Customer Reviews

Ocean Or a Teardrop

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

 

 

These are the facts. David Jacobs Strain plays, writes and sings like his soul already topped the one hundred thousand mile mark. Guitar Player magazine dubbed him as one of the up and coming players in the business. His vocals have an appealing weather beaten quality to them and his songs show a maturity beyond his short years. I just don't know if this will appeal to blues purists or not. It's a blues album when he's covering songs by Fred McDowell, Blind Willie Johnson and Sleepy John Estes. His own stuff tends to have a more singer-songwriter sound in the vein of a John Hiatt. You know, blues tinged but aiming for radio airplay. Don't take that as a slam. Just take it as a possible sign that DJS may be thinking of joining the mainstream just as Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepard have. I don't know that it's worked out all that well for the other two.

good lord this kid has got it. i was just simply perusing my local borders books and music's blues section looking for a keb'mo album or something when this kid caught my eye. i decided to take a listen, and what i heard blew me away. not only does this kid show the wear and tear of a 50 year old blues artist, but he's an ace on the acoustic guitar (i've never been a HUGE fan of the chicago-style electric blues) and the other people who play with him (the harmonica is fantastic) make for a recipe of some great blues music.

if you need something to compare him to, think john mayer, but bluesified. he has some definately bob dylan influence, especially in track #5, "take my chances". his lyrics are smart and meaningful, the music is fantastic and i think would appeal to even the purist blues lover.

i was thinking about which tracks i would put on a "must listen to" list, but they're all incredible. i still blast this CD from my car with pride.

Z, age 16

David has put together one of the finest albums I have heard in a long time. After listening to it since it's release, it still is in heavy rotation in my collection. A very well thought out and put together work, everything from the choice of songs to the choice of musicians is brilliant. I wish I could say what a weak point on this album could be, but I can't find any weak points! David will be a household name before too long, all the young prodigies you hear about then fade away have to look at David to see how it should be done. His musicianship is unparralled, (just look at how many blues camps hire David to teach,) his vocals are soulful, mature and very listenable, his sense of rythym and timing are extrodinary and he is versitle, unlike so many blues players. I get goose bumps every time I listen to this album! Look at the musicians who want to play with him also. These are people who can play with just about anyone they want to, and they want to play with David. Kenny Passarelli, a legendary bass man who drove the back beat for the likes of Joe Walsh and Elton John. Members of David Grisman's band. Anne Weiss, The god-child of Aretha Franklin, 4 octaves of goose bump and grind soul stylings that haunt you long after the songs are sung. If you don't have this, get it! If you haven't seen David perform, drop what you are doing, go to his website tour page and see when he will be within 12 hours of driving, get your tickets and bring all your friends. You will be their hero forever! I know David is mine.
Peace...\Eric

I first saw David Jacob-Strain at the Kerrville Folk Festival and wasn't sure what to expect from such a young kid. However, as he opened up his set with an acoustic piece, shivers spread immediately all over my body. The ferver in which he played only grew with each song, regardless of the instrument he took up, and I knew as soon as he finished (with a standing ovation from the entire crowd) that I needed to buy his albums.

I'm not disappointed. Any fan of Ani Difranco (I know, she's not blues... but the complexity of guitar talent parallels) will love his music. I recommend that regardless of your music genre of choice, you will highly enjoy listening to the intricate musical exploration on which David Jacob-Strain will take you. Still, if you want to see the best of his music, PLEASE see him perform live. That, in my opinion, is where he is at his most comfortable and best.