One of the first things Wes Borland says of his new project is that "If I weren't the guitar player for Limp Bizkit, this [cd] would have been in your waste basket a long time ago." Perhaps that's true, but for a different reason than he's implying. For several years, people have been talking about him and his "potential". We've all heard Limp Bizkit, but what would Borland do if he could take off in his own direction? Anyone lucky enough to see him live knows that he's capable of more than he's been putting into the big money-generating band. Big Dumb Face is the answer to thousands of questions pondered in the record shops and concert venues everywhere. Self-engineered, produced, written, and performed by Borland (with a live band for touring purposes), there's not much room for uncertainty anymore.

One thing is clear early on: Borland is not dying to be taken seriously with this album. Alternating between a Biohazard-like baritone (for heavy songs) and a Munchkin/Chipmunk alto, he brings his outlandish fantasies to life. The first selection, "Burgalveist", revels in its own gory details of "necromastic rot" and "blood and bile." However, something about the image of "glowing forehead and draining monkey" channels the listener to the right mix of satire and hilarity. The next selection, "Duke Lion," is the tale of a heroic knight . . .Lone Ranger-style. The album explores such diverse topics as rednecks, a space odyssey, religion, and a penis laser. Yes, a penis laser. None of the lyrics are above the average preteen's vocabulary or depth; perhaps that is what makes it all so much fun.

The instrumentation is almost as diverse as the lyrics. "Kali Is the Sweethog" features heavy metal drums over acoustic folk guitar, and ends with a speeded-up electric version of the folk line. . An ominous organ opens "Blood Red Head on Fire" for a death-metal parody, while "Space Adventure" sounds like something you'd find in a seventies' Disney movie, replete with quirky synthesizers. Even "Fightin' Stance" has a separate sound with a blues-like swagger.

"Duke Lion Fights the Terror" is definitely the album a third grader would make if he had the experience and creativity to pull it off. Most songs are pretty repetitive, but Borland is not really focusing on trying to win a Grammy here. The question of what would happen with Borland at the helm is finally answered; nothing but total creative license could have resulted in this cd. In its entirety, "Duke Lion" is a refreshing break from reality and the land of the sane.