Rays (Michael Nesmith album)

{{Infobox album

| name = Rays

| type = Album

| artist = Michael Nesmith

| cover = RaysMichaelNesmith.jpg

| alt =

| released = 2005

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Rock

| length =

| label = Pacific Arts

| producer = Michael Nesmith

| prev_title = Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (soundtrack)

| prev_year = 2000

| next_title = Movies Of The Mind

| next_year = 2014

}}

Rays is an album by Michael Nesmith, originally released in a limited edition of 100 in November 2005, then later released in an unlimited edition in April 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.videoranch.com/html/raysnews.html|title=Limited Edition Rays CD|publisher=Videoranch.com|accessdate=23 June 2015}} Nesmith described the album as a cinematic journey of sound with elements of swing, jazz and instrumental funk that forms what he calls "New Century Modern".

{{

Album ratings

|rev1 = Allmusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rays-mw0000481913|title=Rays Review by Karen E. Graves|date=5 November 2005|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=5 November 2005}}

}}

Background

The album cover is a comic strip drawn by Drew Friedman and features Nesmith "driving" through five stages of his life, with a quest of looking to fill his "appetite": 1) His earlier career in The Monkees, where he is seen driving a Pontiac GTO and wearing his signature knit-cap; 2) His career as the frontman of the First National Band, driving a Jeep; 3) His Elephant Parts-era career, where he is seen driving a pink Cadillac (referring to his song, "Eldorado to the Moon"); 4) His later life as an author, entrepreneur and philanthropist, driving a Rolls-Royce and asking, "where am I?"; 5) And in the center of the cartoon, Nesmith is sitting peacefully under a tree on a hill, content with himself, stating, "suddenly, I’m not as hungry as I’d thought".

Track listing

All songs written by Michael Nesmith.

  1. "Zip Ribbon" – 3:05
  2. "Dynaflow" – 4:11
  3. "Friedrider " – 3:08
  4. "Carhop" – 3:58
  5. "Boomcar" – 3:43
  6. "Best of It" – 2:29
  7. "Ed's October Café" – 3:18
  8. "Rays" – 3:37
  9. "Bells" – 4:28
  10. "Land o Pies" – 2:50
  11. "There It Is" – 3:40
  12. "Follows the Heart" – 3:12

Personnel

Production notes

  • Michael Nesmith – producer, engineer, sampling, technician
  • Richard Bryant – engineer, technician
  • Drew Friedman – text, cover art
  • Michael MacDonald – engineer, technician
  • Gary McGrath - assistant to Michael MacDonald at Private Island Trax

References

{{Reflist}}