well i finally received my own copy of the larry and his stellar jet album. let me tell you, it's really good. i mean, we all joke about the importance and musical ability of bass players, but larry really gives all bass players a step in a new direction. his solo album is NOT about the bass or his bass playing tones and abilities. it's about the songs. that's all. the songs. larry is a unique bass player in that knows bass isn't the most important thing on an album. on larry and his stellar jet, larry is showcasing his ability to write songs with clever and meaningful lyrics, interesting chord progressions, and killer rock-n-roll production. and i'm not just saying this because i sang on three songs.
the blueprint for the album was this. larry is a bass player. larry doesn't sing. larry writes songs. larry is always in bands with egomaniac lead singers who write their own songs. what does a non-singing bass player do with all his songs? he recruits a few singers help him record an album.
larry and his brother dale played 90% of the instruments on the album. (they had a few pals lay down some extra guitar here and there.) then they started calling singers to come in and bring the lyrics to life. i was lucky enough to get the call on three songs. (this was all before larry was officially in the lux liners.) i'm the singer on the first three songs called restless, superstitious, and what i need. i was in shock when he told me he played the guitar on these tracks. i wish i could do some of the stuff that is going on in there. the next song is called treasure. if i recall correctly, this is a song larry wrote for his wife and was even performed at their wedding. you gotta hear it. my favorite line is, "like an old locomotive or a slow burning votive.." or something like that? the next two songs were recorded with the lead singer of larry's old band the stellar jets. the lux liners have played long way to go several times in concert. when we play it i don't sing it as well as this guy and his wicked guitar solo is something you don't hear in the luxury version either. the last song, you are, is a smooth praise song in my opinion. don't know if that's what larry had in mind but that's what i get out of it. sounds like he got the lead singer of jars of clay to sing on it too. nice job.
oh yea, i almost forgot. the disc even has a crystal clear quicktime movie on it. pretty cool.
all in all, i'm trying to let everyone know that this larry solo album is NOT a joke. it's good. it's NOT a bass concept album. it's a seven song ep of great pop/rock songs that any fan of larry, me, or the lux liners should own. nice work larry. good songs and great guitar, bass, and keyboard playing. but don't get any bright ideas. scott and i are not letting you play guitar on stage. you stick to what you're good at, playing that beat to heck maroon bass, stomping on all those pedals, and talking about lux liner ted. who is he anyway?
