OP ZOP TOO WAH

Ah, this is my favorite ADRIAN BELEW solo recording so far! He did this at home, and the result is a chaotic rapid fire of ideas bursting mercilessly towards the listener. Some of them grow as produced, ca. four minute songs, and the rest are presented as one minute rough sketches. There's a few beautiful pieces typical to Adrian included here, but I guess this CD is mostly for the fans of the experimental Adrian.

I haven't paid much attention to the lyrics, but I noticed these words from the first song: "The golden days of bow and drum", and after that "...the sound of lark". Does the "bow" stand for Cross, "drum" for Muir (or Bill), and "lark" for Larks' Tongues in Aspic? Well, perhaps not.

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Posted Friday, August 5, 2005 | Review this album | Report (Review #41646)

Adrian Belew's stab at the "avant-garde" album in the vein of Mike Keneally. Filled with varying pieces and little odd numbers in between, Op Zop Too Wah is a captivating experience that takes the listener on a journey through the more quirky and silly side of Adrian Belew. Throughout the 21 pieces, you feel as if you're going through a kaleidoscope of varying moods, tempos, structures, and feelings, but what I get out of this album to most is the quirky, experimental edge that was missing in Belew's works for so long (I don't think he's been this quirky or experimental since Lone Rhino, and it's more experimental than The Guitar As Orchestra).

Songs that really show what this album is about is the opener, Of Bow and Drum, which makes many lyrical nods to the Larks Tongue in Aspic era of King Crimson. Word Play Drum Beat feels like something off of a Mike Keneally album or one of the haiku pieces from The Mistakes' album, with it's odd words juxtaposed with intense music backing it. In the process of this album, you also can hear some of the influences of Belew, from Zappa to the Beatles, even some King Crimson moments come up now and again. I think that's what makes this album so great, is that he's taking his influences and creating an experience that shows so many sides of his character.

Overall, Op Zop Too Wah would be a great precursor to his Side trilogy. Shades of what those albums would be show up in this album here and there, making this album act more or less as a bridge between the older, pop oriented Adrian Belew and the newer, more cutting edge and experimental Adrian Belew. I highly recommend this album to those who like albums by Mike Keneally or The Mistakes, but also to people who want a great overall experience and enjoy their music more on the experimental side. Highly recommended.

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Posted Sunday, February 4, 2007 | Review this album | Report (Review #110638)

Eclectic, poly-stylistic, playful, energetic, fast moving - moves from one idea very quickly to the other - almost a high speed collage album - the perfect experimental rock album for a sound bite culture. Whereas previous Belew solo albums were EITHER hard core experimental ('Desire Caught ... (read more)

Report this review (#218663) | Posted by Neil C | Thursday, May 28, 2009 | Review Permanlink

This album shows another side of Adrian Belew's talent as an artist. It is more popular in style, yet this work is a plus not a minus to a progressive rock musician's credit. The real test of a performer who has made his mark in one area of music is to reach out to other types of music with equal ... (read more)

Report this review (#142572) | Posted by convocation | Sunday, October 7, 2007 | Review Permanlink

I have to say that I really enjoy and respect Adrian Belew solo work. I was captivated by albums like Lone Rhino, Twang Bar King, Desire Caught By The Tail, Salad Days and of course his Sides trilogy. He is one of the most versatile musicians of these years, very eclectic and experimental and withou ... (read more)

Report this review (#135355) | Posted by progadicto | Wednesday, August 29, 2007 | Review Permanlink

Wonderful album from one of the most versatile musicians I'd ever heard. Awesome mixing of beatle-zappa-crimsonesque (how do you have all that together harmonically? well, ask Adrian!) sounds, very well executed. The clear voice of Belew transport listener to different states of mind. Highligh ... (read more)

Report this review (#43604) | Posted by Gabito | Saturday, August 20, 2005 | Review Permanlink

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