Billy X: Solo Set [Explicit Lyrics]

From the Artist
Epitaph Individual actions are multiplied by the number of individuals. The fist becomes war; the handshake much more. The dreams of the world are cast in wax; light the wick and don't look back. All you have to lose is time And all the time you lose is mine.

Fans of this material have long been after me to release a solo CD, but the way it came about is an interesting tale.

During the build-up to the second Iraq War, I was invited to perform at the Rochester Community & Technical College. The anti-war, peace and social justice themes scored a very strong response (You can read that as boos) from a too-tightly wound conservative in the audience. The head of the college's digital area was also moved - but in a more positive direction. He suggested a recording session and offered the use of "Studio A". We began our collaboration.

I wanted to preserve the poetics of performance and be able to reproduce all the material under the usually less-than-ideal road conditions; that meant, No Tricks. We recorded everything as if I were playing a live concert. Those studio sessions were eventually culled down to the 72 minutes that became "Solo Set".

My favorite moments usually came after Kevin told me we still had time. The players scheduled for the next studio session hadn't arrived yet. He'd ask, "Have you got anything else?" We'd play "hurry-up". I'd "wing it". He'd ask again.

Product Description:
"Solo Set", the definative Billy X. CD, was captured as a live studio recording with no over-dubbing or other cheap tricks. It's far from the usual musical mix. Sure, there's plenty going on in the vocals, melodies and rhythms to tweak the ear of even the most discerning and intelligent folk-blues-jazz and spoken word devotee, but there's a whole lot more. "Billy X: Solo Set" is a compilation of material that evolved through edgy and eccentric performances over years of living life as art.

For example, Billy X. was buried alive for three days with the words to "Epitaph" etched on his tombstone. "River Rap", "Baptize Me" and "Recycle Mantra" surfaced during his 2,367.4 mile Mississippi River swim as a performance and environmental statement. "Genesis 9:1.1" followed a 40 day fast in Death Valley in his search for the spiritual in art.

He uses an unusual blend of jazz inspired poetry and music along with an odd assortment of instruments to create what he sometimes refers to as "riff-rap". Twenty-two cuts in 72 minutes highlight his passion for dulcimer, guitar, harmonica, mbira, ocean harp, vibraphone and both the sung and spoken word. His compositions often segue into free form improvisations or haunting repetitive musical phrasing.

"If you're looking for some mellow, easy-listening music, "Solo Set" is not it. But if you would like some thought-provoking, irreverent, iconoclastic observations of human nature set to music, then Billy X is your man. I particularly like "NY Conversation" which gives a slice of life from the streets. Billy X riffs and raps on politics, war, ecology, religion and philosophy. The mood ranges from light-hearted silly to gut-wrenching sadness. Listen up!" - Monty Williams at CD Baby

Billy X: Solo Set [Explicit Lyrics]

Billy X: Solo Set,Billy X. Curmano,XART Audio,A blend of all cooled-out and sometimes humorous folk-blues-jazz and spoken word riffs on a variety of unusual instruments; often with strong social justice, anti-war or environmental themes.

Average customer rating:

Billy X: Solo Set Billy X. Curmano Manufacturer: XART Audio ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00064GHNE Release Date: 2004-09-01

Tracks:

1. Always Remains the Same
2. River Rap
3. Say Son
4. Big Brother
5. Edgar Meadows
6. Midtown Stand Around Blues
7. At the Coffee Shop
8. False Profits
9. Wagin' War
10. Genesis 9:1.1
11. Sacred Cows
12. Preschizophrenic Panic
13. MN Singles Search
14. That Tune
15. NY Conversation
16. Recycle Mantra
17. Vigilante
18. Epitaph
19. Wildman
20. X-Ray Glasses
21. Baptize Me
22. Remains the Same Reprise

Album Description

"Solo Set", the definative Billy X. CD, was captured as a live studio recording with no over-dubbing or other cheap tricks. It's far from the usual musical mix. Sure, there's plenty going on in the vocals, melodies and rhythms to tweak the ear of even the most discerning and intelligent folk-blues-jazz and spoken word devotee, but there's a whole lot more. "Billy X: Solo Set" is a compilation of material that evolved through edgy and eccentric performances over years of living life as art.

For example, Billy X. was buried alive for three days with the words to "Epitaph" etched on his tombstone. "River Rap", "Baptize Me" and "Recycle Mantra" surfaced during his 2,367.4 mile Mississippi River swim as a performance and environmental statement. "Genesis 9:1.1" followed a 40 day fast in Death Valley in his search for the spiritual in art.

He uses an unusual blend of jazz inspired poetry and music along with an odd assortment of instruments to create what he sometimes refers to as "riff-rap". Twenty-two cuts in 72 minutes highlight his passion for dulcimer, guitar, harmonica, mbira, ocean harp, vibraphone and both the sung and spoken word. His compositions often segue into free form improvisations or haunting repetitive musical phrasing.

"If you're looking for some mellow, easy-listening music, "Solo Set" is not it. But if you would like some thought-provoking, irreverent, iconoclastic observations of human nature set to music, then Billy X is your man. I particularly like "NY Conversation" which gives a slice of life from the streets. Billy X riffs and raps on politics, war, ecology, religion and philosophy. The mood ranges from light-hearted silly to gut-wrenching sadness. Listen up!" - Monty Williams at CD Baby

Music Album:

1. Bird on a Wire [Import] [Original recording remastered]
2. Breathing Underwater
3. Chansons Folkloriques: A Sujet Religieux
4. Christmas Angels
5. Cold Blow These Winter Winds [Live]
6. Cold Man's Nightmare Pt.2 [CD-single] [Import]
7. Contra Roots and Branches
8. Crescent Moon
9. Dave Hahn - Second Generation ReMasters
10. Death or Glory? [Import]

Music Album