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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jeff Beck's Best, June 13, 2005
I own everything Jeff Beck has ever recorded that I can obtain, many bootleg recordings included. This album Wired is still and probably always will be my all-time favorite among them. Many reviewers have mentioned his jaw-dropping technical prowess and passion and commitment he brings to every song, solo and note he plays. But IMO Jeff Beck's most overlooked talent is his lyrical lilt and melodic mastery. He is the modern incarnation of J.S. Bach in his absolute mastery of melody and harmony, less contrapunctally expressed than by the baroque composer, but still conveying a tremendously profound understanding and feel for what note and chord combinations would sound perfect where and when, never a note out of place, and his resolution of multiple developed themes within a piece is always richly satisfying. That is a large part of what makes this album so listenable again and again as the decades roll by.
It is inconceivable that this man can get these sounds to come out of six wires and NO PICK. His speed is unrivaled even by the many neck tappers of the 90s, though some of his most effective playing is when he takes it slow. Nowhere is this more elegantly proven than on Goodbye Porkpie Hat, the classic by Charles Mingus. This track contains a 150-second slice of euphonic heaven that is in my mind one of the best slow guitar solos ever recorded by anyone. It may simply not be possible to play the electric guitar any better than this; time will tell. It eclipses Stevie Ray Vaughn's version of Little Wing; it eclipses Beck's own miraculous playing on Blow By Blow. And his scorching, searing, vicious soloing on Head for Backstage Pass and especially the opener Led Boots stacks its raw power against such titans as Johnny Winter's soloing on Still Alive and Well, Edward Van Halen, Hendrix and Santana. For pure musicianship, technical wizardry and soaring, transcendent melodies, Jeff Beck is the unparalleled genius of our modern age. We are all fortunate to live at the same time as Jeff Beck, to witness his live performances, and to live in the age of electronic recording so that we can reset our minds at the end of a trying day with this fantastic music, again and again.
But this. It never gets old.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not for listening in the jacuzzi, November 4, 2004
I had the great fortune of seeing Mr. Beck live, when THERE and BACK was released in '80. It was, and remains to this day, the best live show I have ever seen, and I have seen many in the last thirty years of my 48 years here on this marble. I had followed his career with gusto, since seeing him destroy his guitar in the cult movie classic "Blow Up" (the original) as an original member of the Yardbirds. He is probably the most under-rated guitarist of his generation, overshadowed by guys like Clapton, Hendrix, Townshend, Page, to name a few. We should all be thankful we didn't lose him after a serious car wreck during the earlier part of his solo career, the post Rod Stewart days. The monster release BLOW by BLOW will always be the standard to which his work and many others, will be held, with WIRED running a close second IMHO. WIRED made jazz/fusion, highly marketable- sorry to Miles (Davis), and Frank (Zappa), THE pioneers. BLOW by BLOW only set the standard for all guitarists, WIRED raised the bar, just ask Steve Morse, Alan Holdsworth, Al DiMeola, etc. Beck will ALWAYS be in the top five of best rock axemen ever, with his music ever evolving, testing the limits of our and his imagination. He is probably one of the more humble of axemen, taking a backseat in many recent collaborations like those with the late SRV, and the never tiring, B.B. Of note on WIRED, is "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", a fitting tribute to the great jazz bassist/composer Charles Mingus. For me, re-buying this disc was a no-brainer, with the advent of the CD. Somehow, it still manages to raise the hair on the back of my neck every time I listen to it, some 28 years after it's initial release. Holy cow! Peace.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jazz/Fusion masterpiece from a true guitar Virtuoso, August 28, 2005
It's a shame how overlooked Jeff Beck has been throughout the 60's, 70's, and so on. While the other great guitarists of the Yardbirds, Clapton and Page, became household names in the 60's and throughout the 70's, Beck was left out to dry merely because he wasn't in one of the most popular groups of the time (Page - Led Zeppelin, Clapton - Cream, Derek and the Dominoes, Solo). It remains a mystery to me as to why he isn't as recognized as the other two. He definitely has more skill (hell, he has more skill than 98% of guitarists in the genre of rock), has successfully conquered more genres, and was more innovate. Anyways, enough of my angry dribble, and on to the review
Wired is most likely my favorite of the Jeff Beck cd's I own, which would be of 7. Like on Blow by Blow, he incorporates elements of Jazz, Funk, and a little bit of Rock into his repetoire. This IS Jeff Beck at his full playing capabilities, at his time of complete mastery over the instrument known as the guitar.
The Drum work on this album is great. Both Narada Michael Walden and Richard Bailey contribute. Former Mahavishnu Orchestra keyboardist, Jan Hammer, joins for most of this record as well.
The album starts off with the explosive "Led Boots", which contains a great riff and a solo that makes you feel like you aren't worthy enough to be in this mans presence. Come Dancing is a great jazz song throughout. Next up is "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" which is a great jazz standard, originally done by Charles Mingus (I think). Beck demonstrates various techniques on the guitar in one of his finest solos. "Head for Backstage Pass" begins with some funky bass work, then goes into some more great guitar work. At this point you must be thinking, "Wow, this pwnage of my ears has to end sometime, I am totally blown away." Well, you are mistaken. "Blue Wind" displays some of Jeff Becks finest chops as a guitarist. Stunning change of tone and sound. Sophie starts off with a slow-tempo, and then BOOM! Sudden change of tempo, and you're ears are taken off into the magical world of fusion. Ah, what a treat this record is. One more funk track, then a Beautiful jazz song, "Love is Green" on which Beck plays acoustic guitar on.
Wow, fantastic album. Fan of Jazz or not, this album should be in your possession. If not, you are missing out on one of the finest guitarists this century has had to offer. Enjoy.
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