What does it sound like?:
It’s been six years since Beck’s last studio album, 2010’s Emotion and Commotion. Now aged 72, he does not let age weary him in this collaboration with vocalist Rosie Bones (daughter of none other than Bill Oddie) and rhythm guitarist Carmen Vandenburg.
The album is encapsulated by its title, a statement against social injustice and the ills of the world. Indeed, Beck has said the album is about both the power of love and the love of power. Sometimes the lyrics are a little on the simplistic side, but you can’t fault the urge to try and do something different, and you certainly can have no complaint about the still consistently breathtaking guitar playing, which, perhaps surprisingly, melds very well with Bones’ street patois vocal style. The three performers actually work very well as a team even though they may look an odd collaboration on paper.
Still a confident and virtuoso performer, Beck has clearly lost none of his edge with the passing of the years, as evidenced by the stand out pieces here, Live In The Dark and the closing ballad Shrine. This alliance with much younger musicians from a totally different genre, this injection of new blood, actually appears to have given a new lease of life to the old warhorse,
Still innovating after all these years, there’s certainly no resting on laurels in evidence here!
Jeff Beck – he does what he wants!
What does it all *mean*?
A protest album from Jeff Beck – who’d have thought it?
Goes well with…
Other Beck albums, but this one might appeal to a wider and younger audience who maybe aren’t familiar with his back catalogue.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Innovative collaborations, superb guitar playing, new and fresh sounds.
Johnny Concheroo says
Nice work Bargey. Especially the factoid about Bill Oddie’s daughter. I shall use that at every opportunity from now on.
H.P. Saucecraft says
I hope it’s better than his unlistenably bad last, the farcically-named Emotion & Commotion, which was a Jeff Beck album as made by SuBo. The cover of this one looks a bit Chumbawamba, which I suppose is a step in the right direction.
Johnny Concheroo says
Yes, the last one was a little MOR
SteveT says
I have read mixed reviews elsewhere that appear to suggest that there is not much guitar on this album. Guitar is normally the reason I would buy a Jeff Beck album-can you dispel these rumours?
Bargepole says
Yes indeed!
Junior Wells says
I heard some grabs of a few tracks and gotta say was a bit underwhelmed but will reserve final judgment.
Johnny Concheroo says
How do we solve a problem like Jeff Beck?
He’s undoubtedly one of the most naturally gifted rock/blues guitar players of our generation, yet he insists on “pushing the boundaries” on every album. So we get dance, techno, fusion, industrial, grindcore* and god knows what else on each successive album, when all we want is heavy blues and in yer face string bending fret wizardry.
Come on Jeff, give us a 2016 version of Truth.
*this may not be true.
Colin H says
I disagree, JC. He is, basically, a fusion musician – just more groove inclined than McLaughlin et al. His live sets since 1975 have been two-thirds fusion, as far as I can see – toe-tapping fusion, but fusion nonetheless.
Johnny Concheroo says
I’ll concede his live set is mostly fusion, but the albums are all over the place.
Colin H says
Con-fusion?
Junior Wells says
I’m ok with jazz fusion too
Johnny Concheroo says
Me too, but it’s been a while since he did that. And some of the Jan Hammer stuff hasn’t aged well.
H.P. Saucecraft says
I must be alone in preferring his “music made with a mouse” period: “Jeff” “There And Back” “Who Else!” and “You Had It Coming” seemed pretty successful at fusing new with old.
But really, the guy’s a session musician. Can’t sing, can’t write, can’t lead a band because can’t sing and can’t write and can’t bear to share the stage with a bigger ego.
File under: hopeless, really.
Johnny Concheroo says
Can’t sing? What about Hi Ho Silver Lining? And the follow-up Tallyman.
Even though the Jeff Beck Group had a perfectly serviceable vocalist in the shape of Rod Stewart, producer Mickie Most insisted Jeff sang on those hit singles.
H.P. Saucecraft says
“What about Hi Ho Silver Lining? And the follow-up Tallyman.”
Oh, ri-ight … they were so successful he just kept right on singing, didn’t he?
Johnny Concheroo says
I know, I was just playing devil’s avocado. Jeff Beck, he ain’t no singer.
minibreakfast says
Devilled avacado, Shirley?
minibreakfast says
avOcado, ahem
Johnny Concheroo says
You’re forgiven.
Fintinlimbim says
So, Bill Oddie’s daughter sings with Jeff Beck, Graem Garden’s son plays keyboards with the Scissor Sisters. Any news of Tim Brooke-Taylor’s offspring?
Johnny Concheroo says
I just stumbled across this soundcheck footage from the concerts Beck and Clapton played in 2010. It’s a long way from the Beano Album to Mancini, but this is a lovely fly on the wall clip showing the two guitar greats working out the ending to Moon River
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOmJCCgw174
Colin H says
we’re never a long way from that Beano album with Johnny C in the room…
Johnny Concheroo says
You’re not wrong, Colin.
H.P. Saucecraft says
@johnny-concheroo
Horrible. Just … horrible.
The agit-prop lyrics read like placards at a student union sit-in. Right on, Jeff! Jeff’s career-long problem with lyrics (and songs need lyrics, unfortunately) is ever-present here. He doesn’t understand what lyrics are for, he can’t write, and he can’t sing. Problem.
In opting for songs, he needs a singer. Rosie Bones isn’t up to it. Jeff’s got a jones for Bones? Jeff wants to jump her bones? Bones give Jeff a boner? (Any of these would be better lyrics than the ones on the album). Why give her the job? Because he can’t use a real singer, because of the inevitable ego-clash – he doesn’t want another Rod Stewart taking over “his” band. Enter Bill Oddie’s daughter (that’s not an imperative, Jeff). “From the safety of your settee” she raps, menacingly. Settee?
Then there’s the music. Oh, lord, please let’s not. There’s a lot of “dirty”, “menacing” tone. Noisy beats. A-a-a-a-and – blues structure. I’ll be honest, I bailed during this album, so if there are any gorgeous/jazz-funky instrumentals with memorable themes, I missed them. And I will continue to miss them, because I’m not heading back up Jeff’s loud hailer anytime soon.