|
|
|
|
|
|
ATTENTION DEFICIT
"Attention
Deficit" (Magna Carta; 1998)
Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter
Not particularly heavy, but this disc is filled with lots of
exciting improvisation from Alex Skolnik (formerly of Testament) on the guitar, Michael
Manring (known for his work with Michael Hedges) on bass, and Tim Alexander (formerly of
Primus) on drums.
Skolnik doesn't dwell on his thrash metal past on this disc - don't expect any crushing
riffs here; Attention Deficit finds Skolnik exploring his jazz and fusion interests.
Manring has a lot of chops and this disc displays those talents here in vivid, creative
fashion. Alexander, widely recognized as one of the world's greatest drummers, provides
many unique beats and rhythms in every song.
The "suite" of songs "ATM," "TMA," and "MAT" are
probably the disc's greatest accomplishments; I suspect these songs were some of the tunes
that were captured during a jam, reworked, and distilled to their essence. The basic
"sound" in these three songs is the same - yet each tune has a different feel to
it. The funky "Scapalu" demonstrates the arty side of the trio's creations, the
sprawling "Fly, Pelican, Fly" is the obligatory space jam tune, and "Ill
Fated Conspiracy" has a dramatic feel to it with a constant keyboard pulse and
interloping bass and guitar interruptions.
Some songs are little fragments such as "Snip" clocking in at 22 seconds and
"Festivus" at 10 seconds. These songs exist for a reason, I'm sure of it; I just
can't figure out why. Artistic freedom leaves the listener to ponder such questions - in
any case, I suggest that less thought might actually lead to more enjoyment in these
instances.
Some tunes sound like raw jamming, other tunes sound like
crazed experiments, and others sound like tunes that were actually worked out. The liner
notes suggest that the record was "organized chaos" which implies lots of
jamming and the best pieces were taken out for the disc.
Although the varying length of songs makes the disc a bit disjointed to listen to, it is
clear that the band created some unique vibes. The music makes for interesting background
music if you choose to distance yourself from the intricacies of the musician's efforts,
but at the same time the listener is rewarded with great insight if particular
intellectual thought is given to the songs.
Check out the band's official website at the Magna Carta label at http://www.magnacarta.net
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2000 by R.
Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
Revised:
26 Sep 2022 13:20:28 -0400 .
