16 - North Shore News - Friday, May 19, 2000 From Page 13 ok than 200 artists and groups with critics” picks for each entry. Categories on Rock/Pop, Jazz, American Roots/World, Classical and Great Records Not to Miss are arranged in alphabetical order. Like the best music ref: erence works (Penguin Jacs, Trouser Press, Rengh Guides) the know: ledgeable and enter- taining writing will be of value for years to come. Everything you wanted to know about music in the Pacific Northwest? Not quite, but a fantastic effort never the less, This is the first edition of the work which should receive updates every couple of years to keep it current and correct oversights. Just browsing through one notices gaps, such as no Death Cab for Cutie, Art Lande, or Clinton Fearon to name a few. You could also make an argument for including Vancouver in future surveys of the region. Criticisms are nitpicking though — what's here is pure gold. Essential reading. @ kkk k& Death Cab for Cutie — We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (Barsuk Records). The marvelous Death Cab for Cutie return with more songs about heartache and Kerouac. They got their name from . aBonzo Dog Doo Da Band ack heard, near the end of the Beatles’ Magigal Mygery Tour TV special. The sinter tag is a bit of a red herring as their sound is nothing to be aftaid of, oy ‘ { Ben Gibbard’s indie pop angst is plaved out with sub- lime restraint by his Bellingham quartet. Band mate Chris Walla again han- dles the production as he did on last vear’s debut Somerhing About Airplanes, Untortunateiy Death Cab for Cutie’s world doesn’t include Vancouver as they have never made it this far north but hopefully thar could change later this sum- mer. They play Seattle’s Showbox on Jung 2 and the Showoff Gallery in Bellingham on June 6. B xxx Lois Maffeo & Brendan Canty — The Union Themes (Kill Rock Stars). Brendan Canty, drummer with the legendary D.C. punk band Fugazi, worked on demos with Lois Maffeo in his basement studio over a three- year period before recording Sce Ristgrrrls Page 20 on scene pure gold Smith’s creative punch Bo xxx Elliott Smith — Figure 8 (2000 SKG Music/Universal) It’s not enough that Smith spins swirling pop melodies. He packs a one-two creative punch with con- fessional, insightful lyrics as well. He has been described as Mary Lou Lord's “quiet friend.” At one stage of his life he considered being a firefighter rather thar: {9.r the exhibitionistic challenges of performing. He of Fyodor Dostoyevsky and is particularly taken the author’s Notes fram Underground. Like Dostoyevsky, Smith has a soft spot for characters tuled by contradictory impulses. Smith once fronted Portland’s Heauniser, folk-rock- ers some people iumped into the West Coast crop of grunge bands. His solo work is elegant and hauntingly melancholic. What he does is out of step with most of the commercial crap that passes for pop music right now and is miles ahead of the many bleating singer-songwriters who find success with much less talent. This makes him quite a good thing. Smith plays the Commodore June 2. — Michael Becker Win Elliott Smith's Figure 8 Ettiott Smith, began his solo career with the Kili Rock Stars tabet after the mid-"90s demise of his Portland indie band Heatmiser. Several critically-acciaimed albums later he is touring on the strength of his second release for Universa/DreamWorks Figure 8 To win a copy of his latest CD tell us the name of another Pacific Northwest artist. Send your entries to Elliott Smith Contest, North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2H4. Attn: John Goodman. You can fax entries 10 985-2104 or e-mail to . Deadline tor the contest is Werinesday, May 24, 5 p.m. Winners will de telephoned. COs courtesy Universal Music. Toni Braxton, Mighty Mighty Bosstones winners The following readers win copies of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones CD Pay Attention. Amanda and Greg Peters, Erin O'Byme, and Laura Vittery. These readers win copies of Toni Braxton’s new CD The Heat. Mariko Motohashi, Camille Lipsey, Charles Wheater, Gillian Chant and Deborah Younge. ‘alebratioh of the arts. 9 creative a _e% off energy bars savingumoney.com. Coupons for just about anything a parent needs. Print them out. Then save at stores in your neighbourhood. NUTRITION CLINIC SAFEWAY (4) PHARauc 5385 Headland Drive, West Vancouver * Caulfeild Village « Thursday, May 25, 1 1 ait - 3 p.tt. Nutrition and Diet Counselling by a Registered Dietician. What food labels really say. What is cholesterol? Shop smart, cook smart, eat smart and be healthy. 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