Meat Loaf Michael Becker RECORD REVIEW EAT LOAF is back with a Bat sequel; Chas Bono debuts with petal power; Cracker crackles with second release. Meat Loaf — Bat Out Of Hell th: Back Into Hell, MCA Records 1993 Much was made of Queen's pi- oneering operatic rock dabblings, but the big guy with the ground ‘beef moniker and Jim Steinman, the man who spiced the Meat Loaf to record-breaking perfection when the bats left hell the first time around, have again realized the terrifically trashy power of the genre with this extravaganza. Bombastic production, grand themes and soaring vocal delivery courtesy of Meat Loaf’s finely fettl- ed pipes, make for much fun. The Meat Loaf shanks are slenderized due to a demanding touring schedule working ‘‘the best show in the world.” Bat Out Of Hell II is intensive theatrical energy and touches ail emotional bases. Best of the many cornball senti- ments Steinman specializes in: “Life is a lemon and | want my money back!’ Steinman and the Loafster have set themselves a lofty challenge in attempting to better the success of 1977's Bat Out Of Hell. It has sold 25 million copies, has neid a spot on the U.K. charts continually since 1978 and ranks a mention in . the Guinness Book of World Re- and time to bring the warmth of beautiful woods insic yr yf é bn Photo Michael Halsband MEAT LOAF'S 1977 recording Bat Out Of Hell has sold 25 million copies worldwide. cords as the longest charting re- cord ever. Ceremony — Hang Out Your Po- etry, Geffen Records 1993 In the beginning there were the Beatles and it was very good. Time passed and the Beatles begat Electric Light Orchestra and it was sometimes good. ELO begat Travelling Wilburys and it was somewhat lame but good enough for those nostalgically inclined. A calculated exercise in pop morphogenesis brings us Sonny and Cher’s daughter Chastity Bono fronting a group begotten while the getting is good. Ceremony waves insistently a rehydrated bouquet of sunny GOs petal-powered goodness. Strings, sitar and fluty flourishes © add busy baroque substance to the bouncy tunes permeating this overly earnest free-spirited debut. Chastity, or Chas as she is now known, joins Chance for a double hit of complementary harmony. “Chas is the more optimistic, romantic side of the team with Chance the more extreme and in- tense,’’ so says the MCA publicity department bumf. Chas thankfully sounds nothing like her father and a little like her mother. Cracker — Kerosene Hat, Virgin 4993 Ex-Camper Vari Beethoven cre- ative force David Lowery is com- See Cracker page 41 le your home - pecan, cherry, and country casual designs. And best of all... theyre red sale tagged! mahogany, oak, ash, maple. Contemporary, tradidonal, | alll ll NO monthly payments... NO interest... asmall deposit... NO payment until February ‘94 .. O.A.C.... and Monarch will also