Customer Reviews

Every Shade of Love

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

 

 

Jesse Johnson had always shown flashes of brilliance, first with The Time (see 777-9311, or My Drawers), then on his own (Revue's Can You Help Me?, Shockadelica's refined acoustic Black in America). Here on Every Shade of Love, Johnson displays incredible maturation and confidence as the heir apparent to ascending the guitar god throne. Reminiscent of his mentors Prince and Hendrix, Johnson lets loose with stratospheric guitar funk on seven of the eight tracks here. However, my personal favorite is when Johnson slows things down on I'm Just Wanting You, where feathery and jazzy riffs seem to echo some of Hendrix's softest moments ala Little Wing and Castles Made of Sand. Plus this track has some of the finest lyrics of longing and regret that I've heard. While not widely recognized, Johnson is a hidden gem, found among the ashes of the Minneapolis Sound. You've got to hear him to beleive me.

An all-time, Hall of Fame, take-no-prisoners rock guitar meisterwerk....whether or not you've ever heard of it. Meet Jesse Johnson, who I never much cared for in his previous incarnations: with The Time, his own Revue, or his solo debut SHOCKADELICA. I always felt Jesse was pushing that Prince connection too hard, mimicking that sound too closely, and downplaying his guitar at every turn. Then allofasudden and outta nowhere comes this album, EVERY SHADE OF LOVE. The Prince influences are still there, but FINALLY Jesse plugs in and lets loose! The first track, 'Lovestruck', throbs with sweat-glistening funk, until 2/3 of the way in when Jesse explodes with the NASTIEST extended solo this side of Hendrix, Beck and Trower. You'll need to change your pants after hearing it. But the next song, 'So Misunderstood', actually ups the level of intensity, with Jesse bombarding you with distorted licks and crazed lead-lines from start to finish. It's difficult for words to convey just how mind-bending this guy's playing is on these tracks, but they instantly lifted him up to my personal Guitar Olympus. Even though the rest of the album settles into more-familiar material -funk and ballads, nicely crafted - NOBODY who's ever heard this album can get past those first two songs. You love all-out guitar madness? You NEED this cd, my friends.

First off, let me say that I have been a fan of Jesse Johnson's (on and off) since 1985. Even so, I find it highly questionable that this cd rates any higher than 3 stars. This is not Jesse Johnson at his best. There were only two songs on this album that I thought were good: "Love Struck" and "I'm Just Wanting You". The song "I'm Just Wanting You" is well written and arranged and the guitar work is simply superb. Other than that, the rest of the album is well...medicore. It seems as if Mr. Johnson was stunted artistically. Surely, he was fed up and frustrated with the music biz and all its politics and this frustration was apparent with this album. Or he probably just needed some time to reflect and to recharge his artistic batteries. This album is more hard hitting, with respect to his guitar playing. Perhaps this album can be viewed as a transitional album. Because after this album, he didn't release another until 1996, which was Bare My Naked Soul-an all out rock album.

Tracks...

1) Love Struck
2) So Misunderstood
3) I'm The One
4) Color Shock
5) Every Shade Of Love
6) Everybody Wants Somebody To Love
7) I'm Just Wanting You
8) Stop-Look-Listen

I've always Dug Jesse Johnson.THe Man is Very Talented but so Underrated it ain't even right.Jesse Played&Rode the Wave of the Minneapolis Sound but folks who have truly followed His Career know that He was a Serious Guitar Player.He could Play the Synth Game&What not.but He really lets loose on some of the Jams Here.His Solos are still tight.I got this Album when it First came out back in 88."Lovestruck"&the Title track were two of the songs I really dug on this Album.Live He really rips it up on the AXE!!this is a Really Good Album By a Very Talented Cat.

Length:: 1:01 Mins

Jesse Johnson blows the roof off with some funky and mind blowing guitar throughout Every Shade Of Love! His leads are devastating. Of course the phat synth and thumpin' bass are right on time also. He really lets it fly on this one. Here is the song list: (*=my favorites)

Side One: "Love Struck"*/"So Misunderstood"*/"I'm The One"*/"Color Shock"

Side Two: "Every Shade Of Love"*/"Everybody Wants Somebody To Love"*/"I'm Just Wanting You"**/"Stop-Look-Listen"

Jesse Johnson don't play...

I am so happy that I have this on CD. I'm actually playin' it right now, all the songs really fit in2 it's time very '88 soundin'. I agree with what he said in the Ultimate Collection (2000) booklet:

"For the third album, I was really detached. I was sort of burned out. But with me, the detachment was good creatively because I was able to focus all my energies into the album."

He still gave it his all, & I see it as a good success. My friends would probably dig this CD more than they would my Lovesexy CD by Prince released the same year, lol.

My favorite tracks are "Color Shock", "I'm Just Wanting You", "Love Struck", & "So Misunderstood". The other tracks are good too--I wouldn't call'em fillers either. I also like how "Everybody Wants Somebody To Love" starts sorda 70s soundin', be sure 2 check that out. Some of the songs ("Color Shock" & "Every Shade of Love") are similar 2 "Black in America"--from his 1986 release Shockadelica, what I mean is the songs are the same as in lyric wise. They talk about what's happenin' in the world at those particular times. I like when his lyrics are directed in that style--a side from the usual singin' of a "sexy" girl (*rolls eyes*, lol).

Also y'all should see the video single 4 "Love Struck" he shows his skills off there too, & the clothing every1's wearin' is so '88. In the end, I'd recommend buyin' Every Shade of Love esp. if u can get it 4 the price of $9.99 like I did.

the guitar work is hit&run soloing and average, the drum machine stinks if you really really loved and still love The Time spend your money, that's all folks