Customer Reviews

Bonafide

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

 

 

Let me start by saying that Wishbone Ash has been my favorite band since the mid-70s. Their unique ability to blend hauntingly beautiful melodies and virtuoso musicianship with hard, driving guitars has actually brought tears to my eyes. With the passage of time and several lineup changes, however, the quality of WA's music has changed -- and generally (IMHO) not for the better. After the debacles otherwise known as Twin Barrels Burning and Number the Brave, I resigned myself to the loss of an old friend. Despite a few diamonds in the rough (Nouveau Calls, Bare Bones), overall the picture has been fairly bleak. I almost cried when I heard Trance Visionary and Illuminations -- what happened to the Ash?

I am happy to say that Bona Fide... is a great album. It is not Argus or Pilgrimmage, but it is a great album. Some of the songs (Come Rain Come Shine; Peace) are as good as anything they've ever done. Several more (Almighty Blues; Faith, Hope and Love; Bona Fide) are at least as good as anything since There's the Rub, and that's saying something. There are double leads galore (although I wish the solos were longer), some straight-ahead rockers, some semi-medieval nuances (vaguely reminiscent of Lady Jay), and two instrumentals -- in short, an excellent cd. Ben Granfelt shares several writing credits with Andy and I think this lineup has some real potential. The bass lines in the middle of Come Rain Come Shine grab your gut, the drumming is crisp, the sound quality is excellent, and even Andy's vocals sound fresh. And their take on September 11 (Come Rain Come Shine) gave me goose bumps, not just for the music (which is awesome) but also in the way the lyrics and extra effects made me re-examine how (and even if) the whole thing will end.

So why not 5 stars? I guess I'm still just a little spoiled by their earlier classics. Virtuosity is great, but I miss the 4-minute high-energy guitar lessons (a la Sometime World), the long double lead trade-offs (Throw Down the Sword), the hard and recklessly intense axwork (Vas Dis/Errors of My Ways). Bona Fide contains some of everything that made WA great, it's just that there's not quite as much of it, and it doesn't last quite as long.

That being said, this is a great cd, certainly better than anything they've done in many years...

I have always been a fan of Wishbone Ash, from the time of Ted & Martin Turner and Steve Upton, along with founder Andy Powell.

They have changed musicians, but Andy is still playing those great guitar licks and with his fine voice, can still sing a mean song.

This CD is like the old Wishbone Ash on the 70's. I just saw the band in Southern Cal. to launch their USA tour. Whew!!

Andy Powell still has the magic and his new band is every bit as good as the old Ash. If you are a fan, this CD is for you.

Loved it!! This is a great album that mixes the best of the old style with the new stuff. Andy Powell is the only original member. However, he has finally found another great partner in Ben Granfelt. He seems to bring out the best in all the band guys. I really think that there could actually be a hit on this album. Wouldn't that be cool. Perhaps the time it right. The track Difference in Time would be my choice for a single. Faith Hope & Love is another possibility. Along with a couple of other tracks. I'd love to hear Wishbone Ash on the radio after all these years. Finally they have a product that merits consideration. I like it as much as Argus.

I have been Wishbone Ash fan since they began. Bona Fide ranks right up there as one of their best. The guitar work sizzles. Andy Powell and Ben Granfelt really know how to lay them down. As an added bonus the production quality of this disc is superb. If your an Ash fan and not sure or if you love to listen to GREAT and tasteful guitar work BUY THIS DISC!!! I got mine about a month ago and I play it every other day...can't get enough.

I'm not too familiar with Wishbone Ash, but I bought this after attending a terrific concert by them recently. This excellent studio album is very representative of their live show. It's almost too bad that they have such a big reputation from the seventies, because people might think they are an "oldies" group, when actually they are still creating great new music. Their new guitarist, Ben Graffelt, is a perfect match for longtime guitarist Andy Powell. I highly recommend this band and album.

This is a great CD! The old Wishbone Ash sound is back with this album. Their album Illuminations had some of the elements of the classic Wishbone Ash sound but this album definitely has it right. This is the studio album that should have followed Strange Affair. Andy Powell and the new members have done an excellent job with this opus. Buy this CD. You won't be disappointed. More albums like this Andy!

The one star reviewer laments that this album doesn't sound like early 70's Ash. It's true! But, then - can you name any band that sounds the same after 30 years?! They no longer have the light, melodic touch and harmony vocals that make "Argus" so pleasantly wonderful, it's more of a solid-rocking straightforward band here. They also only have one original member (guitarist Andy Pyle) - I think he's the only one on this album on either the previous or following Wishbone Ash albums, actually! But, the songwriting is strong and the bass guitar is up front and well played (even if not Martin Turner). I have almost all Wishbone Ash's 70s recordings and "Illuminations" from the 90s, and this is certainly the best I've heard by them since the early 70s - although it lacks the various leanings of their early 70s work (metal, prog, folk-rock), it does manage to succeed in presenting a varied and high-quality rock album.

Wishbone Ash celebrated their 30th anniversary with the release of this new studio album in 2002. It is not a classic Ash album, but has some nice material that makes it worth picking up. Guitarist Ben Granfelt is on board for this one as Andy Powell's co-songwriter and guitar duelist. The material is a nice mix of more blues rock, folk rock and a little progressive rock just like the band's classic stuff. Highlights include the powerful opener "Almighty Blues", the instrumental title track "Bona Fide", "Come Rain Come Shine" which is the band's take on September 11, and final cut "Peace" which kind of sums it all up. "Bona Fide" proves that Andy Powell's vision of Wishbone Ash is still alive and well 30 years later, as this is a very nice album.

Well, this album is great classic, guitar-based rock. It doesn't have the folky and prog elements as much as their early 70's heyday, but succeeds very well as straight-forward blues-based rock. I was a little disappointed with the previous "Illuminations" which was supposed to be "Argus for the 90's" but just didn't do it for me, but this album has a little more kick and the songs just work better. Not a masterpiece, but a good rock album. Classic fans may be interested to know that at this point the only core member of the band is guitarist Andy Pyle, but he's found other good musicians to fill out the ranks. Too bad this lineup didn't do more, although I've heard positive reviews on the albums that came after.

I just saw somebody rating Bonafide 1/5, it just blew my mind. This is a fabolous record, beautiful blues based hard rock music.

You don't have the rights to compare any record to any; and rate as one. Argus is a masterpiece, all agreed.

Just to say, this record has one of the coolest bass jams i've listened to in "Come Rain, Come Shine". Andy is still playing so cool, the group has a vibe together, bass player, second guitar fits and drummer is well enough.
I also was 3 of this line-up together live, they are so good.

This is good music man.
Get yourself together and "review" your "review".

Rating Wishbone albums as 1, just because they do not sound like Argus is pathetic.

My all time favourite album is Camel's Mirage, and i do not (did not) expect even Camel or any other band to make such another album.

Peace.