Customer Reviews

Beautiful Game

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Anytime a well established group has to regroup in order accomodate a change, the initial offering is viewed critically by their fans. With the unfortunate and sad passing of Nick Webb, Acoustic Alchemy has undergone this change. I believe that the group has indeed changed their musical direction. Not necessarily for the better or worse, but different. I personally loved the old sound, and at first listen, I know that I will love the new sound too. Greg Carmichael has assembled an ensemble of excellent players and the music is fresh and rewarding to the listener. The sound is a little funkier and more diverse, again it is different and it is a good difference. Not necessarily better or worse. If you try it, you will be rewarded amply.

Reading the other reviews here, it all really depends what you're wanting to hear. Jazz, New Age, Pop...whatever. I tracked down Acoustic Alchemy because I liked the background music on the Weather Channel! Tracks like Big Sky Country (country/pop) are superb in my book, and more of what I prefer to hear - mainstream, light pop, with some funk, jazz thrown in there too. I would say this has a little more pep & "pop" than their "jazzier" CDs. If this doesn't relax you, nothing will.

This is a great recording! A lot of the songs have a newer, smooth-jazz edge to them that enhances Greg Carmichael's talents and doesn't diminish from their classic sound. The new members add a nice dimension to their music, which is nice. It's touching that they were able to continue to make great music after the death of one of their founding members. I think it's a tribute to Nick Webb that they were able to continue recording without trying to recreate his musical sound, something that will never be accomplished again. I would highly recommend this to anyone who would like a great instrumental cd!

Released Spring 2000 this is AA's first album since the tragic passing of Nick Webb. Whilst we mourn the cruel loss of such incredible talent Greg carries on the brightly light torch of the wonder that is AA. This highly acclaimed British group have a distinct style all of their own and have carved a well place niche in the hearts of many smooth jazz lover. This album is a slight change in direction for AA but then that was always bound to be the case with a change of artistic influence. It is I hasten to add a change of which I approve, not that Nick, God rest his soul, did a bad job. The spirit for good music lives on and the group have one again proved their sense of adventure, for being bold and trying the new. The acoustic guitar playing is, as ever, superb with a great beat evident throughout the album. This album truly is a "must have" for all those acoustic lovers. I was trying to work out which were my favourite tracks but it was proving impossible to do. What I will say however is that I love the increasing pace and spanish/latino feel of The Last Flamenco (track 7) and I adored the background sound track of Kidstuff (track 8 - I just love that little impish child giggle) and if this is the kind of talent we can expect of the boys in the future then I cant wait to see what it brings.

This is one of the best CD I have heard by Acoustic Alchemy. I have all of the albums and I have heard them all. The song are well composed and it is a pleasure to listen to. This is a great CD and I recommend it to all. If you are new to Acoustic Alchemy, I know you will love this CD. Great work guys!

I think this is one of the best CD's I own. It goes with me on all my road trips. I had not listened to any of Acoustic Alchemy's music and "just happened upon it" while searchign for some new CD's. It truly is a beautiful CD.

The Beautiful Game is a breath of fresh air from Acoustic Alchemy. With the passing of Nick Webb we will never have pure Acoustic Alchemy again. So having said that, one should understand comparing this new work with the old may not be wise. This effort from Greg Carmichael and the group does stand on its own two feet- a fine and balanced album. True it does seem somewhat "mainstream" and less "acoustic" yet I for one am VERY satisfied with the outcome of this recording. I look forward to many more.

Smooth jazz today is more popular than ever...believe this group has led the way, giving the audience a broader view of this genre through the eyes of Greg Carmichael(leader of the group).

Carmichael takes another avenue with "THE BEAUTIFUL GAME", blends reggae with clean clear crisp guitars taking you on a lengthy journey, with piano counterpoints..."THE PANAMA CAT", is funky with an infectious beat, gets you in that "down with it mood"...the highlight is "HATS OF MAGIC", the magic touch of Carmichael and Snake Davis sets you adrift into another world of mist and tranquility, gotta love it.

Total Time: 62:53 on 13 Tracks ~ Higher Octave Music HOMCD-48946 ~ (2000)

My favorite of the four discs I have. Never fails to get me happy. It just seems right between my listening sessions with Buckethead, Stone Sour and Bardo Pond! Was on a Higher Octave kick in the early 2000s and these guys have stayed on the home playlist. Great changes, competent writing. Who wouldn't want to be in a band like that? There's nothing I don't like about their sound. Clean, clear and straight playing. Knowing a bit of the personal history doesn't interfere with this record. Somehow it made this record happen. Things could have gone on excellently before, but they continued on excellently forward as well.

I have been listening to AA since Mr. Chow was played on the national radio station the Wave. What called my attention about this group was that every CD had two or more songs that excelled. Their albums, with the exception of 'Against the Grain' were not consistent. They alternated from fast to slow pace, from reggae to flamenco to country etc. We now how this album. The consistency is there. It gets five stars from the fact that each song flows together. It gets 3 stars from the fact that they sound like the Rippingtons (not meant as a negative comment). The uniqueness in their tunes are gone for the sake of playing, sort of speak, a politically correct (for the masses) sound. It takes a while to get adjusted to this philosophy. Once adjusted to it, you truly start to enjoy it as if you were listening to a new group as opposed to old Acoustic Alchemy.