You Know What?. The Aristocrats are one of the finest power trios out there today, and it's also the title of their latest collection of instrumental madness, their fourth studio release overall. Featuring the trio of Guthrie Govan (guitars), Bryan Beller (bass), and Marco Minnemann, The Aristocrats are one of the hardest bands to pigeonhole on a style, as they cover everything from rock, blues, metal, jazz, prog, Country & western, and world music. While none of the members are household names among casual music fans, musicians and serious aficionados the world over know of their tremendous virtuoso talents, and You Know What? might be the bands best release yet.
Starting off with "D Grade Fuck Movie Jam", the guys unleash their metallic funk rock fury, coming across like a bizarro combination of Joe Satriani and ZZ Top, the riffs flying, the rhythms meaty, while "Spanish Eddie" is a more introspective piece with a heavy Spanish flavor, Beller's bass lines lovely and Govan's tasty guitar licks impossible to ignore. "When We All Come Together" is like a cross between The Dixie Dregs and Danny Gatton, again the depth of Guthrie's guitar talents shining, with the rhythm team working relentlessly. Plenty of bluesy, country picking going on throughout "All Said and Done", and the boys unleash some heavy metal fury on the bumping, grinding monster that is "Terrible Lizard", Govan firing off some crushing riffs and Steve Vai inspired whammy bar theatrics. "Spiritus Cactus" sees Minnemann putting on a clinic with his truly inspiring drum fills that weave around some catchy jazz fusion arrangements, but it's the last two tracks that provide for some of the albums best fireworks, starting off with the moody "Burial at Sea". This one features some somber unison lines from Govan & Beller, before the guitarist fires off some scorching solos dripping with fire and emotion. "Last Orders" provides the closing explosion, another mood drenched classic, soft passages giving way to metal bombast, before the prog takes over and then seques into some serious jazz-fusion. Jaw dropping stuff!
Some might instantly think "oh, an instrumental trio, probably has too much soloing and wankery" but that's far from the case here on You Know What?, a wonderful album filled with challenging musical passages, fiery solos spots, but most importantly plenty of catchy melodies and hooks. THIS is a supergroup ladies and gentleman!!
Track Listing
1) D Grade Fuck Movie Jam
2) Spanish Eddie
3) When We All Come Together
4) All Said and Done
5) Terrible Lizard
6) Spiritus Cactus
7) The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde
8) Burial at Sea
9) Last Orders
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