Enter his world if you may.....
B. Rosenthal | North Bergen, NJ United States | 03/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I finally pulled the trigger on Mr.Salomon's band - The Bevis Frond, very obscure indeed. Which of course is a good thing. The UK has given us music buffs many a songwriting hero, esp in their latter days, e.g Paul Weller, Robyn Hitchcock, Martin Newell, Julian Cope to name a few, what do we have here in their heydey Billy Joel, Springsteen, please! those loads bite hard. Anyway, Hit Squad rocks, pure & simple, the opening track is one of many memorable ditties and the real standout is 'Through the Hedge, truly amazing - aside from the last two tunes - one being a 'black dog' re-write - puke! This is incredibly consistent and fun album, With an unmatched arsenal of albums in the can, I have a distinct feeling I'll be back for more debauchery with the Bevis Frond.
"
TAKE A HIT SQUAD...
t'amant | WA | 04/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This guy is a raw nerve of God! I haven't had this one long (this is the 9th BF cd added to my collection, so I have some previous appreciation to add), but my earliest readings are HELL YES! 18 songs here, nearly all hook you in some fashion; guitar, harmony/melody, lyrics, or the excellent drumming. Speaking of drumming, Nick was pretty decent way back when and Andy Ward is one of the greats, but Jules Fenton puts his stamp on this great album as well. I'm trying to drum often lately and I had much fun listening and learning from this guy. Beauty needs to be appreciated and ugliness pointed out! The killer guitar instinct comes ripping through every song, grasping you in it's talons for the duration (Paul Simmons also adding guitar here) - it's rather ugly the way NS picks at the morsels of your consciousness in such an inate, free-flowing but methodical way (I'm a guitar player so it is my pleasure being the lab rat). Some may not think it fits (my 15 yr old son is a BF fan too but balks at horns in rock songs), but trumpets bring a new exotic/jazzy flavoring on a couple of songs, I like! Is that NS's now older daughter Debbie singing here and there - from drumming a little (as a toddler) on Triptych to this - SWEET! Yes, you've got to love this if you're half a rocker (often utilizes headblasting lead tone and slamming power chords, classic RUSH and Robin Trower oddly come to mind?), but the emotional, reflective song-writing also are just as compelling. I am a sucker for power wah, Vox organ and shimmering tremolo, call me old-school.
We are fortunate when musicians with something great to contribute keep it all going with so many excellent albums (for our mutual benefit) ... gladly, the Valedictory stage passed, and that great album wasn't the end ... this beast keeps on truckin'. Would you have tired of Hendrix or SRV had they been able to continue creating? Favorites so far: #1, #3 (one of his best ever), #4, #5 (title song, picture Brian Setzer in a Batman episode), #7, #8, #11, #12, #14, #15, #16, #18 (signature BIG ending - BF stands for Bevis Floyd). They all kick ... there are so many highlights it isn't worth getting into really, you'll have to see if you disagree I guess! I'm sure even the ones left off above will be rooted in me eventually, that is the case with previous albums (update: DAMN, they already are ... doesn't take long). By the way, if you are a musician and like to jam/float along with high energy, psychedelic but beautifully melodic musical mazes, on whatever instrument, you will probably have a blast practicing to this (get out the wah-wah and be taken to school). Bevis Frond and Nick Saloman are criminally absent from the collective consciousness, help remedy the situation (for your own edification at least) and get ahold of this ASAP. 78:40 min, including a nice booklet with all lyrics and funny artwork. I would say trust me, but that seems like a lot to ask these days where no two people seem to agree on anything ... TRUST ME ANYWAY- THIS ROCKS (as do his other albums - no, I'm not the 20th pundit - just sharing thoughts on music that interests me)!
Thanks BF for carrying the torch (and being true to your musical vision/sound) through the mamby/pambient, techno gangsta, marketing shinola music phase the world is stuck in right now. Someone with pointy ears, concerned for the needs of the many, once said to a guy named Bones (mind meld): "REMEMBER!", before perishing in the toxic atmosphere. Even if you end up being the only one left, and it drives you frickin' insane, at least the seed is still planted. May it bloom again..."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1