rusty anderson. undressing underwater. review by alan haber. buhdge

hot buhdge too good to pass up in a world gone mad

They're hot, alright: the latest releases by music's best. Too good to pass up in a world gone mad, they're must-gets in a world full of must-avoids. They're the cream of the crop, and we review them here.

Undressing Underwater Rusty Anderson Oxide (2004) Everybody's stepping out these days; sidemen are simply not content to be simply sidemen anymore. Gotta take yer spotlight, son, and, in the case of Rusty Anderson, whose plum job it has been over the past couple of years to play in Paul McCartney's band, it seems as though it is way past time to shine. So here comes Undressing Underwater, a masterfully crafted collection of pop/rock gems showcasing Anderson's multi-instrumentalist bent and featuring some big-ticket guest stars, from McCartney to Parthenon Huxley and...well, read on. Anderson's ability to integrate his influences into his own songs, yet make those songs sound wholly original, is no more evident than on the sneaky instrumental "Catbox Beach," ostensibly a tip-of-the-hat to the surf motif, but also a place to stick that reggae tribute rolling around in his gig bag, some contemporary production stabs, and a bit of a shout-out to theremin-esque horror movie soundtracks. That it's also a waxing to shake yer groove thang to (credit ex-Police-man Stewart Copeland for the solid underpinning), with one foot in the surf and the other in a Bob Marley sandbox, is simply icing on the cake. That cake, so delicious and iced to the nines, kicks off with the big ticket tune "Hurt Myself," a particularly infectious confection that features McCartney on bass and backup vocals, as well as the rest of Macca's band and the Wondermints' (and Brian Wilson Band member) Probyn Gregory. Make way for this one on the charts, won't you? It's certainly not going to get out of your head. Anderson runs through this album naked as a jaybird, all of his capabilities on display from head to toe; he gets heavy, in a melodic way, on "Devil's Spaceship" (dig that crazy riff!), goes nostalgic on "Electric Trains" (with fine, creative harmonies in tow), and all creamy and dreamy on the gorgeous "Coming Down to Earth." The album closer, "Everybody Deserves an A in This Country," end the proceedings on a hopeful note, mixing heavy and sweet, and a bit of an overabundance of hopefullness when Anderson sings "I wish everybody well, even the people down in hell." Hey, even miscreants in the hereafter need a dose of cool-as-hell pop and rock every once in a while. Undressing Underwater places Rusty Anderson squarely at the forefront of artists to watch. He's got his guitars wrapped around his fingers, he's a fine writer, he sings with 24-carat-gold pipes, he hangs out with cool musicians, and he's already there, if you know what I mean, ready for the spotlight. Alan Haber November 27, 2004
alan haber's pure pop buhdgeblog hot buhdge \| pop buhdge \| buhdge remembers television buhdge \| film buhdge \| books buhdge video buhdge \| buhdge fine print \| links about buhdge \| write for buhdge \| contact home (c) 2004 Alan Haber

Undressing Underwater
Rusty Anderson
Oxide (2004)

rusty anderson's undressing underwater Everybody's stepping out these days; sidemen are simply not content to be simply sidemen anymore. Gotta take yer spotlight, son, and, in the case of Rusty Anderson, whose plum job it has been over the past couple of years to play in Paul McCartney's band, it seems as though it is way past time to shine.

So here comes Undressing Underwater, a masterfully crafted collection of pop/rock gems showcasing Anderson's multi-instrumentalist bent and featuring some big-ticket guest stars, from McCartney to Parthenon Huxley and...well, read on. Anderson's ability to integrate his influences into his own songs, yet make those songs sound wholly original, is no more evident than on the sneaky instrumental "Catbox Beach," ostensibly a tip-of-the-hat to the surf motif, but also a place to stick that reggae tribute rolling around in his gig bag, some contemporary production stabs, and a bit of a shout-out to theremin-esque horror movie soundtracks. That it's also a waxing to shake yer groove thang to (credit ex-Police-man Stewart Copeland for the solid underpinning), with one foot in the surf and the other in a Bob Marley sandbox, is simply icing on the cake.

That cake, so delicious and iced to the nines, kicks off with the big ticket tune "Hurt Myself," a particularly infectious confection that features McCartney on bass and backup vocals, as well as the rest of Macca's band and the Wondermints' (and Brian Wilson Band member) Probyn Gregory. Make way for this one on the charts, won't you? It's certainly not going to get out of your head.

Anderson runs through this album naked as a jaybird, all of his capabilities on display from head to toe; he gets heavy, in a melodic way, on "Devil's Spaceship" (dig that crazy riff!), goes nostalgic on "Electric Trains" (with fine, creative harmonies in tow), and all creamy and dreamy on the gorgeous "Coming Down to Earth." The album closer, "Everybody Deserves an A in This Country," end the proceedings on a hopeful note, mixing heavy and sweet, and a bit of an overabundance of hopefullness when Anderson sings "I wish everybody well, even the people down in hell." Hey, even miscreants in the hereafter need a dose of cool-as-hell pop and rock every once in a while.

Undressing Underwater places Rusty Anderson squarely at the forefront of artists to watch. He's got his guitars wrapped around his fingers, he's a fine writer, he sings with 24-carat-gold pipes, he hangs out with cool musicians, and he's already there, if you know what I mean, ready for the spotlight.

Alan Haber
November 27, 2004