SEEN ANY GOOD MOVIES LATELY?

Snow White

REVIEWED BY
TONY JEFFERIES

Video supplied by
Prime Time
Video Hire

This is a Snow White for the nineties. Don't go looking for any Sleepy, Happy or Doc heading off to work with a jolly hi-ho, hi-ho in this number. The dwarfs in this one - well they aren't dwarfs anyway - are the sort of social outcasts that are proliferating in Western countries as we near the turn of the century - grungy, dirty, beyond hope, victimised.
The trouble with growing old is you invariably tend to compare the new with the old - usually to the disadvantage of the former. Sort of like your Dad telling you what rubbish the Beatles are compared to Glenn Miller.
That's sort of the case here. I can't help comparing this Snow White to the Disney cartoon version that baby boomers well know from the sixties. That is not to say the cartoon version always comes out the winner. Although I'm not familiar with the Grimm Brother's original, the grittier nineties version - with its intimations of cannibalism and necromancy might well be closer to the original.
Unlike Disney's Snow White with its clear-cut delineations of good and evil this version is characteristically nineties with very little that is clear-cut. Ambiguities abound. Snow White (Lily) has not one but two suitors - we are never sure which one eventually wins her affection, Lady Hoffman (Sigourney Weaver) is evil but her complaint against Lily is real enough...
In this 'psychological' version there is none of the pure incarnation of evil represented by the Queen and none of the unmixed joy and goodwill of the seven dwarfs. We emerge at the end with little sense of the triumph of ultimate good over ultimate evil - rather more of an uncomfortable nightmare muddled through.
It is interesting then to compare the two movies as documents of their time - the black and white certainties of America's Cold War era against the muddier, uncertain moralities of the Clinton era.

Pearl Jam's 'Yield'

CD reviewed by Melanie Henderson

This is the new album by the same band that brought us the legendary songs such as 'Alive', 'Daughter', 'Better Man' and 'Hail, Hail' just to name a few.
I'm sure everyone would have heard of Pearl Jam and probably even heard a song of theirs without knowing. Anyway their new album 'Yield' is out now and is a definite must for anyone who loves Pearl Jam.
But first a little background info!
Pearl Jam consists of Eddie Vedder with vocals, Stone Gossard on guitar, Mike McCready on lead guitar, Jeff Ament on bass and Jack Ivons on drums.
In 1991 they brought out the first Pearl Jam album Ten and with it the hit songs 'Alive' and 'Jeremy'. Pearl Jam were making a big name for themselves. Then in 1993 another hit album was brought out. 'VS' carried with it 'Daughter' which nearly everybody would know. Then came the album 'Vitalogy' with 'Nothing Man' and 'Better Man', then 'No code' with 'Hail, Hail' and finally 'Yield'.
This new album has as always the very distinctive vocals of Eddie Vedder and in a couple of songs Stone Gossard. It has music sound originality that only ever comes from Pearl Jam and is what makes it great listening.
I love the whole album with 'Wishlist', 'Do the Evolution' and 'All Those Yesterdays' being my favourites.
All I can say is if you like Pearl Jam - Don't miss it or if you've never heard of them (hopefully not!), have a listen. It's good easy listening music where I guarantee you will love at least one song.
5/5 SPUDS FOR SURE!!

'Decade of Hits -
70's Greatest'

CD Review by Peter Davenport

It will come as no surprise to people who listen to the Rhythm Stick that I really enjoy music from the seventies. Although I play music from the 50's to the 90's I often have 70's specials. I chose a fairly recent 70's compilation CD to review called Decade of Hits.
This album features some of the classic songs from that era with artists such as Cat Stevens (Old School Yard), Joan Armatrading (Down to Zero), Gerry Raferty (Baker Street), Don McLean (American Pie), Kate Bush (Wuthering Heights), Nilsson (With Out You), Air Supply (Love and Other Bruises), Eric Carmen (All By Myself) and many more. It is a good compilation with a great cross section of artists and hits.
If you are just discovering this era or are rediscovering it look out for this album as well as Volume 2. This type of music is excellent for parties or just reminiscing.

Snow White REVIEWED BY TONY JEFFERIES Video supplied by Prime Time Video Hire This is a Snow White for the nineties. Don't go looking for any Sleepy, Happy or Doc heading off to work with a jolly hi-ho, hi-ho in this number. The dwarfs in this one - well they aren't dwarfs anyway - are the sort of social outcasts that are proliferating in Western countries as we near the turn of the century - grungy, dirty, beyond hope, victimised. The trouble with growing old is you invariably tend to compare the new with the old - usually to the disadvantage of the former. Sort of like your Dad telling you what rubbish the Beatles are compared to Glenn Miller. That's sort of the case here. I can't help comparing this Snow White to the Disney cartoon version that baby boomers well know from the sixties. That is not to say the cartoon version always comes out the winner. Although I'm not familiar with the Grimm Brother's original, the grittier nineties version - with its intimations of cannibalism and necromancy might well be closer to the original. Unlike Disney's Snow White with its clear-cut delineations of good and evil this version is characteristically nineties with very little that is clear-cut. Ambiguities abound. Snow White (Lily) has not one but two suitors - we are never sure which one eventually wins her affection, Lady Hoffman (Sigourney Weaver) is evil but her complaint against Lily is real enough... In this 'psychological' version there is none of the pure incarnation of evil represented by the Queen and none of the unmixed joy and goodwill of the seven dwarfs. We emerge at the end with little sense of the triumph of ultimate good over ultimate evil - rather more of an uncomfortable nightmare muddled through. It is interesting then to compare the two movies as documents of their time - the black and white certainties of America's Cold War era against the muddier, uncertain moralities of the Clinton era. Pearl Jam's 'Yield' CD reviewed by Melanie Henderson This is the new album by the same band that brought us the legendary songs such as 'Alive', 'Daughter', 'Better Man' and 'Hail, Hail' just to name a few. I'm sure everyone would have heard of Pearl Jam and probably even heard a song of theirs without knowing. Anyway their new album 'Yield' is out now and is a definite must for anyone who loves Pearl Jam. But first a little background info! Pearl Jam consists of Eddie Vedder with vocals, Stone Gossard on guitar, Mike McCready on lead guitar, Jeff Ament on bass and Jack Ivons on drums. In 1991 they brought out the first Pearl Jam album Ten and with it the hit songs 'Alive' and 'Jeremy'. Pearl Jam were making a big name for themselves. Then in 1993 another hit album was brought out. 'VS' carried with it 'Daughter' which nearly everybody would know. Then came the album 'Vitalogy' with 'Nothing Man' and 'Better Man', then 'No code' with 'Hail, Hail' and finally 'Yield'. This new album has as always the very distinctive vocals of Eddie Vedder and in a couple of songs Stone Gossard. It has music sound originality that only ever comes from Pearl Jam and is what makes it great listening. I love the whole album with 'Wishlist', 'Do the Evolution' and 'All Those Yesterdays' being my favourites. All I can say is if you like Pearl Jam - Don't miss it or if you've never heard of them (hopefully not!), have a listen. It's good easy listening music where I guarantee you will love at least one song. 5/5 SPUDS FOR SURE!! 'Decade of Hits - 70's Greatest' CD Review by Peter Davenport It will come as no surprise to people who listen to the Rhythm Stick that I really enjoy music from the seventies. Although I play music from the 50's to the 90's I often have 70's specials. I chose a fairly recent 70's compilation CD to review called Decade of Hits. This album features some of the classic songs from that era with artists such as Cat Stevens (Old School Yard), Joan Armatrading (Down to Zero), Gerry Raferty (Baker Street), Don McLean (American Pie), Kate Bush (Wuthering Heights), Nilsson (With Out You), Air Supply (Love and Other Bruises), Eric Carmen (All By Myself) and many more. It is a good compilation with a great cross section of artists and hits. If you are just discovering this era or are rediscovering it look out for this album as well as Volume 2. This type of music is excellent for parties or just reminiscing.