Customer Reviews

Play

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Let me first start off by saying that this CD is not for everyone - especially those who are looking for a typical Brad Paisley "Time Well Wasted" type album. "Play" has only four songs that have vocals on them, which makes it pretty much a bluegrass/instrumental album. Very well done, but very non-traditional and not "cookie cutter" radio ready country music. It's a big gamble, and a lot of people are not gonna be happy about it.

That being said - wow, can this guy play the strings! Listen to him tear them up on the first two tracks "Huckleberry Jam", and "Turf's Up". There are also some mellow instrumental tunes such as "Kim", which is one of my personal favorites. The album is a little similar to Union Station and Nickel Creek type guitar play. Different stuff - and you really have to hear it for yourself to decide if it's for you or not.

Overall, I find it very interesting and ironic that two of country music's biggest stars (kenny chesney and brad paisley) both come out with non-traditional country albums within a month of each other. Kenny with his island style, and now Brad with his guitar play. Maybe this will shake up the music industry a little bit, and open the door to a wider range of new music coming into the genre.

I don't listen to much country music; what little I do listen to is generally considered "alt-country". I had only ever heard a song or two by Brad Paisley before, but picked up this album based on recommendations from other guitar players. (I "Play", though not on par with Brad!) I love instrumental rock, especially instrumental guitar pieces, and think this is a great album. That said, it is pretty all over the place, and I can see staunch country-music fans might not like it. A couple of the songs have a very rockabilly Brian Setzer vibe, and "Turf's Up" is pure homage to Dick Dale. "Cliffs of Rock City" I've heard is a nod to Eric Johnson's "Cliffs of Dover" (another great instrumental rock piece). "Les is More" is a jazzy little number giving respect to Les Paul. The guitar playing is fantastic throughout, and the songs are creative and melodic, and honour those mentioned above without being derivative. My least favourite songs on this album are actually the songs with lyrics. If you're a dedicated country music fan, this might be a skip for you. If you enjoy great guitar playing and various styles of music, I'd say give this a shot, even if you never listen to country music.

Anybody familiar with Brad Paisley's previous work knows that the guy is an absolute guitar monster. That said, there is not much on this CD that hasn't appeared in some form on his previous CDs. Yes, he has his guitar idols recording with him here, but the songs all have Brad's signature sound. What's interesting is that on most of the songs I can't tell when it's Brad playing and when it's the guest artist. Only on "Let the Good Times Roll" can you easily distinguish B.B. King's blues playing from Brad's more rock style. One thing that this CD does demonstrate is the influence of Albert Lee (a guest artist) on modern country pickers since many of the players here (Vince Gill, Brent Mason, John Jorgensen, and Brad his own self) sound like they spent alot of time studying Albert's style. One of the most entertaining songs on the CD is the duet with Keith Urban "Start a Band." It opens with a "candid" exchange between Paisley and Urban where the former tries to show off his ability to play the opening licks to "Stairway to Heaven" (muffing it completely, of course). This leads into a tune that anyone who has ever played in a bar band will find quite hilarious (sample lines: "learn Free Bird and Ramblin' Man", "never buy a beer again"). There are actually lots of "in" jokes for guitar players and enthusiasts on this CD which will never be picked up on by the general public, but that won't take away from everybody's enjoyment of the music. All in all a very solid CD from Brad and bonus points if it generates interest in pickers James Burton, Albert Lee, John Jorgensen, Brent Mason, and Redd Volkaert, all of whom deserve a much wider audience than they have.

Any guitar player must listen to this, doesn't matter if you think country is for losers, pick it up. The cleverness of Paisley's lyrical and melodic songwriting translates right over to his guitar-playing and is even better. This is not just some wanker album, but totally the opposite it is obviously thoughtful as every track is unique and deserves more than 5 stars, and there ARE vocal tracks as well.

I bought this CD for my husband (who is NOT a country music fan), but I knew he liked guitar instrumentals. WOW! We were both blown away by Brad's talent and loved his collaborations with other artists. First time in a long time that I've loved every single number on a CD. Brad, you rock!

This is a great album. Great music for driving, too. I like how the songs with lyrics are interspersed throughout the album. Every track is different, and the 16 tracks go by really fast, as in, I want more!

I don't see how anybody could be disappointed - anybody who is even slightly paying attention should know that Brad put out this instrumental tribute to his pal, the guitar.
What a great price, too! Buy it and enjoy.
Hopefully, this will convince Keith Urban to put out a guitar album, too!

I've been a fan of Brad Paisley for several years now, but only a casual one. I love country music, but I like more traditional stuff, like Hank, George, & Loretta, "Outlaw" stuff by Waylon, Willie and Hank Jr., and the more "modern" stuff by Gram, Emmylou, Rodney Crowell and Lucinda. I'm a professional musician myself, and have studied and played guitar for many years. And because of that, I love listening to the masters of country guitar like Jimmy Bryant, Albert Lee, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Hank Garland, Danny Gatton, Vince Gill, James Burton, Clarence White and Brad Davis. Well, now we can add another name to that illustrious list: Brad Paisley.

I have to say, it's disheartening to see so many low-ratings for this album. I can't help but think that a lot of people bought this album expecting something like "Time Well Wasted." Well, I can understand that,(even though Brad and the record company made very sure to highlight it as a "guitar album.") But that doesn't mean it's "bad" music. In fact, it's some of the best music to come out of Nashville in years, and certainly some of Brad's finest work. It's in the great traditional of country virtuoso's, like the guys mentioned above, but with a distinctly modern twist.

Brad shows his versatility in many styles beyond traditional country. He plays a mean blues, gets a beautiful overdriven rock sound, plays jazz inspired by Tal Farlow, and does it all with flawless technique, wonderful phrasing, and great flair. In short, the guy is one of the best guitarists in the world, and he proves it again and again on "Play."

Brad's said on many occasions he was an entertainer, not a musician, and that he wasn't making the "best" music of his generation. Well, I think with "Play," he proved he is capable of making some of the best music in the world. Though I don't know him, I'm so proud of him to take a risk and put out an album like this, rather than rest on his laurels.
"Play" is the kind of record that's fun to listen to, and very enjoyable, but a record that also rewards a deeper listening.
If you're a fan of great music, and great guitar playing, don't miss this one!

this is a fantastic album! I'm a guitar fanatic, & you don't get much better than this. i hope joe satriani takes him out on a g3 tour someday. i could see brad making more instrumental albums in the future. lets hope anyways!!!!

Brad Paisley never ceases to amaze me. This CD is not for those looking for your typical words and music, although there are a few Songs with words it is mostly instrumental and it is AMAZING!!!
I love Start A Band, Keith Urban and Brad play very well together!!! Wish they would do a double headliner tour together!!

Huckleberry Jam is AWESOME really shows his Expertise on the guitar and Cluster Pluck is great too with special guest stars James Burton, Vince Gill, Albert Lee John Jergensen Brent Masen Redd Volkaert and Steve Wariner.

If you love the way Brad Plays this is the CD for you!!

This album combine talents of many of my favorite guitar pickers and with limited vocals. Track 9 as a tribute to Chet is great. But if you were looking for rose petals and French horns, look elsewhere.