University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 30 text:

r ( 1 BH ' w 9r

Page 29 text:

- --

Page 31 text:

MTV ' s regular rotation. MTV both helped to promote alternative music and reflected its popularity. The once-a-week alternative music program 120 Minutes on the music video channel expanded to include a nightly one-hour show featuring solely alternative bands. Hip-hop and rap also continued to enjoy mainstream success. In the tradition of Public Enemy, rappers Ice-T and Ice-Cube, as well as new- comers House of Pain and Cypress Hill, faced an ever-expanding listening audience. Rap group The Beastie Boys created their own genre with the release the their third LP Check Your Head, one of the most innovative albums made in many years. By mixing rock-and-roll, funk, and rap, the Beastie ' s album was a favorite among college students. The Brooklyn, N.Y., natives proved rap could be performed with live instruments, as well as clever rhymes and back beats. Similarly the popularity of the group Arrested Development showed the intelligence of hip-hop music as their danceable anthems spoke to the political and social ills of society. What did all of this mean for the future of college music? Some fans of alternative music grew angry because of the popularity of their genre. Those people who had been following bands like Nirvana and the Chili Peppers before they achieved mainstream success felt betrayed. As Brian Cliff, chief announcer at U of M ' s campus radio station WCBN, com- mented Five years from now no one will give a crap about Seattle or bands like Pearl Jam. Besides, they are not alternative, they are promoted by the same people that promote pop music like Boyz II Men. The popularity of alternative music and its progression into the mainstream has left room for new bands and new genres. The veterans of the local garage-band scene, such as Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., and the once-college-turned-pop stars REM, have proven that some of the best music is made before the addition of a big budget and slick production that comes with major label record contracts. The infrastructure remains intact and one has only to retreat to local radio and clubs to find the freshest young bands whose raw talent and enthusiasm may someday promote them into becoming, for better of for worse, the stadium headlin- ers of tomorrow Anthony Keidis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, known for frequently preforming with his bandmates wearing nothing but a strategically- placed sock, wore bicycle pants this time out on the Lottapalooza tour. The Red Hots are pioneers in the fusion of rock and funk and have finally enjoyed the commercial success that they deserve. Photo by Moll Stevens Juliana Hatfield, formerly of the Blake Babies, has released her first solo record entitled Hey Babe. Her gritty pop sound combined with sweet girlish crooning make for an endearing combination. Hatfield played at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor which often features young alternative acts. Photo by Greg Emmanuel Hatfield also made an appearance before her Blind Pig show at Wherehouse Records. Fans who showed up to the store were treated to an acoustic set of unrecorded songs as well as songs off her solo album. Juliana also signed CDs and spoke briefly with fans. Photo by Greg Emmanuel Michigan Life 27