Customer Reviews

Now My Soul

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is a shiver I get when good music hits me and really takes hold. Ronnie Earl's music has me shaking all over. The man gives you everything he has, heart and soul. Why he is not recognized as the greatest guitarist working today and among the best to ever picked up a guitar is beyond me. This is not as much of an instrumental album as last time. The great Kim Wilson and his smokin harp make numerous appearances on the album. The combination of the two men is dynamite! Show Ronnie Earl some love and pick this one up. You'll be glad you did.

Ronnie Earl is one of the best blues guitarists alive. This is a fact. With his new realise I believe he has gained a place in the short list of the greatest of all time. After many all-instrumental albums, on this one half of the tunes feature a singer. With the help of his all time friends Kim Wilson and Greg Piccolo, sharing vocals duty, and the former Broadcaster bass player Rod Carey, Ronnie delivers a very strong album that should definitively place him at the very top of the list of the greatest blues artists of our time. This is a straight blues album with just few concessions to other styles. His playing has never been so sharp and focused, so clean and crispy, he makes every single note counts and his playing throughout the album is just unbelievable. His version of the Otis Rush' classic Double Trouble worth by itself the price of admission. It is however the whole album that stands out from the crowd, not a bad tune to be found, no a weakness to be spotted. On the CD's notes Mr. Earl thanks and blesses lots of friends, I would just like to thank him with all my heart for all the fantastic sensations and the unbelievable feelings I always experience listening to his music. Thanks Ronnie, please carry on!

As a devotee of the man I regard as the finest living blues guitarist, his latest CD, "Now My Soul", doesn't disappoint, with the unique mix of jazz, blues and gospel that was christened "Ronnie Music" by the original Broadcasters still to my mind the most exciting music to be heard.

There are no weaknesses and therefore, relatively, no standouts but if pushed for a favourite I'd have to nominate "Double Trouble", an Otis Rush song covered by many (often badly - notably Eric Clapton's tepid rendering),is breathtaking.

If like me you know and love "Ronnie Music", you'll know in the nicest possible way what to expect, but if you're unlucky enough not to have come across Ronnie Earl before, welcome him warmly into your life and your CD player, you'll never regret it. He hasn't made a bad record in his career, everything he plays is not only technically phenomenal but is imbued with the soul of a man who has known the hardest of times but retains both his passion and compassion.

I first discovered Ronnie Music in 1997, having seen him play a devastating set at the Royal Festival Hall, London, in July that year - he even achieved the rare feast of making the headlining Robben Ford seem like an anticlimax. The above was shortly after I lost my my much-loved mother, and it's no exaggeration to say that the wonderful "Color of Love" album lifted my flagging spirits during the darkest period of my life, and also encouraged me to pick up my own guitar again having not played a note for fifteen years.

Enjoy!

Jonathan

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You Mr. Earl for returning to our long awaiting hearts, mind and souls!!! It has been WAY TOO LONG, please don't wait so long next time! How can you describe a guitar virtuoso, it's simply not possible....so I'm telling you and everybody I know...JUST BUY THIS ONE NOW!!!!! Destined to be a top notch classic. Sexy, romantic and stirring, starting with Feel Like Goin On with soulful Greg Piccolo singing this one with his entire being!
Kim Wilson who is always incredible singing and on harmonica, joins Ronnie on most of the CD providing total compliment, "Abandoned" is as gutt wrenching as you're gonna hear anywhwere! This is a great blues CD, but let's not classify just in the blues genre, it's ROCKIN', sassy and jazzy, even Hallelujah Gospel.... because Ronnie knows no Bounds! So glad to finally add another of your CD's to my collection! And bring back reissues of "Test of Time" PLEASE!!

When looked back on, the world will realize that they've overlooked the most soulful blues player in their midst. When others lose track in their quest for variety and success, Earl keeps it fresh by learning more blues, and deepening his approach. Now that there's a large Ronnie Earl catalog to refer to, it can be safely said that he is most consistent blues player of his generation.

Reading the liner notes and listening to the heartfelt spoken message Ronnie places on this cd as a bonus track, one gets the feeling that Mr. Earl speaks as a man who knows his time is near. As a longtime fan, of course I hope this isn't the case, but Ronnie's playing on this album makes every note count, as if each were the last he'll ever play.

Now my Soul features Ronnie's trademark sound, but his playing reaches a higher level than before with fresh nuances on Blues for J and Double Trouble, among others. There's a new urgency to some of his phrasing; the kind made by a man pouring his entire soul into his music.

Kim Wilson's guest singing and playing are as good as ever. I wish these two would collaborate even more.

Inspiring music from an inspired man.

Ronnie Earl is one of the best blues guitarists alive. This is a fact. With his new realise I believe he has gained a place in the short list of the greatest of all time. After many all-instrumental albums, on this one half of the tunes feature a singer. With the help of his all time friends Kim Wilson and Greg Piccolo, sharing vocals duty, and the former Broadcaster bass player Rod Carey, Ronnie delivers a very strong album that should definitively place him at the very top of the list of the greatest blues artists of our time. This is a straight blues album with just few concessions to other styles. His playing has never been so sharp and focused, so clean and crispy, he makes every single note counts and his playing throughout the album is just unbelievable. His version of the Otis Rush? classic Double Trouble worth by itself the price of admission. It is however the whole album that stands out from the crowd, not a bad tune to be found, no a weakness to be spotted. On the CD?s notes Mr. Earl thanks and blesses lots of friends, I would just like to thank him with all my heart for all the fantastic sensations and the unbelievable feelings I always experience listening to his music. Thanks Ronnie, please carry on!

For those of you who truly appreciate those East Coast Blues this is a must have album. Ronnie Earl is one of the great blues guitar players in the world as is Duke Robillard. This album is very good and shows off their distinct styles. The CD starts off great with West Side Shuffle then picks up steam with Two Bones & A Pick then Magic Sam's What Have I Done Wrong. This CD has everything you want in a blues album; two masters and a great list of songs. Give it a listen and you won't be disappointed.

Wow, what a great album! Ronnie Earl is a great Blues Guitarist and add a Singer / Harp player like Kim Wilson to the mix and you get a phenominal album!

Just play Double Trouble, Blues for J, and Abandoned; sit back and enjoy.... It will give you chills listening to the man pouring his heart out in these songs playing his inspired best.

If you like the blues, just pick it up - you won't be disappointed.

You've GOTTA try "My Buddy Buddy Friends!" I have to say "#7" is Number One with me, from this album! Cap all this off by honoring "The Magic of Sam," and you will have just spent over 77 minutes experiencing all the Blues/Jazz fusion you may be able to handle in one sitting! Put it down, and it'll stay with you. Then, it won't be long before you will want to be back at Ronnie's table for another serving!! Thank you so much to Stony Plain and to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for funding Ronnie's gifts to the musical world into this century! Please keep it up because I "Feel Like Goin' On!"