Ray, Rick - Neurotic Tendencies

Year of Release: 1999
Label: Neurosis Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 70:47:00

[Editor's Note: This is the third of three reviews, where each follows on from the next. Clone Man, The Key To The Bottomless Pit, and Neurotic Tendencies]

While this is the shortest of the three reviews, it is presumed you have read the other two first, because Neurotic Tendencies is, perhaps, Rick Ray's most assured disk yet. It is easily his most engaging.

It begins more proggy than the other two disks, and the production feels brighter. There are vague hints of Rush of the early 80s, circa Permanent Waves. "The Trees" comes to mind, but only as an example as why I think of Rush. Although "Guitarby's Sandwich" doesn't sound it like "The Trees" particularly, there is a similar vibe about it.

"Nothing Is, Nothing Was" will appeal to those Pink Floyd - Spock's Beard fans, as it incorporates elements of both, and some great guitar textures.

I keep coming back to blanket statements, but compared to Clone Man and The Key? it feels as if Ray has had a renaissance of ideas and creativity - the clouds that hovered over Clone Man and The Key... have disappeared (and I don't mean that as a play on words where Key is concerned).

Ray hasn't improved as a vocalist, but he sings sparingly in comparison to the other disks. He's not a bad vocalist, mind you, but he has a reedy, thin voice that may not appeal to all.

The clarinet, that has often seemed out of place on the other disks, is put to good use here - fitting in well with the rest of the music, though it isn't quite so true on "Neurology III" and "With All Tomorrows."

The hidden track, number 14, is weirdness. And perhaps not a little self-indulgence on Ray's part, as he is his own producer (true for all the disks). Here he plays around with reversed recordings and his guitar speeded up, as high pitched as a violin.

So far, of the 3 I've looked at here (and maybe even including Abnormal Road) this is the best release and gets my recommendation.

Tracklisting:
Rodent Man (3:35) / Guitarby's Sandiwch (3:19) / Temptation Is Here (5:54) / Nothing Is, Nothing Was (4:22) / Contortion Drive (7:32) / Forgotten Dreams (5:13) / Divine Wind (7:08) / My Time Is Coming Soon (5:00) / Neurology III (6:38) / I Can't Stand It (4:30) / With All Tomorrows (3:52) / Money Up Your Nose (6:58) / No One Knows Your Name (5:27) / 14 (1:19)

Musicians:
Rick Ray - guitars, vocals, bass, percussion, and RX8
Rick Schultz - clarinet

Discography:
Abnormal Road (1999)
Balance Of Power (1999)
The Great Antagonist (1999)
Clone Man (1999)
Atomic Soldiers (1999)
Neurotic Tendencies (1999)
You People (1999)
Looking Into the Past (1999)
The Key To The Bottomless Pit (1999)
Cast Into Our Dimension (2000)
Living In An Insane World (2000)
Mind Control, Inc. (2000)
Guitarsenal (2000)
Manipulated DNA (2001)
Insanity Flies (2001)
Existing Passages (2002)
The Guitarsonist (2002)
Rick Ray Band - Into The Hands Of Sinners (2003)
Rick Ray Band - Out Of The Mist Of Obscurity (2003)
Rick Ray Band - Night Of The Living Dedicated (2004)
Chainsaw Manicure (2005)
Rick Ray Band - Temporary World (2005)
Rick Ray Band - Nothing To Lose (2007)
Rick Ray Band - Violence Marred By Peace (2008)
Rick Ray Band - The Setlist (2009)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: January 1st 2000
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.rickray.net
Hits: 3767
Language: english