Pogo Place

By SUMMER MENDOZA

"Whaa-waa, whaa-waa-waa-waah-wa-waa-wah," - every adult in the Charlie Brown cartoons.

The music scene has been pretty stagnant thus far in the year 2000, so once again, I get to talk about music that doesn't fit my column's usual style in the slightest bit.

This week I've spent a lot of listening hours on the new(er) CD by Macy Gray. On How Life Is, is a pretty interesting mix of funk, soul and even a little gospel thrown in for good measure.

Born in Ohio, the 29-year-old singer was originally too embarrassed of her raspy voice to even speak. However, shortly after she moved to California to study at USC, Gray found herself singing in a jazz band. She later hooked up with some friends, started writing music and eventually turned out the album that has her teamed with Arik Marshall, - one of many former Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarists, Lenny Castro - formerly of the Bay's infamous Tower Of Power, and Matt Chamberlain - who has been the back-up drummer for the likes of Tori Amos.

The music on Life is amazing. The first single is the track "Do Something," and the second is one of my favorite tracks, "I Try." Gray goes all over the map with both her lyrics and her arrangements, covering subjects from happier feelings like a crush, falling in love and glorifying God, to the weightier subjects of abusive relationships and even suicide.

The only real slow song is "Still," in which Gray talks about still being in love with an abusive boyfriend. The song starts with the lyrics "In my last years with him there were bruises on my face É " and goes on a little to explain the relationship, but Gray really hits her stride in the song when she breaks into the chorus.

My personal favorites on the album are "Moment to myself" - which is about working out all of your crap so you can move on and live a little, and "Caligula" - which is about having a huge crush on someone and feeling generally peachy.

Best of all, Macy Gray finds herself nominated for two Grammy's this year (so apparently those nomination folks aren't completely without taste) for Best RandB Female Vocalist and Best New Artist.

Summer's looking to cover some more local bands, so if you're in one, or know someone who is, give her a jingle or drop your tape/CD in The Santa Clara's office, Benson No. 13. Peace, love and Otter Pops!