Pat Metheny is one of my favourite Jazz fusion guitarists. This is his latest album which was released this year.
It wasn't actually even intended to be a proper album, he was basically just sitting at home one night and improvising on a baritone guitar.
There were no special recording studios or anything, just him with a guitar and a mic.
There is an incredibly raw sound to the album and as if he is there playing in the same room as you (reminiscent of the same feel of Paul Weller's 'Wild Wood').
The music is very relaxing to listen to and would probably be pretty easy to fall asleep whilst it was playing.
Pat Metheny is probably my favourite Jazz guitarist although I have heard a few others John Mclaughlin, Joe Pass, Johnny Smith, Django Reinhardt.
I have a lot of Pat Metheny's albums (around 15 or so), other good ones are 'Bright Size Life', 'The Way Up' & 'Question & Answer' (With Dave Holland & Roy Haynes). I have heard most of them though & so far havent really heard a bad album from him.
I have loads and loads of Miles Davis but this album has a real classy soothing sound to Miles' playing that I have yet to hear on any other album. (definitely most evident at the start of the opening title track). Also I think the album has a slight cool jazz feel to it.
This isnt necessarily my favourite (likely to be 'On The Corner' or 'Doo Bop') but it stands out for having a distinctive sound compared to any of his other playing Ive ever heard.
The name of the album, 'Round About Midnight', is also very suitable as I think
mostly all Jazz is best listened to late at night & I hardly ever listen to it during the day.
This is a Rush album from 1993. I now have all the most obvious albums: '2112', 'Farewell To Kings','Moving Pictures', 'Permanent Waves', 'Caress Of Steel' so moved on to get 'Roll The Bones' (1990) which was alright but its since Ive bought 'Snakes & Arrows', 'Vapour Trails' & 'Counterparts' that I've really been amazed at just how good their later stuff is, also I find it surprisingly heavier than any of their stuff Ive ever heard in the past.
My favourite tracks on this album are 'Animate', 'Nobody's Hero' , 'Cut The Chase', 'Alien Shore'. I dont think theres a bad track on the album TBH.
I think the opening lyrics to 'Animate' are excellent:
'Polarize me
Sensitize me
Criticize me
Civilize me
Compensate me
Animate me
Complicate me
Elevate me'
Also the other lyrics are excellent especially:
Goddess in my garden
Sister in my soul
Angel in my armor
Actress in my role
Daughter of a demon lover
Empress of the hidden face
Priestess of the pagan mother
Ancient queen of inner space
Jeez, I aint much other songs with so many excellent lyrics in them.
This, 'Vapour Trails' (2002), is the first 'recent' Rush album i bought (just before I got Snakes & Arrows).
Again what I was most surprised about this album was the surprising increase in heaviness Ive noticed in their latest works.
Also there is a lot of good drumming on this album and really showcases their technical ability (as if it needs showcasing) (just check out the drum intro to the first track 'One Little Victory'.
This album I dont think is
completely solid throughout though, I think there are a couple of tracks near the end that are a bit mediocre but they might grow on me yet.