22 — Friday, Ncvember 5, 1999 — North Shore News gether again CSNY te Michael Becker News Editor 8 **&& *&* Crosby Stills Nash & Young — Looking Forward (Reprise 1999 CDW 47436) Music cate- gory: Woodstock Empire strikes back. CSNY stand on their truth one more time to blend sweet harmonies, albeit with voices somewhat tempered by the demands of living. All four have penned tunes for this project. “Out of Control,” a lovely lire love song played live by Young when he toured solo earlier this year, shows up on this disc. In his lyrics, Stephen Stills reveals himself alternately a master of hopefulness — the album opener “Faith In Mc” -— and caustic moral outrage ~— “Seen Enough.” For those old enough to remember the moments when this craggy super group was more immediately rele- vant, Looking Forward is a supersonic warm fuzzy. Those young enough to be caught up in the hype of 1960s retro-cool and the hip, ippy esprit de corps ed by CSINY will find an engaging set of songs with honest and unflinching lyrics to chew on and anthemic riffs to groove on. rte Meat Loaf — VHI Storytellers (Beyond /BMG 1999 63985-78065-2) Music category: Bat in hell. Mr. Loaf remains all revved up with no place to go. He has made an on- again, off-again, on-again career by elevating circa- 1958s rock ’n? roll into the realm of grand rock-opera pesture. Much like a fire-and- rimstone gospei preacher on top of his game, the Loafster’s continued appeal lics in. theatrical excess and full-on conviction in delivery. The treubling thing is that he remains locked into the character he first came to us as: the doomed greaser rocker Eddic, of Rocky ‘Horror Picture Show fare. ‘And so we get another trot- _ ting out of the songs his fans won’t let him let go of — “Paradise By The Dashboard ‘Light,” “I'd Do Anything Fou Love”... you know the rill. B &kxkxk David Bowie — Hozers... (Virgin Records 1999 7243 8 48157 07) Music category: Thin white duke makes like the last of the dreamers. Flash: One of pop’s rich- est, proves himself an adept evber-huckster, Ground control to Major Sales! Embedded upon Hours... is a flashy Net con- nection straight to for “exclusive access to David “be awo OF : and full, uncensored access to the Internet.” Read the fine priat to learn thar “a m credit card or checki account” is required for entry to BowieNer. his last CD in favour of more dreamy mid-tempo fare and nads to the eriod. The fabulous K Gabrels joins Bowie again on guitar and as song co-writer to kick out many wicked licks. S x &xx* Eurythmics — Peace (BMG 1999 74321695622) Music cate- gory: Pretty power pop. Ahhh, sweet dreams, the drought is over. Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart team up for another spin around and the results are winning. Let’s face it, Stewart's solo antics have been at best forgettable and at worst downright bizarre. He need- ed this onc. Lennox, who still has one of the best voices in the busi- ness and who in my humble prediction will go down in pop history as one of British pop’s best of the century (right along with Dusty Springfield), is in fuil flight. The arrangements on much of this disc have an ele- gance and spirit more remi- niscent ofa good Kirsty MacColl CD than a vintage Eurythmics outing. NEWS photo Jule iverson NORTH Van composer-performer Jay Knutson will host a free songwriters’ work- shop funded by the North Shore Arte Commission, Nov. 13 at Presentation House. ongwriting workshop a A panel of musicians will offer aspir- ing artists insight into the music industry at a weekend songwriting workshop Nov. 13. “The whole idea is that we'll be able to explore the different approaches because every- one has different ways of exercising the muse,” says Knutson, a North Vancouver-based com- poser/perfurmer whose credits include writing and recording with Spirit of the West, Connie Kaldor and Hart Rouge. Knutson is heading up the North Shore Songwriters’ workshop Nov. 13. The workshop is funded by the North Shore Arts Commission. It rakes place Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. ar Presentation House, located at Third and Chesterfield in North Vancouver. Knutson will sit on a panel with other members of the local music industry. Panel members will include Oasis recording artist Geoff Gibbons, recording artist and North Shore resident Shawn Carle, song- writer/producer and organizer of Bluebird All frames are up to 50” off with complete pair purchase (frame & lens). Includes all your favourite designer and = brand names. No other discounts apply. Expites 11/27/99. Ask for details. ms for inf rmality North Ron Irving and Terry O’Brien, former general manager of BMG Publishing Canada. Topics addressed will range from song structure and analysis, to advice in publishing, recording and marketing, but the emphasis will be on making “better music,” says Knutson, who encourages youths as well as adults to take part in the three-hour workshop. “Essentially what we're trying to do is make ic a hands-on approach to songwriting and do it in an informal setting,” adds the performer. Knutson released his third solo album, Throngh These Windotes, last year. In addition te pe forming with his own band, The Last Family, Knutson is working with Celtic folk artist Maura Hagan and French-Canadian performer Josce Lajoic on their new albums. The Last Family will perform a benetit concert for the North Shore Celtic Ensemble the evening of - Nov. 13 at Presentation House. . Satur workshop is free of charge, but space is limited so reservations are being taken through the arts commission at 980-3559. —~ Layne Christensen London Optical 145 East 13th Street, 981-0400 Park Royal South, 925-3470 wwnw.tondon-hale.com :