{"id":7118,"date":"2015-01-28T05:30:28","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T10:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=7118"},"modified":"2015-01-28T05:30:28","modified_gmt":"2015-01-28T10:30:28","slug":"hundred-word-reviews-january-2015-part-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2015\/01\/28\/hundred-word-reviews-january-2015-part-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundred-word Reviews: January 2015, Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There&#8217;s a never-ending stream of new music, so it&#8217;s time once again for some hundred-worders to work off some of my backlog. As always, these all deserve full reviews, but with limited time and resources, 100 words will have to do. I&#8217;ll cut to the chase. Today&#8217;s five all feature guitarists, but the styles vary widely.<\/p>\n<p><center><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/udi_levy.jpg\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"280\" height=\"280\" vspace=\"20\" \/><\/center><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width:120px;height:240px;\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&#038;OneJS=1&#038;Operation=GetAdHtml&#038;MarketPlace=US&#038;source=ss&#038;ref=ss_til&#038;ad_type=product_link&#038;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&#038;marketplace=amazon&#038;region=US&#038;placement=B00IWD7HMG&#038;asins=B00IWD7HMG&#038;linkId=LHK7TF473XDVBT7T&#038;show_border=true&#038;link_opens_in_new_window=true\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Udi Levy \u2013 <\/strong><em><strong>A Sudden Transition<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n<em>A Sudden Transition<\/em> is melody-forward power trio excursion in the manner of such shredders as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.musoscribe.com\/features\/joe_satriani.shtml\"><strong>Joe Satriani<\/strong><\/a> and <strong>Eric Johnson<\/strong>. Equal parts technical finesse and dogged determination to keep the melodic quotient high result in a winning album from guitarist Levy. Here he&#8217;s joined only by bass and drum, and that&#8217;s enough. Occasionally he veers a bit too close to his heroes \u2013 the tasty original \u201cThe Fast Lane\u201d sounds like an <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=4573\">Satriani<\/a> tune (circa <em>Surfing With the Alien<\/em>) you just haven&#8217;t heard before \u2013 but Levy&#8217;s chops are undeniable. Fans of <strong>Jeff Beck<\/strong> and <strong>Steve Vai<\/strong> will enjoy this.<\/p>\n<p><center><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/steve_hunter2.jpg\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"280\" height=\"280\" vspace=\"20\" \/><\/center><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width:120px;height:240px;\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&#038;OneJS=1&#038;Operation=GetAdHtml&#038;MarketPlace=US&#038;source=ss&#038;ref=ss_til&#038;ad_type=product_link&#038;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&#038;marketplace=amazon&#038;region=US&#038;placement=B00N83WL58&#038;asins=B00N83WL58&#038;linkId=3FKT6MS6D47VQFZX&#038;show_border=true&#038;link_opens_in_new_window=true\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Steve Hunter \u2013 <\/strong><em><strong>Tone Poems Live<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\nFor me, <strong>Steve Hunter<\/strong> will always be treasured as the guy who \u2013 with <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=161\"><strong>Dick Wagner<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 gave us the transcendent live \u201cIntro\u201d to <strong>Lou Reed<\/strong>&#8216;s <em>Rock&#8217;n&#8217;Roll Animal<\/em> live album. These days he&#8217;s in more restrained blues rocker mode. Hunter is backed here by some of the best in the business, including <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=6552\"><strong>Tony Levin<\/strong><\/a>. The album was cut live in the studio, and filmed for a DVD (available separately). Nine sturdy originals sit nicely aside covers of <strong>Peter Gabriel<\/strong> (\u201cSolsbury Hill\u201d) and <strong>Steve Ray Vaughan<\/strong> (\u201cRiviera Paradise\u201d). <em>Tone Poems Live<\/em> is a solid collection of flawlessly executed instrumentals with heart.<\/p>\n<p><center><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/vibrators_mania.jpg\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"280\" height=\"280\" vspace=\"20\" \/><\/center><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width:120px;height:240px;\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&#038;OneJS=1&#038;Operation=GetAdHtml&#038;MarketPlace=US&#038;source=ss&#038;ref=ss_til&#038;ad_type=product_link&#038;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&#038;marketplace=amazon&#038;region=US&#038;placement=B00PUTILI4&#038;asins=B00PUTILI4&#038;linkId=V4JCL3VVZLBBQQER&#038;show_border=true&#038;link_opens_in_new_window=true\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Vibrators \u2013 <\/strong><em><strong>Punk Mania: Back to the Roots<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\nOne thing about the genuine, authentic punk ethos is that it never, ever relies on nostalgia or looking backward. And that makes a \u201creturn to the roots\u201d project by a punk group a bit problematic, perhaps even a bit suspect. <strong>The Vibrators<\/strong>&#8216; <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=4032\">last album<\/a> collected collaborations with a bunch of their pals; this latest disc attempts to recapture the fore if the band&#8217;s early days. The thing is, <em>Punk Mania!<\/em> is reasonably successful on that score. From the politically incorrect opener (\u201cRetard\u201d) right through the bonus tracks (including a cover of <strong>Flamin&#8217; Groovies<\/strong>&#8216; \u201cSlow Death,\u201d the band still rocks out.<\/p>\n<p><center><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/carl_verheyen.jpg\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"280\" height=\"280\" vspace=\"20\" \/><\/center><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width:120px;height:240px;\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&#038;OneJS=1&#038;Operation=GetAdHtml&#038;MarketPlace=US&#038;source=ss&#038;ref=ss_til&#038;ad_type=product_link&#038;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&#038;marketplace=amazon&#038;region=US&#038;placement=B00GYPU7L2&#038;asins=B00GYPU7L2&#038;linkId=5LUXXGIIVNNZWVFR&#038;show_border=true&#038;link_opens_in_new_window=true\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Carl Verheyen \u2013 <\/strong><em><strong>Mustang Run<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\nOne can&#8217;t ( and shouldn&#8217;t) begrudge a musician \u2013 or his publicist \u2013 for flogging his credits in the press kit; how you got this far is a relevant subject. But the fact that <strong>Carl Verheyen<\/strong> had three long-term stints with <strong>Supertramp<\/strong> has zero to do sonically with the music on <em>Mustang Run<\/em>. His work has certainly given him an impressive Rolodex: the album includes instrumental support from <strong>Greg Bissonette<\/strong>, <strong>Simon Phillips<\/strong>, <strong>Chad Wackerman<\/strong> and <strong>Bill Evans<\/strong> (the sax player, not the dead jazz pianist). What you&#8217;ll find here is <strong>Steely Dan<\/strong>-ish instrumental stuff: lots of precision, not much fire.<\/p>\n<p><center><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/marty_walsh.jpg\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"280\" height=\"280\" vspace=\"20\" \/><\/center><\/p>\n<p><iframe style=\"float: right; padding: 10px; width:120px;height:240px;\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&#038;OneJS=1&#038;Operation=GetAdHtml&#038;MarketPlace=US&#038;source=ss&#038;ref=ss_til&#038;ad_type=product_link&#038;tracking_id=musoscribe-20&#038;marketplace=amazon&#038;region=US&#038;placement=B00L1IDZKW&#038;asins=B00L1IDZKW&#038;linkId=SYSQVWTCJRRT6DVD&#038;show_border=true&#038;link_opens_in_new_window=true\"><br \/>\n<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Marty Walsh \u2013 <\/strong><em><strong>The Total Plan<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\nHere&#8217;s another guitarist whose music doesn&#8217;t sound like his pedigree. In this case, it&#8217;s pop-jazz guitarist <strong>Marty Walsh<\/strong>, who was involved with <strong>Supertramp<\/strong> (them again!) in the post-hits period. Walsh&#8217;s many guests get solo showcases, but it&#8217;s still the guitarist&#8217;s show all down the line. <em>The Total Plan<\/em> features more uptempo and rocking tunes than one night expect, and Walsh&#8217;s songwriting chops (he wrote or co-wrote all ten cuts) is undeniably impressive. The melodies \u2013 mostly but not exclusively in the form of guitar licks \u2013 stay in the listener&#8217;s head after the songs end. This one&#8217;s worth seeking out.<\/p>\n<p>Yet more capsule reviews to come.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/the_musoscribe\">Follow \u201cthe_musoscribe\u201d on <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/icon_twitter_small.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" border=\"0\" hspace=\"1\" vspace=\"0\" \/> Twitter<\/a> and get notified<br \/>\nwhen new features, reviews and essays are published.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There&#8217;s a never-ending stream of new music, so it&#8217;s time once again for some hundred-worders to work off some of my backlog. As always, these all deserve full reviews, but [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,49,56,59,62,65],"tags":[470,1419,2051,2287,2321],"class_list":["post-7118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-instrumental","category-new-release","category-prog","category-punk","category-rawk","category-review","tag-carl-verheyen","tag-marty-walsh","tag-steve-hunter","tag-udi-levy","tag-vibrators","cat-40-id","cat-49-id","cat-56-id","cat-59-id","cat-62-id","cat-65-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7118\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}