Customer Reviews

El Rayo-X

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

El Rayo X is an album no discriminating rock lover shoud be without. This one is a classic in every sense of the word. David Lindley is simply one of the best musicians of our time. He never picked up a stringed instrument he didn't like. With his stringy hair and strange rayon/polyester attire he wore, the last thing this eccentric cat looked like was a world class musician. But if you remember Jackson Browne and his songs like "Redneck Friend" and "Running on Empty", all that explosive lap-steel guitar work belonged to Lindley. He also played on such notable albums as Warren Zevon's debut and Linda Ronstadt's Heart Like A Wheel. On this, he brought in longtime cohort Jackson Browne to produce it. Lindley shows us all sides of the rock spectrum on here with styles from Reggae/Ska to Tex-mex to pop and rock. I love albums like this that presents all styles of music.It's never boring. The music here is all upbeat rockers that are tailor-made for your next dance party. But be warned, the guests may want to take this home with em. This cd demands repeated listens. You won't be able to put it down. Some of the great classic tunes you'll be wanting to hear over and over are "She Took Off My Romeos", "Mercury Blues", and a delicious version of "Twist And Shout", that goes from a reggae beat to a La Bamba dance tune. This is some very contagious stuff! I also recommend his next cd "Win This Record", which serves as a good bookend to this, and is almost as good. But go get this one first, I guarantee you'll love it! Tell em Homebrew sent ya.

Lindley's probably been heard by many more listeners as a session player behind Dylan, Ronstadt, Zevon, and his guiding hand work on Jackson Browne's best-known recordings of the '70s. But his own work, early-on with Kaleidoscope, and later with El Rayo-X, is easily as interesting and original. This debut of the latter group, released in 1981, showed Lindley to be as capable a leader as he is a sideman.

For his solo coming out, Lindley not only put together a terrific band, but displayed a tremendous ear for material that fit his tinny voice and a talent for molding refreshed well-known chestnuts. The application of a reggae beat to the Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love" and a zydeco second-line rhythm to the Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout" may not be obvious, but they sure work. His buzzing, revved up guitar-and-drum-heavy take of "Mercury Blues" was good enough to become the defining version for many FM radio listeners of the '80s. The album's originals are as good as its covers, with zydeco, reggae, rock and soul all mixed together with great skill and joy.

Reviewing little-known albums like this is basically preaching to the converted, but I'm gonna take the chance and hope that somebody who sees David's name on a Jackson Browne album will look to see if he has albums of his own, and will read this review.

There is not a bad song on this album. It has long been my belief that if you're going to record cover versions of other people's songs, do them differently, and David does. A Jamaican-beat version of "Twist and Shout?" It works. A play off of "Rockin' Pneumonia?" It works, too. It ALL works. "She Took Off My Romeos" is one of the nicest opening album cuts I've ever heard. Buy this. Play it for your friends. Everybody likes this album. Wait and see.

I've bought this CD twice. The first copy got so worn out I had to buy it again. Great twangy reggae beat remakes of Bye Bye Love, Mercury Blues, Twist and Shout. This music goes best outside on a sunny summer day around the pool with a bunch of friends and cooler full of beer. Check out the DL/X-rays' other stuff too. If you like one....you'll like'm all.

Probably the best reggae. Hey, if you really want to appreciate this splendid musician and if you're lucky, make an effort to procure a bootleg of a live show (fantastic!). His experience with other pros shines through on this CD, big time. This is can't miss fun.

Quite simply the finest party record ever produced. You can not listen to this recording and simultaneously have a bad time. Science has proven this impossible.

This CD is just plain fun to listen to. The music is up tempo and features a reggae type beat. However, it is not repetitive as are song CDs in that genre. David Lindley is a very talented musician and this is some of his best work.

I've listened to this album for the first 2-3 times just recently. I got to Lindley via his work with Warren Zevon & Jackson Browne. I already have two of his more recent discs, "Live in Tokyo" and "Twango Bango Deluxe". Both are independently produced on his private label and feature Lindley's masterful fretwork and earnest vocals accompanied only by a single percussionist. I find this stripped down setting much more interesting and a better showcase for Lindley's talents than the more highly produced ensemble effort on El Rayo X. The one exception would be his blistering slide work on "Mercury Blues" (on El Rayo X), for which maximum volume and repeat mode are cumpulsory. Maybe I need to give the rest of El Rayo X some time to sink in, but right now I definitely recommend the others.

David Lindley was the music on Jackson Browne's best albums. Check out Mr. Dave's three studio releases first. If you are intrigued, go to his website and purchase his live album, El-Rayo-X. If there was any justice in this world, it would have been bigger than "Frampton Comes Alive." After that, you will be ready for his other private label releases available on the website.

I love this album,From "Mercury Blues" to "Quarter of a Man" and all in between. A Souther California Rocker that sure puts a spin on Talented! David Lindley is the Man! This is one of those albums you just have to own. I have had it over periods of time and finally bought it again, either the other types wore out of excessive use or hard partying I realize I had no more copies and it needed replacing. This one you could buy with your eyes closed and score a major Hit! Brings memories of surf, big doobies, great music! What more can I say. "El Rayo-X" is a must have. 5 Stars for David Lindley's "El Rayo-X".