"Passive Aggressive" by Phil Kellogg (an unsolicited review)

"Passive Aggressive" is a fun and educative trip into what can be done to a 6-string guitar by hands attached to an abstract post-Beefheartian muse... Phil plays with grace, attention-getting angularity, architectural (Caligarian) precision, and lots of balls.

The first cut, 'Chutes and Ladders', begins with [classic 9-string Delta Blues guitarist] Big Joe Williams' simplicity, and then expands and builds upon that foundation - in real-time -w- no overdubbing - until Phil has built something like a sonic Watts Tower... and just as corroded and dangerous.

A swell Sam McGee cover follows... then a long variety of original compositions; each a diamond in the coalbin that must be Kellogg's gritty and combustible guitar-pallette. I don't generally like things this much this fast...

Phil's agreed to contribute...(a song) to the DELICATE FURIES CD I'm compiling... (and) will be featured alongside Nick Didkovsky and Fred Frith (and me).

- bhh