THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 2, 1994 TAG: 9407010087
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEWS
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
FRANK BLACK is a strange kind of futurist - the kind who prefers Pong over Kong. The former Pixies leader starts his new opus ``Teenager of the Year'' (4AD/Elektra) with a brief, frenzied punk number extolling the primitive early-'70s vid game. In the 21 songs that follow, Black celebrates a world still ruled by the fun of his elementary-school days (malls, CB radio, comedy shorts). Sci-fi dreams of escape and travels all over the rock map fill the rest of the itinerary.
Fusing hectic garage-band and British Invasion riffs with rock-steady beats and arty synthesizer touches, ``Teenager'' crashes from tempo to tempo like a caffeine-addled kid. Even more baroque than Black's self-titled 1993 solo debut - ``The Vanishing Spies'' borrows a choral surge from ELO's ``Can't Get It Out of My Head'' - the disc revels in its own crafted, hooky noise. While Black occasionally comes off a bit too arch, he's also capable of cutting to the chase: ``Freedom Rock'' marries the Who and ska in the service of an attack on ``alternative'' hegemony. Here, Black agrees with the rappers who declare ``it's all good.''
From the deserts to the open plains of the galaxy, Black's travelogue is that of a good American son. He even achieves a real love song, albeit with a cyber-romantic twist, in ``Fazer Eyes.'' Rah rah!
- Rickey Wright
Something for everyone
Heavy D and the Boyz, ``Nuttin But Love'' (MCA/Uptown). Fans of the big man are everywhere, from radio to the streets and suburbs. His latest set of clean, R&B-infused raps will please them all. Here, he gives plenty respect to the ladies, assuring them that it's not just about sex, but that he's definitely interested in turning it out. For those who think the D-man is just a softy, he rips a solid boast on ``Keep It Goin'.'' His state-of-the-black-man reminder ``Move On'' is better observed than many of the latest gangsta tales. And the limber ``This is Your Night'' was produced in Virginia Beach by Teddy Riley.
- Rickey Wright
All in the family
David Holt, ``I Got a Bullfrog'' (High Windy). In this high-tech day and age, do families actually get together to listen to music and join in singing? David Holt seems to think so, because that's what ``I Got a Bullfrog'' - subtitled ``folk songs for the fun of it'' - is all about.
Holt lives and works in Fairview, N.C., emerging often to host shows on American Public Radio, PBS and The Nashville Network, to work with Garrison Keillor, and to tour. In 1992 the multi-instrumentalist was a Grammy nominee for his traditional folk release, ``Grandfather's Greatest Hits.''
Almost all the tunes on ``Bullfrog'' are traditional ones Holt has re-arranged, but not with a heavy editorial touch. For the most part, the songs are familiar, even if the titles are not - ``The Cat Came Back,'' ``C-H-I-C-K-E-N,'' ``Blackeyed Susie'' and ``This Little Light of Mine,'' to mention a few.
Grandpa Jones helps out on this album as do New Grass Revival's Sam Bush, Larry Paxton, Roy Huskey Jr. and others. A minute or two of laughing and trying to get started on one song adds to the joy of the release.
For information on ``I Got a Bullfrog'' call (800) 637-8679.
- Frank Roberts
McCaslin reappears
Mary McCaslin, ``Broken Promises'' (Philo). About a dozen years ago, singer/songwriter Mary McCaslin, one of the bright lights of the late '70s folk scene, simply disappeared. Last year, Philo Records released ``Things We Said Today,'' a retrospective anthology that showcased her clear voice and lyrically direct tunes.
Now McCaslin has returned to recording new material, and her re-debut was worth the wait. The slightly twangy voice, the guitar-based songs and evocative acoustic arrangements come together in one of the year's top folk recordings. Songs like ``There's No Way To Say Goodbye'' and ``The Baggage Song'' reflect the experiences of a middle-aged woman coping with loss.
- Jack Frieden ILLUSTRATION: Heavy D and the Boyz produced ``This is Your Night,'' one of the
cuts on ``Nuttin But Love,'' in Virginia Beach.
by CNB