Customer Reviews

Me & My Guitar

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

 

 

Seeing as how Mr Rice has already had an album of just him and his guitar (Church Street Blues) you would think that this album (as the title suggests) would be more of that. Its Not. In fact it sounds like Tony got into my head realized i hate Kenny G (alot), and decided to destroy some great sounding tunes with a some Sappy Saxy BS. I did give this record 4 stars because there are songs with that same ol' flavor. There's about 4 or 5 Gordan Lightfoot songs on it and they are all worth it. In fact just get the Tony Rice sings Gordan Lightfoot Cd (i promise its great if you know lightfoot or not.) and leave this album for the end of your Tony Rice collecting days.

So much more than just TR and guitar, this album falls somewhere between "newgrass" and folk. Included are songs by Dylan, Lightfoot, and Taylor along with one original composition, all presented artfully by Tony's voice and guitar. Guest musicians include Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas who, along with Tony, are arguably the best at what they do. If you could have only one Tony Rice album ... , aw, hell, who could choose? Just buy it. This is one CD you won't find in the "used" bin at your local record store.

Okay.... Tony Rice plays on maybe a dozen of the greatest 25 or so Bluegrass recordings ever. His solo projects are almost all landmarks. This one would have to be among the top 4 or 5 of his solo projects. His vocals are warm and soulfull and expressive. His playing, as well as Douglas, Gaudreau, etc, are state of the art. Tony's guitar style is so stunning and influential that the Bluegrass World is now filled with guitarists divided squarely between "Rice clones" and "those who put as much effort as possible into NOT sounding like a Rice clone" - in other words, Rice is the benchmark. He is the "gold standard". This would be true if he were NOT a great vocalist (and pity that his voice has since gone), but it is no coincidence that, for example, on the many collaborations between Tony Rice and Ricky Skaggs - RICE is the "lead vocalist" and Skaggs harmonizes.

Tony Rice interprets singer-songwriter material (Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson, James Taylor, Bob Dylan), runs through a couple original progressive bluegrass instrumentals, and throws in a Norman Blake cut for good measure. Were it not for the fact that the actual bluegrass on this album is very solid, the schmaltzy Kenny-G-like saxophone that pervades through three interminable cuts would keep me from recommending this album. Ultimately, the strength of the good stuff wins out and makes this album a decent purchase. My favorite cut is probably "Tipper," one of Tony's best original instrumentals. The blistering rendition of Gordon Lightfoot's "Walls" is nice as well. This should not be your first Tony Rice album; go with Manzanita instead.

The truest test of a great album is if it holds up to long-term listening. "Me & My Guitar" just sounds better and better over the years. I've given it to friends who don't particularly care for bluegrass and many come back years later saying "you know, I listen to that cd more than any other I own." As far as I'm concerned, for folk/bluegrass, this album is the gold standard.

There is no questioning the quality of Tony Rice's guitar playing and singing. Jerry Douglas and Vassar Clements need no intros - nor do Rice's other collaborators such as Skaggs, Rowan, Garcia, Grisham...........

None the less, I can only give this disc three stars. Rice knows the earmarks of authentic bluegrass, however, much like Alisson Krauss (Who's credentials and ability I would not question), the "new grass" folks are discarding these earmarks and creating some new form of easy listenting "bluegrass-lite".

In short, this disc features a whole group of superior musicians, but lacks authenticity and soul. The use of the soprano sax sounds freighteningly like Kenny G. It's time to leave Nashville (A soul-less place beholden only to the almighty dollar) and go back home to your roots.

one of my favorite albums ever made, this record is simply indispensible. not, by any means, merely for guitarists, or jazzers, or bluegrassers, this is simply an acoustic masterpiece. it's also good. the phone police will get anybody without a copy (I know 'cause they told me). also, owning this record tells the IRS that you really ARE a pretty neat guy. . .

Bluegrass purists like reviewer Harmon just don't get it. It's the artist that matters, not the genre. To say that this album lacks soul is ridiculous. Everything Tony sings or plays bears the mark of an artist unequaled. To try and equate Mr. Rice's artistry with Kenny G and selling out is pure rubbish. Rice has the courage to tackle the material he loves and he succeeds beautifully. This album was immaculately produced and sounds not a day older than when it was cut in 1987. All of Tony's Rounder cds are gems, and Me And My Guitar is no exception.