interesting results. That title is a bit of a mouthful, though.  Fave trax: “Funkopolis”, “Coming Down”, and “Brand New Convertible Car”. 

Shepherd Moons – Enya. The prettiest Celtic Princess is back. Calm, soothing, and magical, Enya’s music is perfection. Her ethereal voice takes us on mystical journeys to far away lands across the astral planes. I would kill to hear a duet between Enya and fellow visionary chanteuse Kate Bush. Fave trax: “Caribbean Blue”, “Lothlorien”, and “Book of Days”. 

The Mix – Kraftwerk. A “best of” collection from the innovators of electronic music. All of their greatest songs have been remixed, but not ruined. Fave trax: “The Robots”, “Pocket Calculator”, and “Home Computer”.

We Can’t Be Stopped – Geto Boys. This masterful rap trio has come a long way from “Read these Nikes”, but they haven’t changed a bit. Not even Bushwick Bill getting his eye shot out, could stop them. “My Mind’s Playing Tricks on Me” gets my vote for single of the year. Other faves: “I’m Not a Gentleman” and “I Ain’t With Being Broke”.

En-Tact – The Shamen. This surprise duo came out of nowhere and not only conquered the dance floor “Move Any Mountain” but also conquered my heart. One of my favorite electronic albums of the year. Other noteworthy songs: “666” and “Hyperreal Orbit”.

Why Do Birds Sing? – Violent Femmes. The triumphant return of Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s’ favorite sons. This album feels like a grab bag of different sounds from the talented trio. Their new songs stand side by side with three old, unreleased tracks. This allows you to see how far they have come, while still retaining the edge of their prior releases. My fave trax: “American Music”, “Girl Trouble”, and “More Money Tonight”.

These releases are but a few of the wonderful albums I have been revisiting during my stay at the hospital. I truly believe in the healing power of music and all these songs make me want to go out dancing again. 

Funny, my mom always said I was going to break my leg slam dancing. I assured her it was impossible. Turns out, she was right.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank George Shroepfer for all the help he has provided in getting my schooling together this semester. Both he and Syd Krueger have allowed to take their classes externally while I am laid up. I also want to thank everyone who has provided support through this accident, as well as all of you who came to visit me at the hospital. You are very important people in my life, and I love each one of you. Ok, enough mushiness. 

KMFDM - Money

KMFDM- MONEY

I could have sworn that these guys broke up! After seeing their last performance with Pigface, where frontman Sasha came out at the end, cursed out the audience, and said they were breaking up, I thought it was splitsville. But, KMFDM has surprised me once again.

Hot on the heels of their ultra-successful Naive album, and the popular “Naive,” “Godlike,” and “Split” singles, comes their new release Money. Money is, and I don not say this lightly, KMFDM’s best album yet. Everything about this tape is sheer perfection. Unlike Naive, which had a couple of sub par songs that you could tell were put there to fill up space, Money is consistently strong throughout. Every song on the tape could be released as a single and enjoy success on the forward-thinking dance floor.

The tape opens with the title track. “Money”, a streetwise song that sarcastically extols the virtues of selling drugs for quick and easy cash. It the goes into “Vogue”, the first single and fast rising chart success. (I thought it was going to be a cover version of the Madonna hit, but it’s not). The third song, “Help Us, Save Us, Take Us Away”,  is a bluesy tune dominated by the female vocals. The side ends with “Bargeld”, a heavy dance song with an ingratiating hook. 

Side two opens with the chanted “Spiritual House”, which I think is meant to be listened to rather than danced to, Then comes my favorite song “Sex On The Flag”, which has enjoyed considerable airplay on WDRE. Next is a revamped, remixed version of “Godlike” called “I Will Pray”, It has the same lyrics as “Godlike” but with different, more danceable music. The tape ends with “We Must Awaken”, a command to rise up, consisting of sampled evangelical preachers over a mellow, hypnotic dance groove. It is very effective. 

The tape overall, like their earlier AEIOU album is saturated with samples of guitar riffs from metal gods Slayer (of which Sasha and En Esch are huge fans of) and clever drum beats. Lyrically, it has some major religious overtones, wether pro or against,  I haven’t been able to decide yet. Whatever their position on the issie of religion, I can hear that it is an original, sarcastic and tortured position.

KMFDM have come a long way from their first album What Do You Know, Deutschland? and hopefully they will go even further along in the years to come. That is if they don’t break up, of course. I Will Pray!

Gay Men and Women Who Enriched The World- Book review

Factory book review:

Gay Men And Women Who Enriched The World

Thomas Cowan

Thomas Cowan’s wonderful book Gay Men And Women Who Enriched The World is a chronicle of the lives of 40 famous people in history who just happened to be gay. Every one of the men and women showcased in this volume have made important contributions which have helped mold our world. This book is essential reading for everyone; not only for the members of the gay community, who would see this volume as a celebration of gay accomplishments; But also for the small, pea-brained, right wing people who think that being gay is a perversion and all about sex. This collection is cross-cultural and spans the time line from 356 B.C. to 1987 A.D..

This book begins with the life of the greatest military strategist of all time; Alexander the Great. It discusses his life, labors and loves. Alexander the Great was at one time the ruler of one of the greatest empires in history. And who says gays don’t belong in the military?

There were a couple of surprises in this book, at least for me. I didn’t know Herman Melville, who wrote Moby Dick, was gay! I mean, I should have figured it out after reading Billy Budd and Typee, but perhaps I was naive back then.When I told my girlfriend, she said: “Of course he was gay! Why do you think Captain Ahab was following a huge sperm whale for?”

I was also surprised to find out Bessie Smith was a lesbian. One of the greatest entertainers from the 20’s and 30’s, she was well known for the song “T’Ain’t Nobody’s Biz-Ness If I Do.” She was great.

Among other people “outed” by the book are: Plato, Leonardo DaVinci, Michelangelo, Lord Byron, Marcel Proust, Gertrude Stein, T.E. Lawrence, Margverile Yourcenar, James Baldwin, Tennessee Williams, Andy Warhol and Michael Bennett,

At the beginning of the book, the author defines what he considers to be gay. Many of the people he writes about in the book were actually bisexual, but he refers to them as gay because of the long-term relationships they had with members of their same sex. As a prime example, he looks at Oscar Wilde who championed the cause of homosexuality and ‘camp” but was also married to a woman and fathered many children, yet had many male lovers.

So my problem with the book is this: Why not call the book Bisexual Men And Women Who Enriched The World? We bisexuals need at the recognition we can get. But the book is good enough as it is. 

The book features some offbeat caricatures of the people chronicled. The caricatures are drawn by Michael Willhoile and they look mysteriously like the ones found in the The New Yorker.

Overall, this is an important book that everyone should read (especially gay-bashing fools who think homosexuality is all about limp wrists). Homosexuals are as important to society as everyone else and should be treated equally with respect and dignity so that they can develop their talents and continue to make more fantastic contributions to life than this book already lists. 

By the way, this book is not comprehensive. Many, many, many thousands of homosexual pioneers were left out intentionally for two reasons: 1) space limitations and 2) the author wanted to focus on a cross-cultural group of 40 persons whom he deemed to be the most influential. 

On a final note, I would like to thank everyone who supported me through my “grave moments’ and especially to Leah Karnatski for the inspiration, support, love, cigarettes, soda and friendship she so willingly supplies. I consider you a true friend! 

Kode IV - Possessed

POSSESSED- KODE IV

Did anyone watch the first televised exorcism last Friday night on 20/20? If you didn’t, don’t worry. You didn’t miss much. All you got to see was some severely psychotic fat chick being held down by some other fat people as she ranted and raved that she was possessed by the spirit of a whiny demon named Minga. How disappointing! Where was the pea soup expectoration? Where was the 360 degree head turn? 

It wasn’t a total let down, though. They did show scenes from “The Exorcist”. Boy, now that’s a real exorcism right there. When it comes to demonic possession no one does it better than good old Linda Blair. She can throw up all over me any day!

Which brings me around to my latest recommendation of industrial madness. The name of the group is KODE IV and the name of the album is “Possessed”. The cover of the album is a still of the demon Pazuzu’s face superimposed over Linda Blair’s face from the movie “The Exorcist”. The cover is as bizarre as the music within. 

The title track “Possessed” opens the album. The entire song  consists of sampled dialogue and sounds from “The Exorcist” set to a danceable industrial beat. It is a great song to play in front of your parents. Watch their reaction! Hours of fun!

“Crackdown” is next. I haven’t been able to figure out if this song is anti-drugs or pro-drugs, but it definitely makes some sort of statement about them. It is a song of the streets.

Third, is the near instrumental called “Resurrection”. It is an atmospheric piece which can do wonders for a headache, as I found out today. Don’t play it too loud, though, or the baroque-ish chanting may fray the nerves they are supposed to soothe. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a slow song. Just relaxing.

Side one ends with “State Of Emergency”, an all too real emergency broadcast, set to a frantic beat, about an impeding earthquake in San Francisco. Hey, it’s happened before and I know it will happen again and again. Well, at least at the end of the song you get some helpful hints on how to prepare for an earthquake.

Side two opens with “Scratch Attack”. This song takes an old technique (scratching) and brings it to a different level by adding a wild beat along with a few other technological secrets. All it needs is a rap… Nah, why ruin it?

Next, is the first single off the album “Work”. It is definitely the st song on this compilation, proclaiming: “I no longer have status…I have money!” This hot rhythm grabs your feet and nails them to the dance floor where you are incapable of doing anything else but relinquishing your body to the bloodthirsty beat. The songs only fault is its short length. I would love to hear a 12-inch extended remix of this, but I haven’t been able to find it! “Work” and “Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos” by Public Enemy must be the hardest 12 inches to find.

“Possessed VooDoo mix” follows and it is nothing but “Possessed” with a more Caribbean beat to it, with bongos, congas, et al. It adds a strange new twist to an already great song.

Fourth is “Rebellion”. It starts with an old marching band tune and quickly ascends to a scorching guitar riff that would make Slayer proud. A funky beat is aded and a few samples concerning rebellion are thrown in. The end product is fantastic and strangely accessible. “Rebellion is authority,” sneers the pained vocals. I like it!

The tape ends with a warning called “5 Seconds”. It simply says” “This tape will self destruct in five seconds” then there are five short beeps and a loud explosion. Cool.

Possessed is the first album by the German group KODE IV, Hans Sciller and Peter Ziegelmeier, who make up KODE IV, have a good sense of beat and melody, while at the same time the warped intellect it takes to make a good industrial record. On many songs they tend to sound a bit like Canadian group Manufacture, but this is a slight thing which is easily overlooked because the recordings are so original and just plain good. If you’re feeling in a devilishly danceable mood, let the urge possess you and pick up Possessed by KODE IV.

Or else, Pazuzu, the African Demon Lord Of Aerial Beasts might decide to come looking for you. Warning: He can really make your head spin!

Meat Beat Manifesto - 99%

Meat Beat Manifesto
99%

Welcome to another futile year in your existence. As you trod off to class with the war on your mind and escape in your heart, you search for something up-tempo that will get your adrenalin pumping and give you the energy to face another horrible day.

What yo need is some MEAT! Fear not, you silly vegetarians. I’m talking about Meat Beat Manifesto. This group is the living embodiment of adrenalin. Imagine, if you will, a drill instructor strung out on speed screaming to a funny industrial-rap beat and you begin to understand what Meat Beat Manifesto accomplishes on their new album 99%. 

On 99% the group (Johnny Stephens, Jack Dangers, Craig Morrison and Marcus Adams) takes us on a guided tour of a human psyche on the verge of a total nervous collapse. The trip is a definite kickstart to any old heart.

The album begins with “Now” which urges you to quit being indecisive and choose whether you want to go to Heaven or Hell because time is running out. “I’m in paradise now,” Johnny Stephens teases as the song fades out.

It is followed by the current dance floor smash “Psyche Out”. I have never heard a dance song charged with so much power and fire as this one. “Can you see me, Lord? Can you see me psyched out?” he cries with the desperation of a man who has swallowed fifty No-Doz pills.

“Somebody give the Lord a handclap,” begins the nest song “All The Things You Are”. This song has the funk of Parliament with the attitude of Front 242. 

Next up is “Hello Teenage America” which gives us an idea as to what a Vegas lounge song might sound like in the year 2094, if we don’t blow each other up before then. 

Side one ends with “10 X Faster Than The Speed Of Love”, a relatively mellow song compared to the rest of the album. It is a good song to prepare you for the auditory attack which is to follow on the next side.

The first three songs on side two, “99%”, “Dogstar Man”, and “Helter Skelter” (no, not the Beatles’ song) are all combined into one long song on the album. It is a cornerstone in the rising wall of industrial music. 

It is followed by a little ditty called “Think Fast” which is a bit generic . It sounds like a filler song to preserve album continuity.

This tiny slump is more than made up for by the next song “Hallucination Generation” (no, not the Gruesome Twosome song). The best way to describe this song is by saying that it sounds like an update of the Beatles’ “Revolution No. 9”. This song will provide fond memories for anyone who has experimented with hallucinogenics in their lifetime. 

The album ends with “Deviate” which first asks you to “degrade yourself” and thens tells you to “improve yourself”. The perfect ending for an album fraught with mental confusion. 

99%  by Meat Beat Manifesto is a perfect album for psychotics or anyone interested in exploring the mind of one. Psychologists will have a field day with the lyrics. While other, more normal people like myself, will be content to just hang from the ceiling covered in milk chocolate and groove to the industrial sound of MEAT!

Summer Sludge Part 2

Summer Sludge

Part Two

Again I return to this crap for another issue. I have what is known as “Completionist Syndrome”. I must always finish what I start or else I feel sick. It’s kind of like O.C.D. When you suffer from this anal retentive affliction, you always have to have things finished or complete. For example: Say you are a Morrissey fan. You have all of his albums. At some point you realize that his music has become tiresome and you don’t even like him anymore. Yet, as soon as he releases and new album, you feel like you should buy it, just to keep your collection complete. Even if it’s a song you don’t like, or a compilation of songs you already own in their individual albums, you have to buy it. 

Thankfully, my affliction does not run as deep as that. In my case, I feel as if I can’t leave anything uncompleted. If I begin to say something and am interrupted, I must finish what I was saying. If I take off one shoe, I have to take off the other one, or I will feel weird. If I start an article, I must finish it, even if I find the concept a bit tedious. 

Which brings me to my current stage: sitting in my hot bedroom, listening to Laibach and writing this sequel longhand on the back of an old Christmas card given to me by an ex-girlfriend. Unlike other writers, I don’t always have my finger on the pulse of what’s new and popular. Often, a good record or group will elude me for years before I actually “discover” them. At that point, even if a band has been around for a decade, it is a fresh listening experience for me. And as such, I am eager to share new-found obsession with you, dear Summer Session students. 

My favorite record at the moment is Kapital by Slovenian industrial group Laibach. My only prior exposure to Laibach was at the Ritz in NYC. Before every concert I’ve seen there, a screen came down from the ceiling and they played a song video called “Life Is Life”. I was intrigued by this militant anthem. It featured some very Germanic looking guys wandering through the mountains and a topless lady shooting off arrows, while a mustachioed man in a headdress sang “Life is life” over and over again in the deepest, most gravelly voice I had ever heard. While the video played, everyone stood at attention and chanted along. When the video ended, the entire place cheered. It was nuts. The group certainly caught my attention. 

After finding out the group’s name Laibach, I set out to find their records. After checking out my usual record stores (Vintage Vinyl and Cafe Sounds- plug! plug!), I came across a few of their records: Macbeth, Let It Be, Sympathy For The Devil, and the new release, Kapital. None of the records had any track listing, so I decided to get their latest one.

Listening to it, I was surprised to discover that it sounded nothing like “Life Is Life”. The militant tone was there, but it was mixed in with a very danceable feel reminiscent or Frontline Assembly and perhaps even Front 242. The vocals were very minimal, if at all present. The most common verbal communication in the songs were samples of movies, a few screams and even a German choir. And to top it off, there is even a rap song on it. This rap song, although an unexpected surprise was the weakest point of an otherwise intense recording. (Which, along with Ministry’s “Test”, show that for the most part Rap and Industrial don’t mis really well- at least not yet.)

Some of the beats from Kapital are taken from other songs and reworked to reflect and entirely different perspective. They use the beat from “Funky Drummer” by James Brown, the beat from the remix of “Tom’s Diner” by DNA, and even the hypnotic beat from my favorite Pet Shop Boys’ song “Being Boring”. These accessible beats are juxtaposed with Avant-garde elements in such an original way, that they lose their original associations in my mind. 

The themes dealt with on the album are those of totalitarianism an self-reliance, as well as self fulfilling prophecy. This recording urges you to seize control of your own destiny without having to reply on any higher powers to guide you. Oh, and somewhere in there is a song in which, who I am assuming to be the mustachioed man, names different parts of skeleton in a really creepy accent. Yeah, not really sure under which theme that one falls. 

My favorite song is the last song on the album: “Steel Trust (Germania)”. This song has a female vocalist and can be construed as a hate/love song. The addition of the female vocals add an entirely different twist to Laibach’s musical style and might even be foreshadowing of a new direction for their music. The musical arrangement of this song reminds me somewhat of In The Nursery’s “To The Faithful”, which, lyrically would serve as a perfect companion piece on the chaotic nature of love. Or maybe, I am totally reading into it too much. 

Overall, Kapital  by Laibach is a satisfying recording which is certainly full or surprises. It indulges our senses with an overload of dark industrial music mixed with a sprinkling of the Hip-Hop sound which has shaped contemporary dance music into the accessible hybrid it has become. I predict that within the year a number off very successful dance single will be released off this album and onto the alternative clubs. And I will be right there, dancing my ass off. 

In other news, Sweet Convulsions will be performing at The Melody club in New Brunswick on August 9th. They always put on an intense show and are worth checking out. Even if it’s just to see back-up dancer Jules gyrating to the music dressed only in cellophane and black duct tape. 

The Erasure E.P. Abba-Esque turned out to be fantastic! I was wrong about the expected track listing. The songs they cover are “Lay All Your Love On Me”, “S.O.S.”, “Take A Chance On Me” and “Voulez-Vous”. They combine the 70’s pop disco sound of ABBA with the bubbly techno sound of Erasure in a delightful dance extravaganza. The best track is “Take A Chance On Me” which features a reggae-style rap half way through. If this song does not receive major airplay, then there is no justice in this world. Abba-Esque has just been released commercially and is now available on cassette for $4.99, instead of the $9.99 import price I paid for it.

Regarding clubs, if you are under 21 and need a great place to dance check out Club A.D. which is now at Aldo’s club in Lyndhurst on Wednesday nights. The ambiance of the club is unique and the music features some of the best Alternative/Techno/Industrial sounds you will find in New Jersey. The DJ is Bobby from The Pipeline on Saturday nights. Fun for the young!

On Saturday July 11th, “Weird Al” Yankovic had a concert at The Ritz in NYC. Now, I have always liked “Weird Al” but I thought he was mainly a novelty musician who never strayed from the studio into the concert circuit. Boy, was I wrong. “Weird Al” puts on one of the funniest live shows in existence. Combining his great (Yes, I do mean great) musical parodies with the theatrics found in his videos, “Weird Al” entertained The Ritz crowd with a two-hour set consisting of his old favorites as well as tracks off his new album Off The Deep End. Among the best performances were his renditions of the sick ballad “One More Minute”; “Dog Eat Dog” in which he simulates David Byrne’s penchant for over-sized clothing; “Fat”, for which he gained over 350 pounds; And of course “Smells Like Nirvana” complete with cheerleaders and slam dancers. He even got called back to do an encore for his song “Yoda”, which is a re-working of The Kinks’s “Lola”. 

The show was a lot of fun, but I couldn’t relate to the crowd. Mostly everyone was geeky as hell and there were even a few “Weird Al” wannabes in the crowd. Looking around, I realized that I was surrounded by Wayne’s World hat wearing, D.C. comic book loving nerds. But then I stopped and I realized that since I was among these nerdlings, someone on the outside looking in would have seen me as no different from the rest of them. So, I left.

And I went straight to the record store and I bought Ministry’s new tape. I can’t figure out what the album title is, because it is just a bunch of scribbles which look Greek to me. First off, the cover is amazing. It seems to be an angel etched in metal with razor blades. The music within is as aggressive and disturbing as the cover. Continuing the hard-edged sound which they created in The Land Of Rape And Honey and expanded upon in The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste, Ministry  takes this metal sound even further. 

Standout tracks like “N.W.O.”, “Jesus Built My Hotrod” and “Corrosion” thread upon the holy grounds of hardcore and speed metal in sound and themes. Tracks like “Scarecrow” and “Psalm69” explore the darker side of Ministry’s themes and musical approach. The album even contains a reworked version of “TV Mind”, the b-side of the “Jesus Built My Hotrod” single, aptly named “TV II”. 

Apart from Ministry’s core members Al Jourgensen  and  Paul Barker, the new album is filled with great guest performers, including Gibby Haynes of The Butthole Surfers, Michael Balch from Frontline Assembly and William Reiflin from Pigface. 

This recording took so fucking long to come out that I was beginning to lose a bit of interest in it. But I am glad that it finally did and that it is as impressive as I had hoped. Too bad I won’t be able to catch them with Ice Cube at Lollapalooza 92 this Summer. I sure hope Uncle Weege fllls me in on the details.

Well, that’s that for Summer School. I hope it wasn’t as much of a torture for you to be here as it was for me to be in this hot newspaper office, sweating to death while Rob, Luigi and Todd cracked bad jokes and did bad impersonations of the various janitors of the College Center. Oh well, that’s life her at The Independent. 

Summer Sludge Part 1

Summer Sludge:

Part one

Back in high school, going to summer school meant you were a total fuck up who couldn’t pass your class during the regular semester. Going to summer school meant getting teased by the nerds who passed the class and beat up by the thugs who were stuck with you all summer. Summer was really hot in Irvington High School because we couldn’t afford air conditioners. So, imagine being stuck in a classroom full of sweaty and violent fuck-ups all summer and you have the definition of summer school. 

Fortunately, I never had to endure the ridicule of summer school. At least not until I got to Kean College. At Kean, summer school equals brains and money. Brains, because it means getting ahead of everyone and getting out of this institution (“All I wanted was a Pepsi”) faster. Money, because Financial Aid doesn’t usually pay for it. At Kean, it’s not even called summer school. It’s “Summer Session”. I had to go to Summer Session Biology last year and I got a D. So much for advancement. 

Anyway, since ya’ll are stuck here this summer, we here at The Indy have decided to keep you company this year. We are putting out two Summer Session issues, this one here being the first. We do this so you don’t feel left out and all alone like the rich geeks you are. (Hey, It’s hard to break out of old ways of thinking.)

Front 242 have just released a video compilation of their music films. The video cassette titled 8 x 10 features the clips for “Headhunter”, “Rhythm Of Time”, “Take One”, “Masterhit”, “Tragedy >For You<“, “Quite Unusual”, “Funkadhafi”, and a short montage named “Front By Front”. Front 242  is a highly creative musical group, but unfortunately most of their videos fall short of the imagery conveyed through their music. Most of the clips provided here, tend to linger along the boring edge. They dance along the tightrope of boredom but never truly fall in. The last two videos, “Tragedy >For You<“ and “Rhythm Of Time” were directed by Coil’s Peter Christopherson and they prove to be the most visually stimulating. The clip for their biggest hit “Headhunter” is directed by frequent Depeche Mode collaborator Anton Corbijn and gets creative points for its interesting use of nudity and eggs. But that’s about it for this video tape, which really does not do justice to the impressive sound of Front 242. 

The release of the video tape is meant to coincide with the reissue of Front 242’s entire back catalogue now that they have signed on to the Epic label. The re-releases of these tapes and CDs contain new artwork and a plethora of extra tracks not included in the original releases. If you are not familiar with Front 242’s music, now is a good time to catch up. 

I just got two new tapes and I want to tell you all about them. Ready? Okay!

First up, is TV SKY by The Young Gods. This tape is fantastic! It combines the metal lace of Ministry with the dance groove of Renegade Soundwave while retaining the attitude and feel of Big Black. I think this is the first Young Gods album in which the lead singer Franz sings completely in English instead of his native French. Standout tracks are “Gazoline Man”, the dance smash “Skinflowers” and the 20-minute, Doors influenced “Summer Eyes”. Pick it up and start your worship of The Young Gods.

The other tape I recently “acquired” is Soul Rotation by the Philly gods The Dead Milkmen. I was very let down by it at first, but it has grown on me. The reasons I was let down were: 1) Rodney Anonymous, the usual singer of the group only sings about three songs on here, leaving us instead with whiny guitarist Joe “Jack” Talcum as lead vocalist; 2) All the songs sound like ballads or country-rock songs because that’s what Joe’s voice lends itself to most easily; And 3) It’s not as funny as their previous releases. In the past, The Dead Milkmen’s humor came from Rodney Anonymous’ quick-wit and rapid fire vocals. With his voice gone, most of the humor is gone as well. He is still present as the keyboardist, but his vocals are no longer the center of the music. 

Now the reasons it has grown on me: 1) Musically, it is a departure from their usual sound, with many obvious jazz influences, which I guess is a bit exciting and shows their range; 2) It has a couple of pretty good pop songs, especially the single “The Secret Of Life”; And 3) The humor is still present, just not as obvious as before. Songs like “Big Scary Place” and “God’s Kid Brother” are hysterical, just a little more subtle. You have to dig a little deeper for the funny stuff. I ended up liking it and it has proven to be worthwhile after repeated listenings.

Now, you know I can’t wait to get my paws on the new Erasure  E.P. which features cover versions of four classic ABBA songs. I just have to get some chump change to lay down for this one. I just love “Dancing Queen”! What’s next? Will Pearl Jam be releasing an E.P. of Village People songs?

One of my favorite local bands Sweet Convulsions has just shot a video for their single “I Will Survive”. This remake of the Gloria Gaynor disco classic (Hey, what’s with all the 70’s retro stuff?) was the high point of their last E.P. and are in the preliminary stages of recording their next effort. You must see these guys live! They put on quite an amazing and visual show.

Speaking of 70’s retro stuff: Let’s get a summer contest going here. In  a very famous 70’s song by a man named Rupert Holmes, a bar named O’Malley’s is mentioned. What happened at that bar in this song? The winner of this useless bit of trivia wins something. Maybe a gift certificate for a tape? Or maybe just $10.00 to buy a tape? Or if I’m feeling especially cheap, I’ll give you a very good quality compilation tape of songs I feel are essential to survive “Summer Session”. 

On a final note, I’d like to take this moment to offer a prayer for Ms. Pauline Ferriola, who was involved in a serious automobile on the morning of June 7th. As of this writing, she is at JFK Hospital in Edison, hanging in there. I hope she recuperates quickly. She is a very important person in my life, being the mother of my friend JD, and the hostess of the surreal, if not mythical, JD’s House. This was the place where I left some of my childhood behind in exchange for some of the house’s mystical ideology. God bless her.