ENTERTAINTMENT

Bloc Party's Smart Debut CD Remixed
Richard Carter | For the Wichitan

First listens to a new CD normally elicit some straightforward response along the basic lines of like, dislike, ok or “kind of alright.”
It’s in additional listens that music lovers come to appreciate what’s going on with an album and whether it’s a keeper or not.
Sometimes, we can love a CD right off the bat, and can be bored with it by the third listen. Other times, a CD will start to sound all right and then get a
little better, or really grow on us, with repeated plays.
That said, years later I’m still trying to decide on Metallica. Although, Swedish death metal is out.
There are times, though, that the proverbial wrench can upset the apple cart.
A favorite album you think you know can be turned upside down, inside out and pretty much all over the place from any number of directions.
What happens to a record when other bands re-record or remix it?
One of my favorite records to be released over the last year is the debut CD, “Silent Alarm,” by Bloc Party.
 The CD thrives on a smart, hi-energy rhythm section, slashing guitars reminiscent of early post-punk and vocals by a guy who sings like he means
it.
(Listen to U2’s first album “Boy,” and that’s kind of what Bloc Party would have sounded like back in 1980.)
 Bloc Party’s “Silent Alarm” is an utter treat of a CD, and is probably the one recent album that all of the musical snobs I know can say they like.
That said, less than a year later, 13 bands—who Bloc Party have said they like—have each remixed one song on “Silent Alarm.”
 “Silent Alarm Remixed,” is a fun, and also worthwhile because it intriguingly re-conceptualizes some already good tunes.
Opening with “Like Easting Glass,” remixed by Ladytron--an early ‘80s synth quartet—the hyper aggressive original is drenched in meandering keyboard
lines, with the vocals drowned in reverb.
 The result is a more psychedelic slower dance tune, with room for slower strobes. As good as the original is, the new version is also good, and it shows what the song (and band) can also be.
 Additional mixes by Death From Above 1979, Mogwai and Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) re-envision, re-cloth and/or re-plan other Bloc Party tunes.
 As a result, the music on “Silent Alarm Remixed” is intriguing for people who enjoyed “Silent Alarm.” And the remix CD succeeds in altering the way
we hear the original album, from many points of view.
 For better or worse, and to me it's better, the remix album gives listeners as many as 15 different versions of “Silent Alarm” to ponder.
That number includes the original and the remix album. And then the 13 imaginary records that listeners can mentally make by extrapolating each
band’s singular impression of a song on “Silent Alarm Remixed” to create a 13 song version of “Silent Alarm” by that particular band.
You’ll have to consider those 13 latter albums on your own. The first two versions, already on CD, are clearly worth getting to know.

The Bloc Party remix CD was loaned for review by Hastings on Southwest Pkwy and Kemp Blvd. Call 696-8029.

Voices accepting student Work until November 18
Christian McPhate | Staff Reporter

Calling all artists, poets, and writers it’s that time of year again. Voices, an MSU Arts publication, is now accepting submissions for creative works done by MSU students.
Voices is a free yearly publication that comes out in the spring. The Voices publication is funded by the Student Allocation Committee. Entries are judged by a blind jury consisting of faculty and students. In March, a list of works accepted for publication will be posted outside Bea Wood 216.
 Voices was first published back in the late 60’s, Dr. Jim Hoggard was a pivotal figure with the launching of Voices. He served as an advisor for the publication for many years.
Sue Henson has been serving as an advisor for 2 years and she is exited about this year’s issue. “It is a forum for creative expression,” said Henson, “it is really nice to have a record of what students are thinking and feeling.”
“There are no specific guidelines for appropriate material other than just one; since it does go to high schools, we want to be sensitive to that,” Henson said.
Henson explained that every year there is a High School Poetry/Prose contest. They select the best  work and publish the winners in the back of  Voices.
“It’s a nice outreach to the community. It gives high school students a chance to see what goes on here, kind of a good recruiting tool for us,” said Henson.
It is now easier for students to access information about the rules via the Voices website. In addition, a cover sheet for submissions is now available to download on the website. Henson said that they have energetic and creative people working on doing new things for the Voices website. For instance, the creative team is currently working on adding an archives link on the web site, enabling students’ access to past issues of Voices on a PDF file.
Elizabeth Hawley, editor of Voices, said that this year’s issue will be dedicated to N. Scott Mommaday, Native American poet, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, playwright, painter, story teller, and Professor of English and American literature. He will be a guest of the Artist Lecture Series on Friday, November 18 in Akin auditorium.
 “This year, we are really trying to work more closely with the Journalism department,” Henson said, “Columns, Editorials and all kinds of pieces that’s really good expression as well.” 
She goes on to explain that it’s not simply creative; it can be factual reporting and essay analysis that’s submitted. Henson is hoping to submit this issue of Voices to the National Press Association Competition.
So, students dust off your most original creative or non-creative works for the last day to submit is November18. You can submit your works via the website www.voices@mwsu.edu or you can drop a hard copy of your work by Bea Wood room 216.