Through 14 tracks of wild possibilities explored, Jason Vitelli’s 2. No Wave Gaze is something that would have worked just as well in the early 1970s as it does today. A statement collection, this proves Vitelli is someone to keep an ear on.
So many of these songs are just bites of an idea, it’s like an inside look into Vitelli’s mind, focused but always on to something else. The results of all of this is a fun, side-step away from commercial music. It’s like reading a manga after spending your whole life reading comic books.
That’s not to say what Vitelli is doing isn’t music. It absolutely is, but it’s so different. It’s got jazz in it. It’s got sampling in it. It’s got alto sax, soprano clarinet, piano and guitar too. Simply put, this work begs for your ears.
“Marked for Oblivion” has clear jazz vibes and “Like Herding Cats” hits on an experimental note. These two tracks alone combine to give the album some depth, but man, every other track just hits different, in a great way. Again, total chain of consciousness. It’s a ride.
The only “true” song on the album, “A Piece of a Sing Along,” features Vitelli singing and is proof the dude is a multi-faceted musician that is literally capable of anything. This track proves there’s more there, that Vitelli’s other work on this album, although stellar and worthy, is an outlet, is another side of him. Make no mistake, both sides are worth listening to and discovering.
With all these treats on this 14-track experience, Vitelli hits a home run in his attempt to provide an experience for your ears, even if only one song on the album has an vocal work.
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