Customer Reviews

Lost in the Blues

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

 

 

This is a competent release and while Otis may not be happy with it his guitar sounds sweet and his voice sounds as warm as ever. The problem is that this just isn't the best material Otis ever touched and while varying drastically in tone and style "Cold Day in Hell", "Right Place, Wrong Time", or a compilation of his Cobra sides is where to find out what Otis Rush is all about. Look here when you've got those essential discs as well as the currently out of print "Anyplace I'm Going" and the still available "Ain't Enough Comin' In". But just because it's on Alligator don't assume this release is the one with the most cred. It's one of the ones with the least. It's near the bottom of his studio work. It's not bad. I've heard LOTS of blues worse than this. However, for a legend like Rush there are many places to look first. And if you're a completist you'll buy this no matter what I say, won't you?

Both his voice and guitar playing are sweet and smooth. Maybe a little too much for blues traditionalists. And it doesnt include any of his own original material. Just covers. Nonetheless, a fine album

This is one of the best albums by Otis. Usually the problem is that he refers to emotions too directly by singing and playing phrases that have an analogy that is too close to actual screams of pain or dispair. Here he recognizes the medium of music and creates some great openness in his music through singing in a more abstract and relaxed way, letting timing and the solid blues scheme do the work. The Jimmy Reed tunes are more than entertainment (no pushing the button entertainment as is mentioned in a review here). These more straight blues songs, which in their abstract form leave no place for direct emotions, suit him very well. The band is very good as it does not stress the backbeat too much which gives the solo's and singing the change to take off and stay in the air without bringing them back to the ground at each beat.

bela teeken

While any Otis Rush effort will always include fine guitar work and great singing, Lost in the Blues is one of his least interesting albums. First time listeners would be better off going directly to the Cobra material which includes some of the finest blues ever recorded or either of his two most recent recordings. Lost in the Blues is a downer for Rush fans on all scores. Alligator Records' lack of respect for Otis in the release ought to motivate blues fans to turn elsewhere.

Rush's guitar is both sweet and piercing, and his voice is outstanding on this CD. The troubles and difficulties in which he so often found himself are filtered through his music into one of the outstanding urban blues CDs I've listened to. I have given away several copies of this. It's not that well known, so the recipient is real unlikely to have it; it's choice, so they're real likely to love it. This is not an endorsement for his other CD's, most of which are disappointing after hearing this.

As "The King Of The World Blues Reviewer", if I could summarize the categories of blues aficionado's, I would put them into 3 main groups. 1) Acoustic (Not for Shaq.) 2) mellow (Shaq likes some.) 3) string bending, thundering, lightning, earthquaking, TIDAL WAVE, soul shaking, guttural, blues! (My favorite type!) This CD by Otis, is definitely "mellow". I rate it 3 stars, but if "mellow" blues is your style, it would probably be a 4. This CD is reminiscent to me, of BB's "Blues on the Bayou". (See previous Shaq review.) SUMMARY: If you want to mellow out, this CD is for you. If you want to shake yourself up, this is not for you. Hoo! Haa!