Beware of Bob

One of Wiseman's "side" projects, B.O.B. is a collection of the type of freeform jazzy instrumentals popular at the keyboardist's regular Toronto club shows. While representative of the talents of Wiseman and collaborators Hugh Phillips and Don Kerr, most of the album will prove little more than background music for all but the most avid jazz afficianados. Without the ability to see Wiseman's unique and riveting performance style, the music seems to lose some of its character and uniqueness. While there are definite standouts ("to to the god of", "could have been the theme for the jeffersons"), this is disappointingly not the best possible representation of Wiseman's fascinating live shows that have continued to very deservedly draw Toronto audiences for practically a decade.
-Tomas Mureika

For several years now I’ve convinced myself that Bob Wiseman was the best thing about Blue Rodeo, that he gave them an intangible edge that disappeared when he left the band. That edge is certainly to be found on his latest solo release, Beware of Bob, but, unlike his past releases, the music contained herein is a series of improvisations (with sidekicks Don Kerr on drums and Hugh Phillips on bass).
~Brian Wieser, Discorder, Vancouver