Orange County Register - Ultra Payloaded - Review

[Mike]

Friday, June 1, 2007
Perry Farrell's star-stuffed Satellite Party is his surest showcase in years
New album review: Perry Farrell's Satellite Party, 'Ultra Payloaded'
By BEN WENER
The Orange County Register
An aptly titled love-in, and dig the varied guest list: Thievery Corporation and Hybrid adding atmosphere to the disc's middle; Flea and John Frusciante grounding "Hard Life Easy" till it plays like a Chili Peppers stray; the unmistakable bass of New Order's Peter Hook on two tracks; Fergie (yes, Fergie) joining the choir of more than one cut.

Now add three crucial elements: 1) Co-producing co-host Nuno Bettencourt, underrated guitarist last seen with Extreme, who here solos like Frusciante without the heroin years. 2) The Doors, whose let's-all-turn-on sex-and-peace spirit prevails, and whose long-dead singer is intoxicatingly channeled from beyond for both a sweet "Touch Me" sample and his first unheard performance in more than 30 years, "Woman in the Window." 3) Perry himself, who seems more stylistically unified for having invited so many friends into the studio.

He hasn't sounded so inspired in years, and "Nothing's Shocking" may be the only more consistent batch of songs in his catalog. The Doors transformation, like the Rare Earth and Bee Gees rewrites, will get all but Jane's Addiction fiends interested. The grooves, however, will keep 'em hooked, even when the well-meaning lyrics turn into space-cadet transmissions.

Grade: B+

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/en ... 714657.php