Customer Reviews

Shine

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

 

 

I bought this CD two months ago because my favorite artist, Rob Lamothe, sang on six racks. I'd never heard of Craig Erickson before and, after hearing this CD, all I can say is why isn't this guy famous yet? He blends blues, rock and soul into a style that's all his own. This CD is so good, I've been wearing it out. The tracks with Rob Lamothe's soulful vocals are my favorites, but guitarist Erickson sings almost as well as he plays. His singing and playing are both inspired and heartfelt, the songs catchy without being over-commerical. He plays with a confidence that doesn't lend itself to overplaying for the sake of ego. Glen Hughes (Deep Purple) makes a guest vocalist appearance on "Wild Dogs," another highlite on the CD. Not a weak cut in sight, one of the best CD's I've heard in years. If you like blues inspired rock, this CD is a must-have.

I'd like to start by saying I have been listening to a lot of this type of music lately. I am by no means an expert but I have bought and obtained more albums this year than probably any one before it and 90% of them were this type of music. And for fans of this type of music you probably know that there is a certain awe that comes when you realize guitar players this good are still alive (since you have to search high and low to find them).

That said, even when compared to the rest I have, ie joe bonamassa, doyle bramhall, lance lopez, etc. this is simply in a class by itself. Before receiving this for Christmas, I had only heard Erickson's release from this year "Big Highway," which was just good enough to leave me wanting more. Particularly i wanted more like the cosmic blues song in the sky. "Shine" delivers that and then some. Every song is flat out amazing. The worst songs on this album would be the best on almost any other. IE i think remember now break free, and until the sun shines are not as good as the rest on the disc, but if you took them on their own they are great songs with great solos.

This is basically heavy, beautifully made riffs with leads over them in the perfect tone. I don't really know how to describe the tone he gets out of his guitars, but as far as tone goes it is the best I have ever heard. Sometimes people are good witha muddy tone and embrace. think of the opposite here, it can be a good thing. a great thing.

Every track on the album is good, and I'd like to do a review of all of them, but I don't think I can do them justice and feel this review is already getting a little long. I will say "bus stop" just might be my favorite song on the album. It is most definitely some of the best electric guitar work I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. the riff the riff the riff. god even though every song has at least one solo not a single one is a throw away they are all top level, deserving to be mentioned with the best ever good. no kidding. really quality singing here too. "Wild Dogs" with Glenn Hughes is another good one. Hughes' voice is perfect for the song. I will say I am glad he only does one song. Great a job as he does, it would be annoying and sell the record short if he sang any more, once you hear it i think you'll know why, but damn he made the most of the song he had. doomsday blues, shine and businessman are the other standouts. then what i said were the worst tracks, then see the rest for what i guess id call the middle tracks, but like i said, even the worst would be the best on almost any other album, every song is good.

I am going to be checking out the rest of his catalogue very soon.

To me It is a crying shame musicians like this don't get the recognition they deserve while people who are mediocre (well, lets just be blunt, bad) by comparison wind up in the rock and roll hall of fame. a damn shame.

favorites=bus stop, doomsday blues, shine, business man, angel. lamothe is good on every track he does but craig matches him as a singer. until angel. that is one of the finest vocal performances I have ever heard.

Craig Erickson's Project has plans for another release sometime in 2004. In the meantime however, the first "project" release, "Shine" is very well done. The tunes are a little on the heavy side of the blues/rock equation much like you would expect to hear from Gov't Mule, Robin Trower, Hendrix and you might even hear a little Paul Rodgers (Bad Company) like vocals on the track "Familiar." Overall, a very good release with the possible exception of "Wild Dogs" which is the only track to feature the vocals of Glenn Hughes. Recommended.

this is his fifth cd to date and it is a great collection of originals and two covers,tommy bolins "wild dogs"with glen hughes on vocals and a covers of jimi hendrix "angel". if you love hendrix to trower to frank marino you will love this cd,my favorite song is "break free" that has the "stone free" by hendrix feel.

This might be close to the master and borders on plagerism, but if you can style your musik so effectively after the master, it is actualy a real treat. A bit like a new release from JIMMI and almost as good. Great guitar work and pretty good material and vocals. The covers of ANGEL and WILD DOGS are sensational, but the whole CD is of a very high standard and if you like JIMMI or the guitar you should like this offering.

I wasn't aware of Craig Erikson and took a chance on the disk - glad I did. The songs are a little uneven in that the CD doesn't start off strong but it gets better and better as it goes along. The guitar work and arrangements are top notch. If you like Tommy Bolin, you will like this CD. A couple of the tunes sound so much like Bolin that you would swear it was him if you didn't know any better. Throw in some Hendrix influences and you've got a pretty sweet disk. Definitely recommended.

this dynamic duo has some special magic going on.craig erickson is a word class player and rob lamothe vocals fit this music and make it something special.A must have if you love blues rock.Make more please.

I have yet to hear a "project" album that is good. The main reason why people call their albums "projects" is that they know they are bad and want to say "hey, this is just a little project I have been working on". This album is no exception.