Genre: Instrumental rock, Guitar Virtuoso / Shred / Kickass Guitar Music
Format: FLAC + cue + log
Released: 1988
Label: Shrapnel Records
01. Kick It All Over
02. The Pepper Shake
03. Bad Racket
04. Super Unleaded
05. Land Of Ladies
06. Straight Up
07. Red Handed
08. After Hours
09. Little Rose
Greg Howe: guitar
Billy Sheehan: bass
Atma Anur: drums
During the mid- to late '80s, talent scout and Shrapnel Records owner Mike
Varney was the ultimate source for new high-tech guitar virtuosos in the
post-Yngwie Malmsteen era (Malmsteen was also one of his finds). Among the
dozens of young guns who emerged from Varney's stable, Greg Howe was
one of the best. His debut album, Greg Howe, was groove-based, and
favored funk and fusion flavors over gothic neo-classicism. It sounded fresh
compared to the melodramatic work of peers like, say, Vinnie Moore.
Front-loaded with two devastating tracks, "Kick It All Over" and "The Pepper
Shake," Greg Howe is immediately engaging. Unlike other music in the
note-heavy "shred" genre, these two pieces sound fun rather than academic;
the irresistibly slippery grooves provided by the crack rhythm section of Atma
Anur (drums) and Billy Sheehan (bass) provide a supple bed for Howe's
playful fretwork. Unfortunately, the rest of the album falls off a bit after
that. The remaining tracks have some interesting ideas and plenty of
enthusiastic performances, but sound more like vamps for Howe's soloing
than songs. A few premonitions of Howe's more fusion-based future reveal
themselves on Greg Howe, although it's primarily a high-octane, indulgent
rock romp. Worth hearing.
Andy Hinds, All Music Guide
Billy Sheehan: bass
Atma Anur: drums
During the mid- to late '80s, talent scout and Shrapnel Records owner Mike
Varney was the ultimate source for new high-tech guitar virtuosos in the
post-Yngwie Malmsteen era (Malmsteen was also one of his finds). Among the
dozens of young guns who emerged from Varney's stable, Greg Howe was
one of the best. His debut album, Greg Howe, was groove-based, and
favored funk and fusion flavors over gothic neo-classicism. It sounded fresh
compared to the melodramatic work of peers like, say, Vinnie Moore.
Front-loaded with two devastating tracks, "Kick It All Over" and "The Pepper
Shake," Greg Howe is immediately engaging. Unlike other music in the
note-heavy "shred" genre, these two pieces sound fun rather than academic;
the irresistibly slippery grooves provided by the crack rhythm section of Atma
Anur (drums) and Billy Sheehan (bass) provide a supple bed for Howe's
playful fretwork. Unfortunately, the rest of the album falls off a bit after
that. The remaining tracks have some interesting ideas and plenty of
enthusiastic performances, but sound more like vamps for Howe's soloing
than songs. A few premonitions of Howe's more fusion-based future reveal
themselves on Greg Howe, although it's primarily a high-octane, indulgent
rock romp. Worth hearing.
Andy Hinds, All Music Guide
