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More Than Six Strings is too Many for Jeff Beck

“Emotion and Commotion” has little of either.

Jeff Beck

Emotion & Commotion

Released on Apr 13, 2010

There is a great scene in the movie “White Men Can’t Jump,” where Rhonda, the wife of Wesley Snipes character Sidney, describes to Gloria, played by Rosie Perez, why she wants to move out of the couple’s current home at the Vista View apartments, “Because there ain’t no vista and there ain’t no view.” Unfortunately, the same is pretty much true of guitarist Jeff Beck’s new effort, “Emotion and Commotion.” There ain’t no emotion and there ain’t no commotion.

Beck’s career took off then he replaced Eric Clapton in the seminal English band The Yardbirds. He was recommended for the gig by Jimmy Page who would later join the Yardbirds before forming Led Zeppelin. After a short time with The Yardbirds Beck left to form the aptly named Jeff Beck group, featuring a young Rod Stewart on vocals, which only lasted for a few albums.

Since those early days Beck has rarely conformed to fashion. He veered away from rock toward jazz fusion in the 1970’s and since then has continued to record but often with long absences in between releases during which he is usually focused on his other passion; automobiles. Despite winning several Grammy Awards, his inconsistency has left him as the least well known of the three pre-eminent guitarists who emerged from the Yardbirds.

Now he returns with “Emotion and Commotion” on Rhino Records; his first release in seven years which follows close on the heels of his 2009 induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Beck is joined by a mostly new surrounding cast. Keyboardist Jason Robello has played with Beck previously while former Prince bassist Rhonda Smith and Grammy Award winning producer and drummer Narada Michael Walden join for the first time. The album also features guest appearances by vocalists Joss Stone and Olivia Safe.

Unfortunately, after the second track, “Hammerhead” which gives the distinct impression Beck has put together a Joe Satriani-esque guitar album, the studio was apparently invaded by an orchestra. Many of the remaining tracks boast overpowering string arrangements that take away from Beck’s guitar work. There is an instrumental version of “Over the Rainbow” which is both strange and sappy while Joss Stone’s vocals on a cover of “I Put a Spell on You” evoke images of Eartha Kitt or Shirley Bassey but don’t fit well with the musical accompaniment. The only other real highlight is track 9, “There’s No Other Me” which features vocals from Stone and some powerful guitar work.

This isn’t the first uneven release for the reclusive virtuoso guitarist so perhaps the real challenge for fans is one of managing expectations. Between the title and the cover art -- which features an eagle clutching a guitar as lightning crackles in the background -- I was prepared for Beck to re-assert himself as the guitar god he can and should be. Instead I was greeted by slow, heavily orchestrated songs felt like great lullabies, not great rock songs.

Posted by Mike Stern on Apr 13, 2010 @ 5:00 am