Customer Reviews

Essential Listening 1

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

 

 

Instrumentals have been a mainstay of rock and country since their inception, and those driven by electric guitar have popped up repeatedly since the instrument's invention. From steel-and-guitar combos like Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant to Buck Owens & Don Rich's twin telecasters to British Invasion acts like The Shadows to innumerable surf bands to fusionists like Joe Satriani and recent instrumental bands like Los Straitjackets, the electric guitar has logged a lot of time in the spotlight.

The trio of guitarists that make up the Hellecasters (Fairport Convention's Jerry Donahue, The Desert Rose Band's John Jorgenson, and session picker Will Ray) are all masters of the six-string sting. Their talents include firebrand flat-picking, cozy slide playing, nearly inhuman string-bending and the sort of finger-tapping histrionics that fueled many of Eddie Van Halen's solos. What makes their music unique is that the guitar isn't spotlit for a solo, it's the basis. And it's not one virtuoso, it's three, trading licks and prodding each other to ever greater heights.

The band's fourth album, their first for Hightone, continues their application of legendary playing to a broad array of originals and a cover of Noel Redding's "Little Miss Strange." The glee in their trio playing keeps this from being an academic exercise, though the constant onslaught of guitar pyrotechnics may be too intense for all but the guitar aficionado. As catchy as some of the melodies are, the laid-back, languorous solos are generally outweighed by dramatic, heavyweight playing. Sure to be a favorite of guitar fanatics.

3-1/2 stars, if Amazon allowed fractional ratings.

The Hellecasters (John Jorgenson, Jerry Donahue and Will Ray) are one of my all-time favorite bands. I first heard them on the theme to the Disney cartoon "The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show" and was blown away! I was just getting into my "own" music then, separate from the classic rock and Motown my mother always had on the radio (which is great too, of course) and they were some of my early instrumental guitar "heroes."

I decided to completely jump into their music, buying their 3 major releases simultaneously, sight unheard, so to speak. I was not disappointed. Top notch everything from beginning to end. And it all has a great sense of fun about it, which I also appreciate. From there, I've bought many of their individual efforts and love them all.

This collection attempts to put together a sort of "best of" album, and it somewhat succeeds, but unfortunately only has one track from their first album. (no idea why) It does, however, have two previously unreleased tracks ("Little Miss Strange" and "Bucket of Fish") and one that was only available before on the Guitars That Rule the World, Vol. 2 album ("Disnintonation", which is a great way to start the album). Those are great treats for any fan. But really, there are a lot of AMAZING songs missing from here, including their version of "The Orange Blossom Special", one of the best versions ever recorded.

So, in short, lots of good tunes, but you'll want more. A lot of their best wrok is not represented here. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Still, I can't give it any lower than 4/5.

They claimed this was a new Hellecasters album, so I bought it. What a rip-off. There's only one or two new tunes here -- all the other songs are on the previous three CDs which I already own. Why in the world are they already putting out a compilation album when they only have three original albums out? That's ridiculous. Way too soon.

As compilations go, this isn't very good. Escape From Hollywood is their best album, so buy that instead of this.

To whoever is responsible for this travesty: You got my money this time, but in the end you LOST money because you lost a big fan.

LOVE THE BAND........HATE BEING BURNED. THIS IS A "BEST OF" THOUGH IT IS TOUTED AS A "NEW" RELEASE. DON'T GET BURNED AS WELL AS PASS ON THIS ONE!

The musicianship of these player's is outstanding. For anyone who thinks they play guitar, just listening to John Jorgenson, Will Ray and Jerry Donahue will make you think twice. These three do things with the guitar that is totally mind boggling.

This guys have always defied description. This CD is more of the same if you have the first three. Can't get enough!