On Mr. Music Head, guitar virtuoso Adrian Belew serves up a pure pop-sounding album, and does a satisfying job to boot. He puts his guitar to good use, at times sounding experimental, but only doing so to add color to his three-minute tunes. On "Oh Daddy," his daughter Audie shares the singing on this light, cheery little number…
Here's to adversity. This album was recorded after a difficult divorce and shows Belew in a moment of self-actualization – taking positive steps to overcome pain and hardship…
Young Lions is as solid an album as Adrian Belew had put out in some time, including his work with the Bears. Apparently, the relative chart success he had with his last effort fueled the desire for another single, and no less a luminary than former employer David Bowie was brought in to write and duet with Belew on "Pretty Pink Rose" (they even did a video to support it)…
Not that he wasn't busy for the entire time, but the nearly eight years that separated Adrian Belew's solo studio recordings seem to have really recharged his batteries…
Adrian Belew is easily one of rock's most prolific guitarists. He's lent his six-string talents to such notables as David Bowie, Frank Zappa, the Talking Heads, and Nine Inch Nails; played with King Crimson and the Bears; performed as a solo artist; produced bands like Jars of Clay; and wrote songs for others (such as Mariah Carey's "Daydream Interlude")…
Jean-Marie Leclair’s violin sonatas embody a stylistic fusion known as les goûts réunis in which the lyricism and the virtuosity of the Italian school are integrated with the dance idioms of French Baroque music. In this volume, the music reaches new heights of technical complexity in its filigree ornamentation and continuous multiple stopping while still incorporating much wistful beauty. In the Sonata in D major, however, Leclair’s ambition expands yet further, as he combines innate lyricism and rustic drones in a prototype concerto form.
Adrian Belew's flurry of solo material continues with Side Three, the third and final installment in the series. On both Side One and Side Two, Belew seemed completely liberated from any concept of pop aspirations and was free to indulge in his more experimental side. Side Three is no different…
This short and sweet CD-5 release from Adrian Belew is a rather pleasant addition to his catalog, especially for Belew fans. The disc features Adrian's duets with David Bowie (from the Young Lions CD) and daughter Audie (from Mr. Music Head), but also contains two previously unreleased tracks…
Op Zop Too Wah is a typically idiosyncratic and entertaining effort from Adrian Belew, demonstrating equal amounts of unparalleled guitar virtuosity and maddeningly pedestrian songcraft. Occasionally, Belew hits upon thrilling compromises between the two extremes, but just as often he meanders, missing his targets as frequently as he hits them…