NUNO Bettencourt – Schizophonic [Japan SHM-CD +1] , MP3+FLAC

As requested, Extreme’s Superb guitarist NUNO Bettencourt solo album, the now classic ”Schizophonic”, in its Japanese reissue on SHM-CD as part of the Universal Japan series ‘My Generation My Music Hard Rock & Heavy Metal‘, including a bonus track.

When Extreme fell apart in 1995, it was obvious that guitarist Nuno Bettencourt wouldn’t just disappear. Instead he re-emerged on his old label A&M with a 90s-style stripped down album and a single moniker: “Nuno”. With Nuno dressed in drag on the front, there was nothing to indicate that this was the same guitar wizard who made jaws drop just six years prior.
Writing, singing and playing virtually everything himself, on Nuno’s solo debut ”Schizophonic’ all the flavours of 90s rock are present: drony riffs, drum machines, and processed vocals. The first track “Gravity” possesses all of these qualities, but also has Nuno’s knack for melody. You can all but hear him and Gary Cherone harmonizing on it. Shame that never happened because this could have been a great Extreme track.
“Swollen Princess” is a great track. Real drums, less distortion, and Nuno’s way with a melody make it a much better recording. You can see why a guy like Nuno had to try and be more anonymous in the 1990’s. If this track was on a new band’s album, it could have been a pop hit. Put it on an album by a guy from an ’80s hard rock band, and nobody was going to pay attention.

Gary Cherone co-wrote a couple tunes. “Pursuit of Happiness” is a nice, folksy song that would have been a good single for Extreme. It has the same campground singalong quality that they had success with before. “Fine By Me” has a similar singalong quality, in the guise of a pop-rock track a-la the 1990s.
Cherone also co-wrote, and sings on “You” which is as close to Extreme as we were going to get at the time. As a singer, Nuno is fine, but Gary is a real vocalist. Having them together on “You” is a return to the sound that made them famous.

Some will also enjoy “Crave”, a very very very 1996 rock song with light verses and hard choruses. It rocks, but with and alternative feel. Great song, but not for everybody. We also dig the Spacehog-like “Got to Have You”. “What You Want” adapts the riff for “New York Groove” by Ace Frehley into something new and noisy, with a mellow chorus. “Fallen Angels” is all loops and programming, but cool.
“2 Weeks In Dizkneelande” is a cool title, exposing a heavy fast punk-thrash hybrid. Nuno’s drumming on this is quite impressive actually, and his brief guitar solo smokes. The shredding on this album, what little there is of it, is still awesome. It’s just in shorter, more diverse spurts.

While a product of the ’90s, NUNO’s ”Schizophonic” is good. Sure, it isn’t that dynamic melodic rock he did with Extreme and the music Nuno really loves, but it’s an interesting side from this talented musician.
Highly Recommended

 

ＵＮＩＶＥＲＳＡＬ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ / ＵＩＣＹ～25655
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01 – Gravity
02 – Swollen Princess
03 – Crave
04 – What You Want
05 – Fallen Angels
06 – 2 Weeks In Dizkneelande
07 – Pursuit Of Happiness
08 – Fine By Me
09 – Karmalaa
10 – Confrontation
11 – Note On The Screen Door
12 – I Wonder
13 – Got To Have You
14 – You
15 – Severed
BONUS TRACK FOR JAPAN:
16 – Hop The Train

MP3 FLAC