Bottomiey out of the box THE title of singer-songwriter John Boitomley’s fourth solo album is a fitting one for the 11- track effort. Raggle taggle, the phrase, is the long form of ragtag, mean- ing that which is of the common people. Raggle Taggie, the album, is an eclectic union of various song styles, from the straight ahead, balls out opening cut Panie Wreck, co the Celtic- fuelled Fury of the Funnel, to the organ overtone of the velvety smooth Ob My Love, the first sin- gle off the album. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of sceing this The essential “1. John Bottomley Omamental Hermits 992) Q Library of the Sun (990) Q oye At CBGB’S U crea Fish 19Ss)* ; Ve 3 member of the Toronto-baied band Tulpa no further than the fact Canadian musician perform at the Portside Room on the North Vencouver waterfront, you’re well aware of his work- manlike manner and masterful song construction. (If you [i haven’r had the pleasure, & check him out tonight at the great North Vancouver venue on the main fevel of the Seven Seas Restaurant). Bottomley, a Vancouver resi- dent for the past cight years, says that Raggle Taggle represents a “coming out of the box.” He thinks about this for a second, rolls it around in his head, and smiles. “Yeah, I like that. Out of the box,” he says in his oh-so-laid-back manner. His first three solo albums were com- pleted under contract .with a large record company, a relationship he ter- minated following the completion ef Raggle Taggle. “1 felt they weren’t getting behind me enough once the records were out there,” says Bottomley of the company. To support that claim, one need look at a track off his last album was among, SOCAN’s top 10 most broadcast songs in the country in 1996. Yet his profile continues to languish. The 37-year-old musician first found success with the band Tulpa, a Toronto-based group that toured exten- sively in ei te Ce Pere eee oe ee i ar ate eeee ntario and New York. mae NEWS photo Cindy Goodman MUSICIAN John Bottomfey will perform cuts from his new album Raggle Tacgie tonight at the Portside Room. “After a while though I got tired of the group thing, and decided to move to Vancouver and start a solo career,” he says of his move to the coast. In 1993 he was a JUNO nominee in the most promising male category. Raggle Taggle will be sold at gigs supporting the album, at selected record stores and through his newly- acquired manager, North Vancouver’s Umeeda Switlo, a longtime fan of Bottomley’s music and the owner of the Vancouver-based CBO Ticket Sales. With regards his “out-of-the-box” phrase, Bottomley intends it to be taken both literally and figuratively. “J felt pretty confined in the record company ‘box’,” he says, holding his hands on either side of his face. “And the «vay I’m approaching the marketing side of this album is more like the great independent thing that’s been hap- pening the past few years.” My only complaint with Raggle Taggle is that it does- n’t have lyrics in the liner notes. (I could have sworn I heard the line “laughin’ leprechaun eating stew” on one track, but without a lyric sheet one can’t be sure). To find out for yourself, hop on board the Portside Room tonight to catch John Bottomley in action. © 100's of piaducts on display ‘98 equipment & fashions le © mountain resorts © Canada’s #1 Swap ‘n Sole » first-timer packages » fashion shows * vocotion real estate « winier adventures New this year * live bands daily © sports actien zone + women’s equipment specialist « silent auction For event details and how to sell your equipment cali the f 624 HOUR HOTLINE (604) 878-0557 LIVE www.skiandboardshow.com ~~ areas eae ety FRIDAY Joleny Ferzaieo &The Swing Modine [a SATURDAY Molkes R EBANDS son vesosace” eae vt Soe ee ead Cee a wane Friday, October 17, 3997 — North Shore News — 23 Video games: Sinister play in Goldencye 007 in the Nintendo 64 A true first-person, action/adventure gem. An extravaganza eerie in its realism, Goldeneye is less gory than a compatriot like, say, Turok, yet there is something much more sin- ister about the gameplay. More than a PG Hollywood hero, you are Tan Flemming’'s 007, the stealthy assassin. Sneak up behind an innocent bad gay and cap him in the back of the head with your silenced PP7. Take out an unsuspecting fool at a thousand paces with your trusty, power-scoped sniper rifle. There are, of course, a few less subtle weapons to choose from in a multitude of levels, like tanks and auto- matic shot guns. Just as you become giddy with the dhrilling violence of it all, some clever and intuitive strate- gies are required, like who NOT to kill and which comput- er to leave intact. Also included is an awesome, split screen, head-to-head mode. Have a ball blasting the living tar out of a friend or three. Intense, spooky and enthralling, Goldeneye is raced for ages 13 and up. Thirteen, as we all know, is the age we become desensitized. Excelient rental. Great purchase. Final Fantasy VII on the Playstation An epic RPG spanning three discs, total geeks can look forward to at least 50 hours of gameplay — 10 times that for those of us less adept or easily confused. If you've seen the splashy ads on TV, don't be fooled, a lot of gameplay is traditional Anime. Either way, playing and watching the story unfold through those tremendous segues is exquisite eye candy. The graphics are top notch, the combat engine complex yet nearly dawless. There is simply too much going on to mention in one review! FF VIL is totally engrossing with its sometimes- adule themes, situations and dialogue (typically cheesy dia- logue, that is). Truth be known, I don't even like RPGs bur I dislike this one the least. Besides, even if I didn't recommend this puppy, you'd grab it anyway — FF VII sales are through the roof! Go get lost. Miss a week from school or work. This is THE RPG of the day, also rated 13 plus. Ok rental {because you can't finish it in one sitting). Great purchase. Psst... Hey Bud? Would you like to buy a code? Check out the new show “Electric Playground” this Sunday at 4:30 oa KVOS for more on the Goldencye saga. Top 5 Rentals 1. Goldencye 007 (N64) 2. NHL '98 (Psx 3. NHL Face-off '98 (Psx) 4. Top Gear Rally (N64) 5. Mischief Maker (N64) (Top 5 rentals at Wiliow Video Games in the Park & Tilford Shopping) — Shaun Conlin Tarot cards: The alchemist Alchemists of the = Sh Middle Ages worked : painstakingly to pro- duce an elixir, a univer- sal solvent to trans- mute base metals into gold, the most coveted mietal on earth. Today modem alchemist employ metaphors of fire to describe the process of “soul- making”. Humankind's necessity to temper the inner fires or martial qualities in order to create a spiritual or holistic world view. ‘Tarot relays this epic work in Art. Observe the melding of opposites, one face black, one white conjoined by a com- mon tool,the hands. Our figure pours liquids and fire together into his “her cauldron creating the nectar of eter- nal mortality. Art governed by Sagittarius and Artemis, Goddess of Hunt and Moon points her arrows upward to fashion the rainbow cape upon the shoulders of our alchemist. Her nuulti-breast- ed chest ailudes to the Great Mother or Isis, giver of lite. ‘The images of the red eagle and the white lian, their colors exchanged, symbolize our courage, strength, our soaring spirit and our divinity. These beasts stand on merging pools of water and fire, the alchemists’ uldmate accomplishment Ee TRUM When drawn Art cr Temperance (as known in other decks) speaks to your ability to manage, to combine, to successful- ly incorporate differing clements. Harmonizing opposing forces to create integration. Read the Latin inscription behind cur focused artist as she performs her work “Examine the inner realms of Eartiy by cleaning you wil find the hidden stone”, A formula from which we all can learn, For Info on Tarot call Diana E Warwick ar 926 9027 or email dwarwick@direct.ca.