DATE: Friday, May 16, 1997                  TAG: 9705160038

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E13  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEW

                                            LENGTH:   80 lines

LACK OF ORIGINALITY DRAGS DOWN SILVER JET DEBUT

Silver Jet: ``Pull Me Up. . . Drag Me Down,'' Virgin Records

With guitar riffs similar to those of Everclear, vocals reminiscent of Green Day, and an overall sound like The Presidents of the United States of America, Silver Jet's debut release ``Pull Me Up. . . Drag Me Down'' leaves much to be desired when it comes to originality. But what the band lacks in novelty, it makes up for in quality and determination.

Silver Jet, on the Virgin label, is what the studio calls the newest three-member ``pop-rock confection'' in the music stores. Luke Tierney (vocals/guitar), Grant Conway (drums/vocals) and Jeff Gross (bass/vocals) have worked together for several years, playing shows and writing their own songs despite label disinterest. Tierney says, ``we're old enough to know that Cheap Trick existed before `The Flame' and young enough to know it's the Foo Fighters, not the Food Fighters.'' Besides the small shows, the band has opened for headliners such as The Presidents of the U.S.A. and Dramarama.

Like the Presidents' self-titled first release, Silver Jet's ``Pull me up. attention and evoke laughs with lines such as: ``I'm just a kid lost in the grocery store of life.'' Others are whiny and repetitive. The group's overall sound is not as varied as that of Presidents, and the 12 songs on the album do not show a wide range. Despite its crisp bass lines, harmonic vocals, and catchy beats, ``Pull Me Up'' lacks appeal mainly because every song sounds like the one before.

Though fans of Everclear and Presidents may appreciate this album, Silver Jet definitely could benefit from some musical extension. A good look at some of Presidents' more innovative cuts, such as ``Dune Buggy'' or ``We Are Not Going to Make It'' might do the group some good.

- By Cory Jordan, senior at Maury High School in Norfolk

Ray J: ``Everything You Want,'' Elektra Entertainment

Ray J's new 14-track CD, ``Everything You Want,'' lives up to its title. This debut album gives the ladies and the fellas heartfelt emotion. Listen to lyrics from the ``The Promise,'' the No. 5 track: ``I promise, I promise is more than a word to me. It's the only way I'll be with you.'' Those words are sure to help you break up after that horrible argument.

Ray J, the 15-year-old brother of Brandy, also astonishes with ``Rock With Me'' and ``Because of You.'' He wrote those songs with Keith Crouch. His duet with big sister Brandy captures the special bond between brother and sister. The song is appropriately titled ``Thank You.'' Guess that's Ray J's way of dedicating a song to his sister after she dedicated ``Best Friend,'' from her self-titled album to him, huh?

Overall, Ray J brings the funk back to R&B and hip-hop.

His music will move you. Plus, he looks good.

- By Sheena Mann, freshman at Norview High School in Norfolk

The Suicide Machines: ``Destruction by Definition,'' Hollywood Records

The Suicide Machines are Royce, Jay, Derek and Dan, four guys who like wallet-chains, Vans and the word ``suck.'' The group's likes are apparent on the cover of their new CD, ``Destruction by Definition.'' The cover features a nice shot of one of the guys wearing boxers that poke out of his pants and a wallet-chain that dangles from his back pocket. This CD makes you want to get up and mosh.

The unusual sound of The Suicide Machines consists of guitar, drums, bass, fast lyrics and horns. Most would put them in the punk or ska genre of music, but in the song, ``No Face,'' they talk about how punk is dead.

``Vans Song'' is my personal favorite. In this song, the guys explain how if you wear Doc Martens, ``you just plain suck.'' All they need are ``a crummy old pair of chuka boots and a smelly old pair of socks.'' ``New Girl'' is a nod to the Alanis Morisette fad, where he gets a new girl and wants to rub it in his ex-girlfriend's face.

``Destruction by Definition'' is 37 minutes and 18 seconds of pure fun. Most of the songs are happy and upbeat, but a few are darker and have an angry sound.

The Suicide Machines definitely is a cool band. If you like the group's sound, check out other bands including No Doubt; Rancid; Goldfinger, and the Mighty Mighty Boss Tones.

- By Amanda Leedom, sophomore, Bayside High School in Virginia Beach ILLUSTRATION: VIRGIN

What Silver Jet lacks in novelty, it makes up for in quality and

determination on its debut release, ``Pull Me Up. . . Drag Me

Down.'' From left are Grant Conway, Luke Tierney and Jeff Gross.

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