Hey in case you're interested, here's my review of the new double album by Marco Minneman:
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When I was 13 years old, The Beatles released a revolutionary self-titled double record that came to be known as the White Album. As revolutionary as we were getting used to each new Beatles album being, this one was twice as long and overflowing with new sounds, vistas and moods. I spent hours, weeks, months sitting and listening to it, enthralled by the many worlds it took me to and the abundance of feelings it evoked. You could say that, since that time, many great bands at the peak of their careers have released timeless double records of seemingly perfect anthems to wed themselves to your soul for a lifetime and you'd be correct. But as great as some of these opuses are, none of them have ever made me feel like I was 13 again hearing the White Album. And neither has the new Marco Minneman double CD called Borrego. But it comes really close.
When I was presented with a copy of this set I was eagerly expecting an assortment of hot drumming, maybe tinges of metal, prog rock and fusion and the flavors of some of his higher profile collaborators like UK, Satriani, etc. And I got that. In the first song or two and sprinkled throughout the album. But I also got some things I wasn't anticipating at all. Lots of things. Glorious, hitherto unheard varieties, all delivered with a childlike sense of wonder permeating the tunes, one new view after another, calling me back to listen again and again. No, it's not the Beatles, but it's similarly hook-laden, edgy, exploratory rock that keeps surprising as it entertains. Had the Beatles been composed of Mike Keneally, Reeves Gabrels and David Torn then yeah, this could be a Beatles album. It is borne out of a boundless musical imagination given free reign to soar and embodies all that has happened in great rock. And super drummer Marco has played every instrument on it himself besides a small handful of guest appearances in an astonishing display of musicality.
Some of you will buy this because it features great artistic splashes by Alex Lifeson and Joe Satriani. And you won't be disappointed! But I invite everyone who craves that place where two unexpected but familiar friends meet and invent something that never was before to buy it, swim in it, surf it, revel in it. Cuz double albums like this don't come along often, but when they do....
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