Customer Reviews

Pieces of the Sun

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When you take a look at Tony Levin's discography, it's astonishing to see the sheer number and variety of recordings where he is credited. Tony seems to always find the right bass line whether he's playing with John Lennon, Paul Simon, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, or Peter Gabriel. Yes, the guy can play. Everybody agrees on this.

The tricky thing is that most of the time when a great instrumentalist releases a solo record, you wind up listening to an hour of them beating you over the head with their acrobatic chops.
"Pieces of the Sun" is Tony's second CD release where he takes the role of bandleader. Like his previous solo albums, this one contains predominantly instrumental tunes. Wait, the plot thickens... there are three other virtuoso players on this CD... Larry Fast (synth), best known for his albums released under the name SYNERGY; Jerry Marotta (drums), ace studio drummer and producer; Jesse Gress (guitar), who plays in Todd Rundgren's band and is the music editor of Guitar Player magazine.

What makes this band work is that everyone here is leaving space for the music to be heard. Instead of wrestling for the spotlight, these individuals play together unselfishly. Chalk one up for musical maturity. They stretch out and develop ideas over several minutes. Five songs on this disc are over six minutes long, hinting at classical exposition/development/recapitulation structures.
The CD includes a take on an unreleased Peter Gabriel song called "Dog One" (Tony, Larry and Jerry were in the Peter Gabriel band together for years). You might recognize the Synergy tune "Phobos", formerly a synth-only composition, here rearranged for rock band. And yes, they really perform a version of "Tequila"(!)

The balance of the compositions are Tony's, ranging from progressive rock to minimalist ballad. You'll find a good share of soaring solos (on "The Fifth Man", there is a ripping duel between guitar and Stick) and tricky time signatures (try tapping your foot along with "Phobos"), but nothing here is gratuitous. It's always about the groove, and the cohesive musical feel of this CD is a testament to the band's musical sensibility. There are also a few of those trademark Levin tones, including some funk-finger bass on "Pieces of the Sun" and tasty fretless work on "Silhouette". Overall, this CD is terrific. The players are top-notch, the music is great, and the recording/mastering is crisp and detailed. Take a listen! Then get out there and catch this band live (see tonylevin.com for a touring schedule).

I have been a big fan of the (so called) Art Rock music (YES, Genesis, King Crimson, ELP, Peter Gabriel, etc.). Tony Levin has been a member of several of these groups off & on. His new album brings together his extensive knowledge of Art Rock into a package which extends way beyond what any of the classic groups have done in the past 5 years! Every piece of work from this CD is great. Since Tony is a bass player, you would be wise to watch your volume levels so as to be kind to your sub-woofer. I promise you, that if you get this CD, you won't be disappointed! I can't wait to see this show live (in about a month).

Mark

Tony Levin's Pieces of the Sun is a refreshing return to his prog rock roots. Of course, he never left them but as a solo artist he has explored new horizons through world music .

Levin has assembled a great band that has provided the background sound to a solid and well played record. The record was written and produced with a prog rock band in mind and not only as a showcase for Levin to play bass.

The songs on this record remind the listener of great tunes by Yes, Genesis, King Crimson but they are original and interesting. After all, Tony Levin has had a starting role in many of these bands music over the years.
In this recording Tony Levin has structured his performance on heavy use of the Stick Bass and in the texture and sounds that this instruments adds to the music.

Mr. Levin and Co. plan to tour behind this album for what promises to be another innovative set of prog material for old and new followers.

Just when I thought that "Waters of Eden" could not be beat, Tony and friends created something even more wonderful. A different style than Waters, but excellent. The songs are long (most > 5 minutes, some more than 7) and flow quite well. I especially liked the title track, which is the tune they played when they started their previous tour. The update of the Synergy title "Phobos" with the band is as good as Larry's original (just different). Tony's incredible bass playing really shines - sometimes in the forefront, sometimes in a very subtle way (the version of Tequila is GREAT!).

I found out about Tony Levin through a rather interesting path - I had first started listening to Synergy (Larry Fast, who also plays on this album), then learned about Peter Gabriel, whose early band consisted of Levin, Fast and Jerry Marotta. The Tony Levin band now combines these three with Jesse Gress (who has played with Todd Rundgren) and a part from the California Guitar Trio. The result is a musical feast for the ears, which has caused me to play the CD non-stop since I received it.

I look forward to seeing them on tour in the next couple of months!

Well done! It is evident that Tony and band must have had fun playing and recording this album - it just feels creative and upbeat.

Wasn't sure what to expect. This album is a substantial departure from T-Lev's previous solo works. This has much more of a "band' feel to it. And they are all shape changers! Jesse Gress changes techniques, treatments, and instruments in a fashion that can only be compared with Tony, (or perhaps a president). Much the same can be said for Jerry Marotta and Larry ("Stop me before I sample again!") Fast. Tough to nail down a genre for this one. It's fusion-esque, got some rock sensibilities, and other strange things that can best be described by comparison. Apollo has a feel reminiscent of Steve Hackett's track "Twice Around the Sun" (there's that "Sun" thing again) on Darktown. The Gabriel track, "Dog One" sounds like a preliminary creation for his album OVO, (in particular, "The Tower that Ate People"). There are even some "Ye" (as in: "Ye Olde...") moments, with the California Guitar Trio adding a kind of a medieval Ritchie Blackmore in his castle feel.
Then there's "Tequila". As Tony mentions in the liner notes, people didn't recognize the track. Me neither. It starts out with a guitar and keyboard combination that sounds like it was part of Roxy Music's "Avalon". Tequila is in there, but it's like a music composition midterm figuring it out. There's something for everyone on this disk, and yes the recording is outstanding. Gotta recommend it.

The reader probably knows Tony from Peter Gabriel's band and King Crimson, and here he steps out on his own with a rousing set that recalls some of the best work of his employers. Apollo itself is a wonderful 3-part opus with Crimsonic mayhem, lilting Yes/Genesis acoustic passages, and a soaring finale that keeps ascending like the morning star itself. The band is in in top form--Jerry Marotta has a perfect balance of solid groove with just enough chops and flair to wow the listener, Larry Fast coats the compositions in lush synth textures that bring the work of Tony Banks to mind, and Jesse Gress (a new face for me) alternately waxes Beck (Jeff Beck!) and Belew as he proves a versatile foil for Levin. Levin himself, as always, is the consummate musician, never unnecessarily flashy, but always very tasty and anchoring his compositions with rock-solid, unbreakable grooves. He gets quite a bit of mileage out of his arsenal including fretless upright, 5-string bass with "funk fingers", and his well-traveled Chapman Stick. Parts of the album recall the synth-laden, pulsating drama of his former employer Peter Gabriel, especially the title track and the "Fifth Man." For me, the high point was the remake of Synergy's "Phobos", which has one of the hookiest odd-time riffs one will ever hear, and features stunning playing from the whole lineup. Amazing, and highly recommended.

After years of noting Tony Levin's appearance on just about every disc I owned, it was interesting to first note his appearance as a 'solo' artist. With Jerry Marotta, Larry Fast and Jesse Gress, the Tony Levin Band is truly a super prog-rock-jazz band. Marotta's skins are at times driving or hypnotic. Fast is a genius on keys and their electronic moods, and Gress flies in and around the tunes apparently effortlessly (although we know it can't be both so complex and effortless!). Of course, Levin's use of bass, stick, and cello lead you around by the soul.
The compositions are well balanced to showcase everyone's talents, but in a way that avoids obvious showcasing. Brilliant.
If you get a chance to see this group live - do not miss it

This record is growing on me everyday. There is nothing radically different about this prog rock record, but it is solid, well written and performed and sufficiently powerful. Best tune is "The Fifth Man". The writing is very good. The players on the record are all top-notch. This is prog rock that is niether dark nor bright. Extremely well executed! It as something on it for everybody that respects Tony Levin's work` or prog rock in general, Very little vocals. Great spin!

Call me whatever you want, but I definitely enjoyed more Levin's previous work, "Waters of Eden," than this attempt he's making to revive the spirit of traditional prog rock. He is joined by old-times companions, ex-Peter Gabriel drummer, Jerry Marotta, and ex-Peter Gabriel keyboardist and synthesizer maestro, Larry Fast, as well as Jesse Gress on guitars. Also, in the opening track, you'll be delighted with the collaboration of the California Guitar Trio.

"Blue Nude Recycling," "Aquafin" and "Silhouette" fall within the same style of his previous work: jazzier/new-age-ish (and therefore are my favorites of the album). A few other nice tunes are "Dog One," "Ooze," "Phobos" and the title track, which features the music that served to open and close the "Waters of Eden" tour. "Tequila"... no comments. I was very dissapointed with this track. The album does not deserve five stars because, in my opinion, it lacked the type of emotion that you could feel in his previous works. It seemed too much of a standard Prog Rock formula.

As well as being a nice bloke Tony is the greatest Bassist in the World...Probably! Anyone expecting a bass album full of... well bass and nothing but the bass will be pleasantly surprised as Tony always seems to deliver whole rounded albums that catch any pre-concieved ideas of no song but 20 min. solos out. After listening to a T.Lev song it is easy to see why he is always in demand by Peter Gabriel, Paula Cole and most importantly my CD player!