Who Else!

03/16/1999 3:00 AM, LAUNCH
Mike Lipton

While Jeff Beck is, without question, one of rock's greatest guitarists, since the release of Truth, the Jeff Beck Group's stunning 1968 debut (featuring Rod Stewart on vocals), he has failed to find a consistently effective vehicle for his guitar chops.

That said, Who Else! checks in as one of Beck's better efforts but will hold little interest for anyone who isn't a certified guitar freak. No question, Beck still has the magic touch--he is able to coax emotion from a single note, and remains one of the most creative string-benders going. On the live "Brush With The Blues," he alternates between soft, understated tones, outrageous bends, and stinging flurries. For straight-up guitar work, it doesn't get much better.

The problem continues to be the tunes. Mostly penned by longtime collaborator/ keyboardist Tony Hymas, they once again consist of instrumentals that basically feature Beck expounding on and soloing (and soloing) over frenetic riffs. "THX138," based around a fiery, repetitive drum track, makes for one of the better cuts as does the reading of Irishman Donal Luny's "Declan," with Beck sharing the stage with a wooden flute. But its "Another Place," a beautiful under-two-minute solo, that reminds one that length isn't everything.