Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 69

On The Record Sunday, February 1, 1987 Reno Gazette-Journal 9E Folk Rock Hynde in singer-bassist Johnette Napo-litano's vocals. Concrete Blonde could go down in pop history as the best imitation-Pretenders band ever. But the group is too good to deserve just a footnote. First, this is a better Pretenders album than the one Chrissie and her new band put out last year spunky and vibrant on both the originals and an excellent version of George Harrison's "Beware of Darkness." Second, there are a couple of tracks the sultry "Dance Along the Edge" and the witty, zooming "Still in Hollywood" that transcend the Pretenders pretensions. Good stuff.

Good band. Watch 'em. TERRY ATKINSOND Terry Atkinson is a writer for The Los Angeles Times. sometimes even the morbid, though much less so here than in last year's bleak, black "Candy Apple Singer-songwriters Bob Mould and Grant Hart seem to be coasting musically with the same blend of folk, punk and '60s pop that made earlier works seem such revelations. The exceptions are "Actual Condition," which has a rockabilly feel, and "She Floated Away," which takes their flair for folk in a Scottish-sounding direction.

But the band still has as strong a compositional sense as ever, and when it applies its muscle to an actual expression of hope the effect is just as revelatory. The liner notes, a witty shorthand self-help guide, are key in understanding Husker Du's appeal: "Revolution starts at home, preferably in the bathroom mirror." Here is a band that understands rock's final rebellious frontier: one's own heart. CHRIS WILLMANQ'J Chris Willman is a writer for The Los Angeles Times. CONCRETE BLONDE "Concrete Blonde" I.R.S. This is one of the best debut records from a Los Angeles band in some time though it is a problematic one.

There is simply too obvious a debt to Chrissie HUSKER DU "Warehouse: Songs and Stories" Warner Bros. Vi A new Husker Du album is like a letter from an old friend, full of experiences and insights you thought only you went through or felt anymore, spoken in a way that only those who grew up with similar sets of friends (or similar sets of hard-rock record collections) can share. Soundwise, a new Husker Du album is like a blitz from the front, and the two-record "Warehouse" is no exception. In that way, this letter from home is a sort of secret code, with emotions and melodies that could be accessible if they were not so cleverly disguised in a barrage of fuzzy guitars. Like the Replacements, this Minneapolis power trio takes the catharsis of punk and moves beyond its anger to a wider range of emotion; unlike the Replacements, Husker Du does not bother with the traditional bratty exterior, preferring to be regular even sober Joes who just happen to have their amps set on 11.

The themes run toward the morose, Easy Walk to Freedom" Gold Castle 171 001-1 An extraordinary comeback, a set of 10 political broadsides and topical ballads. The arrangements are clean and fresh and the performances are genuinely moving from start to finish. Some are downright lovely, especially "Weave Me the Sunshine," "Whispered Words" and "Light One Candle." Others are more direct. The political numbers, "No Easy Walk to Freedom," "Greenland Whale Fisheries" and "El Salvador," make their points emphatically, and maybe that's why they seem to echo around in your head like rock: they're loud ideas. There is no mistaking what "No Easy Walk to Freedom" adds up to it is Peter, Paul and Mary's best album in almost 20 years.

And if you think there is something old-fashioned about a group with that name, this album is likely to change your mind in a hurry. J.K.D DAVID BECKER "Long Peter Madsen" MCA MCA-5865 Becker stretches the popular boundaries of electric and acoustic guitar by fitting them to tunes that allow for an abundance of versatile improvisation. He swings from new-age mellow Peter to Latin charm to hard-bop Du Bu to nostalgia of the and sentimental classics of Wine He is trying to show off his chops with his first MCA album, and he does a fine job. Not only has he mastered the standard guitar techniques, he has gotten on top of the fret-tapping technique that has made Stanley Clark a star and that enables a player to produce several melodies at once. Becker is a fast-rising phenomenon, all right.

"Long Peter Madsen" is a young hotshot's record and that's all right, too. There should be plenty of room for mature expression in a style that is already as vividly realized as Becker's. J.K.D CHRISTINE LAVIN "Beau Woes" Philo PH1 107 V2 Lavin is a sometimes very arch and sometimes very funny East Coast singer-songwriter who makes a habit of picking up on the little things; the crazi-ness of some of the things we take for granted, the warped mechanics behind certain philosophical convictions, the beauty that we overlook. The subtitle of her new album is "and other problems of modern life" and that pretty much sums up Lavin's attitude. The way she sees it, life is made up of about equal parts outright idiocy and fading, painful beauty.

The song titles tell the story: "Summer Weddings," "Prince Charles," "Gettin' Used to Lea-vin' "Camping," "Doris and Edwin: The Movie," "Roses from the Wrong Man," "Air Conditioner," "Biological Time Bomb" and "The Moment Slipped Away." Lavin is not always on target, of course, but she is often enough to make her one of the strong contemporary contenders. J.K.D DAVID BROMBERG "Long Way From Here'' Fantasy F-9641 V2 Bromberg's career stretches back to the Greenwich Village folk days and encompasses studio sessions with Bob Dylan, Chubby Checker and Phoebe Snow. He plays mandolin, guitar and fiddle, among other things, but has never been able to play his way into the hearts of a large audience. He became so discouraged in 1980 that retired from performing for a while. This album presents him with an excellent band on a wide-ranging series of cuts from concert and club dates he played in the 1970s.

The best of them are the simplest: "Kitchen Girl," "Long Afternoons, "Suffer to Sing the Blues, "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor" arid "Trying to Get Home." About the only time Bromberg goes wrong is when he pushes too hard and turns what is justifiably a big production into a self-indulgent (and usually not very funny) monologue. Sometimes, on the other hand, he does everything right, as when he delivers a full-blown Dixieland version of "The Viper." This is Bromberg's best album in a long, long time. JIM KELTOND Jim Kelton is a writer for the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service. PETER, PAUL AND MARY "No Record ratings A classic Excellent Good Fair Poor Montgomery Ward Save 55. Del Rfiar erticals The real reasons people come here rv.scussion Group ent Adventure Challenge Excitement Growth Discovery Friendship Woman to wu.

Jung ft ri: i iTff I a 12 Price B.Sale5.99 Yd c. Save 25-40 Lowest Prices Of The Year Dress up your patio doors or picture windows with these custom blinds. Fabrics, macrame, vinyl and aluminum slat styles. A. All other Del Mar custom window coverings are on sale.

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Custom in most larger stores. Call today to schedule your free home appointment Advertised prices good through February 14, 1987 Ideas Wellbeing YWCfi 1301 Valley Reno 322-4531 Call tor a FREfc IT DJWJ. 3 G3 55 vWi We welcome Montgomery Ward, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover RENO AREA RESIDENTS CALL 355-3000 C'mon people now Get out your best paisley prints and see Jesse Colin "Young at the Reno Hilton Showspot. Through two turbulent decades, Jesse Colin "Vbung's music reflected the experiences of the times. Now it's time to experience his music in one memorable night.

The former lead singer of the "Vbungbloods, and creator of such classics as "Get Together" will be making a rare limited appearance, January 29-February 15. For further show information, call 322-1111. JESSE COLIN YOUNG JAN.29-FEB.15 RENO HILTON San Francisco Xf $3950 with parking! Plus AND THE ttt with TXTT 7Trn TEXAS TRAINMEN $10 Gift Certificate With ventriloquist Sammy King. 8:00 PM 10:30 PM SHOWS NIGHTLY THRU FEBRUARY 4 Step out Jor an evening oj dj. fine dinine and delhhtful Ds Per person, Sunday-Thursday entertainment for just Special package includes: Parking for one car Apply the gift certificate to purchases at these fine shops in our block: Laura Ashley, Pierre Deux, Jeffrey Davies, The Collector, Mary Had a Little Lamb and the Sutter 500 Restaurant Complimentary afternoon tea Per person, double occupancy, space available basis, tax not included Limited-time offer from one of San Francisco's most popular small hotels.

Just one block from Union Square among some of the finest shops and galleries in The City. Furnished with antiques and brightened by fresh flow ers. Owned, operated and continually upgraded by the Adams Family. (800) 227-3844 from Nevada (800) 652-1858 in California Choose from a feast of delectable entrees, side dishes and salads in the Rotisserie, Reno area's favorite buffet. Plus, you have your choice of beverage and dessert.

Then it's show time (including two complimentary cocktails) in our Celebrity Showroom. COMING FEBRUARY 5: SUA NA NA IN THE CASINO LOUNGE THRU FEB. 15: GrcshamCommand Performance I.N TRADER DICK'S INDEFINITELY: The Roger Wilhite Duo fWcd. thru Sun.) foltn $4cuacfaS Advmnce reservations required by 4:00 p.m. Must be 21 or okter.

Mav not be usnt in wniunclKm with any mher package or promotion. Call 356-3304 and ask for the Steppin Out package. TTTlTiT the(artwright 524 Sutter at Powell San Francisco, CA 94102.