Search - Vernon Reid :: Mistaken Identity

Vernon stretches out!

F.N. Wright | Philadelphia, PA United States | 09/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the album I had hoped Vernon would make all along. I first discovered the man on Ronald Shannon Jackson's "Barbeque Dog" and had been keeping my eye on him since before Living Colour was formed. While I LOVE Living Colour, this album shows the guitar master really pushing the boundaries of creativity like I was waiting for him to do. He's not relegated to packing his solos into 10 second flurries; he really lets the lines flow. The DJing and bass clarinet, along with the super phat beats, really complement his playing nicely. I'm glad he kept it instrumental too (save for one or two raps, and some funny interludes) as his melodies are strong enough on their own. This album should be getting the credit that Satriani and Vai always get. It's way more creative and progressive than their stuff. I've played this album for different friends who are into rock, funk, rap, jazz, whatever, and everyone always asks "What is this? This is great!" Also, this is not easy to find in regular record stores. So get it here, now! THIS IS VERNON AT HIS BEST! I hope he makes another solo album soon."

All-star cast, brilliant performances

Worgelm | United States | 08/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With names like Prince Paul, Teo Macero, actor Lawrence Fishburne, and even virtual reality pioneer Jared Lanier, you know you are in for either a big-time failed experiment, or something special. Thankfully its the latter. Oh is it ever the latter. The band (initially called Masque) contains a drummer, a DJ, a bassist, an alto sax/clarinet player, a rapper named Beans in an evening chair, and some guy in a lab coat playing some kind of freaky ambient midi instrument called a Samchillian Tip Tip Cheepee. I've seen this band live twice, once opening for King Crimson and once opening for Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel, and both times they came off as a coherent and mighty live force, not a ragged thrown-together ensemble of session musicians (okay they were a bit ragged). The music is wildly formed, and raw, with dabblings in reggae, blues, fusion, hard rock, rap, but with elemental roots in funk. The biggest crime you could have besides not buying the album in general, is not buying the album because you think its chock full of Reid's trademark faster-than-hell shredding. There's moments of pure shred joy here, to be sure, but overall its a very tastefully restrained performance turned in by Reid. Check out "You Say He's Just a Psychic Friend" for a hot turn by Chubb Rock, the passionate and sympathetic ode to Kurt Cobain "Saint Cobain", the tastefully jazzy side of Reid on "Mysterious Power" and "My Last Nerve" (the latter showcasing the aformentioned Cheepee-thing), and the flat out power soloing of "Mistaken Identity". On top of that, you get some genuinely amusing skits in between some of the songs. This is a nearly flawless record."

I dig Vernon Reid

Jorge Barbarosa | the back 9 | 03/22/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I really dig Vernon Reid, his touch and style on his instrument is very tasteful. This is a good release... but the DJ scratching is REALLY getting tired. Ain't there nothing new happening out there! This is like drinking yesterdays wine, I'm ready for something fresh not phat. But Vernon, you're pure gold and I have the faith that innovation comes from artists like you. By the way, really dug your performance with Fogerty and Billy Bob Klintoon..."