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Date:         Mon, 14 Sep 1992 21:50:09 -0400
From:         "The Chrome-Plated Megaphone of Destiny"
              <ALEVIN@RCNVMS.RCN.MASS.EDU>
Subject:      The Return of the son of CD SplurgeFest

This is a long one...

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones: UFO TOFU
	Great stuff as usual from Bela and the Boys. I like this one somewhat
better than _Cosmic Hippo_. Weird, Wacky Stuff.

Roger Waters: Amused To Death
	IMHO this is the best album Waters has done since leaving Pink Floyd.
Much of the music has a rather Floydish feel (unlike _Radio Kaos_). The only
criticism I have is that:
 	A) Roger's voice appears to be deteriorating (especially on "What God
		Wants, Part I" and "Perfect Sense, Part II")
	B) The CD clocks in just over 70 minutes. IMHO it would have been
		better at 50. The last few songs aren't up to the quality
		of the rest of the tracks. I found myself looking at the track
		timer several times.
The Q-Sound system is used on this disc. It is just amazing. It makes the sound
seem to come from all around the room. At one point there is the sound of a
phone ringing which seems VERY realistic. Everyone I have talked to that has
ATD has said that they found themselves running to pick up a phone that wasn't
ringing. A quote from the liner notes:
       "To hear the Q-Sound effect you must be positioned centrally between
	the two speakers. If the dog barking at the beginning of the record
	doesn't sound like he's in the yard next door then your speakers are
	out of phase."
Yes, this is another concept album. The subject matter is the media's coverage
of war. Roger's lyrics are biting and right to the point. My favorite is "The
Bravery of Being Out of Range" which attacks laser guided missiles and
arm-chair warriors.
Jeff Beck lays down some excellent guitar work on the majority of the album.
Really soulful and bluesy. Don Henley shares vocals on "Watching TV", one of my
not-so-favorite tracks.

Peter Hammill: Room Temperature Live
	After all the reccomendations on here for PH, I finally found something
from him at Newbury Comics. This 2 disc set was recorded on his 1990 tour and
features Hammill on vocals, keyboards and guitars; Stu Gordon on violin; and
Nic Potter on bass. I didn't take to it on first listen. It's not exactly what I
expected. At times Hammill is too overemotional in his singing and seems almost
like a parody of the beatnik poet. I prefer the second disc more than the first
of the set. I really like the song "Cat's Eye/Yellow Fever (Running)". I'm
letting it grow on me, so ask me in a couple weeks...

Van Der Graaf Generator: World Record
	Well, after I picked up the above, I checked out the Hammill
discography at CS.UWP.EDU and took a reccomendation to check out his earlier
work with VDGG. I LIKE THIS! It sounds alot like 70's King Crimson. I like
Hammill's voice when he "sings" and doesn't do the over-emotional pleading bit
as on the previously reviewed album. I can't listen to this enough. I've got
to find me more VDGG!!!!!!

Brandford Marsalis: I Heard You Twice the First Time
	I picked this up after hearing a bunch of cuts on WGBH's late night
Jazz Gallery show. There are some incredible guest performances on here from
John Lee Hooker and B.B. King (who shows he can still do his thing when he's
motivated). There's a great acoustic blues called "Rib Tip
Johnson" which features Russel Malone on finger-style acoustic guitar. I
haven't heard of him before. Does anyone know anything about him? Brandford
shows a 'trane influence on "Brother Trying to Catch a Cab (On the East Side)
Blues.

Ministry: Psalm 69
	Uhh... Music to prune rose bushes with a chainsaw by...
I wish Metallica still had this much bite.


Well, that's enough for now. I'm going to hit Tower tommorow to pick up Asia's
Aqua_, Mike Oldfield's _Tubular Bells II_ and several old Hawkwind CDs which
are being released domestically tommorow.

-Adam
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