The Thanks should be from our side
author: Ian Perge
It's been a good few years for Bryan: the successful "Guitar Therapy" tour with The Mike Keneally Band for the release "DOG" that was taped and released in both audio and video form with a multi-camera/multi-tracked shoot that gave us the "Guitar Therapy Live" CD and DVD in beautifully performed and mixed 5.1 Surround Sound, touring Europe and North America with guitar virtuoso Steve Vai's "String Theory" backing band (a unique concept with two equally skilled violinists as opposed to his typical "Wall of Guitars", and in my opinion the most unique concept and interesting set of musicians Vai's ever chosen), touring twice in the "real world" version of the animated band "Dethklok" for Cartoon Network's acclaimed "Metalocalypse" television show, and finally the completion of his sophomore album "Thanks In Advance" and the Special Edition Making-of DVD "To Nothing".
On the making-of DVD Beller explains how he went to great extremes to record and mix "Thanks In Advance" to separate it from its predecessor, only to realize at the end of the process that it sounded very much like "View", and that the improvement only lay at his increased experiences as a Producer and given more time to mix and master than "View". Indeed, "TIA" sounds as it should - the natural follow-up to "View", given the large amount of carry-over of players from the first album and internal "concept" of the album that is the natural extension from "View" and the turns that his life has taken him (which Beller explains on the DVD and I could hardly sum up). So to those of you worried about a radical left-turn, fear not. But certainly be prepared for some new experiences...
What personally draws me to Beller's releases and performances is that they are hardly your typical "Solo Bassist" album, full of generic L.A. Slap-Funk and lead bass. Bryan writes SONGS first, lead and solo bass a distant second. A great addition to "TIA" is the Nashville-based musicians that Beller recruited for the album (as he now lives in the area), giving songs such as "Casual Lie Day" an natural blues feel. However, the Rock/Fusion side that was a part of "View" as well as his longtime work with Mike Keneally is apparent in such songs as "Blind Sideways" and the emotional apex of the album, "Love Terror Adrenaline / Break Through". Other standouts (a hard word to use when its an album full of them) are "Play Hard", a 3:50 pop gem that has far more depth to the lyrics when immersed as a whole in "TIA", the Nine Inch Nails-esque "Cost Of Doing Business", and the multi-tracked acoustic and electric bass-only "Life Story". One bass-related point I *would* like to focus on Beller's inclusion of fretless bass on several tracks. Bryan has said publicly in multiple places than "I barely have a handle on the whole concept of fretless playing". I can vouch firsthand that besides his live work, "TIA" shows than statements such as the above are an utter fallacy. He can play fretless with the intonation and melodic "center" than lifelong "name players" have. Methinks the bassist doth protest too much.
"Thanks In Advance" is certainly not a one-play release: it's dense, and takes a few listens to get into your head full. But once it does, it's not likely to leave. As someone who still have "View" on daily internal repeat 5 years after it's release, I'm very confident in making that statement.
Read more...
Bellar is here
author: CharlieC
I first discovered Bryan through listening to Mike Keneally. I also saw him with Vai on the last tour. I thought his 1st release \"View\" was excellent so.........
In theory the 2nd project should not be as good as the 1st because the 1st project may have years of idea\'s, songs and sounds etc and the 2nd is done in far less time for preperation and development. But I have to say without going track by track \"Thanks in Advance\" is serious heartfelt emotional music. Byran displays a lot of depth in his compositions and is not shy showing world class chops.
So, Byran is not a sideman, he has arrived he is here.
Read more...
Instrumental jazz rock at its finest
author: Steve Wonchoba
This album is a terrific mix of jazz and rock. It is largely an instrumental album -- only one song has vocals -- and there are such a variety of moods here that when you listen to the album front to back you feel like you\'ve been on a winding emotional journey.
The album starts a little slow, easing in with the bluesy \"Snooze Bar\". It’s a very nice song, and although it doesn\'t immediately scream \"album opener\", it actually works very well in that position when the album is taken as a whole, as it appears that it is meant to be. After \"Snooze Bar\", the album runs the gamut of group performance.
-There are progressive studio-driven pieces like the incredibly complex, scorching epic \"Love Terror Adrenaline / Break Through\" which features several stylistic changes, and truly inspired playing by guitarist Mike Keneally. Now, I have to mention, there is one section in particular in this song that defies explanation. It\'s a minute or so long bit starting at about the 0:45 mark, and it’s later reprised at about the 6 minute mark. It is a series of staccato notes that Keneally races through at a blinding pace. From what I can tell, the drumming and chord progression appears to be in a straight 4/4 time, but the melody line flies by so quickly that it appears to be jumping through several different time signatures. And lest you think that Keneally is just ad-libbing here, the reprise of the section at the 6 minute mark features Bryan playing the same riff on the bass in unison with Keneally’s guitar. It is truly a jaw-dropping bit of music, and it’s worth the price of admission all by itself.
-There are tight R&B quartet pieces like \"Greasy Wheel\" (featuring some really tight percussion from Joe Travers). The refrain of this song is highlighted by an absolutely infectious drum lick that makes great non-intrusive use of the cowbell (of all things). The album proper version of this song is a full quartet performance, with keys & guitar in addition to the drums & bass; but it\'s worth noting that the bonus DVD accompanying the CD features an outstanding live-in-studio \"trio version\" of the song with just drums, bass and guitar. Travers, Beller, and Rick Musallam really put on a clinic here. It\'s also worth noting that if you liked \"7% Grade\" from View, you\'ll like \"Greasy Wheel\". It\'s by no means a carbon copy, but there are definite rhythmic and melodic similarities between the two songs. A great tune
-There are full jazz ensemble pieces like \"Casual Lie Day\", the frenetic album closer \"From Nothing\", and the absolutely fantastic \"Blind Sideways\" (this reviewer\'s personal favorite, along with Love Terror Adrenaline). While you have to give the 10+ minute “Love Terror Adrenaline” the nod for album cornerstone, “Blind Sideways”, clocking in at just over 4 minutes, may well be the most exciting track on the album. Great chord changes in this song.
-And there is even one solo bass piece \"Life Story\". This is a very beautiful, very short piece that you would never guess without reading the liner notes that it was performed entirely with bass guitars.
The aforementioned only song with vocals, \"Play Hard\", is sung very masterfully by Jude Crossen, who shows off a very broad vocal range, moving very adeptly from a low register during the verses into a higher, pipe-stretching varied vocal melody during the refrain. It\'s got a bit of an 80’s arena-rock vibe to it, and the lyrics (which I\'m choosing to believe are over-the-top tongue-in-cheek) provide a nice giggle or two.
All in all, a terrific album. Best tracks are “Blind Sideways”, “Love Terror Adrenaline”, “Greasy Wheel”, and ”Life Story”, but there really isn’t a miss in the whole lot.
Read more...
thx n adv
author: liam tierney
to me it seems musicians spend thier almost whole life writing and recording thier first album. if it kicks ass, they are expected to repeat this moment quickly for us all to enjoy, a tough act to follow for most. bryan beller has surpassed my expectations, and hope him all the best, may the riches and good stuff come to him. thx liam t.
Read more...