Customer Reviews

Can't Look Away

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Considering 'Big Generator' took 4 years to surface, Rabin's solo album 'Can't Look Away' being released in 1989 is a miracle in itself. I bought this album on the day of its release, and I think I've owned multiple media versions of it for 15 years, cassette, compact disc, vinyl. If it came out on DVD, I'd probably buy that as well. It actually would make an interesting DVD, considering Trevor Rabin's biography and musical history, which are all contained on this solo album. Born in South Africa, Rabin's stance on Apartheid was cemented in his childhood, long before SUN CITY and other artists joined the campaign trail. His family links to Stephen Biko, and the whole struggle against apartheid are worth the purchase of Rabin's work anyway.

As a musician, by 1989 he had been a 'pop star' for almost 15 years, being first successful in the band RABBIT. Rabbit, in South Africa, is still the single most successful band SA has ever produced, it has almost Beatle stature in its success. Rabin was its principal songwriter, and by 1989, his talent and composition skills had truly matured, and are at their most effective here. He is also joined by producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd's The Wall, Peter Gabriel's 1st album), Rabbit producer Patric Van Bleurk, and Yes drummer Alan White. But it is really Rabin's showcase.

If you don't like eclectic albums, or those that do not stick with one genre of music, maybe Rabin's album won't suit your tastes. Each track is different from its last, and it moves through so many different genres in its time that one could complain that there is not much to hold on to. This has never bothered me about the album, because each song stands on its own for what it is, and his work is always tasteful to its genre. One of the standouts has to be the African influenced 'Sorrow (Your Heart)', which is by far, the catchiest song on this album.

'Something To Hold On To' was the single release from this album, but I always thought 'Sorrow' was so infectious in its commercialty. But I also understand that its heavily African influences would not a chart topper make. It also has a very Jon Anderson / YES type closing section vocally.

There is also indication of his future soundtrack work on the instrumental 'The Cape', which would sound beautiful if placed on a movie soundtrack or 'National Geographic/Discovery' channel documentary on Africa. For those who think Rabin has no sensitivity in his playing, it might be wise to listen to 'The Cape'. I've always thought Rabin was more than just riffs and chops, and between Rabin and (Steve)Howe, I'd always go with Rabin. Paired against Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis) is another battle altogether! His acoustic playing is not just Rabin playing guitar without amplification, and he shares an affinity in style with Mahavishnu Orchestra / John McLaughlin.

He is also seriously funky in his playing on the instrumental 'Sludge'. This weird, constantly time changing song is full of very funky lead guitar playing. The man is seriously underrated by those who could not stand him in YES. Not only was he an award winning classical pianist in South Africa, but he could play decent guitar as well. Go figure. It is often assumed that because he played simpler music in his tenure with Yes, that he wasn't as talented as what that band demanded. By this solo album alone, should testify that Rabin was an extremely talented musician, as well as a great pop songwriter.

'I Didn't Think It Would Last' is similar to material that were on his earlier solo albums, the ones that got Chris Squire's attention, and Rabin even got produced by The Kink's Ray Davies.
This song also could have been used as a single.

The title track is 'epic' in its execution, and perhaps, has Rabin's best recorded guitar solo. I haven't compiled any votes or anything, but 'Can't Look Away' is a mini-masterpiece just on its own. It captures Rabin's feelings about his homeland quite beautifully, and powerfully. It is a very emotional song beneath all the power chords. Don't let its surface fool you, this song was very much about Rabin's feelings about South Africa, and the recording captures that.

'Cover Up' has always been one of my favourites from this album, and the female backing singers just make the song in my mind, though I've never known what 'you suck on stones' means? Easily could have been a YES song for 'Big Generator / Union'.

One of my favourite albums in my collection, and it's just been way too long since Rabin put out a non-soundtrack piece of work. He has immersed himself in the movies, and I wish he'd release another album like 'Can't Look Away'. It's long overdue.

This CD, touted as being REMASTERED, is digitally identical to the original CD released in 1989.

Also, the artwork is blurry. Only get this release if you can't find the original CD.

3 stars for false information on a great album.

Ten years on and this album still sounds utterly fantastic. The guitar playing is multi-layered and awesome. The backing vocals are sublime and the production is masterful. The real star is the songwriting. Each track is stunning with heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies. Trevor Rabin is a genius of our time and this album deserves far more credit than it has been given. A masterpiece in rock music.

Trevor Rabin released "can't look away" after single-handedly rescuing dying supergroup Yes with his songwriting and production values. This is no small feat. Albeit a low-key release, "can't look away" made its mark on the rock and roll community, even if his precious few fans were the only ones aware of it. I, for one, was not a big fan of his earlier solo work, heck, I didn't even know any previous work existed! But after seeing his life-injecting formula with Yes, I checked it out and it has become one of my favorite albums to return to again, and again. Melody is the first ingredient into every Trevor Rabin cut here, and the melodies keep coming, all well thought out and all very sucessful. Rabin's melodies soar in his mid-tempo compositions ("Hold on"..."Sorrow"...and the beautiful "eyes of love") and his arrangements are ALL top-notch. Then, of course, there's his incredible guitar technique that astounds in it's complexity and originality. Rabin is truly one of the few amazingly gifted songsmiths and, to me, it's a shame he pays the bills today doing movie scores. "Can't Look Away" ultimatly got lost in the rock scene amid a sea of heavy metal acts clogging the arteries of rock radio and MTV during the era, but this album stands well today, just as it did in 1989.

"Can't Look Away" is simply one of the best solo albums ever made. I always liked the old "YES" as well as the new "YES" music. Listening to this album, one can hear the excellent musicianship that helped Trevor boost "YES" into their re-birth with "90125". Not only is he awesome on the guitar, but the keyboard work is extrordinary as well. The composing and arranging of his music is equal to the performing of it. This is a relativley obscure recording, by industry standards, but would be appreciated by any fan of "YES", "KANSAS", or "RUSH".

A superior album that gives Rabin fans exactly what they came for. From start to finish, this album kicks ass as only Trevor can.

I received the cassette tape as a gift, and promptly wore it out. Now the CD I got to replace it is showing signs of excessive wear. So I guess my warning to the prospective buyer is to be careful, because this music is likely to cause you to wear out your stereo equipment as well.

I love listening to this album on long drives through the desert, but beware: it can be very engrossing and hypnotic. Trevor crafts his music with all the guile, cleverness and depth you'd expect from a celebrated Yes alumnus.

So if you're in the mood for a great musical experience, don't look away from "Can't Look Away".

This, of all of the Trevor Rabin works, is one of my favorites. Trevor Rabin is a very talented musician-songwriter-composer.Trevor had a magnificent career before joining YES for the 90125 and Big Generator albums. But if you listen to his solo cd's before YES, you will notice a BIG difference between "Can't lookaway" and the pre-YES solo works. Although to some, this may sound like a continuation of YES, It still has the unmistakeable sound of Trevor. What makes this solo so special to me are the instrumental tracks on this cd, "Etoile Noir", "The Cape", and The FANTASTIC "Sludge"! And not to mention, his wonderful vocals. Trevor Rabin is a GREAT singer, songwriter, guitar player, bass player, composer, and producer. My first Trevor cd I bought was "Face to face", and when I read the credits, I became so fascinated by this man! Almost all of his solo projects he has produced, composed, wrote, and played all instruments, except the drums! Of all of those, this is the BEST! I am so in awe of this man.I will NEVER pick up a guitar again!!! All of you guitar fans out there looking for an influence, here he is!!! Buy this cd and you'll know where I'm coming from.

Trevor Rabin was the guitarist (& co-song writer) in Yes for some years, at the time of their most rock-focused period to date. The powerful sound he gave Yes is evident here, especially in the superb title track.

He plays all instruments (except drums) with a sickening virtuosity, but it is with the guitar that he really shines. Screaming solos and synchopated riffs aplenty, this album is a great demonstration of a polished rock-guitarist in full flow.

At times it seems as if he's leaving the rest of us behind and disappearing into an airbrushed-world of mountain-top guitar-posing, but the stand-out tracks (the stunning "Can't look away", "Something to hold on to" and "Eyes of love") make up for the hint of pretension.

His soundtrack work is pretty good too (Armageddon & Enemy of the State, Con-Air are but three...)

This is one of the best CDs I own! Trevor is an absolute genius! Full of lush production, masterfully crafted pop/rock tunes and soaring guitar licks. Trevor, when do we get more?

The South-African born Trevor Rabin proved here that he was no simple sideman in Yes but rather a well-rounded musician in his own right.While his control of the fretboard is amazing he demonstrates at the same time that he is also very well versed in a variety of other instruments,not the least being a great singer-songwriter and also a producer.'Can't Look Away' is an incredibly ecclectic album,including stright-ahead hard rock, pop,progressive,African music,jazz-fusion,and there is even a touch of new age instrumental.A very fine opus from a great musician.