The Rob Sbar Noesis - "Wagon Wheels and Atom Bombs" Review

Artist: The Rob Sbar Noesis
Title: Wagon Wheels and Atom Bombs
Producted by: Rob Sbar
Label/ Date: Aggregate Recordings / 2002

Tracks:

1.Wagon Wheels And Atom Bombs (Intro) [0:16]

2. Lexical Gap [4:22]

3. I Woke Up This Morning With This Human Skin On...And I Can't Get It Off [4:14]

4. 16 Shades Of Gray [4:33]

5. Drowning In A Vacuum (Of Barbed Wire Solitude) [5:42]

6. Media Induced Paranoia [5:33]

7. Blue Harvest [7:29]

8. Diet Soda, Chinese Food And A Single Yellow Daisy [10:46]

9. Wagon Wheels And Atom Bombs (Reprise) [0:40]

The Review:

The Rob Sbar Noesis is like a combination big-band jazz fusion with some stellar playing by leader/guitarist Rob Sbar.

This is a genre of music I know very little about. I read Rob Sbar has a Zappa quality to his arrangements along with a Steve Vai like guitar shredding.

Nothing on Wagon Wheels and Atom Bombs is too over the top, all taken in stride. It took me several listens to appreciate the quality and importance of this release really is.

Most songs are on or around the 5 minute mark wit two exceptions of a two tracks, "Blue Harvest" clocking in at 7:29 and "Diet Soda, Chinese Food And A Single Yellow Daisy" at over 10 minutes.

A wonderful underground find and these two songs are worth the admission alone!

~Ron for ProgNaut.com [February 16th, 2003]

Rob Sbar - Guitars; Erik Feder - Drums, Percussion, Glockenspiel, Xylophone; Matt Schaefer - Bass
Plus:: Tony Gairo - Tenor Sax, Flute; Duane Eubanks - Trumpet; Aino Soderhielm - Alto Sax; Laurie Nagle - Alto Sax; Bill Wenglicki - Calrinet, Baritone Sax; Mark Shewchuk - Drums; Andy Pfaff - Bass; Daniel Mintseris - Piano; Jason Elliott - Tenor Sax; Rob Mislivers - Alto Sax