Customer Reviews

Slideways

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

 

 

This album has a level of energy that I haven't found on many recent blues albums. Overall I think many of the other reviewers are being a bit too critical--this one is great for driving or background music during a loud party. I play it at work frequently, and almost every time someone will walk past and say "that's good stuff--who is it?" Considering some of the major disappointments I've purchased in the blues vein recently, this one deserves a solid recommendation.

Normally, I don't like instrumental CD's. To me, they tend to get boring. From the opening notes of "AVALANCHE", the first song on Roy Rogers' latest CD, SLIDEWAYS, it left little doubt, with its blues boogie and hard driving slide work, that this could be different.

Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings can almost do it all. Where there's something they can't do, out comes Norton Buffalo blowing his harp on this CD. Norton shines the bightest on the slow blues number "I'M WITH YOU".

"THERE IS ONLY YOU" and "PRECIOUS MOMENTS" are slide guitar odes to that special someone. Roy makes you feel the love in each and every note without having to say a word. SLIDEWAYS is a must have for people who love their music straight from the heart.

Oh My God, Oh My GOD, OH MY GOD!!!!! I've listened to a lot of instrumental music in my life, but always thought "slide guitar - are you kidding, that's for backwater hillbillies". Boy was I wrong. I heard the NPR feature the other day on Roy Rogers and this album and was intrigued to say the least.

If you have ears (even one will do), you must run out right now and get this CD. It made me jump, it made my laugh, it made me cry, it made me want to live forever, it made me feel like I died and went to heaven. There are no words to describe it.

Whether you compare this disc to anything else Roger's has released, compare it to other slide guitar releases or compare it to other blues CD's released this year, it is not hard to justify a five star rating. This release is simply heads and shoulders above the rest. Like all "solo" releases, this release features an all star cast which serve up a creative rhythmic backdrop against which Roger's works his magic. No stranger to a Rogers CD is Norton Buffalo who performs harp on six of the thirteen instrumental tunes here. Joining Buffalo on two of the tracks is former Muddy Water's drummer Francis Clay. Freddie Roulette (CD "Back In Chicago"), one of the last of the living blues steel guitarist, appears on two tracks and Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste (CD "Zigaboo.com"), one of the premier funk drummers alive today appears on four tracks. The CD opens with a slide shred fest called "Avalanche", and then glides into the rockin' "Smoke and Mirrors" before settling down into what most folks will recognize as the blues. The intensity of the music retains its fairly relentless pace until the rather funkified "Gumbo Funk". Forget any notion you may have that a slide guitar instrumental CD might be a little mundane and prepare for a wild ride. This is great music.

There's at least one sweet track ("If Walls Could Talk")on this CD and some great pickin', but overall it's not completely satisfying. Having heard the interview and that track on PBS I was prepared for a very different kind of album. So despite the great guitar licks it ain't more than 2.5 stars in my book.

This is "drivin'" music. The rhythm is definitely on the move, and if you're cruising down the highway late at night you won't fall asleep! It's kind of hard to pin down the style. Sort of White Boy Blues meets early rock, cowboy meets Buddy Guy, with a sprinking of heavy metal style here and there. If this sounds like your style, then you can raise the rating.

The real downer for me are the acoustics. The sonics are not pleasing. Imagine taking Bonnie Raitt or the Allmans and letting a local amateur engineer, with a hangover and [ticked] at his girlfriend to boot, broadcast this one on AM radio, then pipe it into a stadium PA system, while you listen to it halfway down an access tunnel. This is over-amped, fuzzed, buzzed and whatever to death. Yep, not pretty at all.

True, I'm still listening to it, so it isn't bad. Frankly, this would sound much better when you're 2 beers or at least 1 whiskey into a blues club evening, but I wouldn't start your date night off on this one.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing Roy Rogers, who is a very fine musician. It shows through. Just that he writes in the jacket blurb that he wanted to make it "edgy" and he succeeds beyond his wildest dreams. Roy, my man, this could have been sweet....

The king of slide is back in top form. RR is the greatest and shows why in his new release. You might forgo your morning coffee and just blast off with this as a healthy alternative. And if you think the CD is great, try seeing him in person...WOW. Words aren't enough...and he is a good guy as well. I've been watching him for the past 20 years, and can honestly say I'd rather see him perform than anyone else. How about trying something different, give this one a shot, you won't be sorry !

Definitely a different style of music. Really cool tunes while cruising or having guys over to shoot pool. Mostly instrumentals as I recall. Really tough sound. Talented dude indeed!

Love a good slide guitar. This is a good player. After 5 minutes it just sounds like variations of the same lick over and over and over again. I would like to hear him play with others. Not enough on his own.

No, this isn't Roy Rogers the singing cowboy. Although even the original Roy might have taken a second listen to this stunning instrumental album by one of the best slide guitar players around today. This is the first instrumental cd by Rogers, although he's dabbled in this kind of music on some of his previous albums. It only took me about 30 seconds of listening to the first cut to realize this was going to be a good one. The opening tune Avalanche hooks you right away with Rogers over the top, but very tight sounding slide. But it's that catchy little tune called "Razors Edge" that really sucked me in. This, along with songs like "No Destination" and "There Is Only You" are rock oriented tunes that have so many familiar riffs that I could swear I've heard em somewhere before. And being an old rocker like myself, I probably have. But it sure is fun guessing where, while listening to the best instrumental album that I've heard in years. Rogers uses such a variety of styles and tones, that it really kept me guessing what's coming next. Between the great rock tunes, there is also some very soulful and spiritual blues songs that really left this listener feeling good. It's very interesting stuff that should please both rock and blues fans alike. A great instrumental cd without all those cumberson words getting in the way. Highly recommended!

Roy is definitely the best guitarist the "mainstream" public has never heard of. I first was turned on to him when he played slide on Sammy Hagar's "Little White Lies" song. I then went searching for cd's by him and now have the Roy collection. If you are in the mood for a GREAT collection of songs and some blistering guitar playing then this is the cd for you.