| CD REVIEW Billy Sheehan |
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Band: Billy Sheehan Wow man, has it really been since multi-instrumentalist Sheehan’s sophomore 2005 album Cosmic Troubadour (review by yours truly posted 18/04 of that year)? Well, can’t say the man’s been idle, as there’s been his Improvisational/ Fusion band Niacin (with whom he’s soon to release his 8th album and evidently also toured), the G3 tours on which he joined guitarist Steve Vai, the Bx3 tours he did (with an emphasis on the bass, played by himself, Jeff Berlin and Stu Hamm), a threesome of The Who tribute shows (with Mike Portnoy, Paul Gilbert, and Gary Cherone), a European tour with Tony Macalpine and Virgil Donati…and several bass clinics, both in the US and Europe (and, besides the fact that the man’s been sifting through his video archives for interesting stuff to be posted on his own website or MySpace page, I may even have forgotten some important data)! Work on this album had been well underway early last year, when Billy had already had Ray Luzier (whom he’d worked with on the Cosmoc Troubadour album)put down his drums on some 20 tracks Billy had composed! The reason things took so long to be out on the streets, is that the recordings were not finished at that moment, as Billy still had to add his bass, guitar, and vocal parts…and also had some people in mind for a guest contribution! Those guests being Doug Pinnick (who contributes his typical lead vocals to the song “Turning Point”), Paul Gilbert (who laid down some guitar solos on instrumental track “Dynamic Exhilerator”), and Billy Gibbons (of ZZTop, playing the guitar on the song “A Lit’l Bit’l Do It To Ya Ev’ry Time”). Of course, just as on his provious album, he’s had producer Simone Sello contribute something musically as well (guitar to instrumental album closer “Sweat On The E String”). As per usual, Sheehan showws what a bass monster he is during the instrumental tracks (besides the ones already mentioned there’s also the wonderful “Theme From An Imaginary Sci-Fi”, with some weird B-movie Sci-Fi organ sounds incorporated, and “Cell Towers”). That he hardly needs help from outsider guitarists is best heard on these instrumentals, as the guitars often have to follow a freakily paced bass…and Billy follows suit by putting down some truly great rhythm, lead, and solo play! Although the songs are more rhythmically based, the guitar parts played in ‘em are really nice riffs…and even then there’s space for the occasional solo guitar part, you know! Yep, this album is simply yet another proof of the fact that Billy Sheehan has earned his fame as a monster on the bass! Also that he can play some mean guitar, and write a nice tune, for that matter…and anyone not easlity convinced by words should simply surf to myspace.com/billysheehan, where the man posted two tracks off the new album (both instrumentals) alongside a song each off his other solo outings (for those needing more still…just surf to billysheehan.com). Last news (besides the fact that Niacin will be heading out for a studio soon): Billy Sheehan has gotten back again with Paul Gilbert, Eric Martin, and Pat Torpey in January of 2009 to play Mr. Big reunion shows in Japan. Meanwhile that little venture was so successful, and the guys had so much fun together, that they’ve decided to give the band another go again, starting off with a massive worldwide tour to come soon! Keep your eyes on the concert calendars! 98/100 Tony. |