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Charming Snakes

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Charming Snakes
Studio album by
Released1990
LabelPrivate Music[1]
ProducerAndy Summers, David Hentschel
Andy Summers chronology
The Golden Wire
(1989)
Charming Snakes
(1990)
World Gone Strange
(1991)

Charming Snakes is an album by the English musician Andy Summers.[2][3] It was released in 1990.[4] Summers promoted the album by opening the 1991 Montreal International Jazz Festival; he also played shows with John McLaughlin.[5][6]

Production

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The album was produced by Summers and David Hentschel.[7] "Monk Gets Ripped" is a tribute to Thelonious Monk.[8] Herbie Hancock played on "Innocence Falls Prey" and "Big Thing".[9] Sting played bass on the title track.[10] Bill Evans played saxophone on many of the tracks.[11]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Calgary HeraldB−[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[15]

The Calgary Herald wrote that "the shift to jazz from rock continues," and praised the "vibrant, fluid guitar."[13] The Washington Post determined that "Summers has progressed from the mood noodlings of his earlier solo recordings to solidly structured and arranged pieces."[8] The Dallas Morning News concluded that, "this time out, he eschews most of his synthpop inclinations and puts himself in a studio of consummate session players... This nearly traditional jazz format results in his most lyrical instrumental album so far."[16]

The Vancouver Sun noted that "the guitar is a little more frenetic, the bass faster paced, with strong jazz influences."[9] The Gazette lamented that "Summers couldn't write a catchy melody to save his life."[10]

AllMusic called the album "a strong jazz-rock statement," writing that "Summers's guitar covers the spectrum from in-your-face wailing leads to subtle background colorings, with much use of electronic effects."[12] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide considered it "Summers's first and best turn from ambient rock guitar noise to artful jazz fusion."[7]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Mexico 1920" 
2."Charming Snakes" 
3."Big Thing" 
4."Rainmaker" 
5."Charis" 
6."Mickey Goes to Africa" 
7."Innocence Falls Prey" 
8."Passion of the Shadow" 
9."Monk Gets Ripped" 
10."Easy on the Ice" 
11."The Strong & the Beautiful" 

References

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  1. ^ "Andy Summers". Trouser Press. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Andy Summers Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Milkowski, Bill (Jan 1991). "Record & CD Reviews — Charming Snakes by Andy Summers". DownBeat. Vol. 58, no. 1. p. 32.
  4. ^ McCann, Ian (Oct 1, 1990). "Rock: Andy Summers Charming Snakes". Vox. Vol. 1, no. 1. p. 80.
  5. ^ Lepage, Mark (27 June 1991). "Andy Summers comes in from the cold". The Gazette. p. D7.
  6. ^ DeVault, Russ (October 12, 1990). "Concert Preview". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. G1.
  7. ^ a b c MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1106.
  8. ^ a b Brace, Eric (26 Oct 1990). "Andy Summers". The Washington Post. p. C8.
  9. ^ a b Strachan, Alex (22 Nov 1990). "Charmed by Summers". Vancouver Sun. p. F21.
  10. ^ a b Wells, Paul (23 Feb 1991). "This musical label covers a multitude of styles, sins". The Gazette. p. D4.
  11. ^ Robicheau, Paul (25 Oct 1990). "Recordings". The Boston Globe. p. A6.
  12. ^ a b "Andy Summers Charming Snakes". AllMusic.
  13. ^ a b Obee, Dave (4 Oct 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F4.
  14. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 840.
  15. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 683.
  16. ^ Maurstad, Tom (October 13, 1990). "Arts Day". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.