Soul Shaker

Tommy Castro | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blind Pig
• ASIN: B0006ZIH8Q
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,063 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The title of this album tells you most of what you need to know about San Francisco blues rocker Tommy Castro. His first disc of original material in four years finds him back with the Blind Pig label and expanding his crackling R&B-drenched blues into a more rock-oriented sound. On Soul Shaker, Castro downplays the sizzling guitar that dominated his previous releases and focuses instead on songs and arrangements. The horns that pepper--and often power--tracks such as the frisky "What You Gonna Do Now?" push the soul element even further to the forefront. But it's Castro's gutsy, gritty vocals--something like a mix of Delbert McClinton and John Mellencamp--and his energetic approach that ignite these tunes.

Castro borrows Little Feat's New Orleans stomp for the swampy, slide-driven title track, shifts into Bob Seger territory on the thumping rocker "The Holdin' On," and even delivers a flute-powered song, "The Crossanova"--a lively instrumental cowritten by reed player Keith Crossan that wouldn't be out of place on an old Herbie Mann disc. "Take Me Off the Road" burns with ZZ Top hip-shakin' boogie. This may not be what established Castro fans expected, but by widening his scope and beefing up his sound the soul shaker has delivered his most satisfying and eclectic set in a decade-long career. --Hal Horowitz

Product Description

Reuniting with Blind Pig Records, Tommy Castro and his road-hardened band have produced their best release to date. SOUL SHAKER is the first album of original Castro music in four years, from one of the most compelling artists on the roots music scene. SOUL SHAKER is hard hitting, rock-and-soul music, featuring Castro's stinging guitar, exciting vocals and the hottest band on the touring circuit today - including long-standing bandmembers Randy McDonald on bass and Keith Crossan on saxaphone. Special guests include slide guitar master Roy Rogers on the title track.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not His Best!, March 26, 2005

By 

deepbluereview "deepbluereview" (SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Shaker (Audio CD)

Whether you like this or not will largely depend upon what your expectations are from TC. For me, I like TC's blues music with a touch of soul, bordering on James Brown. My expectations were met with the Grammy award winning Right as Rain. But this is not it and for me the CD is merely all right. On this disc Castro leans towards the sixty's R&B music and the songs bring to mind the Temptations and the Supremes rather than Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker. Like Jonny Lang on his latest release, Castro tries to spread out to a broader group and, in my opinion, falls a little short. Castro is best seen live and maybe in that setting can do these songs some justice. Some times it is best just to stick to the formula and fan base that got you there. Castro is a little off the path.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Shaken ... but not Stirred, June 1, 2005

By 

Diamond Dave (Chicago, Home of the Blues) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Shaker (Audio CD)

This is my third TCB disc. I got "ESSENTIAL" right before I saw him in concert and "RIGHT AS RAIN" right after seeing him in concert on the DELBERT McCLINTON Cruise (01/05). I enjoy his gritty voice and writing skill for rockin the blues. He generally puts a pretty good tune to paper and I like blues and soul. I've read CASTRO's greatest influences are guys like the Godfather of Soul -James Brown- and "Wicked" Wilson Pickett (stomp it, kick it) so it only makes sense that he would cover ground mined by those to R&B giants of yore. And you can hear their vocal mannerisms in his delivery from recording to recording.
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I would agree this is not the best I've heard, but not primarily due to the song cycle. The arranagements did not always win me over and I would agree some of these tunes lean toward early eighties Bob Seger (not my favorite period in his career) and Southside johnny (a cat I dug in the late 70s and early 80's). But this is a better CD than the latest by KWS!
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Having seen Tommy & his Band live, where many of these songs were replicated on stage and came across better in concert, I have to assume it was the arranagements and the production that hampers some if the music
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Most of my buddies seemed to think Tommy and his guitar were more sizzle than steak, but maybe he was having an off week. "A Pretty boy" someone else said to me of him. It was still very enjoyable music and I don't doubt he can play. He is a fine performer in person, albeit, I have yet to see his magical string bending prowess in my live experiences, he is a great leader and tune smith.
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I would recommend other earlier Tommy Castro CDs, such as "ESSENTIAL" as starting points for Blues Fans. He is well worth picking up. There are also a more than fair amount of FREE DOWNLOADS on the TOMMY CASTRO BAND website, with various blues luminaries pitching in.
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I don't deny Tommy the right to make a CD like this, I just like him to rock the blues a bit more, but there are several strong moments on here and the odd surprise (Flutes anyone!)
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Top cuts for me at least:
* LET'S GIVE LOVE A TRY ... (SEGER-esque)
* ANYTIME SOON ... (solid ballad)
* PARTY's OVER ... (driving horns)
* NO ONE LEFT TO LIE TO ... (appears to borrow from Gary Moore)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Tommy "Light", December 25, 2005

By 

dickydo "Richie D" (Warwick, RI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Shaker (Audio CD)

Returning to the Blind Pig label fans like me hoped Tommy would be able to recapture his past glory. As always the guitar playing is crisp and concise. The voice soulful with a hint of Seger. However this is perhaps his weakest batch of songs in his illustrious career. Please see this band LIVE.... And lets hope Tommy and his collaborators can come up with better than rote "soul blues". Not terrrible mind you, check out his earlier disks on the coolest blues label of all.