Customer Reviews

Furious George

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

 

 

This is no simple speed-fest. Lynch's guitar attacks each tune tastefully with some killer tube-tone too boot. Yes, these are cover songs, but not the straight ahead note for note copies which plague most cover albums. Lynch and vocalist Kelly Keeling put their own unique stamp everyone of these songs; making this album an extremely enjoyable listen, especially at higher volumes. I've played this cd about 5 times already and haven't hit the skip track button once. "Furious George" is a must for any Dokken or George Lynch fan, as well as anyone who loves straight ahead, in your face, 70's style rock guitar. Heck I would add 1/2 a star for a 4 1/2 star rating if I could. "Furious George" and Keven DuBrows new album of covers, "In For The Kill" are two of the best cds I've purchased all summer. Add to cart and the turn it up, you won't regret it!

To be honest, I'm not really a big fan of cover tune albums, but the selection of tunes on this are killer. I've been a Lynch fan for many years and he continues to blow me away. The lead guitar solos are truely amazing and Kelly Keelings vocals are awesome. George keeps the heart and soul of the songs intact while still adding his style and flavor. This is a great album and a must have for all the Lynch heads out there.

this is not my favorite effort by post-Dokken George Lynch, but overall, this is a really well put together album. I initially thought that I might not have been the right mood to listen to it after the first few tracks, so I put the disc back on the shelf for a couple of weeks and gave it another try later. Originally, the idea of an all cover George Lynch album really got me excited. of all the 80's ubershread players, lynch always struck me as the sort of "dark horse" thinking man with soul who just happened to be in the band that did that embarrassing song for that one Nightmare on Elm St. movie that nobody wants to talk about or even admit that they watched. Furious George, while not my personal favorite, really stands out in the complete body of Lynch's work. even when he's laying down some guitar hero-esque solos on this disc, it really doesn't stand out or slap you in the face like a prison pillowcase filled with unopened soft drink cans. the tones Lynch pulls off on this album are somewhat smoother than the dark, yet piercing sound I generally associate with him. Furious George feels a lot more thought out and planned than much of Lynch's previous efforts like Lynch Mob's "Wicked Sensation" and Lynch/Pilson's "Wicked Underground." I don't feel like anybody is trying to give me a guitar lesson on this album and the complete work plays out like a collection of group-based material rather than a vehicle for Mr. Scary to melt my brain with his guitar sorcery and blazing solos. so why didn't I rate it higher? when I think George Lynch, I think of something my wife is going to forbid me to play in the car on long trips, or that will make my neighbor stop working on his motorcycle at 2:00 in the morning. frankly, if anything on this disc is over-the-top: it's the singing. it's almost like the producer dialed down the guitar tracks, and pushed the vocals to the front of the mix - odd, considering that this is supposed to be a solo outing by the group's guitarist. originally, it just sort of felt like the songs on this album were always winding up, and just about to go over the top and turn into a guitar shred fest... but it really never quite gets there. there's plenty of very trademark Lynch soloing on this disc, don't get me wrong, but he never really "freaks out" and just goes crazy the way I would have gotten REALLY excited about when I was 16. And that's really the problem. it's not the album, it's the fact that I'm still stuck in 1988 somewhere in my mind, and for whatever reason on the day I bought this disc, I really wanted to hear 4 minute guitar solos thrown to the front of the mix on every song. what I got was a well planed and executed ensemble work that truly serves the songs rather than Mr. Lynch's, or a 30 year old teenager's, ego. I'd absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves guitar music, or is just a big George Lynch fan. this is a great album, and I'm personally just a few more rotations off this disc before I get my brain adjusted and really get into it.

I got this on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. Lynch's interpretation of these late 60's/early 70's songs is right on. It jams!!! I like the way he selected a few obsure and lesser known songs like "I want you/She's so Heavy", and "Precious and Grace". The songs that absolutely cook are "Bridge of Sighs" and "You Shook Me". Wow!!
When you get this expect him to follow the basic outline of the original song, but add enough of his own "signature" to make it worthwhile. It is far from a hard-core shred fest, but some of these licks are stunning, and I'm writing this after only one listen (many more to follow).
For those who rated this low because it didn't jam enough, I can only guess that you were never exposed to that era in music. The songs are of a slower tempo, but emphasize the guitar, and Lynch does a masterful job of delivering. The vocals are also top notch.
I bought another covers CD recently by Jake E. Lee called "Retraced". Jake is all right, but the vocals on that one ruin it. This is 10 times more enjoyable, go get it.

Of all the cover albums coming out these days by famous guitar players this one (along with the Schenker-Pattison summitt) is one of the best! The guitar tones on this disc are the best I've heard in a long time! The disc starts out with a version of Space station #5 and I'm telling you-You won't find a better hard rock tone! What's great is that Lynch has truly captured the feel and sound of the original versions. Thanks George for covering Captain Beyond! We must be close to the same age! Also, Kelly Keeling does an incredible job of coping the vocals-from Mark Farner to James Dewar! You want James Dewar-you got James Dewar. You want Sammy Hagar-you got Sammy Hagar!
The production is great! What TONE!!!

For all long-time Lynch fans who are expecting some great guitar shredding... you won't find it here. Save your money or buy something else. It is a lame collection of cover tunes that George didn't even play rhythm on. He just came in and laid down some solos, and even those solos are boring, uninspired, and lacking the fire that used to make him such an exciting guitarist. Let me say this again: Don't waste your money on this!

I have not heard the album, but question one of the folks who wrote a review dated August 7, 2004. They wrote "It's a bunch of (mostly) 70's-era rock & blues tunes, most of which I've never heard before". If you are not familiar with most of these tunes, you are not from this planet. The original tunes that are covered on this CD are all rock classics. I suggest you review some country, or classical CD's, as you obviously don't know classic rock 'n' roll.

When I saw the title "Furious George," I figured this disc would be a heavy-hitting, all-out rocker. Nope. It's a bunch of (mostly) 70's-era rock & blues tunes, most of which I've never heard before. There doesn't seem to be much "furious" playing anywhere on here. It's more laid back, so the title's a misnomer to say the least.

Cover albums are a big thing among the 80's rockers these days (Kevin DuBrow, LA Guns, David Lee Roth, Warrant, etc), I suppose because they're quick and easy to do. The songs are already written, so the bands just go in and knock them out.

I guess you have to give George credit for picking some less-obscure tunes as opposed to the overdone "Tie Your Mother Down" and "Hair of the Dog," that every group seemed to do there for a while. Outside of the song selection, there's not much to get excited about. I have tried and tried to get into this one, but the vocals are just awful--though there are a few notable exceptions (the ZZ Top and Beatles covers are pretty good).

Better luck next time, George.