Customer Reviews

Nothing But the Truth

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

 

 

Let's see, blues is my favorite music and son seals is my favorite blues artist? It always bothers me a little seeing some of the professional reviews of son's work. They always emphasize the energy and power of his music but never seem to appreciate the subtlety and artistry of his music. Son's music has a nice melodic feel to it. Nothing cliche about it and it nevers gets old or stale. Listen to "good woman bad" or "Can't hear nothing but the blues". In the later cut son sings "what a beautiful memory of them" refering to his parents. The former song includes some great supportive horn work and a nice sax solo. I also think this man has a under appreciated voice. It's not just the "blood curdling intensity" that is stated on back of this CD. Son's voice evokes emotion and complexity. The best cut on the CD is #4, "I'm gonna take it all back". That's one of the best songs you will ever hear! The guitar notes seem to fly off in to space only to be reeled back in only to be let loose again. What i love about son's solos is that he never loses touch with the song melody. Everything fits. I love "life is hard" and "tough as nails". Both are spirited songs with a similar theme. "The wind might try and knock me down but i'm as tough as nails". #7 "your friends is one of my least favorite songs on the cd(i still love it) but i do love the guitar at the beginning and the solo.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that some reviewers considered this to not be son's best work. That means there are plenty more great CDs from him out there. I own each of the live CDs from him, "live and burning" and "spontaneous conbustion". Only the late luther allison plays with as much power and intensity. I love those CDs to death but i seem to listen to this even more.

This is great music! The muscianship is solid all the way through.(Particularly david russell's drums) They call it the blues but it sure makes me happy.

.................socks

One of the ugliest covers on any blues record for sure, but "Nothing But The Truth" is nevertheless one of Frank "Son" Seals' best records.

He sings with tremendous power and conviction on up-tempo songs like "Adding Up", "Little Sally Walker" and the swaggering, throat-shredding R&B-number "Life Is Hard", and croons soulfully on the slowies "Good Woman Bad" and "I Can't Hear Nothing But The Blues". I can't help but wish that the Toys r' Us-like organ on "Good Woman Bad" in particular had been thrown out the window and replaced by a meaty horn riff like the one on "Adding Up", but hey - you can't have it all, I guess.

Son Seals plays gritty, muscular lead guitar on almost every song, and he pays tribute to influences Albert King and Hound Dog Taylor on "I Can't Hear Nothing But The Blues" and "Sadie" respectively, and tosses off the boogiest self-penned song of his career with the rollicking "Frank and Johnnie".

If you like Son Seals, this one is a must-have. It ranks easily among his three best records (along with "Midnight Son" and his debut album, "The Son Seals Blues Band").

4 1/2 stars - highly recommended.

This is my personal favourite Sons Seals album. He displays the raw feel he is known for as well as some subtlety that you may not expect from him. The best track is 'Can't hear nothing but the blues' a tribute to his parents which shows that subtlety I mentioned. Check out 'I'm gonna take it all back' for the raw excitement Son can generate, augmented by the drumming of David Russell. Finish off with the 'Tricks of the trade' and you have memorable album rather that a great one.

Son Seals never fails to satisfy. This is a great album of Blues executed with feeling & soul. You won't find anything better......

I have this disc, and I've been listening to it for many years now. As always, Son plays fiery, energetic, burning, emotional blues. His styles here range from fast giddy numbers to hard-driving woman blues to slower, more subtle tracks, like his tribute to his parents "I can't hear nothing but the blues."

Most tracks on this record are strong and engaging, and I am big fan of Son's school of blues. But this isn't Son's best recording effort. A couple tracks sound a bit mundane and unoriginal. If you want a stellar Son Seals disc, get his last disc "Lettin' Go" or his raw live disc "Live and Burning".

Son's fans like myself will still want to get this disc and give it a good listen, but there are better places to start with Son's music.

Son Seals, is what Shaq, "The King Of The World Blues Reviewer", would affectionately, dub, "A Good Road House or Juke Joint" blues player. No disgrace in that. He's just not a star. This CD fits that moniker. There are some good, cooking, songs, that make you tap your feet, and sway in your chair. Some don't. The best and longest cut on this CD, happens to be dedicated by Son to HIS IDOL, & SHAQ'S ORIGINAL ALL-TIME FAVORITE ELECTRIC BLUES GUITARIST: MR. ALBERT KING!! Son, even refers to Albert as his mentor.

If you can get past the hideous cover (painted by a record company executive's blind, one-handed, 10-year-old daughter, perhaps?) there's some fine Son Seals blues here, that, despite a couple weak tracks, really grows on you. Certainly not as good as his first two albums, but a cut above, say, "Living in the Danger Zone."