Rise and Shine Music

In one of those cases where you wonder about justice in the order of things, Adrian Belew's band when he wasn't being a guitarist to famous people (David Bowie, Talking Heads) ripped two great albums in the late 80's that vanished into cult status upon release. It wasn't helped that the band wasn't just signed to IRS as the label was in its final years, but to a subsidiary of IRS (Primitive Man Recording Company, or PMRC for those into 80's lingo subversion). "Rise and Shine" crackles with the same powerful pop of their debut, gets topical ("Holy Mama," "Robobo's Beef") and features Belew's stunning guitar work.

With Belew and second guitarist Rob Fetters sharing vocals and all four members sharing songwriting, "Rise and Shine" is very much a band record. In a perfect world, "Aches and Pains" would have been getting radio play next to Cheap Trick or Squeeze. There is also plenty of Belew's psychedelic Beatles infatuation, down to including a remix from The Bears', a Revolver inflected "Man Behind the Curtain." In addition, there are plenty of flashes of Belew's offbeat humor, like the take on Playboy Mansions and those that visit, "Rabbit Manor" (written by bassist Rob Nyswonger!).

What takes this down a peg from the debut is the songs aren't as consistently great as that killer first. You'll trade that off for the hooks and snap of "Aches and Pains" or the Talking Heads-y "Old Fat Cadillac" plus the solid playing from all four Bears. It's such a drag that music this cool couldn't find a home outside of devotees.

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The Bears' first CD 'The Bears' (1987) is superlative - challenging, muscular, tuneful, idiosyncratic, and accessible. 'Rise and Shine' (1988) is nearly as good. While a bit more adventurous in song structure and playing, it also contains the occasional heavy-handed lyric and one or two fewer memorable songs. You'd be foolish to pass up either CD, though - get 'em while you can. As a bonus, 'Rise and Shine' adds remixes of two songs ("Man Behind the Curtain" and "Figure It Out") from 'The Bears.' - Jon Young/Mark Fleischmann/Dave Schulps/Ira Robbins, Trouser Press

Although the second Bears album isn't quite as startling or new as their debut, there's plenty of terrific music here. In many respects, I feel it's a better, more self assured album from this quartet. Adrian Belew lets the rest of the band stretch out on this album and some of the material recorded here are re-recordings of a few tracks the band made as The Raisins. "Rob Fetters comes to the fore providing perfect ballast to Belew's vocals and guitar playing.

Among the many highlights is Fetters' "Aches and Pains", Belew's "Old Fat Cadillac"(an acoustic version is available on "The Acoustic Adrian Belew"), Belew's "Save Me" with its memorable guitar playing and time changes,the rocker "Complicated Potatoes", Nygswonger's "Robobo's Beef" with Fetters and Belew trading off on lead vocals. We also get to revisit two great tracks from "The Bears" album. "Man Behind the Curtain(Revisited)" a remix done ala The Beatles' "Revolver" with plenty of backwards vocals, guitar parts all done as if it were recorded in 1966 or 1967. It doesn't replace the fabulous original track but it's interesting. The other bonus track "Figure It Out" receives a dreamy remix when compared to the original version with the drums cranked up a notch and the harmonies brought up in the mix.

Why no one has licensed this superb album and re-released it is beyond me. Yeah, sure they're a cult band but cult bands are perfect for reissuing and rediscovering in their marvelous, off beat glory. Highly recommended but try and trade a copy of it vs. spending $50.00 on it unless it's an absolute must-have.

Ian 'Mac' McLagan and The Bump Band's latest offering...Rise & Shine! holds some real 'listen again' classics from the subtle to the extreme - accurate, respectable rock n roll with a popular twist.

Mac successfully attempts to exemplify all that is the modern radio rock sound. Singing and playing with a conviction and a sincerity that will melt the heart of even the most stoic of listeners, producing rousing, well-crafted rock songs intertwined with heart pounding love ballads.

The Bump Band show off their range of skills from the soft, heart-warming 'nod and a wink' to Ronnie Lane on Wishing, Hoping, Dreaming to the heavier Jerry Lee Lewis induced keyboard driven Your Secret and the mix of fulfilling lyrics and strong music on Lying and Date With An Angel.

The mixing is tremendous and the album flows perfectly with that right mix of heavy and soft, making it easy listening from start to finish taking you through different moods, different sounds, but always powerful music from the band. It all goes rushing toward the fantastic 'drunk rock' anthem The Wrong Direction, a sure fire hit for the Faces had Mac written it in the early 70's.

You're My Girl is a blistering start, all chugging guitars from native Texan 'Scrappy' Jud Newcomb and ex-Californian Gurf Morlix with Mac's Hammond lending support, before moving into more melodic territory for the next few songs, including the highly infectious Been A Long Time. The album's highlight,......the superb acoustic 5 minute ballad Anytime follows next - Mac's 'song for Kim' featuring the vocal talents of Patty Griffin and the wonderful cello playing from Brian Standefer...then onto the Price Of Love (featuring the Texacali Horns, Joe Sublett and Darrell Leonard) a sad and sorry tale of missing a loved one, reliving that naked, human three-in-the-morning feeling when the empty bottle starts talking back at you and the difference between love and lone is no difference at all.

She Ain't My Girl and Rubies In Her Hair showcase the Bumps 'rhythm section'...Don Harvey on drums and George Reiff, bass - backed up by guest John Bush, congas (on the former)- both are love songs, incredibly catchy up-tempo tunes with quite an edgy sound to them.

Rise & Shine! - A perfect blend of superb material and passionate delivery make this a classic album. This is my favourite Mac album, followed very closely by Best Of British...primarily for it's overriding sense of homely charm and rustic calm, on which time does not so much 'pass slowly' as require an immediate re-listen! To refer to it as 'varied' is a bit of an understatement, being a host of tunes to sit back and listen to in all moods and seasons, swinging from an infectious joyous bounce to a wrapped up warm frosty calm.

The artwork is stitched together beautifully, from the 'alarm clock' sleeve portrait to the 'English Breakfast' (made in Austin, USA by Kim McLagan) before and after shots on the disc and inner sleeve.

This superb collection of blues, rock and soul is the The Bump Bands' finest hour as well as being their most diverse album to date.

RISE & SHINE BOYS!