Cinematix 2000

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

By far Kriegers best solo work to date which is not that high a bar.
I love Krieger as a guitar player and he is without doubt one of the most under-rated guitar players of the 60's.
But his solo output has never been that great.
Most of which is dull and boring.
He should have gone the way of Robin Trower and gotten himself a great vocalist and written some good songs for him.

Ray Manzarek produced quality solo works through the 70s/80s and was still doing good work with poets through the 90s until his death.
Robby's features some nice guitar but instrumentals are no way to fill an album.
Bringing in Edgar Winter and using him on ONE track is daft. Edgar could have done some great vocal work if there were any lyrics.
Sadly the only vocal is from the dead bloke Robby used to know.

Compared to the dross up to this point it's a decent listen but gets a bit tiresome after the first few tracks.



1. Snake Oil
2. Idolatry
3. Skip
4. Missionary Jam
5. Psychadelicate
6. Haunted Spouse
7. Red Alert
8. Brandino
9. Out of the Mood
10. War Toad (Peace Frog Remix)



Personnel: Robby Krieger (synthesizer, guitar); Gary Meek, Edgar Winter (saxophone); Arthur Barrow (organ, bass); Dale Alexander, T. Lavitz (keyboards); Kevin Brandon (synthesizer, bass, drums); Jeff Richman (guitar); Tony Newton, John Avila, Alphonso Johnson (bass); Bruce Gary, Richie Hayward, Johnny Hernandez, Billy Cobham (drums); Robbie Amar (turntable).

Engineers include: Marco Moir, Chad Blinman, John Avila.


"A soundtrack for your mind. My definition of Cinematix is “stimulation of the visual cortex through music”. In other words, I think good instrumental music should affect you some way rather than just “oh, that sounds nice”. And since people are so visual today with movies and television, I think it has gotta make you visualize something. It does me. So that is what I tried to achieve with Cinematix."
Robby Krieger

Cinematix features Robby Krieger, the legendary guitarist from the Doors, delivering a solo effort of rock/jazz fusion tunes, featuring guest artists such as Billy Cobham, Edgar Winter, Jeff Richman and more. The mostly instrumental CD (included is a remixed single 'War Toad' (Peace Frog Remix) with Jim Morrison on vocals), is a showcase for Krieger's guitar playing, as he works the riffs and the grooves on material that stretches from ambient instrumental rock to fusion. Cinematix is a soundtrack for your mind from a guitarist with a long resume.

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

If this new solo album by the legendary writer of "Light My Fire" is supposed to be the soundtrack to a movie, someone must have spilled the canister on the cutting room floor because this album is all over the place! From the dry, slow drums and repetitive licks of "Snake Oil" to the heavy and tribal pounds and gargly backing vocals of "Out of the Mood," this cuts from scene to scene and from idea to idea with little rhyme or rhythm. "Idolatry" is jazzy but in a sax-y way. Perhaps it is the soundtrack to the love scene of the mind Krieger appears wont to create. Similarly, the noir-y accelerations of "Missionary Jam" suggest a bungled chase scene. The beguilingly foreboding '80s guitar play of "Haunted Spouse" (which in itself sounds like a movie title) and the funky warning of "Red Alert" are both appropriately (or at least cleverly) entitled, but that may be the best that can be said of them. Taking from other films and shows, "Psychadelicate" goes from the boudoir to the West Side (as in "Story") and "Skip" drops a little Gong Show groove among Krieger's effected low-gear pedals. The real payoff comes when Krieger takes from his own repertoire and lets the closing credits roll over a mad remix of "Peace Frog" (again appropriately titled "War Toad") which combines Krieger's otherwise greatly missing signature sound with the eternal raging's of "Mr. Mojo Risin."
Matthew Robinson, All Music Guide

Cinematix features Robby Krieger, the legendary guitarist from the Doors, delivering a solo effort of rock/jazz fusion tunes, featuring guest artists such as Billy Cobham, Edgar Winter, Jeff Richman and more. The mostly instrumental CD (included is a remixed single 'War Toad' (Peace Frog Remix) with Jim Morrison on vocals), is a showcase for Krieger's guitar playing, as he works the riffs and the grooves on material that stretches from ambient instrumental rock to fusion. Cinematix is a soundtrack for your mind from a guitarist with a long resume.
Guitar 9

With all the renewed interest in the music of The Doors, the group’s founding guitarist Robby Krieger recently returned with his new instrumental album. Krieger was responsible for writing some of The Doors’ best songs including “Tell All The People” and “Runnin’ Blue”, both from The Soft Parade. While there’s nothing that melodic or Doors-like on Cinematix, the album is nevertheless a great showcase for Krieger’s outstanding guitar skills. Described as a soundtrack for your mind, Cinematix adds in guest appearance from drumming great Billy Cobham, Jeff Richman (guitar) and the legendary Edgar Winter (sax). There’s also plenty of other fine musicians on hand as well. Bordering on ambient instrumental rock and high tech fusion, Cinematix is Krieger and company burning on all cylinders. As a closer there’s even a remake of the Doors’ great Morrison Hotel track “Peace Frog” remixed and renamed here as “War Toad” complete with cameo vocals from Jim Morrison. Not overly melodic, yet rich in excitement, atmospherics and skilful musicianship, the 10 track Cinematix is a welcome return from one of the ‘60s great guitar legends.
MusicWeb Express 3000
By: Robert Silverman