Culture - the other press CD Review Outside Inside by The String Cheese Incident Tom Mellish OP Contributor It’s been nearly three years since The String Cheese Incident released their fourth studio album of road-tested tunes. That was Round the Wheel on their SCI-Fi record label. The latest, Outside Inside, was recorded in Austin, Texas under the guiding hand of Los Lobos/Tragically Hip producer Steve Berlin. Great jam bands can sometimes suffer when out of their natural habitat. This much anticipated studio album is truly a high point for The String Cheese Incident. On this studio album, in contrast to their live “On the Road” series, there is better acoustics, miking— namely on the voices. All is much clearer and the sound quality is good. The mix is well handled and studio effects controlled. The Outside Inside deficient is in the dynamic range, with little difference between the loud and soft passages. The String Cheese Incedent blows its load with a magnificent open- ing. The title track wafts, shows the influence of the mother of all jam bands, the Grateful Dead, and then pulls back into its eccentric shell. The funky, side walking of “Joyful Sound” by bassist Moseley fol- lows more of the unexpected. With rap-like vocals, and humble lyrics, with track’s mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation, the result is a pleasant surprise. On the third track, Kyle Hollingsworth invites the listener to close their eyes and look inside. With its slide guitar and piano, it shares the story-telling/parables of those who know truths. The impetus pretty much goes out of the album after the third song. The funky riff and audacious funk horn lines of special guests Karl Denson and Andy Cleaves on “Black and White” bubble up the scat. The effects-laden vocals burn through the heavy funky blues track “Sing a New Song”. The instrumental “Latinissmo” takes up the Latin groove the group is known for. While it begins as a surprisingly sedate instrumental duet of piano and guitar, at an almost romantic pace, the salsa heats up for an eerie Kang violin solo. Next, I thought for sure the musical raft was making its way through a Caribbean departure with “Search”. Then, melodic with a tightly planned organization, “Drifting”, by Bill Nershi, with intro- spective swirling currents winding me downstream. They explore jazz, most obviously with the instrumental “Drifting”. The blues wrangling of “Lost” is another piece with fine moments. Lots of great acoustic guitar work by co-writer Bill Nershi. The lyrics of the sluggish ninth track, “Sing a New Song”, seem out of sync with the music. The rock steady riff in the chorus of “Rollover” offsets the dusky verses. It is in the eleven minute version of “Rollover” that the band’s clarity gets lost and monotonous, to emerge into the last track. The album ends with the style in which The String Cheese Incident started—bluegrass. “Up the Canyon” is a typical homesick bluegrass song. The String Cheese Incident pours out their spirit through their trademark Poliethnic-Funkified-Afro-Jazzadelic- Bluegrass. I think kids will love this album; it has heart and is child- like. It asks more that you let go rather than try to grasp; have a good time, and don't look too hard. Enjoy. Go to for liquid audio, mp3 single, or Quicktime. Also to download mp3s and tour dates. Do you look between 18-237 Are you full of personality’? Do you skateboard in the summer, snowboard inthe winter, and change yourhair colour as often as your undenwear? Do you consider cartoons to be high art, and computer games high culture? if you're articulate with a unique point of view, if you'm someone who can think on their feet and lowes to improvise, we want to hearfrom you. Please send us a photofresume, put yourself on wideo tape and send us all your cool deets by Nov. 5, 2002 to: Human Resources, Corus Entertainmert, 23 Fraser Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, MBK 17 Corrs Evertalame itt aCaradiaa-bare d me dia aad enteral mest compary ard a market Radter Ib bots Raid mdSpectaty Tv. Cores Esteralimest aio owes Meluasa, one Of the workls kadleg aiimation prodice additbror, asd tas itrest hm isk, pabliching aad adue rt ing. Cors Eve rtahme ate a eqval opportuni employer. fOruUs OTM Ee NY October 23, 2002 o D eat tres Big in Size, Not in Fat. ANY FOOT- $1.00 OFF SUB Big in Size, SUB Not in Fat. ANY FOOT- Limit: One coupon per SUBWAY, “EE 74 - 84th Street New Westminster (In front of Douglas College) Not valid with any other coupons, Tel: 522-7823 es promotions or Fax: 517-8795 eat fr meal deals SOK ASAE Wig page 11 ©