Review by Fred Sboddi, Honolulu, HI USA, (c) 2001FREE DIRT is a collection of very early recordings in Neil's development as a musician (and its' title conveys his sense of ongoing humor...The idea here is every "free dirt" sign along the road would remind potential album buyers of this musical product!) It covers the period between 13 years old up to college days.
Billed as "The World's First Autobigraphical Musical Audio Cassette
Book, FREE DIRT has Neil narrating a series of stories about growing
up "an unconventional
mind in a conventional cowtown (Denver)" Each
Although most of
the recordings were made on simple portable cassette recorders, and
the fidelity is primitive, the invention, humor, and
the overall musical/creative message is extraordinary.
True spontaneous creativity is well
captured here, perhaps unsurpassed by any recording by anyone,
famous
or not.
This is a fun recording and it even has Neil's mother screaming at him, (doesn't every budding musical pioneer have his nemisis?) during high school years practicing in the basement, a very funny moment. By the time Neil was a senior in high school he had played on the radio, and on open stages around town, playing some of the most sophisticated and intelligent music you might ever hear.... on the guitar and ukulele no less. Invisible Music is the first multitrack recording of Neil's career. By 1980, Neil had formed several bands. The band on this recording, "Tammy and The Dinettes" (again a reaction to the over-seriousness of commercial music), spent several months doing a fusion/space jazz thing at Free Reelin' Recording Studio. The music of this early recording is timeless, and holds up because of it's original and strong melodic ideas. This album is a wonderful contrast to the identity-less character which presently permeates much of current commercial music. FREE DIRT is a unique offering which both professional musicians and regular listeners will enjoy. 180 minutes on chrome tape.
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story traces his unusual, humorous and sometimes unbelievable evolution as a
artist apart from mainstream values and limitations. AND, after each story
is>>>>>>>THE MUSIC, actual recordings of the music he made on whatever tape
recorder he had at hand. 