Share the post "Album review: ADRIAN BELEW – Mr Music Head/Inner Revolution"
BGO Records [Release date 26.10.18]
Adrian Belew is a well respected guitarists having worked with the likes of Frank Zappa, Talking Heads, King Crimson and David Bowie amongst others. Even today he is forging ahead in music with his FLUX guitar effects system and his Power Trio who continue to perform regularly.
These two albums from Belew have been re-issued by BGO Records, adding extensive inlay notes by Charles Waring (MOJO/Record Collector) and digitally remastered. ‘Mr Music Head’ (***) was originally released in 1989, making the Billboard albums chart at no.114, plus ‘Oh Daddy’ was a hit single and featured his then eleven year old daughter on the song.
Overall it has a DIY studio feel with lots of special effects and sounds, none more so than on ‘Peaceable Kingdom’ and ‘Hot Zoo’. the aforementioned ‘Oh Daddy’ is a decent pop tune and ‘House Of Cards’ has an air of Talking Heads about it. The Beatles like ’1967′ is another stand out. It is a proper solo album as Adrian Belew sang and played all the instruments bar Mike Barnett adding string bass to two songs.
The other album on this double set is 1992′s ‘Inner Revolution’ (***1/2), where Belew is aided by a drummer (Chris Arduser), a string quartet and returning bassist Mike Barnett. A very melodic album, at times having the hi-tech AOR sound of Yes around their ‘Big Generator’ album, be it on ‘Only A Dream’ or the title track. The Beatles meets ELO on ‘Big Blue Sun’ is a divine piece of pop rock, showing he has a good ear for melody. ‘I’d Rather Be Right Here’ could easily sit nicely on a Travelling Wilburys album, a song with an sing-a-long chorus and a 60′s pop vibe.
The guitar effects and playing are highlighted on ‘Birds’, however this album has its focus on short, melodic based songs – only one clocks in at over four minutes.
A good re-issue package by BGO and whilst neither album is a ‘must have’, both contain enough music to warrant further investigation and listening.
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: ADRIAN BELEW – Mr Music Head/Inner Revolution"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
