Customer Reviews

Cross Purpose

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

 

 

After waiting for who knows how long (25-30 years) one can find no fault with the promise of a new release from Spooky Tooth, except that it took so long. The one unfortunate thought about this release is that the probability of further album/CDs is non-existant.

The band, in this incarnation with Greg Ridley/bass, Mike Kellie/drums, Luther Grosvenor/guitar and Mike Harrison/vocals is as original as you can get minus the "Dream Weaver". Indeed Mike Harrison voice does sound as if he were waitng for a long time comeback, not like some vocalists still kicking around on the tour circut trying to rekindle old flames to past glories with voices that have aged well beyond embarrassment.

The one complaint I seem to share with other reviewers is the loss of the heavy, dark, menacing interplay of the organ/piano, and Luther Grosvenors often searing guitar leads. I agree that the production is too slick for this particular band. There is an uneasy hollowness or distance within the the mix which this band didn't use to have. Check out "I am the Walrus" from 'The Last Puff' album, loudly or even 'Hosanna' from the often unfairly bashed "Ceremony" album to get a meaning/idea of Luther Grosvenor really at work playing guitar. Past producers had given the sessions of earlier recordings a warmth that does seem to be missing here. Thankfully some of the past titiles are available remastered from Edsel/Island recordings.

Memories of "Something to say" and " Down River" from 'The Last Puff' and even a little of the first album 'Its All About...' come back in songs such as "throw me a line", "sunshine", "love is real" and "it's you girl"

Surely a very fine album from a band no one would have expected even with some possibly forgivable glaringly slick production, but with what purpose? The thought leaves one crossed.

Too bad there wasn't a tour!

This is a really good one. Four of the five musicians who made the all time classic "Spooky Two" are back, and they've made a damn good album. The only one missing is Gary Wright, the "Dream Weaver" guy. If you liked "Spooky Two", give this a try. Mike Harrison, one of the great blues/rock singers, is in such astonishingly good vocal form, you'd swear he was saving his pipes for the last 25 years to make a comeback. Buy this CD now!!

This is a reunion I never thought possible. But I'm glad it happened, because the guys sound great. The vocals are strong, and the guitar work is clean and sharp. There are many memorable tracks. In fact this set brings the best of the early Humble Pie sound as a bonus. Let's hope the success of this album brings Gary Wright back and a U.S. tour happens. Be sure to buy this one. And, hey, can we have YOU BROKE MY HEART SO I BUSTED YOUR JAW and TOBACCO ROAD reissues next?

The cover photography and promo sticker gives no proper impression of the material contained herein. Unlike other dreaded reunion albums, this bears repeated listenings. There is a finely balanced blend of remakes, covers, and strong originals (all of it newly recorded material) to be discovered here. Skip the Stones, Page/Plant, Bad Co. -- this album can rest on its own fire. Mike Harrison is still the best rock vocalist, bar none. Any fan of the early Spooky Tooth albums can't go wrong with this treat.

This is a reunion that never should never have happened.There is nothing on this album that compares to what spooky t. used to be.This is full of gerriatric ballads,and 2 bad old timey rock tunes.The guitars are mostly acoustic,The vocals are the only thing good here,everything else is lacking any kind of life,or passion.I have all of their early stuff.I have it all on vinyl and bought it as it came out,and have also got it all on cd.So it's not like I don't like the band.
I grew up with these guys.But this album is just a waste of time.If you want to see and hear spooky rock in this decade get the Nomad Poets DVD or CD from 2007.
I can't even give this thing a half-a-star it's so bad!But they won't let you submit a review without a rating,so the star you see is mandatory,and not how I really rate this CD.

I gave this 5 stars because...it's Spooky Tooth! but this album only really merits an overall 3.5 stars.
These new recordings has none of the grit, grind, blood or sweat of any of the classic Tooth recordings. It's actually pleasant listening despite the listless digital organ/keyboards and an overall safe approach. Gary Wright ain't in the house this time. But...
anytime Mike Harrison opens his mouth to sing this awesome, gruffy, soulful sound comes out, damn I wish I had his voice.

Sunshine; Tears behind my eyes (jimmy Webb); Love is real; and the new Kiss it Better are all great sounding tunes, while some of the others are a bit more passable.

There is something about the Spooky Two album that this band will never live up to. I found this album disappointing, lacking a certain character. The guitar sound is nothing like the early sound, it's almost too clean trying to give a light jazzy sound at times. The songs are average except for 'How', 'Tears' and 'Love is real'. They should have left 'That was only yesterday' alone. The original is so much better. I have to disagree with a comment on an earlier review - if you like Spooky Two you'll be disappointed in this album.