As promised: The DVD has arrived, limited to 300 hand-signed by all 3 dots. Available ONLY at Cincinnati's two finest record stores (who generously underwrote the project): Everybody's and Shake It. Yes, they will ship to faraway places. If you want it, please jump on it... going fast.... http://www.shakeitrecords.com https://everybodysrecords.com
Was really intrigued, but couldn't fathom why Stewart Copeland sang when the group featured 2 far more accomplished vocalists.
Haven't read through the thread, but Here is usually overlooked in such discussions. It's a wonderful album, and I enjoy it more than the first six and Op Zop Too Wah, as much as I like those.
To complete the thought: Here feels to me like a sequel to Inner Revolution, but with catchier tunes. It's full of gorgeous melodies, textures, and chord changes. Belew plays all the instruments, and he plays them incredibly well. Here and there the music gets overbearing, but for the most part it stays in a pop/art-rock sweet spot that keeps me coming back. The ear candy serves as a vehicle for lyrics packed with optimism, compassion, anxiety, and playfulness. His soul comes shining though.
My favorite is Op Zop Too Wah, and when I mentioned it to Adrian, he said it’s his too, along with Side Two (which is my second favorite.)
If only someone would actually make the effort to TELL Stewart that, what a world of difference. Yeah, he is probably the worst singer in Gizmodrome and sings the majority of songs. Where is STING when you actually need him?!
More to the point, most of those are Copeland-written songs. And (to me) they're not particularly interesting. Sting, Belew, Macca, Dio, Sinatra, Domingo couldn't salvage these. Gizmodrome seems more a casual easy-going project than an ambitious collaboration. Needs more Belew.
Belew and/or Mark King would've done a much better job. Copeland's vocals are (unfortunately) close to novelty level.
I was at this show - I carried it around with me for days & days -- I LIKE IT! Btw, Julie is an amazing player. I hope to see the new band play there in April too. Any out-of-towers should consider trying Sang-kee restaurant kinda nearby. I'm told it's not as good as their China town location, but I enjoyed it.
You know, I'm sure everything's been covered here, but I have to vote for HERE & find a live version of DRIVE - much better than the album version, IMO, with the cool Beatles tribute! I think they performed it on Rockpalast when Eric was still in the trio. He plays it elsewhere on the web too, maybe at his seminar at Chicago humanities something or other and can't recall if they performed it at the Ardmore show, doh! The acoustic adrian Belew is great! A must listen. You gotta hear songs like Matte Kudasai if you haven't as well. Avoid the Guitar as Orchestra cd (I think it's called), it's unlistenable even for a seasoned belew fan like myself.
Funny, I really like that one. Laurence Harvey's Despair is one of my favorite tracks by him. Gorgeous piece of music, completely improvised.
I am starting to put my Beatles and Talking Heads away, and starting my yearly Belew Cycle. Just put all of his CDs on my IPhone as well as The Bears. Almost forgot Crimson. The next few months will be Belewersized. Plus in March comes his new album, Popsided. Can't wait.
I'm not a Belew expert, but my impression is that he manages to keep his own sound in whatever band he's in, yet still compliment that artist's work. Zappa, Bowie, Crimson etc...
Unfortunately, currently only available via his concerts. He is looking for a distributor, but hasn't mentioned if he found one yet.
The Tralf in Buffalo was first stop on the tour. Pop Sided hadn't been officially released yet. It was was flown in and delivered to the hotel in time for the show!
