Search - Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins :: Half Alive in Hollywood

Mike Keneally's stunning power-trio plays live

09/01/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great live-album from the talented Mike Keneally (ex-Zappa, Z, Steve Vai) and beer for Dolphins. The first CD is recorded live in the studio, and combines top-of-the-line musicianship with hilarious goofs and unrehearsed jamming. It's amazing to hear how a three-piece band can reproduce the multi-layered sound of Keneally's prior studio albums. The second CD is a "real" live-in-concert recording, and it showcases Keneally on keyboards and guitar simultaneously! Drummer Toss Panos and bassist Bryan Beller play fantastically well together. If you're into Zappa, you just have to check out Keneally's strong songwriting, ming-boggling guitar playing, brilliant lyrics and sense of humor. Here is a list of Keneally's other albums: Hat, Boil that dust speck, Sluggo, Soap scum remover (live video), Tar tapes I, Tar tapes II"

A masterpiece!

03/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I appreciate this CD more and more with every listen. Keneally's brilliant mind flashes in a million sparkling ways on this release, featuring a live CD, and a "live" studio CD. The guitar work is ecstatic, wild, quirky at times, and precise to the ultimate degree. Lyrically it ranges from sad and chilling ("If there is a God there's no skin on his face, a fiendish skull that rains terror on me...") to hilariously funny. In The Car Song, for instance, he tells a minor story that's really a joke, and not a funny one except as delivered by Keneally. Bryan Beller is an amazing bassist, perfect for the job. Toss Panos's drumming is so amazing that in my 30-some years as a rock fan, I can't say I've ever heard a drummer so completely outstanding in every way. Mike's liner notes give interesting detail to the songs- he has something to say about each tune. His web site includes all lyrics. He includes a track of the band creating a song from scratch, and just enough out-takes to give the listener a pretty good sense of the band. What more could you ask for? Mike and the band playing live in your living room?Spin this CD, and that's right where they are!"

Nothing Can Describe this cd!

EMM | 02/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd shows that he is pure genius. Only he can play guitar and keyboard at the same time. Where else can you hear a band make up a song as they play "The Unhappy Monologist", its incredible. 2 thumbs up on this one. Buy this. No matter what music you like. BUY it. It has everything. Angry songs, pop songs, funny songs. instrumentals that will make you go crazy trying to play. The best ever."