Customer Reviews

Sloe Gin

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you've heard about Joe Bonamassa and are wondering what all of the excitement is about, this is probably not the best place to start. This seems to be the fist release in Joe's catalog to create dissent amongst his fan base. It's not bad. It's just not great.

Joe is one of the most passionate an inspired artists to come along in years. He is a true gem for fans of blues rock. A unique and powerful vocalist with an astonishing command of his guitar. Anyone who has seen him live can attest, his explosive musicianship is jaw-dropping. As a performer Joe is humble, passionate, uncompromising, unapologetic and sincere. On his worst night he will stop you dead in your tracks and command your attention. At his best he's downright hypnotizing.

This CD doesn't come close to capturing that experience. It IS very well crafted. The performances are soulful and nuanced. The production values are impeccable. There are some nice moments. It's also rather boring, calculated, self-conscious and restrained. This is Joe's second collaboration with producer Kevin Shirley. Many of his fans are hoping it's his last. Though they wouldn't dare speak of it on the official fan forum. Just look at some of the defensive comments posted here on amazon to get an idea of the zealotry.

After hearing all of Joe's previous releases for the first time I simply couldn't wait to hear them again. I've forced myself to listen to Sloe Gin many times in an effort to identify what's missing. What's missing is the excitement of Joe as a performer. The excitement that earned him his reputation and grass-roots, word-of-mouth fan base. I hope and expect this is just a transition. And I can't wait to see him again live. I know it will be better than this disc.

If you are just getting started with Joe try Blues Deluxe, Had to Cry Today or any of his live releases (DVDs). As for Sloe Gin?... The best I can say is that it doesn't suck.

How's that for a neutral title?
I almost didn't write this review, because Mr "db" from Salem has already written most of what I was thinking. Read his review if you haven't already.
And another reviewer made a pun on the word "Sloe" in the title, meaning that this music is "slow", so that one's been taken as well. Guess I'll have to see what I can come up with, then.

As noted in the editorial review, Joe Bonamassa makes a reference to Rod Stewart's late-60s folk-rock records, saying that "heavy blues and acoustics mix well together". And...well, now don't go thinking that he is in any way emulating Rod the Mod here, 'cause this is a whole different animal. But he is right, you know, blues and rock do mix well with acoustic elements if you know how to combine them right.

The trouble is that no matter how meticulously thought-out your arrangements are, it won't get you very far if the songs don't hold up. And to me, the songs on "Slow Gin" don't hold up. Far from it, in fact. Sure, there are a few good songs here, and none of them are actually bad, in fact. But none of them are really terrific either; they get bogged down in these oh-so-meticulously constructed part electric, part acoustic arrangements, lacking groove, lacking hooks, lacking character, lacking that special something that Bonamassa's best songs used to have.

I'm sorry, Joe, I think you're great, and your playing is exquisite, but this album is just plain boring. It's as though Joe Bonamassa and producer Kevin Shirley got so caught up in the idea of making this half-acoustic-half-electric record that they forgot about the songs. Sometimes when you get an idea that you really, really like, you know, you'll apply it to absolutely everything, and that seems to be what Joe Bonamassa did here, applying his new semi-acoustic formula to this album and sorta forgetting about the songs themselves. I didn't want to give less than three stars, because then people would have just though that I had some personal grudge against Mr Bonamassa and not bothered to read a word of this, but it's really only two and a half at most.

Joe Bonamasso has mastered the guitar like few blues and rock players have. His sound has tastes of Led Zepplin, Bad Company and many other great 70's bands. But more than that he has surpassed the style and built his own.
His music talks to the heart because that's where he's playing from.
If you like Allman Bros, or southern Rock and blues in general, then this is highly recommended.

unfortunately for those of us who loved Joe's hard-drivin blues, the John Mayer business model has hijacked this record. schmaltzy love songs, with that syrupy over-emoting that sets my teeth to grinding and my legs to sprinting to the next-track key. but the next track ain't no better. this is a hole album of this. i can see Joe's demographic plummeting into teeny-bopper girl territory, or empty-headed metrosexuals tapping their feet on the 1 and 3. i liked tea for 2, but at least that tune had a killer payoff solo. say it ain't so, Joe.

I've held off making comments about this new work so I could have time to just listen to it. The past few days I've immersed myself in this album. I call it an "album" because calling it a "CD" just doesn't seem right. I purposely ordered extra copies of "Sloe Gin" so I would have a copy for at least my car and home. I also brought one to work and for the most part, since last Saturday, I've listened pretty much only to this album. I won't review it song by song, but here is how I feel about this work......

The first time I listened to this album was last Saturday and upon listening to it one time alone, I rejoined my family, looked at my wife and said, "This is a great work of art, it's not just music!" The musical blending of this album is extraordinary. For example, it starts off with two monster songs with "Ball Peen Hammer" and "One of These Days", but to then go directly to "Seagull" would have been quite a change. So what did Joe and Kevin Shirley do? Towards the end of "One of These Days" the song changes and we're eased into "Seagull." On "Ball Peen Hammer", I personally would have liked to have heard an actual ball peen hammer hitting some metal or something else to the beat of that song. I wonder if anyone had thought of that? I know, I'm a little a strange and maybe that would have been too gimmicky.

Joe's vocal power and range is better on this album than any of his past works. That, matched with his stellar use of different guitars on many songs, provides us with a constant feel of musical flow. I liked the idea of some strings being added to certain songs. It provides extra depth to the songs that they're used on. Rick Melick's piano/organ playing also adds an extra texture to many of the songs and is highlighted at the beginning of the song "Sloe Gin." Also, just when you think you've heard everything that this album has to offer, Joe throws us a major league curve with "India" as its final track. The other contributing musicians Anton Fig, Bogie Bowles, Carmine Rojas and The Bovaland Symphonic Orchestra should be commended for their work on this album. In addition, to the touring band and to all the people that support them on the road to bring this beautiful music to us let me say we all appreciate you.

In summary let me say this. I believe we've heard not just a great album of the day, but a masterpiece of work for our time and a long time to come. I really think that thirty years from now our children will be able to play this music on whatever device they'll be using at that time and it will sound just as fresh and fabulous as it does today. The only question I have is what will Joe come up with next?

As great as this album is, Joe Bonamassa live is unreal! If you ever get a chance to see him don't walk, run to buy your tickets. You'll be glad you did!!

This is a real good album from Joe. I was hoping he'd stretch a little
and come up with some really great originals like he did on Blues Deluxe,...but this one is a prize too !!! Especially if, like me, you REALLY enjoy pullin' it outta the mailbox, strippin' off the wrappin, and ploppin' it in the home stereo with just enough pause time before I hit the play button to strap on my own strat and play along !!! And this one fit the bill PERFECTLY !!!! Ball Peen Hammer is a real jammer as is the title cut; Sloe Gin. A new and very unique twist on Bad Company's Seagull was a joy to hear. Jelly Roll is another good one. With Richmond probably becoming a sleepy hit. Just what I love: Most Excellent Blues !!

First of all, I'm a huge JB fan, own everything he's put out, and even pre-ordered Sloe Gin before its release, based on hearing the title song performed earlier this year at the Birchmere (where I used go to see Danny Gatton). Amazingly, after about three listens, I pulled the CD out of my changer and replaced it with a Jimmy Thackery, but left the other Bonamassa discs I've listened to hundreds of times in the rotation.
Why? Overall, most of the songs are OK (except the ill-advised remake of Seagull with its goofy lyrics and Richmond with lyrics and vocals that get tiresome half way through the song), slide work is exceptional, vocals have never been better (albeit, a little tentative), acoustic (Jelly Roll) / electric (Sloe Gin) guitars are great throughout. I really miss the single coils (strats & telecasters), though.
I think what my ears rebel against is the production - it's way too refined - almost sterile - killing the soul and emotion JB's got in spades. Too much compression? The strings on Whitley's Ball Peen Hammer are contrived and grossly over-dramatic to the point that they virtually ruin an inherently powerful song. The strings (again) and sirens damn near kill Sloe Gin, as well. I'm also wondering if Joe had enough songs going into recording. Did we really need to pay for another rendition of The River? If he didn't like the original, do it differently live like he does with the superior version of Mountain Time.
I hate to jump on the bandwagon of disappointed fans, but alas, I'm a disappointed fan. In the past I've enjoyed introducing friends and fellow guitarists to Bonamassa's awesome talents. I'll continue to do so, but won't be including Sloe Gin in my recommendations.

It's Sloe all right. Kinda the way Eric Clapton went from Slow Hand to Slow Blues to just, plain Slow/Easy Listening. I'm so sorry to say that I find this collection of tunes to be boring to the point that I would never recommend it to anyone I was trying to introduce to the Smokin' Joe who can tear up the joint.

JB is at a point where he has to decide if he's going to follow in SRV's footsteps or John Mayer's babysteps or just sell out completely and play Soft Hits All The Time. It's not easy to be in that position. I know the drill for this album: a slight, painful voice inflection, a little sly touch here and there, a mystical note in the background and a mournful lament...but none of that saves this CD for me.

Almost all of his fans agree that the sounds and boldness of his earlier albums were what attracted them to Joe B. I don't understand why they say, almost unamimously, that SILT or ANDY or HTCT or Blues Deluxe were their favorites, but they keep encouraging this Slow Down of what we consider a genius.

His most rabid fans are hoping for some kind of all-rewarding SuperStardom for this incredibly talented player. If he can put out something this "beige" and seemingly lifeless and his fans still buy it up, isn't that a sign of true Superstardom? We'll buy anything and everything from this musician.

The group of fans who give 5 stars to everything the guy does aren't helping him find himself. It must be a terribly lonely path to have people all around you incapable of critical thought and honest feedback.

Where'd you go, Smokin' Joe? Where can you go from here?

Joe is definitely the guitar player of today, but I must admit I like his previous work a whole lot better. I can only pick one song on this CD that really stands out. On his other CD's it is hard to pick a favorite because it was all so good. I don't like to put CD's down I almost always try to stay positive, but I must admit I was disapointed with this CD. Good but not #1 stuff.

I am the biggest Bonamassa fan in Ohio but I am not a blind fan, meaning I will speak with honesty. While this release shows incredible talent and complex musical growth, it is a disappointing purchase. Naturally, I will continue to purchase his releases and go to his concerts but, JOE, you have strayed from the path. Get back to your original 3-pc and let 'er rip! I respect your direction and musicality but I think this path you are on explains why you have not hit on a larger audience. You have the talent, voice and artistry to do better.