Customer Reviews

Crosscut Saw/Black Diamond

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not sure I understand the previous review. I've got all the Groundhogs albums, and Crosscut Saw has got to be the heaviest, most distorted, twisted, sick guitar that TS ever played. I mean that in a good way, of course. There is an air of menace to TS's guitar/keyboard playing and singing that, in its own way, is more ominous that any Black Sabbath recording (and I love classic Sabbath). TS doesn't minch words in his lyric writing (not very PC on the mysogeny front, as he acknowledges on the song which is a pun on the term) or his guitar playing. He has an extremely bitter outlook on life, and he means it in these songs. I wouldn't want to mess with this guy. This factor gives the album the same harsh realism of a brutal football game, and is worth experiencing for the same reason--there can be no question that it is REAL. Not staged, not done for commercial gain, not pandering to any goal other than the animalist expressions of the tortured insides of one Tony TS McFee. Somewhere in his past, TS must've had the mother of all breakups.... Hair-raising stuff. Black Diamond is a good album too (though "Body Talk" is so mysogenistic that it's kind of hard to take in this day and age), but Crosscut Saw is the THING YOU MUST HAVE.

ps. if there's ever a snow-ski slope that you're afraid to try, crank up "Eleventh Hour" on the headphones, scream loud and bloody, and head straight down...

crosscut saw / black diamond were mcphee's final run with his synthi-hifli guitar synth - he took it farther than anyone !!! -his over the top guitar work on crosscut saw can acutally scare people - 3 way split, promiscuity and fulfillment are some of the most dynamic in your face guitar you'll ever hear.

black diamond actually contains better material but isn't quite as aggressive as crosscut saw - friendzy, fantasy partner, live right , black diamond are all exceptional tunes - not a bad one on the album - this is probably mcphee's most under-rated lp. highly recommended!!!

Crosscut Saw is the album wherein T.S. McPhee launches you INTO the universe. Beautiful, powerful guitar work that grasps the mind and bends the consciousness. In an era of Jean Luc Ponte's Moog violin work and Pink Floyd's lazy psychedelia, Mr. McPhee gives muscle to an otherwise too-sweet genre. Bravo for voicing the masculine male's malaise in that last gasp of white boy angst fueled by too much speed, acid, smoke and wine!!!!! A vocalization that is truly a definitive chapter in American rock and global master craftsman guitar musicianship!!!

Misogynist? Sure. But it is all true. The deep feelings of betrayal, the resentment of abandonment, the love/hate of unrequited or "dis"requited affection is all there. The man must have truly loved his woman with a furious passion in order to disaffect with such vehemence. I respect his words and have for nearly 20 years. His pathos and telling tales of the women he has known, as portrayed in this work, should give pause to all men and make us mindful of the power of woman. T.S. McPhee surely was totally aware of their incredible power and communicates it quite effectively through his instrument.

Crosscut Saw And Black Diamond, both released in '76, were done in a period when McPhee actually wanted to bill himself as a solo act, like Rory Gallagher did after Taste split, but was advised against the move by his mananger. Tony put a new Hogs together which featured a second guitarist for the first time.Crosscut is overall the better of the two, with some over the top effects laden solos from T. S. (check our "Fulfillment", totally an ear splitter)."Mean Mistreated" is a good acoustic bluesey diversion from the mayhem. Black Diamond is a weaker album (think of it as bonus tracks), especially in terms of production (thought it was just the vinyl mastering that didn't sound so hot), the guitar sounds a little too peaked out at points (scratchy). It's not without a few good tunes though like the title cut and the gorgeous instrumental(rare for Mcphee) "Pastoral Future" as well as "Live Right" and "Your Love Keeps Me Alive", both played live by this band on the tour (documented by a Swedish radio broadcast, partially available on the Boogie With Us collection).

for anyone shopping for a new band to get into/ when records were more prominent/ i had every Groundhogs lp available/ this cd is one the best and slightly newer/ tracks Fantasy Partner and Three way Split can easily melt your cd player/ some of the most raw guitar and effects youll ever hear/ LiveRight / country blues every song can easily beat others around these days/ if into hard guitar driven rock / you will love this mutha

Although it could now be regarded as an "old" album I beleive "Black Diamond"in time should be considered a classic in terms of avant garde British blues revival of that particular decade.Many "Hog" purists regard this album as soft being devoid of the infamous T.S.McPhee guitar licks and controlled distortion outbursts.Personally I beleive it to be a turning point in the artist's career,showing a new degree of confidence and style.Comments on individual tracks would be an affront to this album's overall impact upon the listener, although it must be stated that in my humble opinion Pastoral future, Live Right,and Black Diamond do indeed shine in an already dazzling array of inspirational Blues reformist offerings.

Last year I bought Thank Christ For The Groundhogs.Then I got Hogwash.Then I bought Crosscut Saw/Black Diamond.The man is one talented musician.I love the vast majority of his songs.His guitar playing is top notch.His vocals arent the best,but I couldnt imagine anyone else singing his songs.I do prefer his band from Blues Obituary thru Who Will Save The World.I would recommend any of the Groundhog albums without hesitation.Listen, you wont be sorry.

The hogs put out 2 in '76. Here you get both. Crosscut Saw is the gem, one of their best, featuring Eleventh Hour, but every song on it is good. Black Diamond is not near as good, but I like the title track, and really like Body Talk, although it sound like nothing else Tony McPhee has done. Buy this for the very underrated cd Crosscut Saw and then enjoy a couple of good cuts on Black Diamond. Jerry.

Really encouraging to see people still talking about TS McPhee -- I thought he'd OD'd years ago. This was the last Groundhogs album I had seen way back when. This one was probably the most commercial, hence the least complex. Still really strong -- a great way to get into this band if you'r not quite ready for the real thing. If you are an out and out G'Hog freak you'll still like it.

please tell mew how i can order crosscut saw/black diamond.