Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 20 July 2018
The Internet's return lacks bite, electricity

By MARK KENNEDY that show off the band fect that overpowers a del-
Associated Press members' ability to riff off icate bass-driven song with
The Internet, "Hive Mind" each other's hooks. "Look its pneumatic, unwelcome
(Columbia Records) What U Started" is built mechanical insistence.
The internet, as we know around a superchunky bass "Wanna Be" meanders and
all too well by now, shrieks line, as good as anything on meanders, getting lost in
and howls and barks. The "Ego Death," The Internet's itself. And "Mood" never
L.A.-based soul and R&B acclaimed and Grammy- comes together.
band of the same name nominated third studio al- Most of the songs concern
practically whispers with its bum, which yielded "Under modern love — aching
fourth studio album. Control" and "Girl." longing or smooth seduc-
On the 13-track "Hive Mind," But "Beat Goes On" swirls tion from Bennett — al-
The Internet is as laid-back endlessly on until halfway though the band reaches
and subtle as the global when, inexplicably, a differ- for something larger on "It
computer network is ugly ent beat goes on, as if the Gets Better (With Time),"
and brash. How laid-back band was divided about a beautiful, uplifting song
exactly? Almost to the its direction. "Next Time/ about fighting through pain
point that many songs feel Humble Pie" does the same that's fueled by Bennett's
unfinished — just a series thing — it goes fine un- falsetto.
of chunky grooves, drum til it, too, switches gears in The album ends with the
loops and handclaps bare- the middle and shoots off sensual and steamy "Hold
ly stitched together. into another song, ending On" — destined to end up
Musicians Matt Martians, bloated and messy. (Come on bedroom playlists — but
Christopher Smith, Pat- to think of it, "Come Over" the taut electricity the band
rick Paige and Steve Lacy also has a weird expletive- exuded is largely gone in
have given lead singer laced coda that doesn't favor of aimless doodling.
Sydney "Syd" Bennett mel- This cover image released by Columbia Records shows "Hive belong there.) It leaves the But we were warned about
low textures and a series Mind," a release by The Internet. listener confused and lost. this: In the opening song,
of dreamy canvases to ex- Associated Press "Stay the Night" is marred after all, Syd sings: "I can't
pand her range, but it's also by the endless repetition of be sure/Not anymore /To-
clear that the album lacks ous releases. Da," ''Roll (Burbank Funk)" the song's title and "Bravo" day or tomorrow/What we
the bite and snap of previ- Standouts include "La Di and "Come Over," songs has an annoying drum ef- gon' do."q

Airman who inspired "Good Morning, Vietnam" film has died

Associated Press tary establishment. AP in 1988. "Yes, I did have
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Adri- "We were the only game problems with news cen-
an Cronauer, the man in town and you had to sorship. Yes, I was in a res-
whose military radio an- play by our rules," Cronauer taurant shortly before the
tics inspired a character told The Associated Press in Viet Cong hit it. And yes,
played by Robin Williams 1987. "But I wanted to serve I did start each program
in the film "Good Morning, the listeners." by yelling, 'Good Morning,
Vietnam," has died. He was The military wanted con- Vietnam!'" The rest is what
79. servative programming. he delicately called "good
Mary Muse, the wife of his American youths, however, script crafting." When the
stepson Michael Muse, were "not into drab, ster- film was released, the presi-
confirmed Thursday that ile announcements" with dential campaign of Dem-
Cronauer died Wednesday middle-of-the-road music, ocrat Jesse Jackson called
after a long illness. He had Cronauer said, and the asking if Cronauer would
lived in Troutville, Virginia. battle over the airwaves help out. The conversation
During his service as a U.S. was joined. died quickly after Cronauer
Air Force sergeant in Viet- In the film, Williams quickly asked the caller if she real-
nam in 1965 and 1966, Cro- drops Perry Como and ized he was a Republican.
nauer opened his Armed Lawrence Welk from his 6 In 1992, George H. W. Bush's
Forces Radio show with a.m. playlist in favor of the re-election campaign
the phrase, "Goooooood Dave Clark Five. taped a TV ad slamming
morning, Vietnam!" Cronauer said he loved the Bill Clinton's draft record. In
Williams made the refrain movie, but he said much the ad, Cronauer accused
famous in the 1987 film, of the film was Hollywood Clinton of lying.
loosely based on Cronau- make-believe. Robin Wil- "In many ways, I'm a very
er's time in Saigon. liams' portrayal as a fast- conservative guy," he said.
The film was a departure talking, nonconformist, yuk- "A lifelong, card-carrying
from other Vietnam war it-up disc jockey sometimes Republican can't be that
movies that focused on gave people the wrong much of an anti-establish-
bloody realism, such as the impression of the man who Adrian Cronauer, a disc jockey on the Dawn Buster radio show ment type."
Academy Award-winning inspired the film. whose experiences in Vietnam War were chronicled in the Cronauer was from Pitts-
"Platoon." Instead, it was "Yes, I did try to make it movie "Good Morning, Vietnam," poses outside his home in burgh, the son of a steel-
about irreverent youth in sound more like a state- Philadelphia, Pa. worker and a schoolteach-
the 1960s fighting the mili- side station," he told The Associated Press er. q