European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 03, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Public enemy scored with Quot fear of a Black planet.1 the year s a a albums Veteran Rocker Neil Young reunited w Ith crazy horse on Quot ragged by Robert Hilburn los Angeles times at. A time when marketing strategy and video Flash Rule the pop world to such a degree that we can no longer be sure who is singing on a record Sinead o Connor and Neil Young reminded us during 1990 of the continuing Power of classic pop Rock values. In the year s two most distinguished albums both artists a although they Are from different Rock generations a relied on passion Craft and meaningful songs about relationships and ideals. O Connor s i do not want what i Haven t got is an especially commanding reflection on a journey that leads from confusion and doubt to optimism and Faith an album that ranks with u 2 s the Joshua tree and Paul a Simon s Grac Landas one of the Best works of the last decade. Young s ragged glory is another stirring work a a member of Rock s glorious 60s class taking inventory in the 90s. It is Strong enough to top a 10-Best list most years including last year when Young s Freedom was the top Choice on dozens of critics lists. J the rest of the albums on my 10-Best list ranged from the provocative social commentary of rappers ice cube and Public enemy to the invigorating musical _ experimentation of Paul Simon was not was and digital underground. A _. Whatever the differences in approach the albums cited share a sense of ambit Ion and character that separated them from the hundreds of other releases of the past 12 months. 1 _ Sinead o Connor i do not want what i Haven t got Quot i thought that nothing would change me a this Young Irish Singer songwriter otters in a voice barely above a whisper in the album s opening moment. By the end of the song the whisper has risen to a joyous scream As o Connor declares a. _ but now i feel so different. A. _ i a e not seen Freedom before. A these tales of personal exorcism of bad relationships and eventual spiritual transformation Are often. _ constructed More with a dramatist s feel for scene than a songwriter s instincts for image and rhyme. Yet she can a unite quite eloquently in a More traditional vein As in Black boys on a mopeds. A song about racial injustice in b111 a i n . A a England s not the mythical Landa of Madame a a a a a. C a a a a a a. It it the Home off to kill a Black to s on i perils. A 1 throughout o Connor s vocals Are breathtakingly convincing and the music is soulful in a modernistic pop Rock fashion. _ Neil Young ragged glory the Quot Veteran of 60s Rock reunites with the crazy Bois band in a series of searing. Guitar driven excursions that Challenge his generation to pause for a moment of self inventory and warn the younger Rock generation to get its priorities in shape. Sample lyrics it seemed like such a simple things to follow one s own dreans. But possessions and concessions a a. Are not often what they seem a they drag you Down. And Load you Down. A. In the Guise of Security but we never had to make those deals a in the Days that used to be. A. A ice tube am Erikka s most wanted How ironic rap the pop style that was put Down through most of the 80s by both the pop establishment and mainstream pop fans As mindless noise turns out to13 be pop s Mast powerful forum for social comment. In his Solo debut this former . Member takes us on a tour of the projects that is filled with such anger and rage that it has made Many listeners recoil. Powerful in a Way that . Hammer and Vanilla ice fans probably can t. Imagine. / a a a Paul Simon the rhythm of the saints. You be got to set aside the Graceland to fairly evaluate this follow up which is hard. Rhythm is destined to be underrated for quite a while. But even now this Cross cultural feast with its seductive brazilian. Rhythms stands far above most of this year s pop competitors., the obvious child is the song from the album that has been getting the most radio airplay but the heart of rhythms in such songs As proof and the Cool Cool River where Simon most clearly explores lost ideals in these troubled and cynical times. Sample lines from the latter a a a a a a a a a. A a a a a a. Who says hard times i m used to them a a a the speeding planet Burns. I m used to that my life s so common it disappears. A Quot and sometimes even music. A cannot substitute for tears. _ Public enemy fear of a Black planet not As consistently forceful As the new York rap group s it takes nation of millions to hold us Back. But the album a including the frenzied Welcome to the Quot terror dome and the jabbing who stole the soul a still dissects aspects of the Black experience with an Energy and vision that illustrates Why rap continues to be the most creative genre in pop. A. / was not was Are you Okay part of the Vanguard of artists who Are attacking radio s rigid pop formats by mixing and Matching everything from rap and Funk to Rock and jazz Don and David was continue to be masters of pop invention. Wacky but inspired. A a. A a a a. A. A. A. A Prince Graffiti Bridge there Are lots of reasons to leave this soundtrack album a of the list Prince has made better albums the film was. Awful and the most infectious track is Sung by someone else 14-year-old Tevin Campbell. Still it s got the Consi Lient accessibility and vitality of a greatest hits package. A a a gear daddies Billy s live bait .,1 in this affecting major Label debut Singer songwriter Martjn Keller and the rest of this Minneapolis area band deliver understated tales of staff Fown frustrations and desires with the imagination and heart of the Best Paul Westerberg songs. / a sonic youth goo the Kings and Queen of alternative Rock step up to a major Label and thrive. Still a Wall of guitar but some Welcome new pop Hooks. Quot digital underground sex packets the danger with Novelty albums is they Don t hold up. Tor now however these Oakland rappers continue to with the freshness of de la soul and the sexy humor of tone Loc. A 10 stripes Magazine january 3, 1991
