Customer Reviews

Hydraulic Groove

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rick Holmstrom might well receive an award for the most innovative blues CD released this year. This CD has a little bit of everything and, while some of the songs may not hold up well over the years, it's an innovative approach to the blues nonetheless. The CD opens with "These Roads" which contains a sampling of Robert Ward's "Hot Stuff" and is accompanied by looping guitars bits, a talking introduction by Johnny Dyer, a nice drum beat with organ accompaniment and the vocals of Holmstrom. In contrast, "Bobo the Hobo" is an instrumental and "Last To Know" is a rocking blues number both stripped down to just the guitar, drums, organ and bass. Things get a little more diverse with the appropriately titled instrumental, "Pee Wee's Nightmare" featuring some backward played guitar solo' with, what best can be described as, a schizophrenic feel to it. "Shake It Part 2" returns to essentially the same formula used on the first track, this time with a sampling of a Rufus Thomas speech made during a WC Handy award ceremony. "My Maria" is highlighted by a driving drum beat and Holmstrom's guitar. While "Back It Up" adds some jazz horns to the mix. "I'm Gone" with its 60's rhythm together with "Gravy" and "Harlan Shuffle" are a little more traditional and, in comparison to what else is here, somewhat mundane. To round out the CD, the disc contains four bonus tracks. Two of those tracks, "Roll Up" and "Hamp's Hump" are outstanding and lean toward the fusion side of jazz thanks to John Medeski on the organ. The other two tracks are essentially a remix of "Shake It, Part 2", and the funky "Knock Yourself Out". There is a lot to like here on this rather eclectic mix. Highly recommended!

When I see words like "samples" and "loops" in music, it usually sends me scurrying the other way. But I will make exceptions. Especially if it's as talented an artist as Rick Holmstrom using these studio tricks. But it's Holmstrom's awesome guitar that really makes this project work. The disc opens with Homstrom's old blues partner in crime Johnny Dyer, telling us to "fasten your seatbelts and put your hands together one time". Then he goes into a funky blues number complete with an alternating lo-fi hi-fi beat. I'm not sure about the Lo, but I liked the Hi-Fi. He then he goes into "Bobo The Hobo". This is a cool rockin' blues/r&b number that also features a very Booker T. and the Mg's style organ. Excellent. "Pee Wee's Nightmare" is one of the showcase songs here. There is all this looping, samples, great sax, big drums, and everything else going on at one time. And then Holmstrom comes out of all this glorious noise smokin' on the guitar with some of the funkiest licks that he's ever laid down. This is west coast sounding guitar at it's best. For me, this song was a clear standout here. That doesn't mean there isn't more neat stuff to come. I liked the ultra-funky "Shake It Part 2" that again features some of that excellent Booker T like organ work. I enjoyed "My Maria" for it's big drum beat that sounds almost exactly like Tommy James "Mony Mony". "Back It Up" is a little different. It has a Ska-like horn section that trades licks with Holmstrom's guitar throughout. Combine that with the samples and loops, and if it's something different your lookin' for, don't go no further. He slows it down a bit on "Harlan Shuffle" this time sharing the spotlight with Genome on keyboards and Holmstrom noodling around him on guitar. Very tasty. The 2 most straight ahead blues numbers here are "Tell Me" and especially I'm Gone" which is the only song that he doesn't use any sound effects. The rest of this cd is about 20 minutes of bonus tracks. Most of this is throw away stuff which is just to loopy and repetitive for my taste. However the last track here called "Hamp's Hump" is a killer. It features John Medeski from the popular jazz band Medeski, Martin, and Wood on organ. And some Spanish sounding horn work from the outstanding sax player Ronald Dziubia. 8 minutes of acid funk ala Meters plus the added bonus of one of Holmstrom's best guitar solos on the album. A great way to end this latest mind-bending effort by Homstrom. He's crafted a unique artwork here that might even be considered groundbreaking. But note to other players wanting to try this: It takes a pretty special talent to pull these loops and samples off without sounding like your typical everyday hip-hop artist. And remember Holmstrom is the best west coast blues player out there. Something tells me the six stringers out there are already lining up for Genome to produce their next album. Meanwhile pick this up and see how it was done right the first time. Highly recommended!

This is a fantastic, contemporary, funky blues album. It sounds like a mix of Stevie Ray/Johnny A./North Miss. All-Stars/Beck. Despite his southern California origins (not exactly a hot-bed for blues activity), it really is an aptly-named title, 'cause he's definitely gonna get you going. Of the 15, or so, cuts, there are only 3 tunes that don't quite hit the mark and the rest cook with either hypnotic funky grooves, or rippin' ferocity. It's a high energy modern twist that keeps a traditional blues feel. Highly recommended. Treat yourself to some new music and sample this modern blues gem!

This is not an easy CD to review. It uses alien elements and fuses them together into a challenging blues sound that still touches on the classics at times. The backing band is first class as are most of the songs. HOLMSTROMS vocals are good and complement the excellent material. The guitar playing is original and interesting. He may not be one of the greatest virtuosos, but uses his talents to the max and dazzles you with composition rather than 100 notes per second solos..
Although I was expecting a more guitar orientated CD, I am pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of this CD. Hating loops and samples, I bought this out of curiosity. Not expecting anything very entertaining I find myself playing this regularly and enjoying it more with each listen.

I picked up this album when I read the description of it at the record store. A blend of blues with techno/industrial influences? I just didn't see how that could be done and picked it up thinking it would be (at best) gimicky and worth little more than one play for laughs.

Somehow, Holmstrom makes this work giving us some great songs that aren't quite like anything you've heard before. A great album for fans of the blues who might like to 'update' their image and see what the 21st century has to offer or for aging rivet heads like myself who are slowing down a bit but like to keep in touch with something familiar.

Anyone who has seen Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers knows that Rick Homstrom was a key star of that band, a very hot guitarist, now he's out with his own band and this is a great first CD! This CD was an expensive production by the Goo Goo Dolls producer and it is certainly the future sound of blues! From the beginning with "These Roads" to the end....GREAT! Listen to "Shake It Part 1 & Pt.2" and you just feel the energy, the groove is similar to that of the cool Mitsubishi car commercial song, the one with everyone dancing in their car! The music here is different, advanced, a bit techno, but the soulful blues energy is very present! This is great party music, you just want to jump up and dance... or dance in your car! Every song on this album is great! Great band too!!! Buy it....You'll love it! See them on tour too!

I've been listening to this for the past few days, nearly non-stop. It's lit my fire like nothing since the first North Mississippi Allstars album. (I don't mean to imply Holmstrom sounds like NMsA...far from it.) I've gained a growing apreciation for Holmstrom's voice and guitar skills as well.

Holmstrom played guitar on about half the cuts on RL Burnside's last studio album, and Rick clearly paid attention to what the producers of that album were up to. "Hydraulic Groove" has tasteful use of sampling, backwards loops, and other trickery, all to great effect, never overpowering the all-important groove. I can hear all kinds of influences here: Memphis-style horns, Steve Cropper-like punchy guitar riffs, ZZ Top tones, ... At first I just assumed this was recorded/mixed in Memphis, since it has a rock-solid Booker-T/MGs groove going on all the time; I was surprised to see it's about 100% California born and bred. Every time I listen I hear something I didn't hear the previous time, and I like that.

Not to take anything away from the great work being done by Fat Possum, NMsA, James Mathus, Blood Ulmer or others who are modernizing the basic blues, this is the most effective such collection I've heard yet. Hats off, dancin' shoes on, to LA Holmstrom!

I never heard of Rick Holmstrom until I listened to a few cuts of his new album that was offered as samples here at Amizon.com. I love the Blues..., and this album is full of it. It definately rocks of the Blues. I never heard anything like it before, but I'm going to by more of Rick's music, for sure.

this rocks, groves, funks, and a lot more. Great cd. too bad that rick hasnt done another 50 like this.

Picked this one up after seeing Medeski sat in on a couple tracks. This album is rooted in the blues but does everything right to move beyond and expand the format to create something original and cutting edge. The soulful solos and sporadic samplings are a winning combo. Never heard of Rick Holmstrom before this album, but this disc is in heavy rotation at home and in the truck. Solid grooves fueled with soulful organ and original guitar solos that go well beyond the usual and mundane. This is a creative evolutionary step of the blues. Check it.

Also recommended: Ronnie Earl- Guitar Virtuoso Live in Europe, The Meters- Anthology, Schleigho- Continent