I must admit that I never even remotely considered the possibility of putting the words “Rocker” and “Buddhist” together but AMERICAN ZEN contain four of them: Buddhist Rockers that is. Judging by their website we need only really concern ourselves with the lead Buddhist, an individual who goes by the name of ‘The Coyote’.
Allegedly - and I stress that word - he’s played with members of Fleetwood Mac, Supertramp, Frank Zappa, Badfinger, and lots of people who weren't famous when he played with them. His band members have included Jason Scheff, now lead singer of the band Chicago, Jack Sherman who left to join the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Mike Thompson, who is now a member of The Eagles. Always the bridesmaid then.
Frank Zappa, West Coast psychedelia and some prog are the mainstays of AMERICAN ZEN. Like a true hippy ‘The Coyote’ writes lyrics mocking ‘The Man’, Religion and generally anyone who doesn’t look at life the same way. ‘Level 1’ is supposedly a rebellious album and is the first of eight that will each denote some level of spiritual awakening. ‘Level 1’ equals ‘Peace of Mind’ while ‘Level 2’ – I know, I can hardly contain my excitement either – has the cheery title of ‘Christ Killer’. Lovely.
|
Despite the overload of half-baked ideas, contradictory opinions, hypocritical declarations and idiotic posturing ‘Level 1’ contains some interesting musical moments, particularly the Zappa doo-wop of ‘Trust Me’ and the Bowie acoustic stomp of ‘Thank You’. The second half of the album is devoted to the poems of ‘The Coyote’. Not as nightmarish a prospect as I had imagined but nothing revelatory and overall stupendously self-indulgent, an insight into an old hippy finding domestic bliss in the family home: how very unhip and all American.
|
