| Mike Keneally Band [message #283540] |
Do, 22 Juni 2006 06:20 |
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http://www.chattanoogapulse.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/06/ 21/449852928847d
Guitar Therapy Live
(Exowax)
Frank Zappa once referred to Mike Keneally as "the best new guy I
ever had in the band." Keneally played in Zappa's last touring band
in 1988, and when personality conflicts caused that band to implode, he
embarked on a solo career using Zappa as a model of how creative and
adventurous a musician can be.
As engaging and accomplished as they were, Keneally's earlier solo
albums stayed somewhat close to the Zappafied rock vibe. He's mixed
things up a bit in recent years, however. 2001's acoustic and
gorgeous Wooden Smoke caused XTC's Andy Partridge to ask, "How many
people do you know who can make a CD sound hand-carved?" 2004's Dog
was a ruthless collection of thinking man's rock. He described his
other release that year, The Universe Will Provide, as "a
collaboration between me and my eight-year-old self." In actuality,
Keneally collaborated with the 50-plus-piece Metropole Orkest (also
featured on a new Elvis Costello disc) to present some of his far-out,
often rock-leaning orchestral works.
While a bit of a throwback, Guitar Therapy Live-featuring Brian
Beller (Bass), Rick Musallam (guitar) and Joe Travers
(drums)-revisits most of Keneally's previous musical eras with
renewed vigor. And loudness. It's almost an unfair collection,
really. Recorded over three nights last year, the performances on
Guitar Therapy Live are dominated by, as the title suggests, guitar.
But not your typical hair band guitar wonkery. For as many notes as
Keneally and Co. play, they play them in almost as many styles and
feels as is humanly possible. This band has forgotten more music than
your typical indie rock flavor of the month will ever know, and they
execute their knowledge with not only depth and virtuosity, but
accessibility and a lack of pretension (see: fun) that many of their
lesser competitors could learn a thing or two from.
Among the highlights: "Panda" is slick, breezy, back alley funk.
"Lightnin' Roy" is a punchy, Van Halen-esque instrumental romp
that eventually collapses in pile of heavy metal bluegrass. Not getting
too big for your britches is at the heart of the rocking "Pride Is a
Sin," while Smoke's "Machupicchu" comes off just as pretty as
the original. If "Uglytown" had any more hooks, it would be
catching fish, while "Voyage to Manhood" pays a power chord homage
to Christopher Cross before relating the excitement of throwing
coasters at a ceiling fan. Oh, and the liner notes are hilarious.
Sometimes it's great to sit back and be blown away by the sounds of
great players playing great. Yes, guitar therapy, indeed
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