Customer Reviews

Nine Lives

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

 

 

After seeing this rated in the top ten blues releases for 2005 in a local blues magazine I purchased this in a promo bin and gave it a spin.
I've listened to Little Charlie and the Nightcats since 1986 when Aligator Records was starting to establish itself and all I can say is without even looking at their catalog Little Charlie has to be their biggest seller year in and year out.
This Cd is as good as it gets,not a clunker in the bunch and please don't get me started on the sound,it is big and bassy. This offering is right up there neck and neck with "Night Vision" and "Straight Up" for the best they have done. I'm not saying their other CD's are not good because trust me each one has some great stuff on it but these two are exceptional, the kind of stuff you want to tell people to buy when they say "I just don't see what people see in the blues." In life what you do for a living it's all about consitencey,being able to produce day in and day out ,year in and year out and how the hell Rick Estrin comes up with this stuff year after year is a mystery maybe he and Robert Johnson share with many other musicians.
But for now buy this CD and see what good blues is all about. How good is this CD? I would pay full price for it,and I never pay full price for anything.

The Nightcats deliver a strong performance on this bluesy, swing album. The humor is present throughout with a great vibe.

Great Music from one of my favorite Jump Blues Bands!!!Go seeUm Live!!

This CD is full of Cliche Blues and rock and roll..Yes I can see them being great if you had a few brews in you at your local watering hole..But this album has week songs ..Rick Estrin's
voice is weak and plays harmonica like Charlie Mussel White "light"..Great tone without the technique or aggressiveness..Now if this group had a leader like John Hammond say,they would be a adequate back up band and this album would be better...But as it is... its OK
..I first heard the instrumental Slap Happy which rocks and made me go out and buy this record..Guitarist and Leader Little Charlie Batty plays a great guitar but is not featured enough..I would have enjoyed this album better with some quality cover songs and alot more guitar playing..These guys are tight and professional but ultimately the material doesn't move me..
But decide for yourself ..It is worth a listen.