Customer Reviews

Rough Diamond

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

 

 

If you're one of "Shaq's, The King Of The World Blues Reviewer's" loyal fans, and you're looking for a complete electric blues CD, this is not for you. But, with that being said, if you're looking for a slide guitar CD, that provides an eclectic, combination, of every slide guitar sound known to man, (And possibly some that haven't been heard yet!) this is, the CD for you! Dave has covered the gamut of music, from blues, to rock, to a ballad that might be played by a cowpoke sitting around a campfire. The greatest song on this CD is #5 "White Trash Girl". This is a rocking, slide (of course!) number, that would put George Thorogood to shame! This song kicks butt! It's been too long a wait for Dave Hole fans. It's been too many years between releases. You get good playing time for your money, as only 2 songs out of 11 are under 4 minutes long. 4 songs are in the 5-6 minute range. Dave's virtuosity on the slide guitar, is akin to a mad "genius" in the laboratory. Some of his riffs are not explainable, just enjoyable. I find myself unabashedly, with a large grin on my face, as his unique sounds emanate from the speakers.

Even though some of the originals here are not quite as "original" as those on most of his other albums, Dave Hole's playing is still wild and wonderful and is as good as or better than any out there. The best tunes are "White Trash Girl" and "I'm a King Bee," both of which have blistering, beautiful solos. Wonder how much Blind Pig had to pay to lure him away from Alligator? Whatever it was, it was worth it. Even at 4 stars it's an album you should grab.

Not to repeat others, I am trying to get PBS stations to use his video LIVE AT LEVERKUSEN for fund raising. Then Amazon will sell out their stock of CDs! I like all but the country song. HE IS THE BEST! ALONG WITH ROY BUCHANAN!

I kept hearing Dave Hole's "White Trash Girl" on the cable music Blues channel, and from my first listen I was hooked - great guitar work and catchy lyrics too. I decided it would be worth buying the album (CD) just for this one song, so I was happy to find it available from Amazon. Yes, this is the best song, but there are other songs too that are worthy of anyone's blues collection.

While I can't have enough listening of "Outside Looking In's", its author, the Australian Dave Hole, again has made a superb album. This "Rough Diamond" is really great rocking blues. You'll find there one of this year's best Blues sessions, enriched with Hole's particular way of playing slide guitar. All the songs have a similar high level but "White Trash Girl", "Rough Diamond", "Rambling On My Mind" and specially "King Bee" are the best ones, without forgetting the ballad "Yours for a song".
The superb blues called "King Bee" in this record is played elsewhere as "I'm a king bee". Hole's cover is perhaps the best, together with The Rolling Stones' and Muddy Waters' covers and of course the original by Slim Harpo.Highly recommended. I give it 5 stars.

A must have for anyone who loves blues guitar, especially electric slide. This man is phenominal! His covers of Something Inside Of Me and Rambling On My Mind are absolutely incredible along with his cover of I'm A King Bee, which is the best I've ever heard. His own compositions are equally as good as his covers. Dave Hole knows his way around the fretboard better than most of the guitarists out there. His tone and style give you the impression he learned to play in both Chicago and the Mississippi Delta. I was so impressed with this recording I bought Dave Hole's Steel On Steel and Working Overtime; both every bit as good as this one. This is electric slide at it's best!

Once again Dave Hole has made a superb album.
It is really great rocking blues!