SIDE THREE

The final installment in a trilogy, Adrian Belew's Side Three ends Belews strange and wonderful journey perfectly. Although it does bring back some old material (though moreso just riffs and various sounds) the twists that are put on it make it fit just right to bring it full circle. Adrain Belew is certianly a very talented musican, and really this trilogy is the proof you need. Aside from a few guest musicans (which are used sparingly on this album) Adrain tackles all the instruments. Needless to say, instrumentation is top-notch. The Lyrics are strange, quirky, funny, brillant, and really fitting to the music. The guest musicans really stand out as well. Mel Collins with a fantastic sax solo in Beat Box Car, Robert Fripp with a great flute guitar solo in Water Turns To Wine, and Les Claypool and Danny Carey on bass and drums, respecfully, giving great performances and really giving a nice bottom end to the songs they feature in (Whatever and Men In Helicopters V4.0). On to the highlights.

Highlights: Incompetence Indifference: Perhaps my favorite song on the album (and the longest) describes the poor state that our socitey is in where no one cares for anyone but themselves. However, Belew turns the sad into something funny with a guest voicing by his wife Martha. Definitly my favorite lryics on the album. Water Turns To Wine: The aforementioned Fripp flute guitar solo. I love the way Fripp can manipulate his instrament like that. Granted i'm sure its just a couple of special hook-ups and connections and the like, but it comes off really nice. Other then that, solid lyrics and great playing by Belew round this off to be a great track. Men In Helicopters V4.0: The second track to feature Carey and Claypool. Awesome string arrangment here which gives it a majestic quality to the song. Poignent lyrics as well which makes pushes this track over the edge. Beat Box Car: At the core of this song is the same song from Side One, Beat Box Guitar. Not only is it one of my favorites on that album, Beat Box Car is one of my favorites here as well. Just when you think you're in for the exact same ride, Boom! Enter the magnificent sax solo by Collins. Totally unexpected and shows off this man's skill at the sax. Great stuff! Also, just to change it up a bit, it ends on a much weirder note then the original. The Red Bull Rides A Boomerang...: Bizarre. Really all over the place. A form of organized choas that i don't feel Belew has ever reached before. And it comes off absolutly brillent. A track you must hear to believe. Even though i haven't highlight every song, there is something positive that can be said about every song here, which makes the album that more enjoyable.

All in all, this is probably the best album that i've heard of 2006. A very fitting end to a fabulous trilogy of albums. An album that would fit into any prog collection. I hope for many more albums of this calibar from Mr. Belew. Highly Recommended!