Charming Snakes
Andy Summers · 1990
51 min · 11 tracks · jazz
A vivid blend of atmospheric soundscapes, jazz-inflected melodies, and progressive rock sensibilities envelops the listener throughout this album.
Top tracks — play these first
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Charming Snakes — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its intricate guitar work and layered textures that reflect Summers’ artistic vision.
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Mexico 1920 Start here — This opening track sets a cinematic tone through its evocative melodies and rhythmic complexity, establishing a thematic exploration central to the album.
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Rainmaker — With its haunting atmosphere and lyrical depth, this track highlights Summers’ ability to weave storytelling into immersive soundscapes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album showcases intricate compositions and skilled performances but lacks widespread recognition.
What we noticed
- The opening track sets a slow, atmospheric tone that is maintained through much of the album, with occasional shifts to more upbeat sections.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with varied intensity
- atmospheric soundscapes for exploration
- intricate melodies through headphones
- wave-like pacing for deep listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album marked Summers' first solo project post-The Police, gaining notable attention.
- Career context
- By the time 'Charming Snakes' was released in 1990, Andy Summers had already gained prominence as the guitarist for The Police. This album marked his first solo project after The Police disbanded, showcasing a distinctive shift towards an experimental sound that incorporated his interests in jazz and world music influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Robert Fripp· David Torn· Bill Frisell
Tracklist
- 1 Mexico 1920 Start here 4:02
- 2 Charming Snakes 5:15
- 3 Big Thing 7:11
- 4 Rainmaker 6:20
- 5 Charis 3:23
- 6 Mickey Goes to Africa 4:55
- 7 Innocence Falls Prey 2:46
- 8 Passion of the Shadow 5:14
- 9 Monk Gets Ripped 3:59
- 10 Easy on the Ice 4:36
- 11 The Strong & The Beautiful 3:56
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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