Customer Reviews

Guilty of Love

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

 

 

Guilty of Love is Castro's studio follow-up to his award winning "Right As Rain" which was released on Blind Pig Records in 1999. Castro's new release proves that it is often difficult to produce two consecutive award winners. With this release, Castro switches from Blind Pig to 33rd Street Records which is owned by Tower Records. The result is somewhat disappointing. One of the CD's highlights was to be the anticipated guest performance of the late, great, John Lee Hooker on the title track. However, in actuality, Hooker adds little more than a few spoken words to a song that is otherwise uninspiring and flat. Another song, "Blinded in the Face of Love" finds a misdirected Castro singing something akin to a country styled ballad, while the tune "Somebody to Love You" falls far short of the verson performed by Delbert McClinton on his exceptional 1999 release, "One of the Fortunate Few".
Overall, the production, sound quality and performance on this CD falls somewhat short of what we have come to expect from this otherwise quinessential blues performer. Hopefully, Castro will re-energize and re-focus his efforts to give us another quality release in the near future. In the meantime, "Right as Rain" and "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" will remain benchmarks for what this performer is capable of accomplishing.

I have heard of Tommy Castro but this is the first CD I have brought from him. I have to say that I really enjoy this CD. There are some good rockin blues-rock songs such as " If You Ain't Lovin, You Ain't Livin", "Blinded In The Face Of Love". We also get some good down and dirty blues as " Dirt Road Blues". John Lee Hooker makes a small final appeance on "Guilty Of Love" even though I think his part was to short and could have been more instrumental to the body of the song. That aside, this is a great CD for fans of blues and of rock alike

As you must know by now, Shaq is the "The King Of The World Blues Reviewer", so when I bought this CD I was hoping to get da blues baby! This CD did not fulfill, my blues requirements, but was a good purchase nonetheless. I would definitely put this in the pop-rock category rather than the blues. It has some good toe tapping songs, and if you listen carefully there are some clever lyrics in a number of songs. One of my favorites is "Whole Lotta Soul". Here it is six years later, and I still think of the lyrics of this song, when I see a beautiful girl walk by in the airport, or in the park... "When she walks through the park, the birds stop singing, just to watch her walk by".. "As she passes the playground, the boys stop swinging, and they're too young, to even know why!".. "She don't need no painting up, she's a natural born, work of art!" IN SUMMARY: Though only a few songs, have a true "blues" feeling, Shaq still recommends, a purchase, and I know you'll enjoy it.

I guess Tommy Castro was bound to hit a clinker sooner or later, and this album is that clinker. I had yet to be disappointed by any previous album, but frankly, this one hits so many sour notes you can safely pass. Only two songs, "I Don't Want to Make That Call" and "Shakin the Hard Times Loose" come close to capturing the energy of his previous albums. Even the buzz that John Lee Hooker would be on the title track is a disappointment. Hooker mumbles one sentence.

If you only have one or two of his other albums, you'd be better served buying the recently released compilation. Tommy Castro and his group usually rock, but this album sinks like one.

This cat plays strong and in such an original way. Funk-o-rama ,rock n roll , blues and more ,a great Cd!

Tommy leaves the Blind Pig label in favor of 33rd Street Records for this one. The album contains the last recorded appearance of blues legend John Lee Hooker who appears on the title track "Guilty Of Love". Unfortunately he doesn't do much more than mumble a few words over Castro's recording. After many listens I have grown used to it, but when I first heard it I thought it was pretty bad. Most of the songs on this album are Castro originals with the exception of the old Al Green tune "Ain't No Fun To Me". Overall this is a good Castro album with highlights including" Blinded By The Face Of Love", "Shakin The Hard Times Loose", "I Ain't Gonna Make That Call", and the down and dirty "Dirt Road Blues". This is not the best Tommy Castro album, but it is another solid effort.

when i first got this cd, along with the complimentary live at the mystic theater, i was in heaven..ive been playing this cd non stop in my car each day, and everyday its justs gets better and better, if you love soul, r&b, blues and rock music, this is a can't miss...shades of al green, otis redding, bob seeger, delbert mcclinton, james brown, mitch ryder all rolled up into one really tight and very well done studio effort..if you love tommy castro band buy this one NOW....

I have been a Tommy Castro fan for years and let me tell you he just keeps getting better and better. Every one of his songs are so dancealbe. Its hard to stay still! Anyone who is a blues lover will enjoy this and better yet, if he comes to your town dont miss it!

Tommy Castro, with band mates Randy McDonald on Bass, Billy Lee Lewis on Drums and Keith Crossan on Sax has crafted an eleven song studio CD that fits their patented groove of blues and rock. The title song Guilty Of Love features a cameo guest appearance by John Lee Hooker, which was his final recording session.
The song If You Aint Lovin You Aint Livin, I Aint Gonna Make That Call are lauded by Billboard magazine, where the CD has risen to number 4 (Sept 18th) on the blues chart.
This is THE new CD with all new songs.