Page 44 - TheGoldBug1971-72

·COMMENT Odds and Ends '" The short term of fall, 1971, is now over, and those of us who didn't like it can sit back and take a brea th in spite' of exams this week. Somehow, the hour-long classes and the constant pressure to cram everything in so that we could have exams before Christmas seemed, to me, to be defeating runs, but leaves impression the educational purposes of the college. How can we profess as a community to by Bryson Popham promote "a climate of learning," quoting Mexican border. His several narrow escapes from the 1970 handbook, if OUT learning ~~r~AS~~~~e;~NgwEET SWEET~ACK'S generate a good deal of action, but very little processes are being, rushed so that a One Friday night between SGA movies I dialogue accompanies it. Even during the pauses seldom speaks, being in his flight Sweetback deadline can be met? Exams before decided to forego liquid refreshment in favor of a presumably out of breath. These pauses are Christmas are nice; a short semester with glimpse of the counterculture in action. Having generally devoted to Sweetback's exhibition of unshorfened subjects is not. made this difficult decision, I scraped together his sexual expertise, and they explain the • Mrs. Irene Young, the postmaster, my meager savings and scurried into downtown movie's X rating. expressed what many other people have Baltimore before I could change my mind. Sweet Sweetback's characters are, if you'll Sweetback's Sweet attraction was The said about the Christmas decorations in the R,,:adasssss Song, directed, produced, written, permit me, painted in pure black and white. grille- "they are really nice." The freshman edited, and everything elsed by Melvin Van Perhaps Van Peebles intends that everything at this level of life must be seen this way, but he class did a great job with sprucing up the Peebles. It becomes evident at once that this film traps himself into some. gross over- student center for the holidays. Somebody has been produced without the soothing hand of simplifications. The policemen involved in the should hire them for the job for the rest of one of Hollywood's major monoliths. The sound search for Sweetback beat up virtually every the year. is often irregular; at times the soundtrack snaps black in sight. Nor do the black characters fare ... At first it was the object of much and crackles like a runaway fire. The real clue, any better. Few of these appear more than once. ridicule, but now the water tower is however, is the movie's subject matter and its Those that do usually exhort Sweetback to keep subsequent treatment, each of which, while held on running. becoming an affectionate point of interest firmly in Van Peeble's hand, is at'the same time What SW(~('t sweetback does achieve is a on the campus. On foggy days, it stands brandished defiantly in our faces. graphic depiction of a war in which you and I do half-hidden in the mist, but the worker's Sometimes it is held too firmly. The central not participate, of which many of us are not even blowtorches can be seen blasting through ~~~~a)~t:rbl!~ks:h~e~~a~n~~~~s~e~~l~~~ ;;~~ aware. Sweetback himself is a misanthrope who the dimness. Once the first thing you could knows that he is fighting a losing battle, so he see from 140 Shopping Center was the for rescuing one of the brothers from police takes off. This is not Van Pebbles' final answer, brutality. In the process he had almost done in steeple; now the water tower has taken two policemen with their own handcuffs, thus however, for in the last scene he freezes the hero in mid-flight and flashes the legend on the command of the vista from the highway for altracting what appears to be the entire Los screen: "Watch out, whitey! This baadasss miles around. Maybe they'll paint an Angeles police force. At this point Sweetback , nigger is comin back to collect his dues!" With identification on it: "Western Maryland begins to run, and the remainder of the film this warning, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss College-site of the George Plimpton TV centers upon him aHernately sprinting, loping, Song sounds a plaintive, if not a particularly Special." and trotting over hill and dale toward the lyrical. call to his people. ...Speaking of which, the Plimpton was well HGrin" special that was on during Thanksgiving 1 plus 1 album rates high done, overlooking the parts when the pseudo-quarterback assumed a too deeply philosophical air about football. The shots of hy Hichard Tucker rock groups "Moon Tears," I am afraid, is doomed to death The big bitch about three-piece the college were excellent, making the best such as Grand Funk and Cream has always been on top-au stations, and if I am not mistaken I of the beauty of the landscape during the their tendency to substitute hypnotic power and . have already heard iton WLPL. It is avery strong cut, kept moving by the lively drumming of Bob summer. The bare room Plimpton was force for good music. Though I would never Berberich. This cut has a very sharp and crystal living in didn't look too inviting, but the consider questioning the musical ability of Jack clear, almost jazzy, guitar solo by Nils backed by cafeteria (and particularly the Ioodl ) did. Bruce, Eric Clapton, or Ginger Baker; often as I his own piano playing (Neil Young fans should Even Frock's and the Pit came in for a listen to their music I feel as though it is loose, of realize that Nils played piano on his albums with scene. minimal quality, and largely just a vehicle for Crazy Horse.) The last cut on this side is 'End individual technique. So maybe demonstrating ... Compared to this time last year, you can understand why I am so ecstatic about the Unkind" and let it suffice that it wraps the side December 1971 has been dull. Last year by new Grin album I plus 1. At last a rock trio that up in an effective way tsurprise.) The "Dreamy Side" (what else) of the album is now we had experienced a flu epidemic, a combines individual excellence with quality equally good. J will not go through the songs rash of thirty-foot pine trees toppling over in material. I am additionally pleased as Grin individually, but let me make some general Robinson garden, and a blackout that originates from the Washington D.C. area, my comments. First, Nils gets a chance to show off engulfed the 'campus one night. Rumor has home and a grossly underrated area for rock. I his outstanding abilities at the piano and organ it that when the Iights stayed off, couples plus I is Grin's second effort on the Spindizzy on this side, and two of the songs, "Just A Poem" by Columbia, and like their label, distributed were seen headed for the basement floor of first album, excellent. and "Soft Fun" have beautifully composed and orchestration additional mixed by David the library. This year's Christmas present The "Hockin' Side" starts off with a brisk. Blumberg. Second, their harmonies (all three from the college is the joy of examinations somewhat light cut "White Lies" that is typical sing both lead and background vocals) are more before Christmas. Ho-ho-ho. of their sometimes hootenanny style that makes developed and apparent on this side. Third, as an DMH you want to dance and sing along. My favorite extra treat, Graham Nach sings on one song, cut "Please Don't Hide" follows. It starts heavy "Hi, Help Home." To the "innocent student." and climaxes both vocally and instrumentally, Viewing the entire album, David Briggs yet n~ver does it invite the need for a Bayer produced-it and has done a much better job than I cannot print your letter until you get the he did on the first one, which on some tracks :k~~r~~o~s ~7fo'N~;;liL~;;:~n~~n~~~~~~t~r~~~~~~ sounded as though the mikes were a mile from facts right. Pleasepick up your letter from work - every type from slide to blues - and Bob the group. Nils Lofgren as usual wrote all of the the Gold Bug Office,and see DeanMowbray Gordon's fast and full bass. The song is wicked songs. The double-jacketed cover is simple and and pinchingly sharp, yet sincere and human as playing on the consists only of their pictures, for the correct details of the December 8 it tells the story of the rock musician who "ain't inside and posed on the outside. I strongly but who girls dig really that good lookin'" incident. Donna Herbst editor because of his "slippery fingers, that's all." recommend that you pick up on this album, and ohyes: "If you can smile; they can Grin."