Customer Reviews

Song X: Twentieth Anniversary

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

 

 

In honor of Ornette Coleman's 75th birthday as well as 20 years since the recording of Pat Metheny and Coleman's groundbreaking collaboration "Song X", Metheny and Nonesuch records bring us "Song X: Twentieth Anniversary".
Remastered and remixed with superior quality, the anniversary edition not only presents "Song X" with the album's original eight tracks but also features an additional six from the same 1985 recording sessions. Instead of being tacked onto to the end of the album, the disc opens with the bonus material which is in the same vein as the original album with a few experimental turns and twists. "Compute", for example, includes some far-out electronic percussion effects from drummer Denardo Coleman (Ornette's son) while "All Of Us" is a fast-charged unison piece that races at rapid speed before ending at just 15 seconds.
As for the previously released material, it is presented in a stunning new mix with all of the instrumentation being given greater depth and space. This is especially apparent on the 13-minute free-for-all "Endangered Species" in which the tight dissonant improvisations now appear to be less cluttered. Also, listen for Pat's shout of excitement during the drum solo in this piece ("Wooo") which was mixed out of the original album.
Mixing improvements are also prevelant in "Video Games", "Trigonometry" and the closing track "Long Time No See" which feature more prominent drums and beefier equalization to the guitars and saxophone.
Indeed, the twentieth anniversary of "Song X" is something very dear and special. The chemestry between Pat and Ornette really shines with brilliance here. Their solid rhythm backing of Denardo, Jack DeJohnette and Charlie Haden gives the extra push this music needs to be perfectly flawless. With its bonus material, new liner notes, original artwork and deluxe packaging, "Song X: Twentieth Anniversary" is highly recommended. Even if you already have the original CD, it's worth it to buy it all over again.

On a personal note: I bought the original "Song X" in 1994, eight years after its original release. Although I had been a big Metheny fan for 10 years at the time, I had never heard of Ornette Coleman until I heard "Song X". It was my introduction to Ornette's music and have been a fan ever since.

I love this album. It crosses both musical and social boundaries.
Although Ornetted Coleman's music appears to be an "acquired taste". I feel that, like Ligeti, Messiaen or Lutoslawski, the taste is worth acquiring for the reward it returns. This is a good example. It may take the usual Metheny fan out of his/her comfort zone for a bit, but if you hang in, that comfort zone might expand quickly into an energy zone. The unusual Metheny fan knows that Pat Metheny does occasionally stretch out like this. He does it well, too.
For the usual Coleman fan: If you enjoyed "Dancing In Your Head" and "Beauty Is a Rare Thing", this one may just lift you out of yourself for a while. But please - try to listen undistracted.

The first reviewer's comments should be viewed as those of a hard-core Pat Metheny Group fan who doesn't recognize that Metheny's trio and other non-Group projects are an entirely different breed of cat from the PMG stuff.

Song X has been one of my favorite discs for a long time. This new re-working is so substantially different that it's like hearing a new project. The six new songs provide a great introduction to the thrust of the project, and, when considered with the original songs, form a more cohesive and organic effort. The improved sound/clarity is stunning -- Metheny's lines, in particular, sound dramatically different. On the original release, his guitar tone sounded pretty similar throughout the entire set. On the re-release, there is a great variety of tones/textures/hues used. Anyone who has even a passing interest in the first Song X simply must own this one. It's a marvel.

I just got this CD a couple days ago and did not hear the original release. Apparently there are 6 songs on this one that were not on the original, released in the 80's. When I listened to the CD from beginning to end, I found that some of the first few tracks were among my personal favorites, so I am glad to hear this release first. Also, I understand that this release has been digitally remastered.

I found some of the tunes rather catchy (suprising for an Ornette album) and some of them are kind of smooth and emotional. All in all this is A+ material, unique and original. Sometimes it sounds kind of like East Indian improvisation, or maybe some African influence. I don't know if it was intended that way or not. Pairing Ornette and Metheny together was a genius idea, I think that they complement each other really well. There are also some electonic percussion things on, which at the time was probably a somewhat new idea. It kind of reminds me of "Futureman" from Bela Fleck.

Ornette certainly has his own sound, that's for sure. This album is not for everyone, as it takes an open ear to listen to it.

I really dont think i am a great fan of free jazz but this CD REALLY BLEW ME AWAY!! It burns from the word "go" and the energy in each and every track is unbelievable. You might get the impression upon listening to the audio clips that this is mere noise where players get into the same room and simply do their own thing without a plan. but that is totally wrong. i simply cannot imagine how these 4 dudes, maestros in their own respective fields, managed to come up with this kind of energy and sound, let alone compose the tunes!! everyone does their own thing and yet it blends together PERFECTLY with a sense of melody which is just totally unique, at least to my ears. this is REALLY AWESOME STUFF and i would recommend it to all straight-ahead jazz fans without any reservations!

Pat Metheny has 2 different sides to him. The Pat Metheny Group side and the more straight ahead jazz side. If you prefer one side to the other, then just say so. Don't write an ill-informed review. This is one of Metheny's defining albums when it comes to straight ahead jazz.

This CD ROCKS!! So if you're open minded to music, take a listen!!

Dare I say that this cd is one for the musicians? That is not to say that the music contained herein is for musicians exclusively! However, I might say with a degree of confidence that whoever you may be and whatever you might do for a living, the songs on Song X are an acquired taste.

This cd was made in that era of music making which celebrated the freedom of musicians from the rigidity of formulas and melodic temperance. Instead, the musicians were free to explore their originality and individuality within the environs of a "band" of musicians, all playing with one another uninhibited by the usual "rules" which govern more "traditional" music. Instead of verse-verse-chorus-verse-bridge-chorus and ending or anything resembling that remark, tunes might have a head played by one or more instruments simultaneously, followed by multiple soloists playing all out individually while maintaining a keen awareness of that which is being played by the others. To the untrained, unfamiliar ear, the results may sound more like a cacophony of disorder. Still, from the unusual orchestration (or lack thereof), sections will step to the fore where all of the musicians will play a passage very much together and in unison or harmony, rhythmically synched, undeniably tight, before swinging back into the former "disarray" of sounds. Certain of the descriptive words I've used are in parenthesis because they deal with individual perceptions. These "parenthetical" words will evolve and change for the listener as he or she invests the time and apply an open minded approach to their listening habits/skills!

The contributions to Song X are made by some of the greatest musicians who have ever lived. This statement is one of fact and not opinion. Pat Metheny, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, Jack Dejohnette, and Denardo Coleman are among the most respected guitarists, saxophonists, bassists, drummers, and percussionists/drummers (in that order respectively), in the world, regardless of what genre you may be discussing! The performances each turned in on Song X are in keeping with the individual reputations each musician has garnered.

The songs without exception were written by either Ornette Coleman or co-written by Ornette Coleman AND Pat Metheny! Rest assured that the life breathed into each is owed to everyone on this cd. Soloing within the tunes by Jack Dejohnette for instance, is commonplace (though there is nothing common about his playing)! A trait of this music is reflected in an amazing solo by Ornette Coleman on the sax while Jack Dejohnette is playing paradiddles, flams, ratamacues, single and double stroke rolls all at a breakneck pace, as if nothing and no one else mattered in that moment (Song X - selection or track number 7). Then 'Mob Job' comes in at a moderate, laid back jazz beat owing as much to tradition as it does to free form experimental jazz. But don't get too comfortable because 'Mob Job' is followed by 'Endangered Species' which again, is a mountainous and rebellious cacophony of sound with some of the most outrageously immensely talented drumming on record to date! Simply smoking.....simply incredible!

It is so impossible for me to communicate the immensity of skill evident in Song X. If I could communicate anything that might be helpful to those of you who are trying to decide on whether or not to purchase this cd, I can only say that if you are a fan of great melody, lyrics, and songs along the lines of The Beatles, Jason Falkner, and any other power pop cats making beautiful music, to the point of slavishness and excluding anything slightly resembling experimentation, then this cd is not for you. However, if you have heard and loved cd's/albums such as Bitches Brew by Miles Davis, or have tasted to your liking, Mahavishnu Orchestra or even some of the 21st Century musicians such as Frank Zappa or Schoenberg.......and lean toward the more adventurous styles of music, I believe you will be a huge fan of Song X right off the bat.

I gave this cd five stars because the performances on Song X are beyond belief and the unity with which these five musicians play is astounding given this was a one-off performance, mostly improvised on the spot!

Give it a shot....you can always return it if you don't enjoy it as much as I!

"Song X" was the first album released by Pat Metheny on the Geffen label, his new record company at the time. He had just parted ways with ECM over creative differences with Producer Manfred Eicher, and he was determined to expand his creative palette. As such, he enlisted the help of Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, and Jack DeJohnette for this effort. This twentieth anniversary re-issue, dubbed playfully "Song XX," contains six unreleased tracks composed by Coleman. If the original album didn't blow your fuse, this expanded edition will make it crispy.

I can dig acid jazz and experimental fusion, (although I've never been a huge fan of the medium), but these cats were cooking on a plane that most musicians wouldn't even try to think about. I remember purchasing "Song X" when it was released, not just because it was a Pat Metheny album (all of which I own), but because of Coleman and Haden, who played together on a song called "AOS" on Yoko Ono's first Plastic Ono Band album in 1969. I thought at the time, this ought to be interesting. Yep, it was.

How my turntable survived, I'll never know. In all fairness, however, I've never forgotten the first time I gave it a listen. If you're looking to trip for an hour, this album will do the job. If, on the other hand, you're looking for that Pat Metheny cool jazz ECM sound of "Watercolors" or "New Chautauqua," you may not like what you hear. Either way, if you put this CD on the stereo, hold on tight.

Recommended, but read the fine print.

This is really Ornette's album. Metheny, as good (and as underrated) as he is, is just going along for the ride, but that's OK, considering Ornette is the captain. This is even more intense than Free Jazz ever was, with the title track and the mammoth, epic workout "Endangered Species" standing out. This was/is a pretty radical album, and considering it was made in 1986 makes it even more remarkable. 1986 was not a year known for great jazz innovation. If they only had Yoko singing along, it would have been even more legendary than it already is. Fantastic, mind expanding music. One of the Ornette and Metheny's best works....

"Ornette is on the fringe of jazz" they say. Look folks, in the history of jazz, Metheny is a paragraph. A good paragraph, to be sure. Ornette is a whole chapter.

Music can be many things that you never considered in your wildest imagination. As Sun Ra once remarked "There are other worlds they have not told you about."

Those who get it, get it. Those who don't are left behind.