Before We Were Born

Bill Frisell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: March 28, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000002H6V
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,165 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite Frisell albums, December 29, 2000

By 

C. Robinson (San Mateo, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before We Were Born (Audio CD)

I first got into Bill Frisell in the early 90's, when he was touted as the new Jimi Hendrix who played jazz with the sensitivity of Jim Hall. So I bought this album almost 10 years ago, expecting to hear what Hendrix might sound like 'now' had he lived.

I was not disappointed.

If you're looking for some avante garde ripping, this is a great place to be. An excellent example of the 'downtown' scene in Manhattan at the time...eerie & mysterious one minute, free jamming out the window the next, then bouncing along like a Saturday morning cartoon...exciting stuff.

This effect is demonstrated most obviously by the standout track 'Hard Plains Drifter', a John Zorn 'index card' arrangement (along the same lines as 'Spillane' or 'Godard'), where the band plays a dozen or so musical 'sound bites' (the index cards); one may be country, another punk, another avante garde spooky, etc. The 'index cards' are then shuffled, reordered, and reassembled in the studio to produce an effect not unlike quick, late-night channel surfing in the David Lynch Motel.

Technical/conceptual details aside, its an incendary performance, featuring some of Frisell's best country/punk riffing and some unforgettable, over-the-top drumming by the incredible Joey Baron.

Also not to be missed is Frisell's soaring, gut-bucket blues solo on 'Love Motel', Hank Roberts' virtuosic ensemble playing on 'Pip, Squeak' (how on earth does he keep up with that melody?), plus a ton of intense, creepy scratching & scraping on nearly every other track.

This is a great album if you're into the guitar, early 90's avante garde, or a long-time fan of Bill Frisell. Although not life-changing in the way, say, 'A Love Supreme' is life-changing (so only 4 stars), it simply must be heard to be believed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional, May 30, 2005

By 

Lovblad (Geneva, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before We Were Born (Audio CD)

When I bought this CD back when it was first released it was a complete revelation. It made me discover both Bill Frisell enad John Zorn. The guitar playing is extremely varied as it would be when I saw them on tour at Montreux. John zorn at one point screamed at the protesting audience: "If you want commercial music, go see George Benson". A lot of people left but it was a fantastic concert or two concerts actually, first Frisell then more or less Naked City. On this record you can indeed hear what would come out stronger on the Naked City records. Very experimental music varying from almost ambient music to aggressive thrash metal, all while remaining very much in the spirit of jazz. The sound is n ot really perfect, being slightly too shrill and should be redone (if it has not been).Otherwise it is a fantastic record...recommended. 6 stars.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unlearning normality, December 14, 2009

By 

IRate - See all my reviews

This review is from: Before We Were Born (Audio CD)

Outstanding alternative jazz-rock from the textural master back in rowdier, but still fascinatingly intelligent days, remains vital to this day, often transcending any labels whatsoever.