Search - Martin Barre :: Stage Left

Electric and Acoustic Delight

Terry Mansietto | Odessa, TX | 07/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those who enjoy instrumental guitar albums, this album deserves a place in their collections. I can't quite give it five stars because Barre has indeed assembled a delectable assortment of riffs and tonal variations which will make the listener nod in appreciation - however, riffs and killer tones cannot in themselves assure great songs. However, the excellence of so many other things makes the CD warrant four stars. The recording is great, the afore-mentioned variety of sounds (acoustic and electric) is superb, and Barre has pulled out all stops to offer a little bit of everything. Does it always work? Not in my opinion . . . but when it does, the results are excellent. "Spanish Tears" features a beautiful interplay between steel-string Latin romance and Satriani-like electric chops that come together perfectly. "Murphy's Paw" has some great riffs, and "Favourite Things" features the very thing that I think is missing in some of the other fusion experiments - strong melody. The guy's playing cannot be faulted - he has not allowed himself to be confined to the Tull sound alone; neither has he remained in a 70's guitar stagnation. He weaves comfortably around a musical tapestry of acoustic beauty and electric vitality while delighting the listener with touches of classical and jazz influences in addition to the blues-based rock playing that he so humbly claims as his primary forte. I guess the only thing that keeps me from giving the CD five stars is that, though every song has superb playing, the tasty licks and modal phrases sometimes crowd out the melodic aspect which I think is Barre's real strength. There's even a Tull-like rocker in here called "Don't Say a Word" which neatly finishes the album as a pleasantly unexpected vocal offering. Jethro Tull fan or not (which I am, by the way), you'll find way more to like about this album than not."

Don't let this one pass you by!!

Rick Truax | Lawrence, MI United States | 09/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK, I admit that I'm possibly a little biased....I'm a huge fan of Jethro Tull and have loved Martin Barre's playing for all of his 30 (plus)year tenure as guitarist-in-chief for the band. So, after a career with that kind of depth, what does somebody who has that kind of recognizable musical history do for an encore?This album, that's what. This recording, largely instrumental, is just tucked full of great texture, from the many sublime acoustical works to heavier, creatively substantive electric offerings; This is a delightful collection of songs from a guitarist who, in spite of his laid back public persona, has remained an admired trend setter in popular music. The album, entitled Stage Left, features 14 songs recorded on 14 different guitars, resulting in a fresh, varied, and interesting sound for each track. Getting this chance to hear the author, a respected player, record some of the world's most wonderful guitars should put any sound engineer or critical listener into a sonic heaven!But the real joy of this work is the compositional depth. The songs, because of the largely instrumental nature of this work...(there is only one vocal tune)..... are allowed to travel in directions that suggest the author's love for classical music and melodies. Mr. Barre does not rely upon the Tull legacy for his depth, but rather has managed to clearly stake his own territory in this work. One is, of course, occasionally reminded of the great Tull guitar sound, but only because the player is, in fact, responsible for that area of the Tull legacy. On first listening I was impressed with the variety of composition; on repeated listening I can happily say that I'm falling in love with the musical ideas flowing through this work. In this collection the author has given us a real treat...we get to hear a world-renown guitarist dive deeper into his muse and come up with a collection of sounds and scapes that offers more on each listen. In this day of guitar shredders and how-many-notes-can-I-play-at-once albums, an artful collection like this one is a rare find. I highly recommend it! RD"

The album we've been waiting for!

G-Dexter | Lakewood, NY United States | 08/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm about to make a confession that may permanently ostracize me from the ranks of Tull fans; While Martin's first two solo albums both had some wonderful songs, on the whole - I didn't really like them all that much. It wasn't that they were all that bad, I guess I just was hoping for powerful and innovative guitar work that had been the hallmark of Jethro Tull albums since 1969. Instead, we ended up getting rather blasé tunes that were largely forgettable. So, when I purchased STAGE LEFT, I felt that I was simply fulfilling my obligation as a Tull completist and was resigned to placing another CD in the rack for only occasional play on rainy days. To my utter delight, I was proven completely wrong with this new album! Here are 14 new songs that provide all the exceptional guitar work we've come to expect and love from Mr. Barre through 34 years of Jethro Tull playing. The CD starts with COUNT THE CHICKENS, a slightly silly name for a great piece played on the same guitar that gave us the seminal rhythms and solos from AQUALUNG. Other highlights of the album include FAVOURITE THINGS, SPANISH TEARS, and CELESTIAL SERVINGS. My favorite track is the stunningly beautiful, moody and evocative acoustic track WINTER SNOWSCAPE. Martin even treats us with some of his flute playing skills on STAGE FRIGHT. Another great feature with this CD is the liner notes. Pictured are 14 of Martins guitars, (one for each track), and brief comments about each. Fans who have followed his career will recognize many of the guitars from shows long past like long lost friends. This Barre solo album is outstanding in every respect, and I personally can't wait for his next solo release!"