Still Life

For many who began listening to Pat Metheny's music with this collection of songs, I am sure "Still Life (Talking)" quickly became and has since remained their favorite Metheny recording. By the time this album was released however, I had already been introduced to Metheny and his group with some amazing prior achievements including "As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls", "Offramp" and his monumental "First Circle" (which first introduced most of the same exciting musical ideas that "Still Life" merely revisits.) I was initially mesmerized by "Still Life (Talking)" upon its release and by the sheer energy and haunting melodies of some of these performances, but as the years have passed I find that this particular work does not continue to stand the test of time or excite me musically as those earlier mentioned Metheny works still do.Don't misunderstand me...there are truly some wonderful things happening on "Still Life (Talking)" like the energetic and complex opening rhythms of "Minuano" and the melodic wanderlust found on "Last Train Home"...but unfortunately with this album there are also the first indications that some of Metheny's music was beginning to drift dangerously close to the mediocrity heard frequently in public elevators (on tracks like "So May It Secretly Begin.") Moreover, the vocal work found on his 1982 release "Offramp" and 1984's "First Circle" is far more complex and interesting than the vocal arrangments on "Still Life." (Check out the album "First Circle" for example, and the incomparable vocals on the title track and on tunes like "Tell It All.")On many of the tracks from "Still Life" and especially on his subsequent albums through the years, Metheny has his vocalist simply repeating the same melody line he is playing over and over again on guitar. (EXAMPLE OF FORMULA: Metheny plays melody line on guitar, then vocalist joins in and sings melody along with Metheny, then Metheny improvises, then keyboardist and co-writer Lyle Mays often improvises...BIG CRESCENDO!...then vocalist and Metheny repeat the melody line again, then the song ends.) The tried-and-true Metheny formula is often reassuring...occasionally even invigorating, but unfortunately not real exciting music on later releases.Metheny discovered a very unique, distinct and exciting musical sound with "First Circle" but with later Group albums, while intending perhaps to expand on these same ideas, he only revisits them (over and over and over again.) Metheny's "Secret Story" released in 1992 is one of a few exceptions, of course....an outstanding recording with a truly exciting and visionary musical concept.Metheny has consistently been my favorite musical artist over the years and I feel certain he has not yet exhausted his ubiquitous storehouse of ideas. Perhaps he should return for a time to experimenting with more eccentric vocalists like Nana Vasconcelos who could lend an entirely different perspective to his now-familiar arrangements or perhaps he should attempt a completely different instrumental arrangement (better still...Metheny should revisit the darker realms of some earlier projects like "Offramp," which still contain a plethora of musical ideas which have yet to be explored.)

I'll make this short, sweet and to the point: this is my #1 favorite (see my 'listmania') of the healthy stockpile of enormously eclectic jazz music rendered by Pat Metheny. His music knows no boundaries, his range no limitations. He seldom (VERY seldom disappoints!) Look to get this one and travel with Pat. It is worth the ride, time and time again.

Love it, love it, love it! The music is fabulous, and very nice to listen to anywhere: in the car, on the train or airplane, in your home. A true Pat Metheny fan!

Fabulous!

very good CD - Pat Metheny is an exceptional artist

This was the first Metheny album I heard at a time when I was slowly mellowing away from Heavy Metal/Shred and it was an excellent introduction.Many albums later and I still think this is the best of the lot closely followed by the '78 "white" self titled album.Its got a heavy Latin influence to it. My favorite tracks are Minuano(Six-Eight),So May It Secretly Begin and Thrid Wind.If you like jazz and/or guitar you owe it to yourself to check out this gem!

Beautifully crafted, incredibly clean, marvelous and melodic, and poetry without words. This is one of my disks to have if stranded on an island

Sounds good