It's a Shame About Gemma Ray (Dig)

Gemma Ray | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 1, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bronzerat Records
• ASIN: B003D0ZN88
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,366 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Pop-noir songstress Gemma Ray releases the results of impromptu sessions with Matt Verta-Ray (of Madder Rose, Speedball Baby, Heavy Trash etc) at his New York studio over the 2009/2010 New Year period. Ray laid down a series of haunting hypnotic versions of her favourite tracks ranging from Etta James to Sonic Youth via Lee Hazlewood, Mudhoney and Buddy Holly. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent heart-warming release from this totally underrated artist, October 21, 2010

By 

R. Cooper - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It's a Shame About Gemma Ray (Dig) (Audio CD)

Gemma's 5th album & apparently recorded in just 5 days (basically just Gemma & her guitar) in New York & comprises of 16 cover versions. Taking the funny title sort of from a Lemonheads release then this finds Gemma in a basic & very bluesy mood in her cute friendly vocal backed up via sparse delicate dense sounding blues guitar. One may think that being recorded so quickly that it would suffer but for example the opening quintet 'Put The Bolt On The Door', 'I'd Rather Be Your Enemy', 'Ghost On The Highway', 'S.U.D.' (brilliant) & 'Touch Me I'm Sick' all or each works out really well plus they fit together - spot on vocals & guitar work and strong songs. Next is 'Just Because' which is less bluesy & more romantic and with some weird almost Joe Meek type keyboard meanderings within breaks things up a bit. 'Swampsnake' reverts back to electric grinding swamp rock blues. This is followed by 'Everyday' (Holly) "such a well known classic" done in this very different way (for me) does not really work out. Things pick up well again though via 'Drunken Butterfly' (doom-laden brilliance) & 'Bei Mir Bist Du Shein' (beautiful & charming) but then don't appreciate 'Big Spender' (Bassey) as again too much of a classic to meddle with & like the Holly one does not really fit in the context here but "oh big spender spend a little time with me" it's certainly catchy. Moving on then 'Looking The World Over' (great track which grows & in a strange way is sexy) & 'Only To Other People' continues the high quality & then follows more excellence in 'I'd Rather Go Blind' (a blinding track & perhaps the best here) & 'I'm Gonna Lock My Heart' (powerful emotions) with just a slight anticlimax in final offering 'I've Got A Crush On You'. An excellent & heart-warming release from this totally underrated artist.