In a lot of ways, you've got to admire an artist like Jeff Beck, who has, on one hand, thumbed his nose at the pretense of performing music for the mainstream, yet lifts the ol' honker vainly upwards when the comparisons with other guitarists pour forth.

For the last couple of decades, Beck has been issuing (nearly exclusively) indulgent heavy fusion instrumental music for other self-absorbed stringbenders. Which may have more to do with Beck's noted aversion to sharing the limelight with lead singers, yet stays true-to-form by rolling out a set of "can-u-top-this? exercises every few years or so." Believe me, the pleasure's all Jeff's.

His latest disc (again under the aegis of long-time keyboardist Tony Hymas) introduces several new elements into the Beck riffology, including techno percussion, screamin' digital effects, and solos that are much looser in the frame. However, Beck's competitive spirit threatens to turn to dismantle most of the moves here.

Sure, there is no one else but Beck who can bend and curl a blues lick quite like the ones during "Brush With The Blues" here - a slow, smoldering set recorded live before an appreciative crowd. And frankly, there are damn few guitarists that can create the stirring, swelling sorrow as "Another Place" that closes the disc on a contemplative note.

Yet, Beck still insists on matching speed demons like Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen on their turf, using lickety-splits riffs and shifting modals in a haze of hip hoppish metal and thuddish hard rock that's levels beneath real ability. Truthfully, there's a double irony to the disc's title, as Beck sounds more like his mimics than ever (as in Who else? Everybody else!).

But then again, Beck doesn't make albums for you or I. Or anybody else but himself. And that's a good thing.