from electric basement:
ECHOBRAIN - Echobrain
(Chophouse Records)
So here 'tis. What has Mr. Newsted been up to since dropping a bomb on the METALLICA world with an exit initially filled with vague reasoning based on health and musical differences but in the end becoming more clearly defined. Newsted felt suffocated and wanted to more fully express himself as an artist. Simply put, it appeared that Metallica's powerful vision of what was allowed from members was too controlling.
As out of control as Mr. Newsted could get with such freedom, he has pulled a 180 and instead of going berzerk with some modern industrial assault, he is instead eking out a corner to reflect. Less of a monumental undertaking or loud statement, ECHOBRAIN is a pensive, often understated exploration of rock 'n' roll's serious side. Calling upon influences from 1965 as well as modern rock, this is a collection of sometimes timeless sub genres and a sliver of once trendy alt rock circa '97...all with Newsted noodling away on bass with veteran confidence yet is at ease letting the spotlight shine more broadly than one might expect.
"Colder World" is a sly, medium paced, subtle catchy opener that reserves any air guitar-isms for the end when there is a surprising, almost out of place break away. Vocalist Dylan Donkin is less ecstatic than he could be at times, but his delivery is very effective on ultra retro dreamy fare like "The Feeling Is Over". Here the lofty rhythms rock us to sleep as they dance across a pond, creating "In My Room"/Beach Boys style atmospherics. One of the highlights here. "Spoonfed" is crunchy and grungy, hanging out in the same club as Soundgarden, but less innovative and more stark. Still, the bounce is there and it is more than serviceable. "Adrift" sounds just like you'd think, like a warm WHO passage gliding across the MOODY BLUES of the rock 'n' roll skies. How's that for a description!
On "Keep Me Alive" a restrained obstinancy crossed with spurts of 70s fat guitar chords fuels a mean cluster of percussion and rolling movement. "We Are Ghosts" is as peaceful as it is melancholy, recalling early to mid 70s dreariness, though right on target in the best way. "Sucker Punch" walks down an itty bitty street strutting but ever so inconspicuously. The dead pan vocals and minimalism are similar to Cream's "Badge" but not as directed with the payoff lacking.
Actual, no strings attached hard rock sneaks up on us with "Highway 44", a slow barroom growler with enough "room" given to let it breath more than some of the other rock based tracks on the album. " I Drank You" is similar to "Adrift" in its cascading ebb and flow. There is some coastal/beach tone to it, keeping with the now and again Beach Boys inflections sprinkled about the disc. "Crying Shame" ends the concise collection with the kind of spacey bass line that threads the needle in Nuge's "Stranglehold". Finally, a more obvious showcase for Newsted. Also, there is some sparse guitar crankage in here too, so all is well.
Overall, if rock 'n' roll was half awake and not exactly asleep or jumping on top of a table, you'd get Echobrain. The sum of its parts is a band jamming politely with no pretension or over expectations. Newsted is not trying to step out but merely step into some comfortable shoes. Some very strong parts but anyone expectation innovation or a metal record may be disappointed. - Brian Coles
*** 1/2
ECHOBRAIN - Echobrain
(Chophouse Records)
So here 'tis. What has Mr. Newsted been up to since dropping a bomb on the METALLICA world with an exit initially filled with vague reasoning based on health and musical differences but in the end becoming more clearly defined. Newsted felt suffocated and wanted to more fully express himself as an artist. Simply put, it appeared that Metallica's powerful vision of what was allowed from members was too controlling.
As out of control as Mr. Newsted could get with such freedom, he has pulled a 180 and instead of going berzerk with some modern industrial assault, he is instead eking out a corner to reflect. Less of a monumental undertaking or loud statement, ECHOBRAIN is a pensive, often understated exploration of rock 'n' roll's serious side. Calling upon influences from 1965 as well as modern rock, this is a collection of sometimes timeless sub genres and a sliver of once trendy alt rock circa '97...all with Newsted noodling away on bass with veteran confidence yet is at ease letting the spotlight shine more broadly than one might expect.
"Colder World" is a sly, medium paced, subtle catchy opener that reserves any air guitar-isms for the end when there is a surprising, almost out of place break away. Vocalist Dylan Donkin is less ecstatic than he could be at times, but his delivery is very effective on ultra retro dreamy fare like "The Feeling Is Over". Here the lofty rhythms rock us to sleep as they dance across a pond, creating "In My Room"/Beach Boys style atmospherics. One of the highlights here. "Spoonfed" is crunchy and grungy, hanging out in the same club as Soundgarden, but less innovative and more stark. Still, the bounce is there and it is more than serviceable. "Adrift" sounds just like you'd think, like a warm WHO passage gliding across the MOODY BLUES of the rock 'n' roll skies. How's that for a description!
On "Keep Me Alive" a restrained obstinancy crossed with spurts of 70s fat guitar chords fuels a mean cluster of percussion and rolling movement. "We Are Ghosts" is as peaceful as it is melancholy, recalling early to mid 70s dreariness, though right on target in the best way. "Sucker Punch" walks down an itty bitty street strutting but ever so inconspicuously. The dead pan vocals and minimalism are similar to Cream's "Badge" but not as directed with the payoff lacking.
Actual, no strings attached hard rock sneaks up on us with "Highway 44", a slow barroom growler with enough "room" given to let it breath more than some of the other rock based tracks on the album. " I Drank You" is similar to "Adrift" in its cascading ebb and flow. There is some coastal/beach tone to it, keeping with the now and again Beach Boys inflections sprinkled about the disc. "Crying Shame" ends the concise collection with the kind of spacey bass line that threads the needle in Nuge's "Stranglehold". Finally, a more obvious showcase for Newsted. Also, there is some sparse guitar crankage in here too, so all is well.
Overall, if rock 'n' roll was half awake and not exactly asleep or jumping on top of a table, you'd get Echobrain. The sum of its parts is a band jamming politely with no pretension or over expectations. Newsted is not trying to step out but merely step into some comfortable shoes. Some very strong parts but anyone expectation innovation or a metal record may be disappointed. - Brian Coles
*** 1/2
..but then again he has always been the down to earth bloke hasn't he
