Coming Attractions

It is so frustrating to have to wait so long between Belew albums! Obviously, he realizes this and has taken steps to make it easier on his die-hard fans. Coming Attractions contains bits and pieces of works in progress and demo versions of older songs. It's sort of a preview of the upcoming "Dust" box set (due out in 2001), his next solo album (hopefully out this year) and the next volume of his experimental guitar series (no set date yet).

For serious music fans, Belew is the quintessential singer/songwriter. Technically incredibly proficient, he sets aside pyrotechnics in favor of solid songs with great hooks. If you listen, the wizardry is there, it just doesn't take the place of the actual song. Belew manages to wear his influences on his sleeve without being a pale imitation. He is often referred to as Beatlesesque, but he takes that and brings it to an entire new level. The solid pop songwriting of McCartney/Lennon with the twisted humour of Zappa and Belew's own formidable technique and signature tone.

I like the eclectic mix of this CD, much as I loved OpZopTooWah (the shamefully overlooked 1996 masterpiece). This one will definitely not be a chart buster, as it far to off the beaten path for MtV or mainstream radio, but I'd expect to hear it on college radio (Predator Feast makes Korn look tame). I can't single out a high point, as the whole CD is one big high point. If you're familiar with his few singles (Young Lions w/David Bowie for example) but don't enjoy the more experimental pieces you won't like things like No Such Guitar or Animal Kingdom. However, the rest of the tracks are song-form pieces with great riffs and clever lyrics that really stick with you.