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Steve Howe - The Grand Scheme of Things Audio CD

A fair review of the Steve Howe "The Grand Scheme of Things" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Steve Howe reviews here, or go back to the Steve Howe tabs.

Steve Howe Band: Steve Howe
Title: The Grand Scheme of Things
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-09-03
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Grand Scheme of Things 2: Desire Comes First 3: Blinded by Science 4: Beautiful Ideas 5: Valley of Rocks 6: At the Gates of the New World 7: Wayward Course 8: Reaching the Point 9: Common Ground 10: Luck of the Draw 11: Fall of Civilization 12: Passing Phase 13: Georgia's Theme 14: Too Much Is Taken and Not Enough Given 15: Maiden Voyage 16: Road to One's Self

Atmospheric and encompassing, Howe does it again!
This album has a truly magical tone to it in places and when its not putting you in a trance with its magic, its switching up to cover sounds in jazz, blues, and rock in a seamless onslaught of Howe sound that only he can bring us! This album has some great songwriting to it and is not concentrating as much in technical virtuoso as much as mood setting themes and tight songwriting. Despite what many hard core Howe fans think, this album is still something worth noting in his now vast solo discography. "Grand Scheme", the title track, is nothing short of uplifting and powerful, while at times having an almost Beatles sound to it that reminds me of some James Bond soundtrack with Roger Moore running around chasing bad guys in the background.

"At the gates of the new world" is a track that shows Steve in prime form, often railing off a beautiful melody on a nylon stringed acoustic, while standing out from the still lingering xylophone/synth sounds that are at the backdrop of the beginning of the song. "The fall of civilization" is a beautifully composed song that is very emotional. Just when you think its going in that direction, however, it breaks off into a poppy, fast beat song that despite the 180 degree turn, finishes strong. A little Flamenco here and there doesn't hurt, and if anything again, only adds to the strength of the former "Yes" guitarists arsenal of skill. "Passing phase" is an album that has some great technical prowess coupled with some spanish influence. Melodic to say the least, the track is one of the best guitar solo's I've heard in a long time. "Georgia's theme" is another one ripe with flamenco sound that is much slower and groove driven than some of Steve's other work with this style of guitar playing.

Overall, a great record that really shows Steve is a true artist and not just a "guitar player". Released in 1993, the album to me is timeless and my review honestly does not do it justice.


Un tèrmino medio
Aún con altibajos, su sonido, no es que se parezca a Yes, pero mantiene unos niveles de calidad bastante aceptables. Steve Howe es el único miembro de Yes que ha mantenido una cierta coherencia en su carrera en solitario. Es más en la epoca que siguió a 1983, los discos de Steve Howe son, casi siempre, mejores que los del grupo. Este disco, sin embargo, es, probablemente, el peor de su carrera. En cierta forma es similar a Beginnings, aunque con el lastre de que los temas son peores. La voz de Howe a mi, particularmente, me recuerda mucho a la de Neil Young, aunque con menos garra y, desde luego no es su fuerte, aunque a mi no me desagrada cuando adopta un tono más íntimo como ocurre en los dos discos de Homebrew. Los instrumentales brillan, en este disco, con luz propia, mientras que los temas cantados, además de las mencionadas debilidades vocales de Mr. Howe, son bastante planos. En definitiva, sobra la mitad del disco.


Steve Has Lost His Way

But, being the arrogant man that he is (one can't be told he is God's Gift to Guitar Humanity for 30+ years without it sinking in a little), Mr. One would have thought that Steve Howe learned his lesson on BEGINNINGS: he can't sing his way out of a paper bag. Howe insists on shoving his truly atrocious singing voice down our throats.

Again.

From a guitar perspective, few on the planet can rival him. He is in a class all his own. However, as a composer, Steve tends to get all caught up in his cleverness and is not content until he drives a good idea down a dead-end alley.

He doesn't alway exhibit this proclivity: TURBULENCE is a masterpiece; BEGINNINGS itself is very, very good (if you can ignore the Horrible Howe Voice), and his work with Paul Sutin soars.

This album is out of print precisely because it is one of Steve's weakest efforts. The lyrics are silly and stupid, and the music rarely rises above trite.

Please, Steve. Next time you need a singer, give Jon Anderson a call. I'm sure he'd be happy to work for you.


Howe Finds His Roots
Therefore, I'm sure many Howe/Yes fans have not heard the material that is on this album. Released in 1993, _The Grand Scheme of Things_ sadly seemed to go out of print here in the US by the end of the 90s. Even though it's still not available in the US, it's nice to see that it's now available for a reasonable price as an import.

_The Grand Scheme of Things_ is very similar to Howe's first solo outing, _Beginnings_, in that it combines instrumentals with songs that feature vocals from Howe. While still not a traditional lead vocalist, Howe's vocals have improved through the years. Personally, I like his vocals because they are warm and intimate. The title track opens up the album nicely with it's steady pulse, and leads into a beautiful instrumental, "Desire Comes First" which features Howe's electric guitar trading lines with a violinst - very nice stuff. "Blinded By Science" might be the 'poppiest' Howe solo tune, and "Too Much Is Taken and Not Enough Given" also finds Howe rocking out - in a politically-conscious sort of way.

Howe fans should love this album. Think _Turbulence_ meets _Beginnings_ with an early 90s political-conscious theme to many of the lyrics.


You can see a complete list of all Steve Howe discography, or go back to the Steve Howe tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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