Customer Reviews

The Game Has Just Begun

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

 

 

I simply love Butler's "Blues after sunset" and his New Orleans boogie piano work. This is an attempt for him to reach a broader / younger crowd. Good grief. If you're looking for classic Butler then look elsewhere. If you're willing to work and perhaps come up empty handed then proceed.

Every release by this highly original musician and composer has been amazing in a different way, and THE GAME HAS JUST BEGUN is no exception. Henry Butler brings his unique vision and prodigous skills to bear on several genres in this CD. Hold on for the ride of you life! Even "Riders On the Storm" revisited sounds fresh in Butler's hands. Though the lack of focus on one particular mood for the CD may be disconcerting for some listeners, Mr. Butler is so bursting with musical ideas that it's hard to fault him for this. He is indeed a treasure the country at large has yet to discover.

Henry Butler has acheived an eclectic recording of diverse appeal in this cd. This is the first release of his that incorporates rock and ambient elements as well as jazz, blues, classical influences. Thus this cd has something in it to appeal to most anyone, and, if one is limited in taste to certain genres, something for everyone to dislike as well.

The title cut ("The Game Has Just Begun") is a rousing tip of the hat to the joys of viagra, featuring vocals of operatic quality and spoken word segments over a musical bed of bouncy, high-energy guitar and keyboard work. The boastful "Mac Daddy Henry" is fun put to a foot-tapping beat, with searing guitar solos courtesy of popular New Orleans guitarist June Yamagishi.

Although most of the tracks have a blues base, fans of Butler's earlier work will perhaps find their expectations most satisfied by "This Is Where I Live". "Tie Me Down" is the most accesible track for first-time Henry Butler listeners, in my opinion. It presents a stereotypical musician-on-the-road scenario, and is infectiously dancable. "Great Balls of Fire" and "High Heel Sneakers" are both good party tracks for the same reason, offering a new take on these old standards.

The "new age" tracks "Rejuvination" and "Fall Blues" point the way for Butler to move into a new direction toward ambient sounds in the future if he feels drawn to. These two instumentals are entrancing and soothing, while being hip at the same time: quite a feat!

My personal favorites are the romantic and lyrical "You Are My Sunshine" (heart-touching vocals)and "When You Listen With your Eyes" (reminiscent of Stevie Wonder).

The interview at the end may be interesting the first time, but is annoying when it comes on every time one plays the cd. With this exception, if you buy this cd and listen to it you will not be bored!

This album is a great disappointment. I have seen Henry Butler live on several ocassions and love his acoustic piano work, but this is just annoying. His singing voice is awful and the music wears out very quickly. I don't reccomend this album in any way.

This CD was not what I expected, but didn't leave me dissapointed- Henry Butler is a talented player and composer as this CD proves-
I was most impressed, however with Mac Daddy Henry- featuring the incredible Shane Theriot on guitar- (although the credits say otherwise- the sound is undeniably Shane on this track- I know his sound well)-
Henry constantly goes for different sounds, feels and tunes and this CD should be a welcome change for fans of his-