Young Lions Bite The Hand That Feeds Them

Review Score: (8/10)
In 1989, Adrian Belew released his crowning achievement, the understated masterpiece "Mr. Music Head". The following year, he followed it up with a decidedly schizophrenic recording, "Young Lions". Once again, Belew opts for the one-man-band approach, playing all of the instruments himself. He also gains ample support from friend and collaborator David Bowie, who rocks out full tilt on the first single from this release, "Pretty Pink Rose". Belew's guitar prowness is in full display and his vocals are emotional without sounding shrill. "Young Lions" also contains three absolute classics in the Belew canon; the title track is a majestic sonic landscape depicting the African veldt with drum rhythms and tribal chants working a formidable backbeat. Two tracks later, Belew reworks "Heartbeat", a song he wrote for King Crimson, and outshines the original with his shimmering guitar flourishes. The overall effect is brilliant. Track number nine, "Phone Call From the Moon", is evocative of the title; Belew's guitar work is slow, almost bluesy, and his electronically modified voice sounds distant, almost awash in the vastness of space. On these and several other pieces, Belew's songwriting is clear, focused and undeniable. However, the spectre of Belew's environmental concern raises its head in three cuts ("Looking For A U.F.O.", "Men In Helicopters" and "Gunman") to put a damper on this otherwise fluid, coherent recording. On these three tracks, the artist becomes condescending, preachy and pushy, all elements that would come to haunt his subsequent work. "Young Lions" hints at the darkness that would overtake Belew's later releases. It is the calm before the storm. It is also, along with "Inner Revolution" (strangely no longer in print) and "Mr. Music Head", Belew's best work. Personal Favorites: the propulsive beat of the African rhythms found in "Young Lions" and the wonderous retooling of his Crimson classic, "Heartbeat". Representative Lyrics: "Hot tribal night underneath florescent skies/ bonfires rage strange/ wild waving shouting Picasso faces/ in the guise of a lioness/ the wind kisses her burning dress" ("Young Lions"); "Men in helicopters fly/ shooting rhinos from out of the sky/ why do we always assume/ the planet is ours to ruin/ what a legacy we're leaving behind..." ("Men In Helicopters")

More Reviews:

• Adrian Belew's Best?
• The Complete Belew.
• Good if you like music that's not always straightforward