April 20 & 21 - Levin La Vida Loca
 

This week, our theme is centered on Tony Levin, bassist, vocalist, one-man barbershop quartet, and Chapman Stick expert extraordinaire. Although I'm not touching on any of his solo music, he had a key role in the construction of the music and musical identity of each of this week's albums.

I. Like the phoenix, King Crimson rose triumphant in 1981 with a new half-American formation on their album 'Discipline'. Introducing electronic instrumentation, cleaner playing, and more world-music influences--this album helped herald a new age of Progressive Rock. Noticeably, this album draws on the work of The Talking Heads and other relevant bands to that period in time. Of course, the important thing to remember with King Crimson is that although the music contains some similar elements in each incarnation, it usually always operates within the current sound in music.

note: This album contains an extra track of the original released mix of Matte Kudasai. This contains Frippertronics, added by Robert Fripp as an afterthought. Adrian Belew requested to remove the extra overdubbing on later pressings, so it appears here as a bonus track.[list=1][*]Elephant Talk (Belew/King Crimson) - 4:45 [*]Frame by Frame (King Crimson) - 5:08 [*]Matte Kudasai (King Crimson) - 3:48 [*]Indiscipline (King Crimson) - 4:33 [*]Thela Hun Ginjeet (King Crimson) - 6:27 [*]The Sheltering Sky (King Crimson) - 8:24 [*]Discipline (King Crimson) - 5:03[*]Matte Kudasai [Alternative Version] (King Crimson) - 3:50 [/LIST=1]
II. Although his first two albums had been fairly successful, it wasn't until Peter Gabriel released his third self-titled album, 'Peter Gabriel[3]' ('81), that he was recognized for more than just Solisbury Hill. With such strong, consistent construction, this is easily the best early album by Peter Gabriel. There are contributions on here from the rapidly synergizing trio of Larry Fast (synth), Jerry Marrotta (drums), & Tony Levin (Chapman Stick), as well as Phil Collins, and Robert Fripp. After this album, Peter Gabriel blew the doors off with 'Security' and became an "established" pop phenomenon.[list=1][*]Intruder (Gabriel) - 4:54 [*]No Self-Control (Gabriel) - 3:55 [*]Start (Gabriel) - 1:21 [*]I Don't Remember (Gabriel) - 4:41 [*]Family Snapshot (Gabriel) - 4:28 [*]And Through the Wire (Gabriel) - 5:00 [*]Games Without Frontiers (Gabriel) - 4:06 [*]Not One of Us (Gabriel) - 5:22 [*]Lead a Normal Life (Gabriel) - 4:14 [*]Biko (Gabriel) - 7:32 [/LIST=1]
III. Liquid Tension Experiment's second and final album, 'Liquid Tension Experiment 2' ('99), involves stronger writing and musicianship. Although it's further from the harder jamming on the first album, the second presents a more thoughtful, melodic approach. Where the first album is playful and repetitive, this album is both driven and exploratory. On first listen, I dismissed it as just a bad sophomore effort. However, as I gave the album more time, it became very apparent to me how much work was put into this album. Although the delivery of John Petrucci's son brought the album work to a sudden halt (When the Water Breaks), this gave Jordan, Tony, & Mike more time to fully construct the songs with John in mind, before he came back. The only word of a follow-up to the album is rumor of live tapes and extra jams from around the period of the second album. Mike Portnoy's comment on this was that Magna Carta supposedly says the tapes are lost. Oh well, I don't think Mike liked them very much anyway. Maybe I'll get a chance to play one of the few live shows on an upcoming program.[list=1][*]Acid Rain - 6:35 [*]Biaxident - 7:40 [*]914 - 4:01 [*]Another Dimension - 9:50 [*]When the Water Breaks - 16:58 [*]Chewbacca - 13:35 [*]Liquid Dreams - 10:48 [*]Hourglass - 4:26 [/LIST=1]

ABWH
 

Tony Levin played bass etc. on their Albums and tours too.

When I sawthem at Wembley Arena I thought he was absolutely brilliant.

If you do another feature of TL any chance of STICKing (groan!) this album in there too.

Re: ABWH
 

Oh yeah. There are quite a few more major contenders in the Tony Levin pantheon of albums. I'm sure we'll get to ABWH.

Thanks for the pun, geez . . . . [eyes rolling, sarcasm galore]

Tommy

There are lots of bootleg copies of various Bruford/Levin drum and bass duets floating around out there. Some were recorded during various AWBH shows, some come from...elsewhere. Most of the MP3s I have of these duets are a little raw (i.e. cut off in the middle), but if you can find any, they're worth airing.

Also, if you can get hold of some of the Crimson Collector's Club material, there are good things galore in there. Two tracks spring to mind, both from the Thrak rehearsals, "Sad Woman Jam" and "Funky Jam."

It's also worth playing "The Talking Drum/LTAII" from B'Boom for Trey Gunn's absolutely breathtaking Warr guitar solo in the first track. Gorgeous, and when Fripp comes in with a stinging guitar lead, Gunn effortlessly downshifts and wraps his guitar around Fripp's in one of the most transcendant pieces of music I know of.

In fact, why not a Trey Gunn spotlight broadcast?

yes, B'BOOM in whole is an amazing album. I'll have to put that one on one of these days.

Unfortunately (and maybe fortunately), I've limited myself in format to whole albums. So, If I go for something like ABWH or one of the Collector's Club albums, I'm going all the way. Just an FYI, in case someone happens to tune in right in the middle of THRAKATTACK.

Tommy

"ThrakAttak" would separate the sheep from the goats, that's for sure. :)

or
 

THRaKaTTaKC would seperate the migraine-resistant from the migraine-prone.

Keep listening to it. There's a lot of good music on that disc hidden in the frenzy.