BEFORE AND AFTER SCIENCE

Quite possibly my favorite non-Ambient Brian Eno album as "Julie with..." and "By This River" remain two of my all-time favorite songs and the sounds of Robert Fripp, Phil Manzanera, Percy Jones, Phil Collins, and so many other all-star greats playing Brian's artsy pop is just joy-filled smile generator. Side One is just fun: from the funky "No One Receiving" (9/10) to the bouncy, BEATLES-esque "Backwater" (8.5/10) (shades of future Andy Partridge) and the amazing bass and instrumental contributions to "Kurt's Rejoinder" (10/10) to the punky "King's Lead Hat" (8/10) and then there's Side Two! Now we get smooth and emotional with "Here He Comes" (9/10), the aforementioned "Julie" (11/10) and "River" (10/10) all the way to a couple of moody film-or-pre-ambient instrumentals and then the Frippertroned "Spider and I" (8.75/10). Plus, Brian has such a pleasant voice! Almost a masterpiece--only held back by its schizoid eclecticism.