Search - Zoogz Rift :: Water II: At Safe Distance

Last of the Angry Artists

Harold G. Meeks Jr. | raleigh nc | 05/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Zoogz Rift is perhaps a footnote now in the annals of rock history. His early stuff does reflect an adoration of Zappa and Beefheart, but through the Zoogz filter, something quite different comes out.



This album is the second is a series of three albums (The Water Series). It was at this time that he achieved his, um, most commercial success. "Island of Living Puke" is IMHO an unrecognized masterpiece, and this album is a worthwhile followup.



At his best, Zoogz speaks for all the misunderstood artists of the world, the ones that rail against common wisdom, are out of time. They have the hardest job of all, the most thankless. They are never fashionable.



Underneath this bed of vitriol is some great musicianship. Zoogz is a good guitar player with a unique style,and the rest of the band is tight. Like all of his albums, they are uneven. There is a great cover of Alice Coopers "Caught in a Dream" that he totally makes his own. There is a "Secret Marines" song (a recurring theme). John Trubee (another artist worth looking up) makes his obligatory guest appearance.



He cheers me up when I don't think the world gets me as an artist. I think he is better at expressing this outrage against the world (juvenile or not) than I will ever be.



"