Customer Reviews

Dig

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The sound of Boz Scaggs' new album is the sound of the night, but it's a stylish Uptown evening. Simply called Dig, the CD features nearly an hour's worth of polished tunes that fit comfortably in the region between blues, jazz, pop, and R&B. There are many good songs, but the absolute highlight is "Desire," a juicy soul ballad with Boz's silky-smooth vocals, a snaky rhythm section, subtle electric guitar, and lush keyboards. Boz has always been the master of the ballad - "We're All Alone," "Look What You've Done To Me," etc. - and "Desire" is certain to become one of his most requested songs. Another interesting track is "Get on the Natch," a bluesy, funky track that sounds very much like something Don Henley might have recorded (not surprising since it was co-written with frequent Henley collaborator Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar). On the song, Scaggs mutters a twisted rap against a pounding rhythm and sinewy bass, uttering humorous lines like "Pretty soon you're gonna need a new wardrobe to cover your big new _ss." Besides Kootch's participation, the album features several other notables such as Steve Lukather (from Toto), jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove Jr., and good ol' Steve Jordan.

"Dig" is the best album Boz Scaggs has released in many years. I only rated it 4 stars because of the hip-hop flavored song "Get On The Natch", which sounds out of place on the album. "Payday" starts things off with a nice groove, and Boz's voice has lost none of its bluesy expressiveness. "Miss Riddle" sounds like it could have been an out-take from the album "Silk Degrees." For me, the best song on the album is "Vanishing Point." It's about a traveler on a lonely desert road going to Vegas, who stops to pick up a hitchhiker. The journey serves as a metaphor for all of life's losers who keep trying to hit it big. "I was just another deadbeat loser there the last time. I couldn't even read the signs. But I've got this feeling and there's magic in the cards now. I'm going back to take what's mine." The album closes out with "Thanks To You", a jazzy ballad recalling the glory days of jazz-rock fusion. Thanks to Boz Scaggs for a very good album!

Boz Scaggs wrote music that I grew up to. With a smoky smooth voice and an ear for songs that hooked you from the start, Boz never failed to crank out songs that were soulful, jazzy, funky, and just all around great. His reunion on DIG with David Paich of Toto fame has been long overdue, and the fusion of the Toto style and Boz Scaggs vocals blend flawlessly.Silk Degrees and Middle Man are two of my very favorite albums, and after hearing DIG, I now have another. Payday starts the disc off in superb form, Paichs keyboards adding a grand touch. Sarah is a lovely track and stands with the best of the Boz's work. Miss Riddle is a sultry number that is slowly becoming a favorite of mine and Vanishing Point along with Desire are standout tracks as well. Its hard to distinguish between them as to which I like better.The only track I was a little hesitant to embrace is Get on the Natch, most likely because Ive never thought Boz would attempt a rap type song. The beat is catchy and it gets you after a while.Boz is a bit older now and his vocals have deepened a bit, becoming more suitable for the bluesy style he has always favored. His music is still great and anyone who listens to Dig will realize after a few listenings that the Middle Man is still making music that will endure. Play it once, youll like it. Play it twice, youll love it. It only gets better with each listen. Try it and youll really DIG it, man.

I have been a fan of Boz Scaggs since the late 1960's and he continues to amaze me with his ability to be relevant. Most of his music is timeless (as music should be) and even if some of his albums are somewhat strained, his distinctive voice and style will always come through. I don't think of Dig as "Silk Degrees 2" but rather as one of the overall best albums I have ever listened to; an album that, if it were vinyl, you would play from from the start groove on side one through the time when it started clicking on side two if your automatic turntable failed to be automatic. His distincive voice (and musical talent) combine to make his style timeless, unlike some solo artists whose music tends to sound the same and becomes tiresome. If you love artists who can create music rather than sample the music of others with the gift of music, you should appreciate Boz Scaggs. I'm an old guy who grew up listening to AM radio at night when Wolfman Jack and Dick Biondi at WLS in Chicago were "spinning the tunes for the kids". I will always appreciate someone with musical talent, whether it's a band or an individual, rather than what a record company thinks will make money for their bottom line.

All right, here's what you do: put on "Silk Degrees", enjoy it all over again, then put "Dig" on the grill. Don't waste time comparing it to "Silk"... it's an outgrowth, it's where Boz has been going, you'll see. He's ironed out a lot of the wrinkles that came inbetween. And listen to the layers of different sounds on this thing. Holy smokes! There's a song called "Desire" ...cue it up some evening and it'll make you turn the room lights off, guaranteed. There's not a dog in this collection, and the more I listened, the more I liked, which suggests this cd has character. It's so good to have Boz making music like this.

What I know about Boz Scaggs doesn't go much beyond Silk Degrees...as from what I read is the case with almost everyone else. The comparisons are made review after review with this new album. Although this album doesn't quite make the Silk Degrees level it is still a strong album well worth the listen.
The album has a nice jazz flavor to it which is evident from the first track, "Payday", that is quite good. Boz's voice is smooth and the albums production is top notch. "Miss Riddle" and "Sarah" are both great songs on the mellow side with trumpeter Roy Hargrove doing a nice job on horns on "Sarah". Hip-hop influence can be heard on the tune "Get on the Natch" where Boz does a little self styled rap a-la Flash and the Pan. "King of El Paso" is also a strong number with a bit of a Steely Dan flavor to it.
A nice album for Boz, but not Silk Degrees.

Great album! Mr. Scaggs sings about losers with great empathy. In my opinion, this album is better than Silk Degrees, which was very commercial. The sound is very modern with great blues phrase by Mr. Scaggs himself and cool horns.
I am a 27 year old Japanese man, and I hope more young people discover Mr. Scaggs. I also hope we do not have to wait seven years for his next album.

I bought this cd in 2001 in San Francisco. Great album. GREAT ALBUM! Best song on the album is "Get on the Natch" where Boz raps about taking care of yourself. Lost that cd among my last 3 or 4 moves. Bought this new one and it's a song short! Don't know what happened, but I'm very disappointed. Rest of the album is great, but The Natch is one of those songs that you tell everyone about and then it comes up missing.

I bought this disc when it first came out, ironically the day the world changed forever. Though unrelated, the two events kind of go together. For every black hole there is clear light. For every empty there's a full. This is it. A full album of crafted, shaped, and served gifts of honesty, passion and soul. Boz has built a place for my head to go when there's time to be with the music. Made take me out of myself and into the art. The work has been done, the care was taken. Just go -with it, this music does not lack. I'm so grateful to Boz and his partners. This is easily my favorite R&B/Jazz album of this century.

I heard the song Miss Riddle, went out and bought the cd, I can't stop listening to it. I have given it to all my friends. I truly love the mix of the music. I turn the lights low, play the cd and truly unwind!