Customer Reviews

Ohm

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I went out of my way to purchase this CD directly from Lion Music when it was first released, and I was rewarded for my effort. (It is months later and I still haven't filed it away!) I kept reading about OHM at the Chris Poland website, (sound samples there) and I really couldn't wait to check it out. Now you can purchase it from Amazon with ease! If you are into mind expanding instrumental fusion music, try it out ASAP. Most will flock to this CD for Poland's blistering leads, but just wait until you hear Pagliari's INCREDIBLE fretless bass playing! The drumming is very notable as well (all recorded in one pass with no overdubs, triggers, midi, etc!) although I understand that Kofi Baker (Ginger's son) is now drumming in the band. Best tracks = 'Iguana', 'Bastille Day' (dedicated to the late Gar Samuelson), 'Mountian' the hypnotic 'Peanut Buddah' and the ever beautiful 'Love Song'. Fans of Jeff Beck will definitely dig this trio!

It is funny that Chris Poland is so under the radar. His music is excellent, his tone superb, the band tight and the compositions stellar. This recording is something I have been listening to nearly daily for almost three months. That, is the test for me. Is the musical content rich enough, exciting enough and sweet sounding enough to draw me pleasurably back, again and again? It is!

Obviously, what people refer to as "fusion music" is not for everyone. It is over a lot of folks heads, in that it is a highly personal and esoteric artistic expression. It doesn't get marketed to the masses. To appreciate this sort of music, it helps to have an advanced sense of harmony, an ability for abstraction, an enjoyment of the timbre of electric instuments and a lack of a need to have musical ideas "spoon fed" to you at some slow, familiar pace. But, to the folks who appreciate it, everything else is the "decaf" equivalent, musically. Among the caffinated, Ohm: is to modern electric music what Sumatra is to coffee: rich, well balanced, tasteful and potent.

Highly recommended!

I was introduced to this power trio in the summer of 1999. I had the good fortune of working with a personal friend of Chris Poland, whom I had idolized as a kid, growing up on Megadeth and assorted thrash metal. This friend invited me to a show one night, and changed my musical perspective forever.

Having heard the term "Jazz Fusion", but never understanding what the genre entailed, I was in for a real paradigm shift in my melodic conscious. What ensued that night was a set that consisted of tightly arranged compositions, set ablaze with fire and soul. As I struggled to take in the technical genius that weaved in and out of dramatic tone changes and erratic tempos, I realized... this is music. Everything I had come to know before that night flew out the window.

I set out on a journey of discovery, finding a vein of musical greats that I had missed along the way. Brand X, Return to Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra all crossed my path and found their way into my collection, but I could never find that "sound" that had so impressed me the night I heard OHM. Consistently checking the Chris Poland website, I finally caught wind of a studio release in 2003. Needless to say, I pre-ordered the album and received a copy of what surely had to have been the first run. I was not disappointed.

The sheer virtuoso element of Poland and Pag would be enough to make this album a true masterpiece. But it's their arrangement and attention to structure and transition that make it so unique and intensely creative. Poland is a technical guru (I knew that purely from early Megadeth) but his feel and "gut" rivals that of Stevie Ray Vaughn, or Eric Clapton. I actually found myself on the verge of tears listening to "Between Us" one night. While on the lower end of things, Robertino Pagliari complements Chris on every angle. Pag has discovered the mystery of playing air tight, lightning fast bass chops, without getting lost in the mix... a real rarity. David Eagle is not to be ignored. He gels the trio together with his relentless yet laid back style.

This one is something special, folks. Even in the vast array of fusion and prog rock, OHM stands out as a cut above and years beyond.

I purchased this thru Lion Music also and have to agree with the other review here and that this will be played over and over!! It is one of the best bands and players you will ever get to hear that is for sure. Poland is in a league of his own with that great tone and he has everything including speed on almost any guitar god you can name!

I love OHM. Chris Poland's fluidity is astounding and so lyrical it's ridiculous. He also picks notes that I think most folks would say sounds bad but when he does it he rocks my world. His oddly-toned notes and chords fit in a way I cannot describe.

This is great music played by amazing musicians that pull it off perfectly live as well. I'd never heard of OHM or CP before seeing them a few feet away. I was stunned I'd never heard of them before. It's criminal that most folks still don't know about them.

All that said, if you're buying your first OHM CD while this is a great CD, get "Live on KPFK FM" instead. The sound is better and it certainly shows off their live abilities. The funny part is CP told us after the show that they spent forever trying to perfect their studio sound and then the dude at KPFK FM did a better job with a quick soundcheck.

But there are songs on this CD that are not on the "Live" CD and the other is more spendy. So this is more than a worthwhile buy as well.

This Band rocks,If you like progressive rock you will like this album,Chris Poland is a great guitar player! Pick this up You will be inspired

All I have to say is that if you ever thought that jazz rock fusion of the 70's was a dead art, or something that had been destroyed by the advent of prog-metal and dreamtheater wannabees...Think AGAIN! I have listened to it all, from return to forever, al di meola, Area, everything Zappa, Brand X, Planet X, Mahavishnu Orch, You freaking name it I have it and here comes this little cd and makes me question everything I knew. This has officially become my favorite album of all time. Everything on the album is composed solidly, performed tastefully, and the experimentation with unique guitar tones shows chris's guru-like experience and how much he knows guitar. ALSO, Bass players out there must hear Rob Pag, because he is just as essential for the formula of why they are so good...Its truly beautiful bass. Everytime I listen to this Album I hear something new... You just need this cd, its worth a shot lol.

Any guitar fusion fan, or fan of heavy lead guitar, must pick up this album. This album is mind-blowing from start to finish. You will get your money's worth. Why these guys are not more popular than they are is a total mystery...!!

First of all, I am a big fan of Chris Poland and own his work from Megadeth and independant work. I added this album to my amazon wish list thinking that I could enjoy more of Chris' work on my iPod, while in the car, or the gym or wherever I may be. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THIS CD IS A COPY PROTECTED CD!!! IF YOU EVER WANT TO HEAR THIS MUSIC IN YOUR MP3 PLAYER OR PC, DO NOT BUY THIS. The image is also misrepresented...the back cd image is NOT the same that I purchased and can not resolve the COPY PROTECTED CD text on the back. The music on the CD is very good, but I am giving it only one star, due to the misrepresentation as an ENHANCED CD, described in amazon as "Enhanced CDs are music CDs to which data tracks have been added. Designed to be read by the CD- or DVD-ROM drive in your computer, these tracks often include music videos, photos, liner notes, Web features, and other such content. The music portion of enhanced CDs should play in all CD and DVD players". Nothing mentioned of copy protection.