Customer Reviews

Rough Luck

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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This album is not more than a couple of years old, but I already consider it among my favorite 'classic' CDs. Recognizing that it is so little known and already, bizarrely, out of print, it is also one of the strangest musical curiosities I'm aware of. Every aspect of this CD, from the songwriting, to musicianship, on through to production quality, are at the highest level of artistic craftsmanship, so I feel very fortunate to have happened upon such a well-kept secret as Bonneville. Without doubt, somewhere along the line this CD will be 'rediscovered' by getting the (mass) media attention it needs (and deserves) for it to be properly marketed.

I heard the song 'Rough Luck' on public radio one morning on my ride into work. While I was driving I actually wrote down the name and title, got into my office, went online to Amazon and ordered it right away. I am 31, with a wide taste in music and I have to say Ray's style, acoustics, lyrics and compositions are wonderful. I just ordered his other CD, as I cannot get enough of this guy. You can listen to it on a quiet Sunday morning making breakfast or during a dinner party, and your friends will definitely ask,"who is this and where can I get it"

What a fantastic album . . . I can play it over and over again and never tire of this man's sound, his songs, the audio quality, etc. Like another reviewer said, this is music that you can sneak out during a dinner party and everyone will want to write down the guy's name and know more. What I'd like to know is how to see this artist live!

I saw Ray at the recent Wings and Strings Americana festival in Polk City, Florida. At this event they have a solo stage next to the main stage, which is used as the main stage is getting set up for the next group, which in this case upcoming was Fred Eaglesmith. Usually the solo stage is ignored or people use this time to hit the head or get a beer. When Ray came on, nobody knew him from Adam, but after two songs (from Rough Luck) there was a small crowd in front of the solo stage to get a better look at this guy sounding like a small band all by himself. This guy has the ability to write and perform simple songs with catchy lyrics, which this cd is full of. By the end of his performance, he had the crowd up on their feet! I have both the cds, and would highly recommend both, but especially Rough Luck.