Reviews (3)

It's not that bad.
O.K. Maybe they should have left off "The Essential Collection", and just kept the main title. But, if you count all of the hits ole Bocephus has had in the past. It would be down right impossible to fit them all on 1 CD (unless it's an MP3 format). If you did we would be calling it a boxset...Not, The Essentials. Being a longtime member of the Hank Williams Jr Fan Club, this collection of past hits compliments this CD. Along with the two new recordings titled,"That's How They Do It In Dixie" with a little help from his newest country friends Big & Rich, a very talented Gretchen Wilson and Van Zant. The second entry,"Stirrin' It Up" Is not too shabby in it's own right. Myself I woulda like to have seen "If The South Woulda Won" and "If It Will, It Will" added to this collection. But, the hits that appear on this one is good enough. Like old ThunderHead Hawkins would say "I Ain't Going Peacefully".

Only 12 Tracks? This Falls Wa-a-a-y Short of 'Essential'
Hank Williams Jr deserves a thorough career-spanning single-disc anthology.Unfortunately, THAT'S HOW THEY DO IT IN DIXIE: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION ain't it.
bocephus is king
bocephus is one of the outlaw kings... would much enjoy hearing some music from this album please do list it.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Outlaw Country    3. Pop    4. Southern Rock    5. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Nomadic Southern evangelist Leon Followill may take soap suds to the mouths of the kinfolk wunderkinds--his three sons and a nephew--in Tennessee quartet Kings of Leon, whose second album spins enough cuss phrases and sexual allusions to leave Dolly Parton flushed. But the peculiar 20-something longhairs also fuel up on a filthy shotgun bass and relentless guitar riffs, complementing the delightfully discordant drawl of vocalist Caleb Followill to whittle a 35-minute grab bag of garage rock, English blues, sixties psychedelia, London Calling-ska, spaced-out country waltzes and front-porch, red-state revelry. Without revising its 2003 debut Read more

Features

• Content/Copy-Protected CD
• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (133)

Grating
I'm not under 13, I just don't want to sign up.
"So far so good/ she's absolutely wasted"
First of all, I can't relate to the content/copy protect problems that a lot of people seem to be having with the CD edition of Aha Shake Heartbreak; I got my copy off of iTunes, you see. So this is going to be review of the music found herin, not the technical issues surrounding it. Okay... *deep breath*... here goes:
if you think the copy-protection is bad, wait till you hear the music
"Four Kicks" is one of those singles that comes out and makes you think the rest of the band's tunes are just as awesome, yet in reality they have a completely different style. The band's all soft and the lyrics are pretty sleazy and bad. I usually can find goodness in soft tracks but Kings of Leon aren't any good at making'em. Kings of Leon are more like the Jesters of Leon for me. Don't buy the CD, but if you must then be aware that just a press on shift will make the copy-protection lift (that was a poem). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country-Rock    2. American Trad Rock    3. Garage Rock Revival    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Southern Rock   

Editorial Review

The members of Lynyrd Skynyrd played by their own set of rules.Fiercely defensive of their Southern heritage, Ronnie Van Zant and company reflexively lashed out when they thought they'd been slurred. Hence "Sweet Home Alabama," their retort to Neil Young's shame-on-Dixie "Alabama." (Young loved Skynyrd's screed, even though it lambasted him by name.) On the other hand, "Saturday Night Special" took on handguns; it's hard to imagine a contemporary band with a redneck-rock following taking a similar pro-gun-control stand. This two-disc overview presents a band with a broader agenda than one might imagine. Yes, this is state-of-the-'70s electric boogie, but it's three-guitar-strong rock with genuine subject matter. Fans will already have the likes of "Free Bird" (here presented in studio and concert settings) and "I Know a Little," but baubles such as the previously unreleased "Comin' Home" and the rare B-side "Mr. Banker" add to this collection's appeal, as does the lengthy liner essay. Read more

Reviews (80)

One of the BEST!!!
This is one of the best Skynyrd cd's out there.If you like Metallica then that explains you ignorance!Then again I'm sure you can't be older than 18.FYI...a true music lover loves ALL music, you're just a little boy who likes music.

A must for those just starting out on Lynyrd Skynyrd
This 2-disc compilation of Lynyrd Skynyrd's library of songs is a very good collection of tracks for those just starting out on this most American of rock bands. Though Lynyrd Skynyrd may not have had the virtuoso guitar playing that The Allman Brothers band had (and which band does) or the heavy, southern blues-rock sound of Creedence Clearwater Revival, what they did have was the songwriting of its great frontman Ronnie Van Zant.
FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL HAS NO TASTE IN MUSIC
THE PREVIOUS REVIEWER AN ALIAS OF WHIRLIGIG HAS NO TASTE IN MUSIC.CONTRARY TO HIS FOOLISH RANTINGS,SKYNYRD WERE AMONGST THE FINEST BANDS TO HAVE COME OUT OF THE US AFTER THE EAGLES.ALL THE SONGS ARE GREAT SO IGNORE THE PREVIOUS REVIEWER AND GET THIS ANYWAY. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Arena Rock    3. Blues-Rock    4. Boogie Rock    5. Hard Rock    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll    9. Rock/Pop    10. Southern Rock    11. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Detroit-bred rocker/rapper Kid Rock has reason to be "cocky," as 1998's multiplatinum Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (189)

It's Bragging When You CAN'T Back It Up
This was the biggest musical disappointment of 2001 by far.The first five songs on "Cocky" are quite decent and largely in the same style as "Devil Without a Cause," even if they fall a bit short of the classic-caliber stuff that appeared on that album.From there, Kid alternates between metal and country twang/Bob Seger-like stuff, with some hip hop or screaming metal elements thrown in for good measure.The album ends with a bonus rap track with Snoop Dogg, where Kid and Snoop take turns rapping explicitly about their groupies.
Raw but immature
I'm not a rap fan so that may color my review.I am rock fan, and while Kid Rock does produce some cool rock stretches in his songs the rap seemed to take away from what could be a rockin' CD.Kid can groove, I just wish he would do more of it.The constant profanity does not offend me, it just sounds stupid and gets boring.Overall, this is a fun CD, but I can't listen to more then 2 or 3 songs at a time.

Kid Rock- Cocky
I've never really been much on "Rappers", but here's just something about Kid Rock that appeals to me. Maybe it's the simple fact, he tells it the way it is.I just love his work, he and maybe Uncle Cracker are the ONLY 2 Rappers' I'll listen to.
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Subjects:  1. Bass (Electric)    2. Detroit Rock    3. Drums    4. Guitar (Acoustic)    5. Guitar (Electric)    6. Hard Rock    7. Keyboards    8. Piano    9. Pop    10. Rap-Metal    11. Rap-Rock    12. Rock    13. Rock/Pop    14. Southern Rock    15. Vocals    16. Vocals (Background)   

Editorial Review

Shooter Jennings's 2005 debut, Read more

Reviews (23)

Shooter - Back in the Saddle.
Shooter is back and still riding high. This CD is a pretty good CD. I love the southern rock style Shooter brings to the table.
great cd
Shooter is amazing to listen to in concert and both of his cd's are great i highly recomment them to anycountry or rock fan

Refreshing
How great that in today's contemporary country scene so saturated with radio friendly sappiness like Rascal Flatts that a real raw country rock album can still be made. Shooter never falters and doesn't just deliver those stereo typical sappy made for radio singles like many country acts do. If only Shooter could find a larger audience, perhaps even ween those crazy kids off Rascal Flatts and onto the real deal. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Arena Rock    3. Country    4. Country-Rock    5. Hard Rock    6. Pop    7. Rock & Roll    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Southern Rock   

Editorial Review

One of the most inspired cobbled-together-from-a-stack-of-records soundtrack albums since Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (42)

The bad with the good
How can a collection featuring Yma Sumac, Townes Van Zandt, Nina Simone and Moondog get only 2 stars, because of Kenny Rogers & the 1st Edition. This version of the song sucks, and the scene in the movie sucked. Edit this self indulgant dreck out of both and they rate higher.

Find Colvin, Creedence, (and Eagles) Elsewhere
Shawn Colvin's version of Viva Las Vegas, which seems to be the most difficult to find of the "missing" tracks, can be found on the 1995 Doc Pomus Tribute CD 'Till The Night Is Gone' - also somewhat difficult to find, but an excellent CD.

Fantastic but incomplete
By the way, the 'Tumblin' Tumbleweed' version is by 'Roy Rogers & Sons of the Pioneers', not 'Riders In The Sky' ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Country-Rock    2. Folk-Rock    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Rock & Roll    6. Roots Rock    7. Singer/Songwriter    8. Soundtrack    9. Soundtracks    10. Soundtracks & Film Scores    11. Southern Rock   

Editorial Review

Having firmly established themselves as "The Grateful Dead of the South" via their enormously successful 1971 Read more

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (78)

Magnum Opus South ...
I agree wholeheartely with all or most all of the reviews listed but must respectfully disagree with finulanu's comment that the Allman Brothers magnum opus, Mountain Jam, is too long. It is in my opinion one blissfully long magnificent piece of music that isas good or even better than any Dead jam. I bought the double Lp back in the early 70's and painfully remember having to dig out and switch vinyl on the turntable (each half of Mountain Jam on seperate records) right in the middle of my Dickey Betts air guitar solo !!!
Eat A Peach For Peace
I will always be moved and haunted by the voice of Dickie Betts...the Guitar work of Duane, and the collective genius of this important work.
Yes, I'm editing my Eat a Peach review yet AGAIN
If you're keeping score, this would be the third time I've rewritten my review of Eat a Peach. By the looks of it, this is the final. It's been a few months since the last time I went through and reviewed it, and a few months and several listens later I'm beginning to see the light. This, ladies and gentlemen, is not only the Allmans' best album, but arguably the greatest double-album of all time. There's nothing that even comes close to filler. I know I bashed Les Brers in A Minor and Mountain Jam on my previous reviews, but those two have grown on me, as has Blue Sky. All right, you're bored now. On with the show!
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Blues-Rock    3. Boogie Rock    4. Guitar    5. Hard Rock    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Slide Guitar Blues    10. Southern Rock    11. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Known for two big-idea concept albums, Read more

Reviews (32)

Different, Deeper, and Really Good
Here DBT experiments a little with being mature.Which means more reflection and, this is the key to why many didn't like this album, more 1st person and less stories, the latter of which has made for some of their better stuff.The music is also notably discordant, almost grating in places, but musically so.The strong hooks and licks are still there.Especially the multi-guitar work that helps define their sound.
Great band, only so-so album
This album is not nearly as strong as the three that came before it, but it is still pretty solid.I agree with the reviewer before me in regards to Jason Isbell:what was he thinking with these songs?Compared to the classics he contributed to the last two albums, his additions to this album are pretty lame.I can only guess he is planning a solo album and saving his good stuff for that.Mike Cooley has slowly become the best songwriter in the group, and his two songs on this disc rank with its best material.Again, not a bad album, but by DDT standards, it's pretty forgettable.

I bit depressing
Southern Rock Opera, The dirty south and Decoration day are real feats of accomplishment. Three of my favorite CD's. I'm not going to compare because I like to see a band grow and experiment. The only real complaint I have on this album is the mood. While my spirits are lifted when I listen to the blues like John Lee Hooker or rockin blues like Pat Travers, this album just simply depresses me. The songs are honest yes, but does honesty alone make it good? We all have hard times but the way DBT expresses lifes ugly painful side is just not enjoyable for me on this one. It becomes apparent that much of their hard times are brought on by their own poor choices (Aftermath USA). Yes, it takes honesty to sing about making poor choices in life then having to deal with it but in the end I don't feel sorry for them nor do I relate to that level of irresponsible living. I found the record more of a wallo in self pity than anything else. However I found the song "A World Of Hurt" to be extremely well written and performed and I'm tempted to keep the album just for that song alone. But it's hard to listen to a CD knowing your going to feel worse when it's over. I look forward to their next record. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country-Rock    2. Hard Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Southern Rock    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Everything came together for Little Feat's third album. An expanded lineup gave the Feat a more supple rhythmic base, Lowell George penned some of his strongest numbers, and they developed an oozy studio sound that suited them to a T. The title track, "Fat Man in a Bathtub," and "Two Trains" distilled compounded rhythms, wailing background vocals, and adroit wordplay into an intoxicating soul-rock swill. In many ways, Read more

Reviews (21)

Their best next to Sailin' Shoes
Dixie Chicken is Little Feat's third album and is regarded among longtime fans as their best work. Like their previous albums, Little Feat and Sailin' Shoes, Dixie Chicken would garner much critical acclaim but slow sales. The album also showed a change in direction in their music. While Sailin' Shoes was steeped in country, blues, and boogie music, Dixie Chicken is laid back and funkier. This would also be the album to debut longtime Feat members Paul Barrere, Sam Clayton, and Kenny Gradney. Barrere, in particular, would play a pivotal role in the band, gradually writing more songs with their later releases and would be the major voice of the band when they regrouped in 1988.
Great CD
One of the best CD's I own. You can actually stand to listen to the entire CD, it's not one of those you buy just for a song or two. TWO TRAINS is a great track, as is the comical DIXIE CHICKEN, FAT MAN IN THE BATHTUB is also an excellent track.
Thirty Six Minutes of Pleasure
Back in the day albums came on two sides and had artwork that rivaled the best contemporary art.In those days an Album was a work of art, not a product to be shifted.If you have not yet heard this CD, get out that credit card and choose overnight shipping.You will thank me.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Blues-Rock    3. Boogie Rock    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Rock    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rock/Pop    9. Southern Rock    10. United States of America   

Reviews (53)

Superb worship
Third Day set high standards for themselves when they released Offerings: A Worship Album, in 2000.The second in what will hopefully become a series of worship releases by the Georgia quintet, All I Have To Give equals, if not surpasses, the first effort.With six new studio tracks and six live concert cuts, this CD will gratify fans who are eager for exclusive material, and inspire thousands to sing along in worship to God.
Good follow-up to the first
This album is a great worshipful album, with mostly slow to medium tempo worship songs."Creed" is probably the most uptempo song on the album, and I find it a bit jarring in the context of the album.It's a great song, but doesn't seem to "fit" where it is in the album.
Third Day Rocks!
I love everything that Third Day puts out.This worhip album is no exception.I found myself singing along with most of the songs and smiling and worshipping, too.Great buy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative CCM    2. CCM    3. Christian Rock    4. Contemporary Christian Music    5. Pop    6. Religious / Contemp. Christian    7. Southern Rock    8. United States of America   

Editorial Review

In 1979 redneck rock reached an apex with "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," a monster hit that reached No. 1 on the country charts and crossed over to No. 3 on the pop charts. But as this 1983 overview suggests, the Charlie Daniels Band was more than a one-hit wonder, even if the fiddle duel on "Devil" remains their definitive moment. Only Lynyrd Skynyrd could equal the energy of their rocking mix of Southern boogie, honky-tonk, and electric blues. At 10 tracks, this set may seem a bit skimpy, and while there's no dross, some listeners will find the nascent jingoism of "In America" and "The South's Gonna Do It Again" hard to swallow. Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (16)

One of the Best Country Albums Ever Made
My dad had a tape of this album and i loved "The Devil Went Down To Georgis". The quick tempo made it interesting to listen to. I listened to it over and over again. I went further into the tape to find more wonderful songs. If you buy one CD this year, make it this, it's one of the greatest ever.

Best album I've ever heard!
The Charlie Daniels Band, in my mind is the Best Country band ever! This was an amazing album. I love it and play it every day, probably every hour. I'm only 15, but I know Mr. Daniels' songs like I'm 50. This Album brings out the best of CDB and is well deserving of praise! CDB is very Patriotic and Mr. Daniels is a model citizen. God Bless Mr. Daniels. God Bless our Soldiers and President Bush. The songs that made Charlie Daniels an American icon
I came of age at a time when rock (if you can call late "1970s rock" rock - I wouldn't) and country sometimes overlapped, and no one straddled the genres as successfully and meaningfully for me and my friends as The Charlie Daniels Band.1979's The Devil Went Down to Georgia was huge and served as my introduction to this country band that knew how to rock a fiddle.Then came the 1980 Full Moon album featuring The Legend of Wooley Swamp, a song I couldn't get enough of.You couldn't go to a pizza joint for a year and a half without someone cuing this song up on the jukebox (usually more than once).Also from the Full Moon album came In America.This was 1980: America was suffering from stagflation (an all but impossible economic combination of both inflation and high unemployment that only Jimmy Carter could make happen), the Soviets were rattling their sabers and pointing increasing numbers of nuclear missiles at the US, and the American hostages in Iran headlined the news every single night - America was at one of the weakest points in its history.Charlie Daniels made all of us proud to be Americans again with his patriotic anthem In America.Read more

Subjects:  1. Country    2. Country & Western    3. Country-Pop    4. Country-Rock    5. Pop    6. Southern Rock    7. Traditional Country    8. Urban Cowboy   

Editorial Review

Built on a solid foundation of Southern rock but given a contemporary spin that places them in the vanguard of current jam bands, Widespread Panic take an obvious respect for the past and turn it to their advantage as they plot the sound of the future. Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued

Reviews (27)

great album
This is by far my favorite WSP album.The only song I don't really care for is "Contentment Blues".
check this out too
I am a big fan of rootsy, acoustic rock with some jam band style, but not too much jam band style. This album is a fantastic treat that consistently delivers great music, song after song. If you enjoy this album and are looking for some similar albums then I recommend the following:
delightful, bueno studio album
Space Wrangler is easily one of the best studio album from a jam band, ever. How this has gone under the radar for so long is beyond me. I borrowed this sucker and went out and bought a copy immediately. Space Wrangler is an album you'll want for summer nights. It has splashes of blues, jam, rock, and these really cool guitar and bass parts that are a trademark of Widespread Panic. There is a ton of variety in the songs too. Songs like Coconut remind me of Jack Johnson, although a bit jammier, and Porch Song remains one of my favorite songs ever. The song lengths are nice and average, which makes sense as this is a studio album.
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Subjects:  1. American Trad Rock    2. Jam Bands    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Southern Rock   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (24)

A Unique Sound, Great Guitar Work And A Singer With A Social Conscience!
This album shows just what a unique talent John Fogerty trulyis. He goes from the Country "chicken pickin' guitar workon Big Train( From Memphis) all the way to the hard rocking Mr. Greed in which he lashes out at the way he was treated by certain record executives. I am also happy to say that his Anti War stance is alive and well as can be heard on the song "I Saw It On TV" where a Fathergrieves the loss of his son in a futile and unnecessary war whichonly boosted Corporate Profits.This album should be compulsory listening for any teenage aspiring guitarists and songwriters.Mr. Fogerty may have grown up in California but his heart is still in the Louisianna Bayous. Naturally 5 stars for this album and I would give it 10 if I could.

Don't Waste Your Money "Premonition Is the Best DVD J-F Made
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON ANY CD'S OR DVD'S JOHN FOGERTY HAS MADE.PREMONITION IS BY FAR THE MOST EXCELLENT OF ALL HIS DVD'S.THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER ONE TO TAKE IT'S PLACE.HAVE IT LOVE IT.NOTHING I EVER BOUGHT IN DVD'S" BY JOHN FOGERTY WILL COMPARE TO PREMONITION.I GIVE IT A 10 PLUS.

check this out too
I am a huge fan of John Fogerty's solo music and his music with CCR. If you enjoy his roots-rock style then I strongly recommend that you check out the following:
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Subjects:  1. Heartland Rock    2. Pop    3. Pop/Rock    4. Rock    5. Rock & Roll    6. Rock/Pop    7. Roots Rock   

Editorial Review

Remarkably, this is the Read more

Reviews (18)

Creedence Hit the Big Time
When I first heard this album in 1969. it was on vinyl. A friend had just purchased it and had just unwrapped the plastic that was on it. He placed it on the turntable and within three notes of the first track (Green River) the place was rocking.
Fogerty At His Artistic Peak
After sending "Proud Mary" to number two on the singles chart, John Fogerty continued to explore the music and imagery of the swampy American South.A bayou spirit in a Bay City California body, he screams and wails through Green River like a man trapped, inconsolable, hopelessly out of step with his psychedelic blood brothers.Yet the pairing of his anguished voice with a strong backbeat and bright guitar tones achieves a sound that might best be described as "catchy."
Other stuff to check out
I am a huge fan of John Fogerty's solo music and his music with CCR. If you enjoy his roots-rock style then I strongly recommend that you check out the following:
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Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock    3. Rock & Roll    4. Rock/Pop    5. United States of America   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (19)

First rate sampler of Texas' biggest & baddest export:ZZ TOP
THE BAND: Billy Gibbons (guitars, vocals, hermonica, fiddle, baritone sax, keyboards), Dusty Hill (bass, vocals, tenor sax, keyboards), Frank Beard (drums, percussion, vocals, alto sax). Bill Ham (manager, producer, inspiration).
High quality ZZ Top at their best!Excellent sound!
I have this and Chrome, Smoke & BBQ [Box Set].They are all that is available in very late December 2005 that's the original mix (non futurized) and remastered and sound AWESOME!
The Best ZZ Top Compilation
Among the reigning kings of southern rock, ZZ Top's rich musical legacy has spanned over 35 years and several albums, hit singles and live concerts. They are still a favorite on radio stations across America, and have a devoted fan base to this day.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Arena Rock    3. Blues-Rock    4. Boogie Rock    5. Hard Rock    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. Southern Rock   

Editorial Review

Hailing from Tampa, Florida, and wielding as many as three lead guitarists at a time, the Outlaws are perhaps one of the least likely bands to be deemed worthy of a major-label retrospective CD. Though supremely competent, the band is completely indistinguishable in both style and substance from earlier and better known acts of southern rock's golden age: Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Read more

Reviews (36)

Southern Rock "Distinguishable from ALL OTHERS" of the Genre
To Amazon's Roni Sarig; I am happy for you that Amazon has outsourced their music reviewing operation to Calcutta, but get a clue Roni.
Die, Roni, Die
To the staff at Amazon.com: You have fallen prey to the 'lazy reviewer' syndrome by passing along Amazon-approved music reviews from someone with an agenda. Roni's review of the Outlaws betrays quite a bit about him/her (unable to tell from the name - is this your major attitude problem, Roni?). Obviously a Gen-X or Wye (or "Why Oh Why" as I call them) who doesn't think music is to listen to, it's a video phenom. Maybe this band is indistinguishable from other bands (to you) because you wouldn't know a musician from a ditch-digger. Put a street person in the right clothes, teach them to mimic the same boring moves as all your favorite bands (posers), and your review would be "genius; completely original; mind-blowing".
Several jewels on this compilation
The editorial review's statement that this music is "completely undistinguishable" from other Southern Rock, and that it is for die-hards only is misleading, to say the least.The Outlaws had a distinctive sound and lyrics, much more Western than most of what is called "Southern Rock."There are some forgettable songs on this compilation, in my opinion, but it is worth owning for fans of 70s guitar-driven rock for several of the jewels herein, such as "Green Grass and High Tides,""Gunsmoke," "Hurry Sundown," and the lesser-known "Song For You," among others.The guitar-playing is excellent, but the tunes are also memorable.I would even describe some as haunting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Popular Music    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. Southern Rock   

Editorial Review

While some artists feel the need to reinvent themselves on a regular basis or to throw together records chockfull of guest stars in order to revive flagging careers, J.J. Cale remains content to continue his reign as king of the laid-back guitar groove. Anyone who thinks it is easy to continually wring new permutations out of the back-porch choogle--Cale's calling card for near three decades--should try it some time. A little violin ("My Gal"), a stab of horns ("Chains of Love"), or some vibraphone tones ("New Lover") is all he needs to freshen the mix. While artists like Eric Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd have scored by adding testosterone to Cale's tunes, they would be the first to admit that his music is no less potent for being more relaxed. In fact, it's the off-hand manner in which he presents his political tunes--"Stone River" (ecology), "The Problem" (the President), and "Homeless"--that gives them their poetry and power. Read more

Reviews (20)

True Chill Out Music
Great music for a relaxing sunny day at the beach.Despite some serious themes in the lyrics, you can put a smile on your face, have your favorite beverage or whatever, and kick back for the sunset.Having owned Clapton's 461 Ocean Blvd. album for 20 years, I see why people compare Cale to Clapton, though it should be the other way around.Great album from start to finish.

6+ stars
I sometimes wonder what makes the difference between an artist and a shooting star ? I'm listening to Cale's music for almost thirty years. Actually I grew with it. From one album to another he never ceases to surprise me. Probably the difference that I'm talking about lies in some magic blend of musical wisdom, imagination, loose attitude and passion for creation. Cale has them all. This album makes no exception. It has everything from each one of his previous approaches: the misty mood of "Naturally", the punchy sound of "Troubadour", the stompy rhythms of "Shades"... For any Cale passionate this