Customer Reviews

Shout Live (LP with Bonus CD) [Vinyl]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a fan of Mike Farris since I first saw his former band, the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies in 1994. I may be slightly biased in my opinion, but have many friends who agree with me after hearing this album. I know of at least 7 more copies that have sold due to me sharing this CD. If I could be gifted with the ability to sing, this would be my first choice on voice. Absolutely amazing and guaranteed to make you feel the song. I have purchased every Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies and Mike Farris album and copied them all so I can listen in the car or in the house on a whim. I do not go more than 10 days without listening to this CD. It's that good. I have an extensive CD collection of over 900 artists, so I believe that statement speaks for itself. Mike has surrounded himself with a set of great musicians that know how to wring out every ounce of goodness out of a musical note. This is a Gospel album, no doubt about that, but if you are a fan of good musicianship and vocals that move you, you should run out to get this CD and any CD with Mike Farris singing on it. This man could sing the phone book and put it on CD and I would buy it. This album has to be heard to be believed. If you do not start singing along, tapping your toes or at at least humming, you need to see the coroner! From "Precious Lord Take My Hand" to "Cain't No Grave Hold My Body Down","Sit Down Servant", "Oh, Mary Don't You Weep", "Selah! Selah!" and "Green Green Grass of Home" there is not a bad track on this CD. You have done it Mike. The passion that comes across is undeniable. One of the best albums of the last year. A worthy purchase indeed. Can't wait for the next release from this outstanding and gifted artist.

I saw this band live in SF and they held the crowd in the palms of their hands. This live album captures that feeling and more. You won't be disappointed---Mike Farris and company are the real thing. I'm not religious, but this music stirs the soul. Half Sister Rosetta Tharpe and half O.V. Wright.

This is my first introduction to Mike Ferris. I was blown away. I love how he takes the gospel into the highways and byways. Look forward to more. God's blessings upon him.

I just saw these guys last night at the Minnesota State Fair. A couple years back I bought Salvation in Lights through a CD club. I had never heard of Mike but liked the samples and gave it a whirl. I'm big into blues, rock, jazz, roots, reggae and other music. I'm not big on "Christian" music but I do like gospel as spoken by Aretha and Ray Charles. Don't be put off by the gospel or Christian tag; this is just great music. But it is inspired music too; inspired by love and God and redemption. The sound quality is excellent for a live recording, the performances are exciting; much like what I heard last night at the fair. This guy loves to perform and works it hard. He was smiling and sweating all the way through and the audience, most of whom had never heard of him, loved it. The musicians get some space, the arrangements are nice and varied and Mike's voice really shines as do the voices of the sisters, the horns and all the rest.

For those expecting the high gloss of live albums of the past be warned, this is not it. It is however a proper representation of what Mike Farris and his 10 piece band, the Roseland Rhythm Revue, cranked out at his Sunday Night Shout residency at the legendary Station Inn in Nashville during the fall of 2008. There is nothing cleaned up, just the raw power of Mike's vocals mixed with the gospel, blues and funk that creates something uniquely his own. It provides a nice stop gap between the arguably polished Salvation In Lights release and what will hopefully be the natural progression on his next release in 2010. Mike is a live act and must be seen as such. No recording will truly capture the magic of "being there" but SHOUT! does a decent job of giving you a snapshot of what it was like. Seek him out live where ever you can.

I just saw him play for the first time on Beale St. in Memphis.
I bought this cd on the spot and I am now ordering another .
He was amazing.

If you are expecting Wheelies this is not the CD to get, if you are looking for a fun different type gospel blues cd this is it. The music is excellent and if you are a fan of the Wheelies Mikes voice will be recognized right away. What is not too good is the actual recording it sounds like as if was recorded with an old portable tapedeck. I enoyed this CD overall and as a fan of The Screaming Cheetah Wheelies it's good to see Mike is still out there, and as a Christian it's great to have another type of music to give praise to God !

Excellent singer and back-up group reproducing the Memphis sound of the South. Great for listening, tapping the feet or clapping the hands. Very enjoyable.

we saw this live...and were blown away. now we can listen and remember that incredible night at High Sierra Music Fest 2009 Vaudville late nite

You will notice that most of the other reviewers mentioned seeing Mike live in concert and how this recording captures the excitement of the performance they remember. I think they are listening to this recording with rose colored glasses and letting their fond memories bias their review.
Many of the songs on this recording are live versions of some of the songs on Salvation in Lights. Having heard them first on Salvation in Lights, I have to say the live versions of those songs were disappointing. The marvelous suppleness to his soulful voice is only half as good, and straining at times. The band is missing several players and the soloists don't seem to be as inspired.
I know the charm of a live recording is its raw element, but the studio version to me captures that same charm in abundance:I suspect many of the songs were basically recorded "live" in the studio anyway. Bottom line: if you are deciding between the purchase of this record versus Salvation in Lights, you'll get a better idea of what a marvel Mike really is if you go with the latter. Then you'll want to see him live, which is what, I suspect, the other reviewers were really recommending.