Half Notes: Tony Levin – Stick Man (2007)

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by Tom Johnson

Bassist Tony Levin has made an incredible career for himself backing some of the finest musicians in the world, but his most notable contributions have been with Peter Gabriel and the ’80s and ’90s incarnations of King Crimson. He left, then returned around this time when Trey Gunn departed for his own solo career. In between, Levin has turned out a few impressive, if a bit geeky prog-oriented solo albums, and this one is no different. Luckily, however, it is quite a bit different than his last album, Resonator, which featured vocals on the majority of the album. Not a good idea. Here, Levin sang on only three, letting his strong melodic sense guide his bass and Chapman Stick playing (“Stick” Man — get it?), which has been the driving force behind his other, more successfully satisfying albums.

Half Notes is a quick-take music feature on Something Else! Reviews, presented whenever the mood strikes us.

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Tom Johnson