Customer Reviews

Black Glue

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

 

 

I could not help but love this man's work it was so inspiring and greatly suprised me. His work was phenomenal and he sure was made to be a superstar. For those who did not ever hear Mike Hartman listen and enjoy for this was to be his last work. Mike Hartman passed away July 6 00 from a long battle with cystic vibrosis, but I know that he is in a better place and God loves what he hears.

This is one of the few solo guitarist works that you don't have to be a guitar player to appreciate. Michael Hartman blends his influences from Satriani, Vai and Van Halen - to name a few - with terrific creativity and a broad display of musical ranges. In fact, there seems to be a different style for each track, creating clear demarcations between tracks. It will be a long time before this CD leaves my car.

From the opening bars of the title track what's clear is the rare sincerity of this guitarist's playing. The way his talent triumphed over his illness comes as an inspirational addition to great melodies and incredible technique. Out of the aucoustic numbers 'Song for Jeanie' is the most special, evoking a kind of rural American idyll, complete in itself and a fitting eulogy. 'Feel my pain' uses wah to emphasize H's already storytelling vibrato and the solo shows a Bettencourt influence that is truly magical! Most special is the way the album moves away from sentimentality in the last numbers, with 'Insanity's' riff-packed jamming. It's true - in heaven there's a club called 'Black Glue' and Michael Hartman's still making music, and he's inspired and he's not scared.

Last May while I was in Indianapolis, Indiana I went to some of the 500 Race Celebrations. Mike Hartman and his band performed on Carboration Day and this kid had the crowd pumped. This CD has a good sound and I liked all of it. This kid is a natural and he's gonna be around for a while....

Listen carefully to "Black Glue" and then go listen to "Cupid's Dead" by Extreme and you'll be shocked. He simply took most of the licks then slowed it down considerably. Even the tone is the same. I have no respect for someone who lifts a large chunk of someone else's work and then passes it off as their own.

I originally rated this a 1 but I've since changed it to a 2. Also, I was wrong in my original review. Mike doesn't really sound like Nuno. Nuno was tight, precise and had a ripping technique. Mike's playing is simply lackluster, often cluttered and average, IMHO.

Still, since someone asked me to reconsider my original review, I complied and my final judgment (songwriting, guitar tone, ideas, technique, etc., considered) I rate this a 2.

TS