ATTENTION DEFICIT
The Idiot King (Magna Carta)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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I could be wrong about this, but I operate under the assumption that the vast majority of fans of rock/jazz fusion are musicians. I've just rarely met anyone at a Brand X or UK show that wasn't wearing an Alembic Guitars & Basses T-shirt. Musicians are blown away by records like The Idiot King. They hear bassists like Michael Manring and think "if I don't eat or sleep and I just practice instead..."

I must confess that I have to be in the mood for fusion or it can just annoy the hell out of me, and while this CD is packed with some of the most tastefully played fusion I've heard in some time, even this can get to me. In the proper mood, however, I marvel at the bass wizardry of the aforementioned Manring and the effortlessly impossible drumming of Primus thronemaster Tim Alexander... but I'm flat-out stunned by the texture-savvy, complex, melodic guitar work of Alex Skolnick, a man who is primarily known for his work in Testament, a band so metallic they can't board an airplane without stripping to their skivvies to pass the detector. I'm used to feeling his guitar as part of the stabbing at high volume, not having it lay a tapestry across my mind. So much for pigeonholing.

The Idiot King is the second release by this supergroup. I didn't hear the first one (self titled), so I can't tell you if this is up or down. And again, I can only speak to you of what I hear with musician's ears, but I like what I hear. I like their concepts, such as when Manring and Alexander tumble downward rather quickly while Skolnick strums chords that rise at one quarter that speed. A little like being in a balloon and watching the ground fall away. It's interesting stuff that I can't listen to 24-7, but when it's on, it's got my full attention.

© 2001 - DJ Johnson