Olivia

Punk band lacks talent, orginality

BY RENA SLUTSKE

Daily Titan Staff

On its self-titled debut, it is clear that Olivia the Band likes Jesus.

These bleach-toothed, wannabe Hollister models prove they are nothing more than a Blink-182 knockoff, with none of the energy or integrity of their idols.

Although the band's message is, for the most part, positive, this group has no talent and will not be able to stand up to their punk rivals or stronger Christian bands.

The band members may be inspired by groups such as Pennywise and Sprung Monkey, but their washed-out melodies cannot bring the energy of listening to either of those bands.

Unlike Blink-182, there are no catchy riffs, nothing that would make you want to bob your head and listen on to what the band has to say. And what they have to say is… well, they like Jesus. A lot.

They are being marketed as a mainstream band, and yet, they are isolating any secular listener who comes across their album.

The song “Heaven” is pretty much about Jesus coming, taking vengence on the heathens, and being declared king once more. The song “39” is about the 39 lashes that Jesus took before the crucifi xion. Although the messages of their songs are positive, the isolation they create for listeners is enough to make them not want to listen. But they should look on the bright side: they always have futures in either becoming preachers or Ambercrombie and Fitch models.

Pepper loves its fans and weed

BY RYAN TOWNSEND

Daily Titan Managing Editor

An 80-minute concert release is a tricky proposition for a relatively young band.

Flaws tend to be exposed as discerning consumers get a chance to take a more critical look at the shows that seem like shining displays of perfect disorder when experienced in the fl esh.

For Hawaiian-surf-bums Pepper, it’s a mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses on display in “Pepper Live,” a 18-song career spanning DVD shot over two nights at The Troubadour in Los Angeles last November.

Three albums into their young career, Costa Mesa-based Volcom Records obviously believes Pepper has the fans to justify the ultimate in rock and roll excess: releasing live material.

From the looks of the Pepper faithful on these two nights, the label’s faith looks well founded. In fact, the band seems to inspire an almost Grateful Dead-esque loyalty in its female-surfer-stoner fan base.

Musically, Pepper lays down self-described “Kona-dub” rock, and it's danceable, throbbing and occasionally psychedelic. Sort of the ultimate party music for fans of Sublime’s genre-defying reggae.

For the Titan

Ani DiFranco shines in her effort to transform painful childhood memories and tales of lost-loves into a collaboration of intimate songs for her newest release “Knuckle Down.

DiFranco’s refreshing attitude is what has labeled her as the “candy apple in a stable of hungry horses” (in a musician’s sense), for she has already racked up an album appearance with Prince, had her tunes covered by Dave Matthews and Chuck D, recorded duets with John Gorka, composed 20 previously liberating CD’s, compiled two DVD’s, and produced her own “self-suffi ciency” record label Righteous Babe Records, within the last fi fteen years.

DiFranco is possibly best known for her independent sound of “folk punk” mixed with jazzy funk undertones.

DiFranco’s latest collection “Knuckle Down,” consists of twelve heart-wrenching lyrical tales of truth and mortifi cation, explicitly displaying her personal struggles of acceptance, her mature path of self-righteousness,

Difranco tells tales of truth on new CD

BY ANNA LOUSTAUNAU

What sounds like the ultimate strength though, becomes a weakness. It’s almost too much of a good thing.

Eventually, halfway through, one starts to suspect that drummer Yesod Williams is playing the exact same drum beats and fi lls in EVERY DAMN SONG. Also, every song seems to be about getting high, having sex or getting high and having sex at the same time.

Also weak are the songs themselves, they don t have consistently strong melodies, especially the pre- In With The Old material.

However, two songs from their latest album bode well for future songwriting efforts.

During “Ashes” and “Love Affair,” the band fi nally fi nds songs worthy of its abundant attitude. If anything, this release is a sign that Pepper’s best days are not yet here. However, if one can look past the constant and annoying references to punami (some kind of slang for female genitalia) then this might still be an enjoyable time-killer DVD.

and her heart, all beneath the surface of engaging guitar tunes.

Incorporating pieces of her acknowledged bisexual identity and tidbits of her private sorrows, Difranco has managed to nail another successful album into her discography. Though the tunes tend to be a bit repetitive on occasion, “Knuckle Down” hits the spot for comforting women in times of need, cleansing biased individuals, or as just a friendly fi reside companion.

With fancy packaging, a booklet of lyrics, and an inspiriting CD, Difranco’s “Knuckle Down” is an excellent folk addition to successes Beth Orton and Bonnie Raitt and a great gift idea for free-thinking females.