Too often the title "guitar god" is bestowed upon musicians whose focused dedication has also turned them into one-trick ponies. Then there"s the real deal, a.k.a. Gary Lucas, a musician whose sheer innovative skills are matched only by his restless stylistic explorations and cross-genre instincts. Lucas has contributed adventurous fretwork to a dizzying array of projects, from Captain Beefheart to soundtracks to singers such as Joan Osborne, Nick Cave, and Jeff Buckley. Indeed, it"s often hard to believe this album (his second for John Zorn"s Tzadik label) showcases just one guitarist, ranging as it does from occasional Hebrew folklore schtick ("Yigdal," "Mahzel Means Good Luck,") to loving and unexpected tributes to loopy personal musical favorites ("I Kill You for Nothing [Marx Brothers Medley]"), languorous, atmospheric avant-garde excursions ("Sh"ma"), and even Wagner"s "Ride of the Valkyries." Utilizing a stunning arsenal of techniques that range from acoustic-based open tunings and brisk fingerpicking to noisy avant-garde electric and slide work, Lucas never lets his tasteful, daring instincts overwhelm his material. --Jerry McCulley