|
| |
Adrian Belew - Side Three
- What’s in a name? In the 1970’s, budding star Robert Steven Belew, Ludlow High school Marching band drummer, and member of the Denems, a local Beatles cover band, decides to change his name to Adrian. Just because! And the rest is rock and roll history… well, o.k., maybe it took more than the name change. How about God-given talent?!! Let’s give the powers that be some credit for showering Adrian with the musical inclination that led to his chance discovery by Frank Zappa. About three decades, four cover bands and sixteen solo albums later, Belew, renowned producer and musician, has worked with the likes of David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, and Tori Amos and now launches “Side Three” his latest solo project.
The first series of sounds you’ll hear- the funky, scratchy background, the whirling, guitar instrumentals- evoke the curiosity and outer-worldliness of a friendly alien landing. Then Belew’s voice, distant and conversational, proceeds to enumerate the various problems he observes: “hip problems,” “arm trouble” and oh yes, “pocket trouble…” “Incompetence Indifference” inquires into the coldness of human nature, Belew’s ethereal singing voice bridging the half sung, half spoken verses and deep-throated, thundering chorus voice a vexed man on the receiving end of a non-responsive, automated world: “to continue to wait, press four… if you’d like to speak to a human being, we’re sorry, that service has been discontinued…”
Side Three continues with chaotic, yet deliberate instrumentals typical of a brilliant but ‘mad scientist- “Crunk,” “Men in Helicopters v. 4.0,” & “Beat Box Car” -and more of Belew’s lifting vocals floating above the colorful arrangements. Warning, not for the musically-closeted; and don’t try too hard to find it - there is no formula to Belew’s erratic creativity.
Reviewer: C. Lizaire
new
Reviewer's Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 7.86
Reader's Votes: 7
Added: 2-May-2006
Talk to other readers about this story.
|
|
|
|
|
