Hoobastank

Hoobastank
2001 Universal

The latest small band from
California to make it into the
big leagues is Los Angeles’
Hoobastank. With influences
like Tool, Fishbone, and Guns’
n’ Roses, Hoobastank has a
distinctive sound that’s not
metal, but a lot heavier than
most of the poppy rock that
seems to be most prevalent
today. Their self-titled album,
Hoobastank is a refreshing
change from the Britney
Spears and Backstreet Boys-
type music that is so popular
these days.

Bluescreen
Undercurrents
2001 Shadow Records

Bluescreen has been a
force to be reckoned with in
the northern BC party scene
for a number of years now.
Whether throwing down some
amazing record selections, or
performing a wicked live set,
Prince Rupert's Anthony Voitik
is sure to please.

Bluescreen’s first release
through Shadow records,
Undercurrents, is a mix of
house, progressive trance and
speed garage, which is a most
unusual combination in the

This album has _ original
lyrics that deal with some
interesting issues, such as
how success can change the
way people treat you, and the
feeling of bitterness at the loss
of youth. There is a little bit of
a lack of variety in the sound
of the different songs, but
there are some catchy tunes,
and the CD is definitely not
boring.

Overall, Hoobastank gives a
high-energy, infectious perfor-
mance, with hard-hitting
tracks that actually have con-
tent that people in this day and
age can relate to. There’s the
darkly bitter Up and Gone, the
upbeat and hopeful Ready for

electronic music scene today.
Despite this fact, each track
flows into a natural and logical
succession. You can get down
to this CD at a party, or just
chill to it at home.

From the excellently tailored
progressive house of Razor,
to the funky bassline of
Aliendisco, Bluescreen treats
the audience to an ever-
changing tapestry of sound.
With his innovative loops,
unusual sound selection, and
distinctive sound, it is no won-
der that Bluescreen has been
called “the new face of the
trance movement”. This album
provides a most welcome

You, and the more mellow To
Be With You.

In all this is an album for the
fans of groups such as Our
Lady Peace, and the Matthew
Good band, but you have to
remember that Hoobastank
has a sound all of their own.
And no one could possibly
want it any other way.

-Dana

respite from the more usual
and regular sounds of modern
trance.

Also included in the album is
the smooth trance sounds of
Souldriver, as well as the
familiar sounds of Surfacing,
Breath and Exhale, and The
Sun God Approaches. Why
would these tracks be famil-
iar? Because Bluescreen is a
former UNBC student, -who
used to go by the spin name
DJ Cypher. Bluescreen’s tal-
ent has definitely matured
over the past three years, and
Undercurrents is proof of that
fact.

-Dana

Nickelback: An Explosive event at the multiplex

By Roxanne Francis

Do you know where you
were on the night of January
21st? Perhaps out with half of
Prince George, myself includ-
ed, at the Multiplex for the
Nickelback concert. The night
of the concert we arrived
there at 10 after 6. Too early
to go there when doors don’t
open until 6:30 you say? Ha!
You must have: been one of
those people lined up on the
street. When doors finally
opened just after 6:30, it was
only another 5 minutes in
line, a quick pat-down by

security, and | was in! All that
was left was to wait the next
45 minutes in my seat for the
concert to start. At 7:30 the
lights went down and the
crowd started to rustle with
anticipation.

First up was Default. Now |
will have to admit that before
the concert | had only ever
heart Wasting My Time and
Deny. Both are great songs
and the show put on by the
Vancouver band was nothing
less than totally energetic
and, perhaps too simply put,
wondertul.

After the opening act and a
short intermission, and a
_ sound close to thunder was
heard. Piece by piece the
background for Default
dropped to reveal the first of
two backgrounds used by
Nickelback. And then _ it
began.

The crowd went INSANE! |
have always been impressed
with the amount of effort
Nickelback has put into their
shows, and tonight was no
exception. The lighting and
pyrotechnics alone were well
worth the money spent (even

if the fireballs WERE the
same as AC/DC). The band
then proceeded to play an
amazing set of songs like
Leader of Men, Too Bad,
Never Again, a performance
by guitarist Ryan Peak of
Super Bon-bon, and a brand-
new song called The Next
Contestant. This was fol-
lowed, of course, by the
encore which included How
You Remind Me. Overall, the
concert was a combination of
good music, fantastic energy,
and a hyped-up atmosphere.
And judging from all the peo-

ple | saw hopping over barri-
cades to get on to the floor, |
think almost everyone would
agree. If you missed them
this time, | highly recommend
that you catch them next
time.

"24
ae

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