Being a one man operation and not a commercial website has advantages and disadvantages. On one hand,this year,I've occasionally been having trouble finding new guitar Cds to get excited about. That means for a second week in a row,we'll start of with a bit of negativity,instead of the guitar Cd of the week I'm most excited about. On the plus side,I don't have to write glowing reviews of new stuff I'm "supposed" to like. No doubt,you'll be seeing good reviews for this weeks hall of shame winners in all the guitar magazines. Here's what NOT to buy this week:
Kenny Wayne Shepherd - How I Go
I've enjoyed Shepherd's recent live album,but this...this is slick,overproduced product. At 17 songs,it also manages to overstay it's welcome by 5 or 6 songs. This exemplifies the exact opposite of what I want out of a blues artist.
Keb Mo - The Reflection
Keb Mo is one of those frustrating artists whose tepid recorded output gives little indication of their enormous gifts. Here,we have to suffer through his bid for attention from adult contemporary radio with guest spots by the likes of Dave Koz. Awful.
John Hiatt - Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns
My problem here is less with Hiatt then with producer Kevin Shirley. Shirley seems determined to work with as many talented artists as he can (Joe Bonamassa,Iron Maiden) and help them turn out albums that sound dated, too processed and compressed into lifeless, overly loud harshness.
So,there you have it. Kenny Wayne Shepherd,Keb Mo and John Hiatt,all really talented guys,all putting out albums that I really don't like. What do I like this week? It's a pretty short list,but read on...
The Wood Brothers - Smoke Ring Halo
Short,tasty songs from Oliver and Chris Wood. Producer Jim Scott (Wilco) helps keep everything tight and focused.
Soft Machine - Tales of Taliesin: EMI Years Anthology 1975 - 1981
While this later period in Soft Machine history may not hold the influence the early years do, from a guitar perspective,Alan Holdsworth and Jack Bruce make this essential stuff.
Iron Maiden - Virtual XI (Collectors Edition)
Guilty of being merely a solid album from a band that has issued some of the best heavy metal on the planet. What makes this a "collectors edition"? Frustratingly,Amazon doesn't say,but at least this lesser offering from the metal masters is in print.
0 comments:
Post a Comment