Customer Reviews

4-11-44

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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The Blasters are a blast! And this album is a real treat. I'm not certain how to describe their music - rockabilly? blues? rockabluesy? or just rockin' American music? -- and I'm not sure it matters. My suggestion is to listen to the samples Amazon has provided, because even 30 second bites of The Blasters are pretty darn tasty.

With so many good songs on one CD, I'll touch on a few. Daddy Rollin' Stone struts, in the studio audio version, as well as the live, computer-playable video version (this is the only video on the disc). The title track is a great number about playing your lucky numbers ("If you're working harder than you're getting paid, 4-11-44/The poor man's remedy"). Julie is a plaintive promise to a lover who's a prison term away. Dry River is a fine ballad about lost Los Angeles and lost love. Precious Memories is a rollicking romp down memory lane ("I turned out to be/The only hell my Mama ever raised"). Just To Be With You is a very good harmonica-led blues track. And the closing track, Fire of Love, is about playing with fire ("Now love is an ember/It once was a flame") while trying not to get burned. Throughout, Phil Alvin is in fine voice and the band is terrific.

I've saved the best for last. My favorite is the rocker Rebound. Just try sitting still during Rebound, I dare you. If you're not bouncing around the room inside the first minute...call 911...check for a pulse...heartbreak has never been so much fun.

Thanks to The Blasters, even being unlucky can be very lucky indeed. 4-11-44 is a very lucky number.

This is the Blasters first studio album since their original run ended in the 1980s. So there are no Dave Alvin songs or guitar solos here. That said, this is still a good record. Phil Alvin sounds as great as ever, embodying the songs with his big voice and big personality. John Bazz also remains from the original lineup. The new members fit well, and the songs are great. My only quibble is that there are no songwriting credits. I recognize a lot of the tracks as being old songs, but is the entire album covers? Are any of these originals?

And on a final note, could somebody PLEASE reissue Phil Alvin's incredible first solo album, "(Un)Sung Stories" on CD?!

Blasters newest studio CD is the best music and sound they have ever produced.....GREAT CD !!! Now we want more of the same out here Blasterland !!!!! Get to work fella's

"4-11-44" is as good as its gonna get without Dave Alvin. This is classic rockabilly blues. Phil Alvin's voice is like hearing an old friend and "on the rebound" would make Charlie Rich Proud. If you pine for the past (the 50's, 60's and The 80's) this is where it's at. Buy Now.

This is an outstanding album,. that had been honed over many years on the road. The Blasters were the first audio cassette I ever Bought, and they have been with me ever since as a personal all-time favorite. So I when I say this is their best output, I do not mean it as a trivial proposition. It is up there with my top roots rock albums like the Beatfarmer's Tales of the New West and Webb Wilder's It Came From Nashville.

Very good CD.Would have been nice to have Dave Alvin on lead guitar and writing all the songs ,but hey there could be another reunion gig at any time.His replacement is very good on lead guitar.Dave did let `em use one of his songs on this project.That is "Dry River".Phil`s voice is sounding even better as he gets older.

must have for Blasters fans...everyone else ought to want this in their player at home too