A Few Short Real Reviews and Commentary About Brain Music Selections
NEIL SLADE ROCKS THE MASSES
by WESTON and CHRISTIAN WELLS (real Denver teenagers)
On Saturday, March 2, Neil Slade performed a concert,
the likes of which you've never seen. Libraries are
normally a quiet haven for the socially timid. But the
Cherry Creek Branch of the Denver Public Library now has
a new reputation, and broke the old stuffy mold when Neil
Slade and friends came out of retirement and shattered
the hallowed library silence.
Greeting audience at the entrance was the ubiquitous
"Brain X", mascot and driving
force behind this one man hurricane (real human brain in a jar on
educational loan from
Colorado's Dormant Brain Research and Development Laboratory).
Assisting Neil at this show, was the rhythm devil
of the day- Eric Allen Vincent, a palpitating percussion
personality who magnified the effect of the music in
logarithmic fashion.
Ensorcelling the audience as always were the multifaceted
talents of Neil "that funky brain man" Slade, who picked up
instruments as naturally as a housewife picks up ripe
fruit from the produce section at Safeway. No instrument
felt left out from the cornucopia of aural delicacies-
acoustic and electric guitars, the mysterious "Zo"
, voice, and acoustic piano. Vincent pounded out
the beat on a plethora of primitive and modern drums,
like a mad blacksmith forging raw steel.
The large community room was filled to the gunnels:
standing room only- all seats were filled. Reactions
typical of the broad based audience were: "Neil played with
such vigor and enthusiasm, it was like the music exploded
out of his chest!", and "My amygdalas clicked forward
at the beginning of the show- and something really freaky
happened to my brain!"
During the hour long set, including a short but
informative brain anatomy pause, nobody was seen leaving
even to go to the bathroom, despite gallons of free
lemonade. There was consistant quality of performance, as
well as variety, from the eerie yet sublime "Submarine"
to the snappy and superlative "Shauna".
Apparently the inclusion of many new songs from
Slade's newest release "Tippy" hypnotized the audience
into helpless submission in a most delightful manner.
After the show, library patrons were guided through the
mind boggling maze of the Internet by Slade. He led
ecstatic "newbies" on a journey through cyberspace, with
a stop at his very own extensive World Wide Web Site,
"The Amazing Neil Slade Music Adventure"
(http://www.neilslade.com).
In conclusion, if you are looking for explosive musical
neural pleasures, look no further than the latest
offering from Neil Slade Music and Company.
Weston and Christian Wells
Denver Academy and Kent School
AMYGDALA BRAINBITES
Review by Michael Roberts
Amygdala Brainbites, the new CD from the BRAIN
REVOLUTIONARIES, is dominated by material reviewed several months
back in this
space, but it sounds fresher than before, thanks to a remix that
leaves the disc
sounding as crisp and impressive as many national releases. NEIL
SLADE
and company have come up with a pop confection that'll leave you
feeling smarter for having listened to it--which, if I'm not
mistaken, was the idea all along.
AMYGDALA BRAINBITES
Review by Scott Renick
It takes nuts to sing subtle tunes in the 90's--Almonds.
(see Amygdala). the BRAIN REVOLUTIONARIES are pasing out almond
shaped abrain candy that fills you up without leaving you feeling
bloated, and I want more.
This is music for rebels without a cliche. It sports all the angst
necessary to qualify it as rock and roll, but with a sophistication
that may put it beyond the reach of your average drooling fan-type.
Who could write a song about karma that doesn't elicit images of
paisley vests and peace signs, one that even makes you squirm a
little with the realization that the concept of karma might apply to
you? the BRAIN REVOLUTIONARIES could, and did, with "It'll Come
Back".
Who could combine the feel of Jeff Beck with the frustration of the
Violent Femmes and come up with a tasty concoction? You guessed it!
The BRAIN REVOLUTIONARIES' tune "Puzzle" fits the bill.
Who could take Alice out of Wonderland and put her in a soft,
melancholy, jilted-lover neverland? Yep: The BRAIN REVOLUTIONARIES,
with
"Starlight". This CD sounds so good that I had to read the
credits several times as I listened to assure myself that it was
indeed recorded and produced in Denver. The production gives a
reverent nod to vintage Jeff Beck, the song arrangement vintage
Joe Jackson, all with a contemporary feel that won't melt in your
pockets. Amygdala Brainbites is fun food for thought.
(Scott Renick is a recording engineer and veteran Colorado bassist.)
TIPPY
Review by Westword Music Editor
MICHAEL ROBERTS
Tippy, from the cranium of Denver's
Neil slade, reminded me of Seventies vintage Todd
Rundgren in its juxtaposition
of pure pop melodies, sometimes arch lyrics,
challenging structural conceits and substatial
ambition. "Shauna," "Couch" and several
others are extrememly
humable, yet they also
ask for (and reward) closer inspection. So does the
concluding "Concerto for Saxophone, 1st Mov.,"
a sprightly journey through several decades of American
musical tradition.
TIPPY
by PATRICK OLIVER
TIPPY is Neil Slade's latest musical offering.
This fine effort seems to be divided into two distinct programs; the
first a
compilation of original, contemporary pop/rock tunes incorporating
tight arrangements with intereting use of instrumental textures as
well as harmonic colors unusual for the genre. I particularly like
the pensive Aural Exciter and the playful Cindy which seems to be a
tribute to tommy James and the Shondells.
The second half of this recording is a, dare I say,
more cerebral approach which includes Neil's Zappa
influenced A Refined Mud Pie as well as a cooikin' version of
Charlie Parker's Bloomdido and readings of
two pieces by classical composers Darius Milhaud and Henri Tomasi.
This is a finely crafted work which amply demonstrates Neil's
eclectic approach to music. He does some nice sax and synth solo work
and really seems to know his way around the studio. by the way, Dee Netzel does some nice piano
work and contributes greatly to the high level
of excellence on this recording.
-Patrick Oliver
(Patrick Oliver is a Denver area pianist who has performed with Hubert Laws, Bobby Shew,
Bill Frisell, and Teddy Edwards among others. Back to Music Central
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