Charming Snakes

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

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)

Production

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

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

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

  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. 58 (1): 32.
  4. McCann, Ian (Oct 1, 1990). "ROCK: ANDY SUMMERS Charming Snakes". Vox. 1 (1): 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. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1106.
  8. Brace, Eric (26 Oct 1990). "Andy Summers". The Washington Post. p. C8.
  9. Strachan, Alex (22 Nov 1990). "Charmed by Summers". Vancouver Sun. p. F21.
  10. 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. "Andy Summers Charming Snakes Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  13. 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.
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