Masque, Vernon Reid - Other True Self
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Free Music Notes for Other True Self
Free Music Review: Vernon Reid is my Favorite Guitarist!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Ok....I have been a huge fan of Living Colour since I was a senoir in High School and I just saw Vernon Reid's solo show last year in London and I was blown away. I love this new album. He even does a cover of Radiohead's "National Anthem." It's really a great cd to have and he puts on an equally great live show.Free Music Review: Intriguing blend.
Hit: 4 Stars
"Other True Self" is the third effort by Vernon Reid's Masque, a band that seems to be an attempt by the guitarist to provide a sense of unity to the stew that is his musical pedigree, from his early days as guitarist for Ronald Shannon Jackson's avant-garde free funk band the Decoding Society to his commercially successful efforts as guitarist for Living Colour and in between. The music is all instrumental, but this isn't Living Colour without a vocalist, it leans heavily on improvisation, but it isn't jazz. It's really quite a unique stew that Reid has conjured up, and it's worth a listen.
Supported by keyboardist Leon Gruenbaum (whom Reid described as a "genius"), bassit Hank Schroy and drummer Don McKenzie, Redi moves between originals and eclectic covers (jazz giant Tony Williams, Radiohead and Depeche Mode all get readings here) backed up by superb playing from all members of his quartet. The band is clearly a feature for the guitarist-- although he lives off subtlety and careful performance more than he does with Living Colur ("Prof. Bebey")-- this isn't to imply there's not a share of fierce playing here ("Game is Rigged"), but rather that Reid seems more focused on melody and style than usual. Still, even with Reid as focus, the rest of the band gets a fine opportunity to shine, particularly Greunbaum, although I find his keyboards to occasionally drift out of my tastes at times (he occasionally reaches for the Keith Emerson-esque explosion).
At it's best, the album is everything from excited, powerful pounding metal with totally unexpected and bizarre solos ("Game is Rigged") or delicate Carribbean melodies ("Flatbush and Church Revisited") or dribbly and laid back ("G") or abstract and quiet to the point of near-ambient ("Kizzy") or angular and explosive ("Whiteface"). In the end, there is no coherent sound, but it all holds together nicely and feels like a concrete statement-- sometimes when reaching in different directions, albums can feel fractured and difficult to understand, but this one holds together.
It does seem a bit overlong-- had a couple tracks been trimmed, I suspect this would be a better album, but "Other True Self" is a fine outing from Reid and company.
Free Music Review: for the open minded guitar freaks
Hit: 4 Stars
vernon reid got his hendrix on on every cut that's all I can say for all in living colour fans and for thjose who like guitar solos.Free Music Review: Masque, Other True Self
Hit: 3 Stars
I prefer Vernon's more imaginative, dynamic offerings from Mistaken Identity and Known/Unknown. Still, for die-hard fans like me there is are a few serious moments on here.Free Music Review: some good tunes, but for the most part it's just noise
Hit: 2 Stars
The Good
Meaty guitar runs and cosmic effects command "Game Is Rigged." Reid and company put a unique spin on Radiohead's "National Anthem" and Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence." Not having heard the Radiohead song, I can tell you that the Depeche Mode song is a lot darker and slower. Reid throws in his own little embellishments throughout the track. "Flatbush and Church" mixes piercing guitar runs with church organ, but somehow comes out with a reggae feel. "G" is where the group really leans on the progressive elements. Fuzzy guitars, driving keyboards, and warbling effects control "Mind Over Mind."
The Bad
I have every respect for Vernon Reid as a guitarist, but he's tried way too hard to be different and unique on this album. Some of the effects that he uses are truly things I haven't heard before, but to layer them over each, as well as the other eclectic instruments, does not make for a good musical composition. In other words, the playing and tones are great and different, but they don't make a good song when put together.
The Verdict
I was a fan of Vernon Reid's work in Living Colour, but his latest solo album just doesn't do it for me. Besides not sounding anything like I remember him, Other True Self has some good tunes, but for the most part it's just noise.
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