Customer Reviews

Retraced

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I just bought this album and vivian Campbell's new album at the same time. After enduring the snore fest that is Viv's new album, it was a true joy to throw this CD in and hear how it really should be done. I can't find one negative thing to say about this album. Chris Logan's vocals are top notch. he does a hell of a Joe walsh impression on "woman." Aynsley and tim's playing is stunning. Jake's guitar work is very much in the style that he displayed in Badlands, sort of a nasty hybrid of hard rock and blues and simply dripping with attitude. Jake doesn't just play the notes. He grinds them into the strings straight from the depths of his soul. Because the selection of songs that jake chose to cover, this album still has kind of an original feel, not only because the songs are not necessarily widely known, but also because he and the band really do put their own spin on them. If you like good, solid, no nonsense rock with plenty of killer guitar and attitude, you will definitely not go wrong with this release.

This is an excellent, tasteful rock CD by an excellent band playing excellent songs, WITH AN EXCELLENT VOCALIST! If Mr. Fiend was more familiar with rock history he would realize that the reason the vocalist sounds funny on track#5 is because he is imitating Johnny Winter, the vocalist on the original version. He also does this on "Woman" by the James gang. I am not easily impressed by rock CDs these days but i have listened to these samples twice and I'm getting this baby!

This line up really did justice to the original songs, original bands and original performances. I would prefer a few different choices if I got to pick the covers they would record but this is not a complaint. I'm happy to hear this kind of music and these kinds of players again. Jake has been out of the picture too long. I'm glad to see him bring his characteristic bluesy, hard edged style back for us to enjoy. Chris Logan does an excellent job at invoking the original vocal styles of the songs. It's raw, plug in and play Mountain/ Free era sounds. It's not slicked over with effects. Pure hard rock. This sounds like great old live, hard rock band performances of days gone by when you could walk into a smokey bar, grab a cold one and anticipate the band's performance without fear of being forced to leave by audio garbage! I agree with previous comments here that this band has a great deal of potential if they go the original route and hopefully, Jake would continue to write and record Badlands era type solos and beyond. He played more of a pure 70's style in the solos on this cover CD .... almost a Tommy Bolin style. I say continue from here with originals and the whole 9 yards of Jake solos. Bottom line? If you like Free and similar sounding bands, you'll like this.

Good, bad, or otherwise, a little Jake E. Lee beats the pants off a whole lot of anything else being released these days (can you say "Coldplay"?). IMHO, the strength of this one is in the trio of Lee, Bogert, and Dunbar...of course! The three of them represent a ton of potential (not to mention rock history)!

As noted in a number of the other reviews, the problems with this release are two fold - the production lacks any kind of a discernable edge (it's flat!) and Chris Logan's vocals, which I'd best describe as serviceable, just don't measure up to the level of talent of the other three players. No, Logan isn't Ray Gillen, but nobody else is either, so that's not the point. Logan's vocals aren't so much a negative as they are just a disappointment when compared to what this release really could've been had they landed a vocalist worthy of the other three. But hey, maybe Logan really is better than most of us seem to be giving him credit for and he's just another victim of the soggy production.

All in all, I do like this and have listened to it quite a bit over the last couple weeks. "Whiskey Train", "Way Back To The Bone" and "I Come Tumblin'" are the standouts for me. Unfortunately, rather than the killer closer that "Rock Candy" coulda/shoulda been, it sounds like all involved had already called it a day and phoned in their performances. Instead of leaving me standing and shouting for more...I'm left shaking my head and wondering why they couldn't get it up for that song?!

Great premise, great guitarist and backing musicians, but overall this comes up shorter on delivery than it should have. I give it 3 1/2 stars.

Glad you're back, Jake! This was a good warm-up, now we're ready for the real deal!

There's a lot of negative review on Logan the vocalist on Jake's solo album. I'm guilty too. I think many of us are comparing him to Ray Gillen. This CD has been playing in my car stereo for weeks now and I, for one, have changed my mind about Logan. I agree with the previous reviewer who summed up that Logan does a competent job recreating the vocal styles for the different songs without leaving too much of his own mark on them. Anyway, if you buy an album from Jake E. Lee, you better be buying it for the guitar. Jake's guitar work is subtle yet exceptional. You won't be short changed on the length of his solos either. My complements to Jake on his choice of tunes. I thought I had a pretty comprehensive Johnny Winter CD collection, but I don't have "Guess I'll Go Away." That was a nice present. "Rock Candy" could have been recorded a little rawer with more balls, but that won't cost this review a fifth star. I guess a solo CD with original songs is the next gift we should hope for.

This is my favorite guitar player, this album is great but the best things are do with Badlands, but I think you know!

This cd surprise me and my wife! We both loved it, the classic grooves and the sleek style of Jake E Lee on these classic tunes! Go get em Jake!
A must have!
CJ

Although normally, with a few exceptions, I dislike coveralbums but this is whole other story. This is honest, sincere and careful playing, with a few new dimensions. I am familiar with this kind material although did'nt know all the original songs but these renditions are really excellent. It is a very listenable and enjoyable album, which doesn't disappoint. Lee and singer Logan do a great job together, backed by are more than able backingband (Bogert/Dunsbar), so who's complaining. If they are performing this stuff live, well I would visit the concert. What makes it so good? Well, I you would'nt know better the songs are what they call originals by this band and certainly are no less than played by the bands or acts they are taken from. If you like seventies bluesy hard rock, varying from such illustre acts as Cactus, Bruce, West and Laing, Grand Funk Railroad, Procol Harum, Savoy Brown, Montrose, Johnny Winter, Free, James Gang, Robin Trower, Trapeze, well than this is something to listen to. This band does more than just cover those songs but take care not to destroy the original and handle them with care. Chris Logan can sing in the same vein as for instance J. Winter and Joe Walsh on their respective songs and sounds overall good, without having a voice which places too much a mark on everything. And Jake E. Lake? What for the better, he is a great guitarist, everybody who knows him from Badlands will want this album. He plays without overdoing, most songs have one guitarpart but that's just enough. What can I say further? Just listen! A high standard release, which deserves more than being overlooked or worse, ignored.

Jake is best known for his work with ozzy. Though different away from the "ozzomania" he is a great axe slinger. If you like hard rock played to perfection without losing it's edge Jake is your guitar player. This is a cool colection of songs hand picked and changed only in ways that make them shine brighter than the originals. A must for fans of rock and roll at it's best.

P.S. - Jake, Don't put that six sting thing back in the closet. Us old time metal heads need musicains like you!

What a wonderful thing to experience...a new Jake E. Lee disc. The quality of his sound is as good as ever. I'm happy to see that he has moved on from doing all of those tribute songs and decided to create a tribute of his own to his personal influences.

If you bought this to hear someone sing, look at the name on the disc, and if you still don't want to listen to this because of the vocalist, you don't appreciate a good guitar album.

As far as Jake's comparison to Zakk Wylde...they really don't play in the same style at all. Just like Jake didn't play like Randy Rhodes. I applaud Ozzy for picking guitarists with their own style instead of trying to find a copy of the original. Ozzy is 3 for 3 if you ask me.

Great job, Jake, on making a successful return...don't be so long in coming back next time.