Customer Reviews

Get Inside

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

90% of my purchases are guitar instrumental albums, the rest are guitar albums which include singing, such as Sonny Landreth. In most cases, after reading, and buying on the strength of reviews, I have high expectations which are only rarely met.

In this case, those expectations are massively surpassed ( as they were with Joe Bonamassa, Andy Timmons and Greg Koch ). Johnny A really knows how to 'swing', and that is a feel that is so sorely lacking in most guitar music today.

After listening to "get inside" for the first time, there were only a couple of tracks that did not instantly bring a smile to my face. This is not GUITAR music ... it is MUSIC which happens to be played on the guitar - brilliantly

His tone is, or should I say, tones are simply fantastic. Johnny A has a unique ability of mixing several tones within phrases which add a huge amount of interest to whatever he is playing.

STM took some time to grow on me, whereas GI is instant. I think this is because of the groove he sets up right from the start, and even in "the wind cries Mary" he maintains his own inimitable sense of rhythm and turns a brilliant song into a completely different, brilliant song.

What a wonderful album ... and a lesson to a whole host of admittedly fantastic guitar players turning out, what is basically, the same CD over and over again.

I went to see Robert Cray live, and Johnny A's trio was opening for him. I've never heard about Johnny before that night, but I walked away from that performance totally in love with his music and his guitar playing approach. After a week, this performance was still a stand-out in my mind, and I decided to buy "Get Inside". The music on this CD is certainly played in a more controlled fashion than it was live (he's an excellent live performer), but it is played with style, class, mastery, and creativity of only the select few. Until I saw Johnny live and then heard his CDs, I had no idea you could make one single guitar sing such a wide variety of sounds and tones. His command of the instrument seems effortless, and he takes the pleasure tour through many musical styles, from blues to jazz to rock-n-roll to country influences. Johnny is one of the very few musicians whose guitar is good enough in a stand-alone trio, without a need for vocals or other coloring from other backing instruments. If you like guitar music that is classy, original, and very cleanly and creatively executed, get this disc, along with Johnny's earlier "Sometime Tuesday Morning" CD which is just as great as this CD. I am definitely Johnny's fan, and I cannot wait to listen to his future releases and to see him live again.

I loved Johnny A's first CD - Sometime Tuesday Morning - so I was thrilled when I heard he was putting out a second one. I've been a fan of most of the stuff on this record label (Favored Nations) so I had very high expectations of this disc.. I was not disapointed, that's for sure!

Johnny's tone is just amazing. I am a guitarist and I am just in awe when he plays. He is crystal clear and so expressive! The songs he plays really say something. I am not a huge jazz/blues fan, but Johnny has pretty much converted me.

Check this out if you are a fan of guitar, blues, jazz, or just amazing music.

"Get Inside" is the sophomore release for Johnny A. If you were a fan of "Sometime Tuesday Morning," you'll enjoy this follow-up album. Johnny A. keeps to what worked for his first album, a myriad of musical styles ranging from blues to jazz to country. There are some similarities between songs from the two albums, most notably "Sing Singin'" mirrors "Oh Yeah" quite a bit. Even with these resemblances, this is still a pretty good album full of great guitar work and variety of styles.

The highlight for me is the cover of Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary", but as Johnny A. covered the surf classic "Walk, Don't Run" previously, he has taken some liberties here as well. The song is jazzed up, and sped up as well with staccato chords, sweet playing and a trumpet in the middle provided by Garret Savluk. This is a very cool rendition of one of my favorite Hendrix's tunes. "Hip Bone" is rocked out jazz that opens the album well before touching a little country with "I Had to Laugh." He slows it way down with the bluesy "Krea Gata," where each note is slow and meaningful as Ron Stewart uses brushes on the drums. They kick it up into high gear, and Johnny A. rips on the guitar and Stewart bangs on the skins before bringing it back down for the finish. I think he has a little more of a country flare on this album than the previous, but is stellar on the guitar just the same.

For a second album, I believe Johnny A. dodged the sophomore jinx, and put out a very nice effort. I'm still big on "Sometime Tuesday Morning," but as I listen to this more and more, it's climbing up there with the first one. Johnny A. fans will appreciate this new release.

My review of Johnny A's 1st album (Sometime Tuesday Morning) was titled "Tasty, refreshing, melodic guitar". His new album is more than tasty - I compare it to a fine, reserve Cabernet versus "Tuesday's first vintage. Here's why:

- Tone: If it is possible, Johnny's tone on this album is even better than before. Lush and full, clear and soothing, biting and intense... always just right for the song and mood.

- Style: I noted Johnny's influences in my first review (Atkins to Wes, Jeff Beck, Hendrix...). In Get Inside, Johnny has gone beyond these influences - they are still there, but now so seamlessly and organically invoked that what stands out is Johnny's own trademark style, not his roots.

Range: This is adult music, in the most positive sense. If you want guitar posturing/made-up attitude/derivative flash and trash, look elsewhere, punk. "Get Inside" has depth and soul, emotion, joy - the kind of music you can write a movie around.

Quality: Every track shines. Every track is exactly true to what the song is conveying. The package is very nice. My only quibble is that I would have liked to know which tracks used the Johnny A Signature Gibson!

Overall, a disc to savor and share with friends. On a Robert Parker-like wine scale, I give it 94/100. The only reason it didn't score higher is that I wanted it to come out sooner!

First off, this is not a shredfest. Johnny A. is more about monster tone than monster chops, although he definitely has both of these qualities in his playing. Exquisite phrasing and rystal clear articulation are words that come to mind when describing his style. The music covers a broad range of styles and infuences, blues, jazz, rockabilly and more. The supporting musicians are all excellent, drummer Ron Stewart's contribution is standout. Add top-notch recorded sound to the package for an outstanding disc.

Johnny A is a guitarist's guitarist with speed, chops, and tone to die for, but you don't have to be a slack-jawed, green-with-envy guitar geek to find "Get Inside" rewarding and enjoyable. Johnny's musicality, versatility, and taste set him apart from the run of guitar gods. Like "Sometime Tuesday Morning," Johnny's first solo CD, "Get Inside" consists mostly of original compositions -- real songs that have a beginning, middle, and end -- along with a couple of well chosen covers. Most tracks are three to four minutes long, and their brevity reflects the intelligence and restraint that went into the performances. Johnny's stylistic influences run the gamut from Hendrix and Santana to Wes Montgomery and Chet Atkins, but he's got a distinctive sound of his own that brings cohesiveness to the varied material here. There's a lot to appreciate on this disk; it's instantly accessible but rewards repeated listening. Truly terrific.

You'll cruise by quaint country scenes, race a train skirting rolling hills and rustic mountains. You'll make it all the way to Nashville via gritty city streets past all the coolest jazz and rock clubs. That's where you'll go when you put "Get Inside", a slick offering from Johnny A, in your CD player.

As it states on his biography page on his official website "This is music for an open mind aching for the open road."

What was that, did Mark Knopfler cameo on this CD? No, but there is an unmistakable, however subtle, Knopflerish quality to Johnny A's playing on some tracks. Still, Johnny A's playing is completely his own, incredibly versatile, refreshing and new, with plenty of smooth grooves and tricks to keep your ears busy. Johnny A. is one of the most talented guitarists I've ever heard.

Get Inside is a well produced collection of instrumental guitar tracks that conjure a variety of mental images. One thing that cannot be ignored about his playing is the incredibly clean picking and colorful phrasing. As a guitarist, there are moments in this CD that make me say, "How the heck did he do that?"

Excuse me while I go lock myself away with my guitar for another twenty years. Good, inspiring guitar playing for the inspirable guitar lover.

Johnny A. style guitar is unique in that it rocks and sways and sings and crys and it does it all without being self indulgent. He makes every note count. No heavy metal shreading or sleepy smooth jazz or silly electonic effects. Just great vaccum tube driven guitar pure Johnny A. style. This is an extension of his previous CD which is very cool. His music has an edge on it which can't be put into words. If you love good guitar work you'll love this one.

Johnny is as great as been said in all the other messages. But, I was dissapointed that he added more accompanyment than his previous CD. I mean, I really don't care to hear horn tracks or synthesized keyboard tracks as noted in the first song. He should stand alone and does not need any filler. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with either of his albums. But still, I like the first one better.