The Bruised Romantic Glee Club, Jakko M. Jakszyk | Iceni (2006)
By John Kelman

He’s been around for three decades, but British guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Jakko M. Jakszyk has operated below the radar for the most part. His biggest break in visibility was touring with Level 42 in the early 1990s, but in recent years he’s better-known as the guitarist/vocalist for the 21st Century Schizoid Band, a collective of King Crimson alumni who have revived material from that band’s early years.

He’s also recorded material as a leader, but much of it remains unreleased, making The Bruised Romantic Glee Club, his first proper solo album, well worth the wait.

While being in 21CSB requires him to be inherently Fripp-centric, Jakszyk grew up in England a fan of other progressive bands including Soft Machine, Hatfield and the North and Henry Cow. His songwriting and playing clearly reflect those influences, but the second disc of this two-disc set pays direct homage, where he covers material by Crimson, Henry Cow and Soft Machine.

Jakszyk also enlists a who’s who of the British progressive scene, including Robert Fripp and Hugh Hopper, along with 21CSB-mates Ian MacDonald, Mel Collins and Ian Wallace.

Perhaps most significant is Jakszyk’s recruitment of ex-Hatfield keyboardist Dave Stewart for over a third of the tracks, despite Stewart’s determined avoidance of the trappings of progressive rock for many years.

The first disc focuses on Jakszyk’s own writing—a series of largely autobiographical songs whose complexity and diverse instrumentation place them firmly in the progressive camp, but with a refreshing pop sensibility and utter lack of pretension. Jakszyk’s voice conveys deeply felt emotions without resorting to extravagance or melodrama.
The arrangements are detailed, but not at the expense of a melodism that reflects Jakszyk’s longstanding interest and occasional participation in the Canterbury scene.

Jakszyk’s guitar work on this disc is even more impressive than his playing with 21CSB, because here he reveals more of himself. There are elements of Fripp, Allan Holdsworth and even a touch of Phil Miller, but all subsumed in an approach that leans towards greater overall lyricism. He’s a virtuosic player, capable of ranging from the powerful intensity of “Catley’s Ashes” to the David Sylvian-like ambience of “When We Go Home.”

While “Pictures of an Indian City,” his Indian-inflected take on King Crimson’s “Pictures of a City,” is a little too clever for its own good, the rest of the cover material is surprisingly strong. Reverent but more polished than its source, Jakszyk reworks Fred Frith’s “Nirvana for Mice,” replacing horns with layers of guitars. Hearing Stewart tackle Soft Machine’s “As Long as He Lies Perfectly Still” makes one wish he’d get back in the game.

Despite its bevy of guests, Jakszyk’s multilayered multi-instrumentalism keeps The Bruised Romantic Glee Club firmly focused. That we’re the sum total of our experiences is a given, but by blending his own work with interpretations of seminal influences, Jakszyk demonstrates how he has reached where he is today, in the clearest of terms.

I’ll have to admit that before hearing this album, I wasn’t all that familiar with Jakko Jakszyk. I’m also embarrassed to say that I haven’t heard the 21st Century Schizoid Band but I was aware that he was their singer and guitarist. I was also under the impression that he was quite a bit younger too. I’m not sure why I thought that but after checking out his web site I found that he is indeed a veteran performer, having been in several groups over the years including Level 42, Rapid Eye Movement (with Dave Stewart and Pip Pyle), Dizrhythmia, and The Lodge (which featured John Greaves and Peter Blegvad of Henry Cow).

I guess that over the years he’s made friends with some very important people because the musician list on his new album is quite impressive.
Included on here are some legendary musicians like Mel Collins, Robert Fripp, Hugh Hopper, Dave Stewart, Ian McDonald, Ian Wallace, John Giblin and Clive Brooks just to name a few. Of course assembling a cast like this would be all for naught if the music wasn’t up to snuff, So let’s just see if Jakko’s album can cut it.

First off, The Bruised Romantic Glee Club is a double CD set that contains plenty of music to digest. Jakko states in the liner notes that the two discs are somewhat different. The first being songs about his life and the second being the soundtrack to his life as he was growing up. Disc two contains several cover versions, more about them later in the review.

Some of the music on here brought to mind the neo prog stuff from the 80s. Jakko’s voice reminds me quite a bit of Nick Barrett and the melancholy of a few tracks made me almost immediately thing of Pendragon. I’m not complaining because I really like Pendragon. For those of you that don’t, you’re in luck because the whole album is not all like that. The styles vary greatly from track to track, at one point he could be doing something rather conservative and in the next few minutes there will be an avant-garde moment or something classical.
There are a few tracks on here that have an ambient pop vibe and I’m reminded of David Sylvian or No-Man.

The musicianship here is top-notch. Jakko plays almost more keyboards than guitar. There’s mostly piano but there are also some mellotronish spots as well. Mel Collins lays down some truly nice sax and flute throughout both discs. The drummer for most of the album is Gavin Harrison who many reading this will know from his involvement with Porcupine Tree. The percussion work throughout the album is very vibrant and really enhances the music. Robert Fripp appears on two tracks here. On “Forgiving” he contributes both soundscapes and lead guitar. Although there are lots of great guest appearances, my favorite moment on disc one would have to be the track “Srebrenica”. This is an uncontrolled soundtrack piece where Jakko plays all the instruments.

As I mentioned before, the second disc contains mostly cover versions of songs that were very important to Jakko in his youth. There’s a Soft Machine track, two King Crimson tunes and…brace yourself…two from Henry Cow! The song “As Long as He Lies Perfectly Still” is take from Soft Machine’s Volume Two album and features a killer lineup with Dave Stewart (who plays keyboards on most of disc two), Hugh Hopper and Clive Brooks. Wouldn’t it be nice if these guys could do a whole album together, because this song is just too short!

The version of Crimso’s “Pictures of a City” takes on an Indian theme with sitars and features tabla played by Pandit Dinesh. This is quite a bit different than the original version and comes across as one of the more memorable tracks on the album. “Islands” is much more faithful and features Ian Wallace and Mel Collins who were there the first time around. I’ve been putting it off but these pieces make me want to hear the 21st Century Schizoid Band CDs.

The Henry Cow stuff came as a complete surprise and even more surprising is how good they sound. Although not quite as edgy and intense as the originals, it’s great to hear someone tackle this stuff.
Gavin Harrison’s drumming on “Nirvana For Mice” is totally insane and the arrangement and programming on “The Citizen King” is breathtaking.

These tracks on disc two make this album worth picking up.

The end piece is a short tape that Jakko dug up from his archives. It’s a sort of musique concrète bit recorded on a Revox A77 when he was 15.
It’s a nice weird little way to end the album. One thing I really appreciated about this release is that Jakko added his comments to every track in the liner notes. Also the performance credits are given in detail for each song. It may seem like a minor detail but it really makes a difference when you’re listening to the album and get an insight to its creation.

While I probably wouldn’t have gone out looking for this one, I’m really glad that I got the opportunity to hear it. The Bruised Romantic Glee Club not only contains some beautifully personal moments but also some terrific interpretations of a few timeless classics. The material here is quite accessible but also diverse enough to hold a picky listener’s attention. There’s a lot more on here that I didn’t even get to in my review. I suggest you pick up a copy of this for yourself to get the full picture.

I suspect the name of Jakko M. Jakszyk will not have rang too many bells with our readers, and I must admit that my previous encounters with Mr Jakszyk are confined to when he toured with Level 42 in the early 90's, following the death of the excellent Alan Murphy and replacing the somewhat misplaced Allan Holdsworth. And of course those familiar with the 21st Century Schizoid Band may well be more acquainted with the name, however Jakszyk's career extends back over a considerable period of time and although his name has bubbled a little under the surface, it still is impressive. A detailed history can be found on his website.

So with the intensity of the modern Christmas festivities, something slightly different to my usual digest of complex prog was needed, and it arrived in the form of The Bruised Romantic Glee Club. The title gives a little indication as to the music - "Romantic", but please don't be put off by this word, as the music here is cleverly written, sophisticated, polished and with a blend of instrumentation that both captivates the mood whilst leading us away from a purely sentimental journey. Jakszyk's Canterbury roots are evident throughout the two CDs
- and again I know to many, the mere mention of the Canterbury scene is a turn-off, but I urge you to delve a little deeper here.

Now there is way, way too much music to cover in this review, so I shall firstly split the the album into CD One and CD Two and then take a brief look at some of the tracks that most impressed me. Having said this I have warmed to all the music now and so this may be slightly trickier than I think it's going to be. Disc One contains predominately Jakszyk's self penned material and features a clever mix of his Canterbury influences, with pop sensibilities and a healthy smattering of prog ideals. No better demonstrated than in the opening title track.

Catchy vocal hooklines, gentle interludes on both flute and saxophone - the latter flowing into a great solo section towards the end of the track - courtesy of Mel Collins. The brief string and wind instrumental Variations On A Theme By Holst sits nicely, and before the excellent Catley's Ashes. Collins' is on top form again and blends in well with Jakszyk's impressive and fluid guitar work. Not surprisingly the rhythm section of Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree) and Mark King works really well too.

Following these strong opening tracks is the Celtic inspired When Peggy Came Home which in turn leads into possibly the album's most plausible single (edited down to around three minutes of course) - Highgate Hill.

And then Robert Fripp provides the soundscapes for the dreamy Forgiving... Well I've briefly covered the first half of the album and to be honest the material just keeps flowing. Delicate instrumentals interspersed with more stridently arranged songs. All concludes for CD One with the beautiful When We Go Home. Fripp on guitar, multi-layered voices from Suzanne Barbieri and the Jakszyk family...

Disc Two pays homage to Jakszyk's formative years and encompasses both Canterburian and Crimsonesque in this tribute to his past. Soft Machine’s As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still/That Still And Pefect Summer/Astral Projection In Pinner pleasantly opens the album. Although the Easternised make-over here of King Crimsons' Pictures Of A City did little for me. Fred Frith's quirky but enjoyable Nirvana For Mice gets a bit of guitar work-out, however the jewel in the crown for this disc has to be KC's Islands... great to hear Dave Stewart - wonderful stuff indeed.

And that's it for this review... well perhaps a quick mention of the excellent production and sympathetic art-work. And perhaps a list of the line-up: Mel Collins, Robert Fripp, Mark King, Danny Thompson, Gavin Harrison, Hugh Hopper, Dave Stewart, Ian MacDonald, Ian Wallace, John Giblin, Gary Barnacle, Clive Brooks, Pandit Dinesh, Caroline Lavelle... (and that's just from the album cover.)

I should add that my initial attraction to the CD was borne from the impressive cast of musicians Mr Jakszyk had assembled for this release and the quality of the packaging. However once CD One started playing the music just spoke for itself, proving to be a pleasant musical ending to the year and an album I feel sure will feature in my top ten for 2006. The Bruised Romantic Glee Club has appeared with little in the way of pomp or ceremony and that is a real shame, as it certainly deserves to be heard by a wider audience. Perhaps a little to "progressive" to find a mainstream audience, but certainly an album well worth investigating. I struggled to review this album purely and simply as I each time I sat down to write some words I found I just wanted to listen to the music... does it need any greater recommendation?
Conclusion: 8.5 out of 10

ROBIN SLICK: IN HER OWN WRITE

And because he knows I'm a total music freak, Sid Smith of DGM Live sent me the new CD by Jakko M. Jakszyk, which is called Bruised Romantic Glee Club. If you click on that link, you'll hear the title cut which absolutely blew me away and I've written to Sid and asked if I can get a download to put on my blog so that you can have a listen every time you come and visit me and read my daily ramblings, in which I'd like to include a more comprehensive review. But as a tease for now, get a load of who else contributes to this almost other-wordly
recording:

Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree), acoustic bassist Danny Thompson (Pentangle, John Martyn), sax and flute from Mel Collins (King Crimson, Roger Waters) electric bass from Mark King (Level 42) piano & keyboards from Dave Stewart (ex-Hatfield & The North), drummer Ian Wallace (King Crimson, Bob Dylan), Soft Machine bassist, Hugh Hopper, ex-Egg drummer, Clive Brooks and guitarist Robert Fripp (King Crimson).

What strikes me the most about Bruised Romantic Glee Club is that it's full of surprise. You may be lulled by a magnificent, classical keyboard piece and if you are like me, drift into that pleasant dream-like state...then the tempo suddenly changes and the music will really rock out. The songwriting is amazing and as evidenced by the stellar list of musicians who contributed to this effort, this is really a must buy CD. In fact, if you are so inclined, you can purchase it right here.

So thank you, Sid, for being so very awesome and sending me this masterpiece all the way from England.

As I received the album of Jakko M Jakszyk on the day before Christmas I looked for further info on this artist. I knew of him from the Mustard Gas And Roses album with two members of Japan, Mick Karn and Richard Barbieri (Porcupine Tree) and Danny Thompson, Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree), and Sam Brown.

I also knew Jakszyk from Kingdom Of Dust, a 4 track album which very much follows the sound of Japan (and includes Richard Barbieri, Steve Jansen and Mick Karn). Jakszyk was also a member of the 21th Century Schizoid Band - known for their King Crimson tributes.

So... what am I to expect from this solo work???

The first song really was something quit different. An excellent song with Mel Collins on Flute and a sax solo like he played on Fish out of Water, the Chris Squire solo work. This song set me on the tip of my chair and grabbed my reading glasses to read to 12 page booklet.?

Second song is a classical piece with violin and flute.Third song i know from his work with 21th Century Schizoid Band; FUSION ROCK with a capital, at his best with an excellent bass groove?

Following songs tell his life story with allmost easy listening, relaxing tempo with ambient sounds. The more uptempo songs have world or fusion ellements From Web page press release:

Reading like a who’s who of the best and most innovative musicians from the UK music scene of the last 30 years they include drummer Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree), acoustic bassist Danny Thompson (Pentangle, John Martyn), sax and flute from Mel Collins (King Crimson, Roger
Waters) electric bass from Mark King (Level 42) piano & keyboards from Dave Stewart (ex-Hatfield & The North), drummer Ian Wallace (King Crimson, Bob Dylan), Soft Machine bassist, Hugh Hopper, ex-Egg drummer, Clive Brooks and guitarist Robert Fripp (King Crimson) The Bruised Romantic Glee Club is a nicely packaged 2 CD set.

CD1 is called Now and is auto-biographical and relates the story of Jakszyk's birth mother, adopted parents, his childhood and music. It is very personal stuff and reading the booklet very touching and sentimental.

CD 2 is called Then and is made up of the songs of Wyatt/ Ratledge, Stewart, Fripp, Sinfield, Firth, Hodginson. (Soft machine/ Hatfield and North/ Henry Cow/ King Crimson) All great stuff and well produced.
Music that influenced Jakko.

Jakszyk invited a lot of his friends to celebrate this personal story and - in my case, Christmas 2006. With friends to share this wonderful music and lyrics and paying tribute to the ones we love,(Parents) The Bruised Romantic Glee Club is clearly one of the best album this (and the coming) year.

Jakszyk, Jakko M: The Bruised Romantic Glee Club

It's easy to approach this CD with a boatload of preconceptions, especially given Mr. Jakszyk's now legendary ability to play the Fripp part as guitarist of the 21st Century Schizoid Band. Probably best to set those aside for a few hours and get acquainted with something quite different from the Schizoid and the associations that adhere thereto.

The first disk offers mostly originals from Jakszyk along with a collaborative piece featuring Jakszyk and Fripp. The music embraces a wide range of expression and is anything but guitar-centric (this is true for the whole album). The goal seems to be one of playing with a number of different forms -- not unlike the rock to jazz to "classical"
compositional palette of King Crimson -- and finding a way to reconcile all and everyone with an overriding concern for good, solid music. And he comes pretty close to accomplishing this, but with a much softer edge than the influences of King Crimson might imply.

By the time we reach this track -- titled "Forgiving" -- there are really quite strong jazz-like inflections present that call to memory the sort of lovely, off-center sensibility exemplified in pieces like Bowie's recent "Bring Me the Disco King".

The second CD might be considered a tribute to some of the most deserving music from the original progressive scene. In his lengthy liner notes, Jakszyk details the influences this music has had upon him since his first exposure to it. While it's hard to immediately see how this influence is wrought on the preceding disk, anyone with an even casual exposure to the early Canterbury scene and the formative years of King Crimson will experience more than a twinge of the still living past. His choices are expert to say the least -- just scan the track listings below. And given the overall tone the only cover that might be considered "missing" is David Sylvian's "Nostalgia". This music comes from a time of more clearly etched purpose and promise. And there are few songs in any time or place that still have the lyric force of Tim Hodgkinson's "The Citizen King". A song which, if anything, seems even truer today. But the fact is that the pieces performed here were generally so tightly written that they leave only small spaces for interpretation. Jakszyk shows the requisite respect, usually applying his interpretative skill to the closing moments which allow him to stretch out once the formal work of performing the piece as written has been completed.

This double package represents an enormous amount of effort, especially given its intimate tone.

The fact that so much space is given to that which so influenced him is an especially generous gesture and acknowledgment of all that comes before.

Reviewer: Kerry Leimer

Disc one is a suite of songs dealing with loss, passage of time, life changes, forgiveness and acceptance. It is joyeously melancholic without becoming lugubrious, and like his earlier "The Road to Ballina"
features sophisticated melodies and orchestration to tell a sobering story. Music so gravitas is rarely this pleasant to listen to, with stirring themes, excellent solos from guitar, sax and piano, and tempered, well-sung lyrics. A who's who of British prog-rock legends aid the effort -- Robert Fripp, Mel Collins, Dave Stewart, Hugh Hopper, Clive Brooks, John Giblin and others -- although the guide tracks by Jakszyk and drummer Gavin Harrison are more-than-equal to the company.

And that's just disc one.

Disc two, the liner notes inform us, consists of songs that "had an enormous effect on me back in the 1970s" from Henry Cow, Soft Machine and King Crimson. With the aid of the same stellar cast of musical guests, these tracks provide nothing less than a revisitation and update of some of the vast legacy of British progressive rock. "Comfort food" for the ears, yes, but also a hopeful look forward, a celebration of the best in life and the good that can come of less-than-ideal circumstances.

Albums I Liked in 2006

New Albums

David Gilmour - On An Island
Francoise Hardy - Parentheses
Frost* - Milliontown
Grandaddy - Just Like the Fambly Cat
Jakko M Jakszyk - The Bruised Romantic Glee Club (2CD)

Mathilde Santing - Under Your Charms Mogwai - Mr Beast Muse - Black Holes and Revelations OK Go - Oh No Pet Shop Boys – Fundamental (2CD) Scissor Sisters - Ta Dah!
Sparks - Hello Young Lovers
Spock's Beard - Spock's Beard
The Church - Uninvited Like the Clouds
The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel (2CD)
The Killers - Sam's Town
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Tool - 10,000 Days
Wetton/Downes - Icon II Rubicon

I have a copy of it, but I WILL purchase it soon. It's one damn fine disc. A perfect mix of the 70's sound with some updated songwriting, as well as some old KC mixed in. No real surprise due to JJ's connection to 21st Century Schizoid Band. I've yet to sit down and listen through completely, but it's the best thing I've heard this year.... Great thread, more later.

I very much go with Danbo, TBRGC is the best prog album I've heard this year. The first of the 2 CDs of this album contains new material, very much a sophisticated development of his earlier albums - and boy what a who's who of Canterbury and Krimson alumni  plus the great Danny Thompson guesting. CD2 is mostly excellent covers of influential tunes from Jakko's past, Soft Machine, Henry Cow and of course King Crimson.

Jakko has been around a long time, and through a number of bands that are also worth a visit: 64 Spoons (essential), Level 42 (as Holdsworth's replacement - hence a distinct Holdsworthian style of guitar playing by Jakko heard on TBRGC - BTW wonder why  both Holdsworth and Jakko are  not represented on the recent Level 42 compilation album?), Tom Robinson, 21st Century Schizoid Band (he was the band's leader!!), plus a lot of solo albums. Solo albums also find some excellent musical companions, e.g. all Japan minus David Sylvian, a musical play first heard on BBC Radio 3, etc.. Jakko can't survive on 21st Century Schizoid  sales and gigs, so like a lot of established musicians writes and makes music for industry (e.g. from advertising jingles to corporate sales events).

A Place in the Queue by Tangent

Revolution Road by Rocket Scientists

Amputechture by Mars Volta

The Dark Third by Pure Reason Revolution

Spock's Beard by Spock's Beard

The Bruised Romantic Glee Club by Jakko M Jakszyk

10,000 Days by Tool

Paradox Hotel by Flower Kings

In the post this morning was a copy of Jakko Jakszyk's 'The Bruised Romantic Glee Club'. It's a thing of wonder and beauty and I recommend it to every Jakko Jakszyk's The Bruised Romantic Glee Club, is my prog album of the year and by a mile - with an outstanding cast of support players: Dave Stewart, Ian McDonald, Danny Thompson, Robert Fripp, Mark King, Hugh Hopper, Mel Collins, etc. Some of Jakko's Holdsworthian playing, e.g. on the heart-felt 'Srebrenica', is superb. Honourable mention: Umphrey's McGee latest.

I would always refrain from labeling something as 'best of the year' - but I say it's fabulous. Jakko is just SOOO talented, not to mention funny and self effacing (apparently these are common British habits).

fidthekid

1 The Beatles
Love (2006)

2 The Hidden Cameras
Awoo (2006)

3 Tom Waits

One From the Heart

4 Steve Hackett
Wild Orchids (Special Edition) (2006)

5 Jakko Jakszyk
The Bruised Romantic Glee Club (2006)

6 Bass Communion v Muslimgauze
bcvsmgcd (2006) [Compilation]

7 Mick Karn
Three Part Species (2006)

8 Robin Guthrie
Continental (2006)

9 Morrissey
Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006)

10 Opeth
Still Life

Studio M Live
Top 10 2006

1. Richard Butler, Richard Butler

2. Tom Petty, Highway Companion

3. The Who, Endless Wire

4. Isis, In The Absence Of Truth

5. GPS, Window To The Soul

6. Saga, Trust

7. Ray Davies, Other People's Lives

8. David Gilmour, On An Island

9. Adrian Belew, Side Three

10. Jakko Jakszk, Bruised Romantic Glee Club

Afterglow

Arjan Bom Top 5 albums 2006

1 The Tangent - A Place in the Queue?
2 Magenta - Home / The New York Suite?
3 Jakko M. Jakszyk - The Bruised Romantic Glee Club

4 The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel

5 Frost - Milliontown

JoJo Top Ten albums 2006

1 Areknamès - Love Hate Round Trip

2 Hypnos 69 - Eclectic Measure

3 Devin Townsend - Synchestra

4 OSI - Free

5 Jakko M. Jakszyk - The Bruised Romantic Glee Club

6 Mangrove - Coming Back to Live

7 La Maschera di Cera - Luc Ade

8 Ozric Tentacles - The Floor´s Too Far Away

9 White Willow - Signal to Noise

10 Wicked Minds - Witchflower???

Group: Members
Posts: 42
Joined: 3-November 06
Member No.: 910

Has anyone else heard this because I think its fantastic!

For those of you that don't know the name Jakko Jakszyk is/was (not sure of the status here) the lead vocalist/guitarist in the 21st Century Schizoid Band. This was mostly a band of King Crimson alumni that toured and played various live songs from King Crimson's albums released between 1969 and 1972. I always thought of this band as more than a tribute band but not quite a full band since they concentrated mainly on King Crimson's output.

Anyway Jakko has just released a 2 CD set called the Bruised Romantic Glee Club. This is an album of originals (first CD) and various covers (2nd disc). Soundwise its vary much in jazz rock/Canterbury type prog territory although almost all of the original pieces are songs not instrumentals. Jakko has some great people playing with him as well
including:

Gavin Harrrison - Drummer with Porcupine Tree Mel Collins - KC's sax player from 1969-72 and with the 21CSB Hugh Hopper - Ex Soft Machine Robert Fripp Dave Stewart - Ex Egg, Hatfield and the North and National Health

All in all well worth checking especially if you like bands from the Cantebury scene and early King Crimson.

Hanger
Nov 4 2006, 12:09 PM
Post #2

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 2-November 06
Member No.: 741

One my albums of the year,infact ive just voted for it on my Classic
Rock Society Best of 2006 form.A close run thing with Frost*
Milliontown.

thirtytwocharactersehthatsalot
Nov 5 2006, 04:49 PM
Post #3

Group: Members
Posts: 18
Joined: 5-November 06
Member No.: 1,162

... and if you like ex-64 Spoons and Level 42 guitarists. What is it
about all these bloody numbers?

SnazzyJazzyJ
Nov 11 2006, 03:04 PM
Post #4

Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 31-October 06
Member No.: 334

Thanks for starting this thread - I hadn't been aware that this album
was in the pipeline and picked it up as soon as I saw this news. Having
listened to it 3 or 4 times now I can say that this truly is a
wonderful album but I suspect it won't get anywhere near the attention
it deserves. I've been a Jakko fan for years and this is by far his
best work, with some absolutely amazing performances from all the
players involved. The drumming on this album is sheer class and the man
himself plays some killer guitar. Anyone out there that's interested
should check out the interviews section of www.jakko.com as you can
here loads of excerpts from the songs (and there's some damn fine songs
as well as great playing) as well as the interviews.