View by Bryan Beller

large image coverprintable pdf cover

view larger image

0 faves

fave it

Progressive Rock | Instrumental Rock

13 tracks | 60 minutes

Released Oct 2003
on Onion Boy Records

Click for a 30-second preview. All tracks are 192kbps high fidelity sound quality. Protected WMA $0.77 or unprotected MP3 $0.88.

listen album 30sec. shuffle buy CD review album promote album

MP3GIFT

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:33 Bear Divide lyrics BUY MP3 02:33 Bear Divide lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:33 Bear Divide

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:31 Seven Percent Grade lyrics BUY MP3 05:31 Seven Percent Grade lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:31 Seven Percent Grade

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 07:12 Supermarket People lyrics BUY MP3 07:12 Supermarket People lyrics "GIFT MP3" 07:12 Supermarket People

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 01:32 Elate lyrics BUY MP3 01:32 Elate lyrics "GIFT MP3" 01:32 Elate

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 07:35 Get Things Done lyrics BUY MP3 07:35 Get Things Done lyrics "GIFT MP3" 07:35 Get Things Done

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:37 Backwoods lyrics BUY MP3 03:37 Backwoods lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:37 Backwoods

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:54 Bite lyrics BUY MP3 03:54 Bite lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:54 Bite

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 07:39 Eighteen Weeks lyrics BUY MP3 07:39 Eighteen Weeks lyrics "GIFT MP3" 07:39 Eighteen Weeks

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 01:35 Projectile lyrics BUY MP3 01:35 Projectile lyrics "GIFT MP3" 01:35 Projectile

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:49 Wildflower lyrics FREE 04:49 Wildflower lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:49 Wildflower

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:12 No lyrics BUY MP3 04:12 No lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:12 No

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:11 See You Next Tuesday lyrics BUY MP3 04:11 See You Next Tuesday lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:11 See You Next Tuesday

sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:49 View lyrics BUY MP3 05:49 View lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:49 View

$7.77 $8.88 $8.88

The debut solo album from longtime Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa) bassist Bryan Beller. A carefully-crafted, emotional tapestry of jazz-rock instrumental fusion, solo acoustic and flat-out impact. A true, thematic album in the classic sense.

Editorial review

After a decade or so of being "bassboy for hire," seemingly content playing other people's music, Bryan Beller decided the time was right for making some music of his own. View is his first travel down that road. It's an album of solid rock instrumentals (a couple tunes have vocals), broken up by several solo bass pieces. Beller's got chops to spare, but also shows taste and restraint in his playing, along with some fine compositions. View starts with the very pretty "Bear Divide," scored for an electric and an acoustic bass, then moves into a killer groove with "Seven Percent Grade," featuring Mike Keneally on piano and Rick Musallam on guitar (Beller's bandmates in the Mike Keneally Band). Then it's time for Keneally's turn on guitar with "Supermarket People," with Jeff Babko on Hammond organ, followed by the slightly ominous "Elate," for solo bass. Beller was wise to limit Keneally's involvement (lest anyone doubt this is Bryan's baby), and just as wise to feature Rick Musallam and Griff Peters on guitars, because they sound great on these tunes. As a composer, Beller shows a pretty broad range, and an affinity for some genuinely sick tones (check Musallam on "Seven Percent Grade," or Keneally on "See You Next Tuesday"). Although all the songs are clearly composed, some are more of a groove, allowing the guitarists plenty of room to strut. "Projectile" is a fairly brief rocker with a great distorted vocal that builds to a frenetic conclusion. Each of the solo bass pieces evokes a different mood, with Beller showing what a great <i>musician</i> he is (there's a lot more to it than just technique). His treatment of John Pattitucci's "Backwoods" is especially nice. Perhaps the most surprising pieces are "Eighteen Weeks," with its wonderful use of a string trio and vibes, and the beautiful title cut, "View," both of which really demonstrate the depth of Beller's composing ability. The only mis-step on the album is "Bite," a pretty generic rocker, and the only other tune Beller didn't write himself. Given Beller's abilities and background, this could have all too easily become a bass showcase, or a guitar shredder album. There is some monster playing on the album to be sure, and fans of those camps will not be disappointed with View, but thanks to his musical sense and savvy, the album goes way beyond that. Those familiar with him already knew Bryan Beller was a great bass player; View shows him to be a fine composer, and an excellent producer as well. This is a strong first effort. ~ Sean Westergaard, All Music Guide

Bio / Background

Long known as a uniquely talented yet tasteful hired gun bassist for the more adventurous rock guitarists of recent times (Mike Keneally, Steve Vai, Dweezil Zappa, Wayne Kramer), Bryan Beller ventures out on his own with his debut solo album, View.

Those familiar with his main body of work - nine years, five albums and countless tours with former Frank Zappa guitarist Mike Keneally - are well aware of his ability to navigate the complex, sometimes impossibly dense forms and styles present in Keneally's work...all with the polish, simplicity and accessibility one might expect from a pop bassline. Both a repeat feature subject and three-year columnist for Bass Player Magazine, Beller has long drawn the attention of music fans with a discriminating taste for high-caliber playing.

But far from aspiring to bass heroism, Beller instead builds a carefully crafted emotional tapestry of interweaving themes and styles - a true album in the old-fashioned sense.