Also see ProgDay '98
From: Michael S Eisenberg <>
(Boud Deun) have been one of my "most played" bands of the last several
months and us fans have been blessed with 2 cd's in the last year. I'll talk
about the live one first called "A General Observation". There are three
reasons why this is a great disc. The first is that Boud Deun is a fantastic
live band. The second is that the sound quality is extremely good for a live
recording. The third reason is that we are treated to four brand new tunes
plus smoking versions of seven of the
choicest tracks from their two earlier CD?s. Boud Deun is a quartet of
guitar, bass, drums and violin, anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing
them in concert knows that they are an exceptionally powerful and exciting
live band. While the first two studio albums are both excellent, the sense of
energy that they generate in their live shows is missing. This disc sets the
matter straight, and does so with an exclamation point.
The only thing better than hearing Boud Deun roar through a number of old
favorites is hearing brand new material. We are treated to four new tracks
here, only one of which appears on their new studio CD, ?The Stolen Bicycle?.
One of the songs is particularly notable even though it is not typical of the
band. ?Raniliegh Gardens? is a short but beautiful song that may be as close
as Boud Deun has come to writing a ballad. It sounds especially poignant
after the ferocity of the opening track, ?Copper Ink?. All in all this is a
truly GREAT live recording and an absolutely essential disc.
Releasing two separate CD?s virtually simultaneously may not be the best way
to maximize sales, but Boud Deun has never been a band to follow convention.
Their new studio album, ?The Stolen Bicycle?, is quite simply the best thing
that they?ve ever done. The centerpiece of this disc is guitarist Shawn
Persinger?s epic
composition, ?Churches?. It comprises 17 short song segments that string
together into over 35 minutes of continuous music. The pieces are constantly
changing direction, tempo, instrumentation, and feel. The songs never stay in
one spot too long but rather deliver an interesting case of musical whiplash
due to the frequent and often unpredictable destinational shifts.
The other four tunes by bassist Matt Eiland and Rocky Cancelose (two each)
are also excellent and they also showcase the superbly tight-knit ensemble
work that distinguishes the band from dozens of others. The musicianship and
interplay is consistently outstanding. They generate an almost incredible
level of intensity but are also in control enough to allow for breathing
room. As a result the disc never becomes tiresome as some ?over-the top?
fusion bands are guilty of. All four players are in top form although Greg
Hiser on violin in particular consistently shines in a solo role and also
displays a recorded tonal quality that easily surpasses
the previous studio outings. This could be the album that catapults Boud Deun
into the uppermost echelon of progressive fusion bands.
You think I like these guys? ...;)
From: Michael S Eisenberg <>
> but i still have a question....from some reviews (most notably,
in B.Smith's "Billboard Guide to Progressive Music" - not that
_this_ is any kind of unimpeachable source.) and sound clips (not the best
way to make a judgement about a band, i realize) that i have heard BD sounds
to me like "just a jamming band"...is there more to them than that?
Peronally, I dont think they are a "just a jamming band" at all. If, by that
you mean bands like moe. and Phish, Boud Deun is nothing like that. Their
songs are quite composed with very little room for the long extended solo.
When they do solo, and all 4 of them do on occasion, they are usually short,
sweet and to the point, sort of like getting pummeled on the head by a spiked
mace...there is definitely no meandering improvs going on here.
Some people might disagree with this..but I almost here a sort of RIO'ish
quality to the music...is Henry Cow a "jam band"...NYET!!
From: Michael S Eisenberg <>
> > What exactly does the "Billboard Guide to Progressive Music" say
about Boud Deun ?
> "...the groove-oriented BD is not earth-shatteringly progressive... more
entertaining than groundbreaking, their emphasis is on energy and
chops...While the band's aggressive playing is devoid of pretensions, it's
also devoid of ambition and context. The music doesn't tell stories, the only
message is "Boogie!"..." (that last bit is the part that "scared" me.)
Boogie would be THE last word I would ever think of when playing Boud
Deun...lol
These guys dont boogie..they get funky a little..but they DO NOT BOOGIE...hehehe
I also wouldnt say they were "groove oriented"...most of the tunes are short,
so they dont really have time to develop a groove...even the 17 minute
"Churches" is split up into short sections with breaks in between...they pack
a ton of ideas into every song, which leads me into the most common critisism
i've heard about the band...that their music is devoid of any melodic
content. I would disagree with that, but I can see how it might be rough
listening to someone expecting "Retun to Forever" type fusion...Boud Deuns
material is melodic, but it seem to be deconstructed in a way that a casual
listen won't reveal the first time around...it only gets better.