Heavy music bands have always been characterized by imagery that complements their music. Bands like Nine Inch Nails, Tool and Marilyn Manson are always portrayed with images of destruction, hurt and misery.
Then there's one of this year's main draws for Ozzfest - Coal Chamber. This is a band that wears all black clothes and black make-up and has multiple facial piercings, but they go on tour with a stage full of cute and cuddly soft toys. 
Soft Chamber rocks hard
Previews indicated that "I Went Down" would be an Irish "Trainspotting," complete with thick accents and dodgy underworld characters.
While these factors are present, "I Went Down" successfully travels beyond the boundaries of its apparent genre.
'Down' more than expected
Almost every time you see a video game advertisement on TV, in a magazine or on the web, the words "incredible (or amazing or any other adjective synonymous with 'really good') graphics" appear.
But what recent releases for the PC, Playstation or N64 don't have great graphics? It's like whenever Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino or Dustin Hoffman star in a movie. Of course critics are going to say they gave an "incredible performance." When don't they? Video game technology is now at the level that praise for graphics means very little.
'Of L & D' only has the looks
Chalk it up to bourgeois provincialism, but the first thing that must be said of Leavitt's latest novel, "The Page Turner," is that it is primarily a gay love story. But, of course, nothing that simple would still be praiseworthy.
Leavitt's main strength is that he has written a novel that is not content to just be a "shocking" gay love story. "The Page Turner" is not a coming-out story, but a coming-of-age story. It is not so much about orientation as aspiration and growth.
Leavitt's 'Page Turner' is ironically titled
It was logical to assume that there would be another Jerry Bruckheimer film out this summer. Last summer was "Con Air" and the summer before, "The Rock."
For this summer Bruckheimer has released the highly anticipated "Armaggedon,"- "Deep Impact" only with a giant meteor instead of a comet.Bruckheimer can't live up to past in 'Armageddon'
It may come as shock. After shelling out $49.95 and returning home ready to install the video game sequel "Redneck Rampage Rides Again," the install window appears with an admittedly hilarious "Yeehaw."
Then you click on the "Install" button, and the computer says it doesn't have 220 mb available on the hard drive.Game waste of time
The last time Ani Difranco came to Michigan, the unconstrained, staunchly feminist, self-made folksinger had acquired virtually no radio airplay throughout her seven years as a recording artist.
Last Monday at Meadowbrook, Ani returned a different woman, having recently tasted more fame than ever with the release of "Little Plastic Castle," which has been sneaking its way into the mainstream music scene over the past few months. Ani's altered career affected Monday's concert both positively and negatively.'Little' Ani plays big show
Monster Magnet shares one unquestionable trait with the Spice Girls. People in general either love the band or loath it.
But even if you loathe Monster Magnet, a part of you still shamefully envies the band. Don't get pulled in by Monster Magnet
"This is no apocalypse," reveals Girls Against Boys (GVSB) on its single, "Park Avenue." It's just "Freak*on*ica," the band's latest album of fierce songs.
It may not be the end of the world, but the album could very well be the end of the pop song as we know it.Girls and boys will love 'Freak'
07-06-98
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