Customer Reviews

Explorer

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

 

 

I am a huge Duke Robillard fan. I waited and waited for this album when I found out it was coming out. I bought it the day it came out and was totally disappointed. I know Duke is known for his wide range of styles but nothing on this disc did anything for me. Keep in mind this is my opinion but I have alot of what he has recorded solo and as guest appearances. Pick up Dukes Blues if you are a first timer. If you aren't....post your comments on this site.

Wow, I have to agree...this isn't Duke's best by any stretch of the imagination. A few of the cuts are pretty decent but too much time is spent with songs that are just plain odd. We love Duke for his guitar stylings, not this kind of thing. Actually, the new Robert Charels CD "Metropolitan Blue" that Robilard produced or the work he did with Herb Ellis is much closer to a classic Duke or Roomful album than this is. I bet Duke bounces back strong though because he truly is one of the greats.

Being a Duke Robillard fan for the last years it's a pleasure to listen to each new work from the duke. He becomes better and better with each release, in case you like jump blues and not the rocking edge of blues. So if you want to have a strong jump blues record with soulful vocals and virtuos guitar playin buy this one and you will have a great time with this record and wont stop listening to it.

Being a Duke Robillard fan for the last years it's a pleasure to listen to each new work from the duke. He becomes better and better with each release, if you like jump blues and not the rocking edge of blues. So if you want to have a strong jump blues record with soulful vocals and virtuos guitar playin buy this won and you will have a great time with this record and wont stop listening to it.

This is the first Duke album that I have bought that I didnt like, I think it is awful! He is way off the reservation. This is what happens when an artist tries to play too many styles of music and abandon what they do best! He went out in left field on this one!Come back home Duke!

I am a huge Duke Robillard's fan. Duke is a great musician with a wonderful discography. In this section I have already written my opinion about two fantastic Robillard's records: `Guitar groove-a-rama' and `Living with the Blues'. But with this `Explorer' some funny things have happened to me because the first time I heard it I was a little disappointed, but after listening to it a couple of times more I've changed my mind. I still think that he tries to put too many styles of music in but in spite of this I like the record. There are cuts like `Male magnet', `Hang on', `You mean everything to me', `You dropped the thing on me' and `Time is short' that work very well, some others like `Soulful', ``Jumpin' with Duke", `Brand new fool' that sound to me better than the first time I've heard them, and some others like `Just between me and you', `Misunderstanding blues', `Sayin don't make' which I really don't like, which are boring and limp. A different case is `Lonesome old town', a good song which I don't know what is doing in this record: it belongs in an Ireland songs record but not in a Blues record. I give it between 2,8 and 3 stars

Complete with horn section and synthesizer, Duke Robillard's clean single-pickup guitar tone floats through his amp with a subtle touch of beach-reverb. Released June 13, 2000, his sparse electric technique and faux-southpaw notation leave you yearning for his well-placed flares that rely on tone instead of effect. The muted acoustic baritone guitar reminds one of gypsy-jazz, and the vocals on the record give way to a gritty drone that draws on both Big Band and Call-And-Response. While relying on Chicago rhythms and New Orleans Piano, Explorer creates an environment for saxophonists Doug Jams and Warren Beadle to interlude and experiment with less-sobering tonality. It's a playful jaunt to yesteryear that appreciates an amalgamation of uniquely American music while proving the versatility of the Duke's band. Also highly recommend is "Duke's Blues" and "Blue Mood". Please check out his website at www.dukerobillard.com. All content copyright www.maximumink.com.