Album Mini-review: Bun E. Carlos — Greetings from Bunezuela!
File next to: Guided by Voices, Cheap Trick, Paul Revere and the Raiders
In the wake of a confusing and bitter divorce from his band of many decades, former Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos has put together his first solo album. Carlos (born Brad Carlson) doesn’t sing, and he’s not a songwriter. What he is, instead, is a drummer of thundering intensity and impeccable taste. He also has a pretty ace record collection at home; that collection informs his choice of covers here: an obscure Who single (previously covered to good effect by Sugar), a terrific Paul Revere and the Raiders cover (“Him or Me”), and an early Van Morrison tune from his days with Them (“I Can Only Give You Everything”). Guests – or front-people – include Robert Pollard, Hanson, Carlos’ Candy Golde bandmate Nicholas Tremulis, Alejandro Escovedo and even Xeno, the original lead vocalist in Cheap Trick before Robin Zander joined.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance, and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, is available now from HoZac Books. Read even more about him here.