II (Side Two - Adrian Belew)

Name: Frankingsteins

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Product:	Side Two - Adrian Belew
Date:	22.03.08 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A different approach that works surprisingly well.

Disadvantages: Songs tend to sound the same.

I was surprised at how well the central part of Adrian Belew's musical trilogy worked, considering that many veteran musicians who turn their hand to electronic composition end up as an embarrassment, like someone's Nan break-dancing. Belew certainly has a knack for it, his synthesised percussion loops suiting the more laid-back guitar style employed here, and never seeming like they're trying to be cool and modern just for the sake of it, but all the same the music does end up rather repetitive and dull, especially for lacking the energy that made its predecessor so entertaining.

It's gratifying to see Belew breaking out of the King Crimson influence for the most part, but all the same it's nice to know that this is more of a single-album experiment than anything. Relaxing and melodic for the most part, supplemented by nice Eastern touches in 'Sex Nerve' and dominant piano in 'I Wish I Knew,' Belew's guitar melodies are reminiscent of the solo albums of other prog performers such as David Gilmour, though his distinctive playing style is all his own. The only song I really dislike on this album is the finale 'Sunlight,' which seems too happy and bouncy in its near-techno for my tastes, and at only thirty-three minutes this is another of Belew's albums that could have been expanded a little - but then, it was already the second of three releases within the space of a year.

1. Dead Dog on Asphalt
2. I Wish I Knew
3. Face to Face
4. Asleep
5. Sex Nerve
6. Then What
7. Quicksand
8. I Know Now
9. Happiness
10. Sunlight

Summary: Adrian Belew's thirteenth album (2005).