RockPaperScissors
It's been 14 years since Michael Brook did a proper solo album, Cobalt Blue, but that doesn't mean the guitarist has been absent from music. He's produced and performed on pop recordings by Julia Fordham and Jorane and made numerous albums for the Real World label, including signature releases by the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Djivan Gasparyan, and Hukwe Zawose. He's also composed and performed on film scores and was part of Hans Zimmer's soundtrack posse, contributing notably to Black Hawk Down, among others. He throws all of that into his new album, RockPaperScissors, which could've been called RockPaperScissors and Whatever, as Brook slices up a career's worth of influences and drops them in one load--albeit an elegant one. Lebanese violinist Claude Chalhoub turns in a mournful duet with Brook on "Tangerine," singer Paul Buchanan shows up on the title track, and a Bulgarian choir turns up incongruously on a dreamy, '60s style guitar instrumental, "LightStar." There are King Crimson-like guitar grooves on "3 Doges," and on "Darker Room," a spoken-word sample of Richard Burton performing Dylan Thomas's "Under Milk Wood," quoting the "Starless and bible-black" line that Crimson connoisseurs will note as the title to a one of their albums. Given Brooks's extensive work as a film composer and session artist, it makes sense that much of the disc has a cinematic quality, with many tracks featuring a full orchestra. Excepting Lisa Germano's haunting turn on "Want", the other two vocal tunes drag. Rather than honing a sound, as he did with Cobalt Blue, RockPaperScissors brims with too many ideas, as if Brook thought it might be another 14 years till his next album and he had to get it all out now. --John Diliberto more
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CDs. RockPaperScissors [Digipak] * |
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Rockpaperscissors
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Rockpaperscissors [Digipak]
Track Listing: 1. Strange Procession, 2. Want - (featuring Lisa Germano), 3. Doges, 4. Darker Room - (featuring Sir... |
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ProductReviews98/100 (4 Reviews)
Recent Reviews
- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Oct-26-2006
- Bold, Beautiful, Haunting
So compelling is this CD that on the rare occasions when the house empties, the first thing I do is turn on RockPaperScissors. It requires closer attention; one listening and you are entranced-at least I was. Then it resonates within...
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- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Aug-09-2006
- Wow.
I heard Mr. Brook on Weekend Edition, thought he sounded like a great guy and I wanted to support him and his new album he spoke so eloquently about. RPS, as I call it now, came a couple days ago, and this might be a bit cheesy, but I...
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- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Aug-01-2006
- sublime razors' edge
I am a longtime and loyal fan of Michael Brook. I believe him to be a brilliantly innovative and creative musical force. I was extremely excited when I heard he was coming out with a long overdue solo release. 'Cobalt Blue' is still one...
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- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Jul-28-2006
- Really really beautiful
The first time I listened to this new album I quite liked it but wasn't blown away. A fellow Brook fan told me to give it one more listen and as I did I was fascinated by a billion details that I'd missed on the first time around. I...
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Selected Reviews
- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Oct-26-2006
- Bold, Beautiful, Haunting
So compelling is this CD that on the rare occasions when the house empties, the first thing I do is turn on RockPaperScissors. It requires closer attention; one listening and you are entranced-at least I was. Then it resonates within...
- read full review | report as inappropriate
