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 SPIRITUAL MUSIC REVIEWS ADVICE 'n' STUFF
        by Rev. Richard Visage
 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 
 
   November's arrival provoked a migration from the fume-rich
 environment of Mexico City to the ever pleasant Carp-on-the-
 Rideau here in the Great White North. My and Ms. LaBamba's
 departure had absolutely nothing to do with the "accidental" 
 free distribution of a warehouse full of tequila, or a subsequent
 record-setting naked conga line dance. Really. 
 
   Here, winter is coming soon and various parts of the country 
 are contemplating separation, and frankly, more people are 
 interested in the World Series than in local politics.
 
   Sounds like time for a few tunes, so what say we spin a 
 disk, kids . . . 
 
 
 TOWER OF SONG 
 (The Songs of Leonard Cohen)
 Various Artists
 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 
   Leonard Cohen may be something of an acquired taste. Many of 
 his tunes are well known as performed by other artists, but with 
 last year's release 'The Future,' Cohen broke into mainstream in 
 the American Market. 
 
   For those who love the gravelly syrup of Cohen's voice, it may
 seem disappointing to have an album of all covers of his tunes.
 This is, however, exceptional stuff. 
 
   Don Henley kicks off the album with 'Everybody Knows' --
 beautifully performed and arranged. There's a real range of 
 artists here: Bono, Jann Arden, Billy Joel, Tori Amos, Elton John 
 and Peter Gabriel. 
 
   Standout tunes -- Aaron Neville's version of 'Ain't No Cure 
 for Love' is a Peak Experience, as is Sting's collaboration with 
 The Chieftains on 'Sister of Mercy.'
 
   The biggest surprise here is Willie Nelson's version of 'Bird 
 on a Wire', which is both charming and rich. This tune is an
 unlikely choice for Nelson, and he pulls it off with aplomb. 
 
   This one isn't just for Cohen enthusiasts -- pick it up . . . 
 
 
 WILDFLOWERS
 Tom Petty
 =-=-=-=-=-=
 
   Ever notice how everything Tom Petty does sounds exactly the
 same? I mean, sure, he turns out competent pop-rock tunes with
 some regularity, made a genuine contribution to The Travelling
 Wilburys, but he sure could use a jolt somewhere in his life to
 make this stuff palatable.
 
   'It's Good to be King' was a hit, for reasons beyond me. Petty
 whines all the way through the tune, and it is hard to pick which
 song is more insipid, this one, or the title tune 'Wildflowers'.
 
   The standard Petty rocker on the album is 'You Wreck Me', which
 is a competent, yet scaled down version of a tune he put out a
 few years ago titled 'You're Jamming Me.'  If it worked then,
 it'll work again, right Tom?
 
   I'd go into this album in more length, but the one adjective I
 would use to describe most of the tunes is, endless. The peril of
 a reviewer's life is having to suffer through the entire disk, no
 matter how bad it might be.
 
   One high moment -- 'Cabin Down Below' has some nice blues/rock
 touches that broke up the boredom.
 
   Don't hurry down to the store for this one . . .
 
                         *  *  *
                         
   And, now, how 'bout checking out an Indie disk from the 
 mailbox?
 
 TODDIO
 by Toddio
 =-=-=-=-=
 
   Imagine a couple of brothers, lurking in a basement, with a
 modicum of instruments and samplers and a four track cassette
 machine.
 
   Imagine them having some serious wit, some real straight up
 party-rock sensibilities, and blowing the whole thing onto a CD.
 
   This CD, however primitively recorded, is a real treat. Lyrically
 clever, it speaks to the working poor in 'Plop a Trailer Down' and 
 the perils of lost love and having pet fish in 'Fish Heads'.
 PLAY IT LOUD!!!
 
   I would suspect that finding a copy of this would not be easily
 done. Try sending email to tblain@edge.net if you want info on
 getting a disk. 
 
 
 Religiously yours,                    
 Rev. Richard Visage
 fido (1:163/409)
 gchapman@magi.com
 
 
  (Note to Editors: Say -- wanna mention that I'll clunk in 
 an Indie review in here now and again should the good folks 
 planting their Fenders in their Marshall stacks send me a 
 copy of what ever is going down, on whatever media? Oh, by 
 the way, the tequila endorsement fell through, and I've had 
 to include a few cases of tequila (4,247 to be exact) on my 
 expense claim to cover a failed promotional event.
 I knew you wouldn't mind...)
 
  (Note to Reviewer: Why in the . . . what the hell do you think 
 people in Indianapolis are doing running their car Fenders [sic] 
 into that posh clothier store, Marshall Stacks? Have you gone 
 gone completely mad! gone through all those cases of tequila and 
 are now having hallucinations? Th..dh that BETTER be a damn typo 
 young man! four-thousand indeed! Send your expense claim to the
 accounting department immediately -- no -- FAX IT NOW! What utter
 nonsense! 
 
  (Note to Publisher: Did you read this tripe?! -- from the Rev.
 I think immediate action should be taken, regarding his position!
 *** Be sure to delete this before final programming!***)
 
 
 Copyright 1995 Rev. Richard Visage, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Rev. Richard Visage is the official Spiritual Advisor to Fidonet,
 several war-prone European nations, many pigeons in front of the
 Lighthouse Mission in Vancouver, and more than a few hung over
 residents of Mexico City.  The Rev. operates 1:163/409 on a
 laptop from various hotel rooms, and is bankrolled by expense
 accounts from unsuspecting publications which show the poor
 judgement of hiring him. Canadian Government officials list him
 and his semi-clad secretary, Ms. LaBamba, as officially being "at
 large" somewhere in North America; email:  gchapman@magi.com
 ========================{DREAM}=====================================
 
