Wheel of Nesh

Album Review

Todd Rundgren guitarist John Ferenzik's debut album, Wheel of Nesh, is a truly strange pop curiosity, but its unconventional flair is what makes this an ultimately rewarding debut. As Ferenzik is a keyboardist (although he does play many of the instruments on the album), there is a certain reliance on synthesizers on Wheel of Nesh, and the production is also expectedly slick. However, the slick studio moves and synthesizer licks stand at a stark contrast to the jerky songwriting and lyrics. The seemingly paradoxical combinations don't sit very well, especially at first, but the biggest attribute of Wheel of Nesh is that it is not a conventional pop album. It's true there are no real rave-ups here, nothing that will catch the ear of any mainstream fan, and nothing has a truly unforgettable hook. However, the completely unique songwriting and execution create something uncommon in the modern pop world, something that sounds completely new. So while this album is hardly destined for cult status, people who do become curious and pick a copy up should not be disappointed by the wealth of good material here, such as the blues-based chugging of "Freight Train," the stilted synth pop of "Ultraviolet," or "Going Underground," a jerky, hesitant pop song.