WIRED

Another highly acclaimed album from Beck, but I never understood why it was so highly regarded. Yes this album is probably the utmost of technicality in terms of guitar playing: Beck almost goes out of his way just to make things more complicated, but this album is colder than the South pole in the dead of winter. Actually I find it very easy to pinpoint where things went wrong on this album (even if I am the only thinking so). The fact that only two players played almost all the instruments (and of course the usual studio guest), this doesn't make a group effort, but a Beck showcase with little else than pure pretension and virtuoso ideals. Such were the times where DiMeola and others thrived to play faster than McLaughlin (the obvious target), and in the process of trying to emulate him forgot to play the instrument and came out as soulless.

While Beck made some bold cover choice (Pork Pie Hat???), I can't say that his gambling is paying off. Most of these tracks are sounding way too calculated and the best one around (Blue Wind by a mile ahead) is much better in its live form two years later. Spohie and Come Dancing are pure bore IMHO, and the closing Love Is Green just a filler.

Possibly one of jr/f's most over-rated albums around with its predecessor, and strangely enough, many fans forget the upcoming Live album. Again, I'd like to stress I stand in a minority regarding this album, so please don't blindly follow me on these two, make your own mind on them. For this album however, I will stoop lower than the three stars, because I think it is reserved for dedicated fans only.

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