November 6, 2002 CD Reviews Lifehouse Stanley Climbfall The Shining True Skies Culture Jennifer Thompson OP Contributor As I popped the new Lifehouse CD in my stereo, I hoped it would be a little more full of life than their last attempt. Needless to say, my hopes were shattered as Stanley Climbfall trudged, song after song, through the mel- lowest of hard-rock-wannabe guitar riffs, the same boring rock drum beat, sped up, or slowed down according to the mood of the song, and the most basic bass lines ever. The band made a smart move by releasing “spin” as their first single, it being the only song I could listen to without being distracted by the littlest things—oh goody! I just found a shiny distraction. The name of the CD, Stanley Climbfall, as well as the title track, seems to be a drunken slur of the phrase repeated in the song “Stand, climb and fall.” This song Justin Ray OP Contributor Punchy guitar riffs, anthem lyrics, and a sound you can smell: three integral ingredients for making classics- inspired hard rock. Members of The Shining have the right inventory. Although seeming to have emerged from nowhere, the quintet features Simon Tong and Simon Jones of The Verve fame. Having renowned producer Youth (Verve, Orb, U2) on board doesn’t hurt either. Their efforts combine for an inspirational debut in True Skies...even if Brit-rock isn’t your cup of tea. At first listen, you might think that The Shining has accomplished nothing new: catchy grooves, broody moods, so what? Listen again. The magic of True Skies—and it does verge on the supernatural according to bassist Jones—is not its originality, but its eminent the other press happens to be the most triumphant get-back-on-your- feet song of the CD. But it still couldn't keep my attention. At its best, it reminds me of all the Christian “rock” I used to listen to. Music so simple it gives the musi- cians the appearance of being unable to hold their instruments correctly, never mind play them, and lyrics put together into a sloppy metaphor about something “bigger” than our fragile little minds can wrap around. I can’t be all negative though, at least it’s good back- ground music at work. I just won't mention that it gets drowned out by the blaring rap music of Athletes World and lost shoppers asking for directions to Wal- mart or London Drugs. reinterpretation of the past. During the lengthy trac “Until The End,” the subtly cascading layers of guitar, bass and keyboards eventually threaten to envelop one’ in quiet, harmonic bliss. The Shining also blind you with loud dynamic riffs and irresistible drumbeats that hook into your sides and won't let go until the ver end. Lyrically, the album runs the gamut of sentimen- tal retrospection and contemplation, but without the| ostentation: shown by the egomaniacal Gallaghe brothers (of Oasis notoriety). If in mourning over the break-ups of great “classi rock” bands like Kula Shaker and The Verve, The Shining can be a great consolation. Time to stomp al over your Morning Glories; True Skies are here! STC Conference Announcement ShapeShifters—the Region 7 conference hosted by STC’s Canada West Coast chapter—is happening November 7-9, 2002, at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver, BC Our conference manager, Rahel Bailie, who is the newly-elected Director-Sponsor for the region, invites you to join us for this special event. Our theme: ShapeShifters—new roles, new tools, new challenges, has already sparked interest. We received over 100 proposal ideas, guaranteeing a wide range of sessions to choose from, and we snared an engaging keynote speaker—Jared Spool, the usability guru. Go to our conference website at for Program and Registration information and the latest conference news. We have already conducted a straw poll to learn which session topics interest you most, so we can be sure to arrange space efficiently. The technical communication field is evolving and a regional conference is just the place to discover the new ideas that are bound to change the way we approach our world of work. But Vancouver is also a great place to play. Plan to spend some time enjoying the scenery, exploring our parks and trails out- doors, and the art of our region indoors, for instance, at the UBC Museum of Anthropology. You're going to appreciate our venue: the new, classy Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel, which offers state-of-the-art facilities at reasonable rates, and an unbeat- able exchange rate for the US dollar. In the spirit of ShapeShifters, shed your old assumptions about the way we work today. Share your ideas and gain new insights as you participate in our enjoyable and stimulating retreat. Be a part of the new shape of things to come. For more information, contact: Rahel Bailie, rahelab@ureach.com © page 10