Against the Grain

Acoustic Alchemy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 11, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Grp Records
• ASIN: B0000001U0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,182 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

10 songs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More of the same: Great stuff, January 26, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Tulsa,OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Against the Grain (Audio CD)

Acoustic Alchemy have two problems: 1) They are creative composers and thoroughly accomplished musicians. 2) They are consistent in both areas. Why are these problems? Because after seven albums, audiences sometime take you for granted. "Against the Grain" is another great collection of great songs from these two Britons. Frankly, any Acoustic Alchemy would be well worth your money.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The AA cd I reach for most often, September 24, 2008

By 

Randy Q. Cron "Doc Surf" (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Against the Grain (Audio CD)

Driving home from early Sunday a.m. water polo practice in Bethesda, I clicked onto a DC radio station that was experimenting with NEW AGE music. Back in 1987, they only played it for a couple of hours each Sunday morning. This is when I first heard Acoustic Alchemy ("Mr. Chow"), and I have been hooked on their sound ever since.

I have all their recordings, and "Against the Grain" is my favorite. Not unlike a rabid Beatles fan, I used to buy their latest CD as soon as it was released. "Reference Point" and "Back on the Case" were so outstanding, I used to believe they will have a hard time topping these works and keeping up the creative momentum.

With "Against the Grain", they proved me wrong. I think I enjoy it the most because, not only did it break new ground for AA, but many of the songs could have easily been from earlier albums. For example, "A Different Kind of Freedom" would have fit nicely into "Blue Chip", and "Road Dogs" sounds as if it was borrowed from "Reference Point". "Lady Lynda" reminds me of those early Sunday mornings in the car back in Maryland.

Some of my favorite tunes on "Against the Grain" include beautiful piano blended in with the acoustic guitars. The title track begins with thunder, transitions to the keyboards, and is met by the dueling guitars. The song races forward with that distinctive AA tempo. "Papillon" also begins with ethereal piano fingerwork as an intro for the waiting guitars. Other great songs include the flamenco based "Lazeez", the march of "Nouveau Tango", and the synth heavy "Shoot the Loop".

Since "Against the Grain", AA has still produced some outstanding music, including tracks from "Positive Thinking" and "The Beautiful Game", but without Nick Webb, the focus of the music has changed. We are all fortunate that they had such a great run for over a decade.

By the way, they are great in concert. Their music is more energetic in person. My wife and I have enjoyed several of their shows in Seattle and in northern California; however, it is just not the same without Nick.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best from this duo, August 25, 2003

By 

Andik Prayogo "kidnaid" (Jakarta, Indonesia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Against the Grain (Audio CD)

This is the best album from Acoustic Alchemy with Nick Webb & Greg Carmichael, The passion and romance from this tango-rhythm album is so delightfull.

"Against the grain", "lazeez" & "Shoot the loop" were my favourites. I keep playing this album on my car audio since I bought it over 3 years ago.