| Print Music Connection article, February 5, 1990 | |
|---|---|
| Publication | Music Connection |
| Published | February 5, 1990 |
| Author | Eric Niles |
| Format | |
| Associated concert | Zoom concert: 12/06/1989 |
| External link | Worldradiohistory.com |
| References | See where this article is referenced on Weezerpedia |
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CLUB REVIEWS The Players: Kevin Ridel, vocals; Rivers Cuomo, lead guitar; Michael Stanton, lead guitar; Justin Fisher, bass; Ron Osborne, drums. Material: Zoom's decidedly metal compositions hardly stand pat on clichéd metal tradition. While straightforwardly metal-minded at timas, the band heaves galloping Anthrax-conscious tempos and occasional kitschy Top Forty passages into the gumbo. This eve, snippets of R.E.M.'s "Pop Song '89" and "La Bamba" snuck their way into the set. More intense song-writing dues-paying to flush out some personality-less spots in some of the tunes would no doubt strengthen this band's repertoire. Musicianship: Zoom smartly emphasized the group philosophy as compared to individual exploits. Solos were played to highlight songs, not to elevate the players to hero status. No drum solos, no extended guitar solos, no bloated references to drugs. Pretty refreshing, eh? All could play and none of them bragged about it. You can't ask for a more secure bunch of lads than that. Performance: If Zoom were to be judged solely on performance, high scores would come screaming out of the sky like death eagles. These nutcases sprint across the stage like a brood of hyperactive orangutans. Head ape Ridel exudes the charisma and energy that trademarks Zoom, and he can actually sing not scream. Guitarists Cuomo and Stanton, as well, provide an animated backdrop. To boot, Cuomo parlayed a nasty accidental spill into a flashy maneuver. Summary: Not an attitude band, but a band with the right attitude. Zoom is a band unabashedly having a good time. It's not manufactured fun, it's not drug-induced fun, it's not approval-seeking fun. And ultimately, that's why the large early-bird crowd fell in love with the band. Regardless, just being fun is not exclusively the way to extricate oneself from the massive logjam of bands all fighting for a deal. If this band has the innards to stick around and give it a go, they should eclipse their share of lesser bands along the way by sheer good vibes alone. |