Customer Reviews

Soul Shaker

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

 

 

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.

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)

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.

Let me start by saying that I am a huge, huge Tommy Castro fan. I own everything he has produced, and while Soul Shaker has glimpses of what we all love about TC -- his gritty, soulful voice and Top-10 guitar playing, this CD falls a little short. Perhaps it's the departure from what he has previously provided us, but aside from a few tunes aforementioned in previous reviews, Soul Shaker comes across as a little less that upbeat, more studio. I understand from hearing TC on interviews, that Soul Shaker was to be a departure from previous works. In this regard, it works. I wouldn't say not to purchase this effort because my hunch is it may grow on you over time. Listen to a few tracks at your local CD store and make your own call ... it's really a toss up. In any event, TC is a winner in the blues music scene. His body of work up to this point speaks volumes about his talent, and I for one, look forward to all of his offerings for years to come.

I just saw the TCB in Annapolis at the infamous "Rams Head" where he shared the bill with Tinsley Ellis (an amazing guitarist in his own right) and Tommy and the band kept the house a smokin' on a Wednesday night with lots of old TCB songs and some from the new Soul Shaker CD.

We east coasters don't often get to see Blues like this in one package.....some deep soul, some bluesy/jazz, some hard rock and some ballads all in that wonderful TC voice and that clean ,clear, crisp, well worn Fender guitar.

Honestly this is a solid and refreshing album of original material featuring some brilliant sax work by veteran Crossan (and Fleugelhorn by a sideman) and powerful Bass lines by a guy who must be the best in the business....Randy McDonald. His bass work is simply unparalleled.

I also have come to love it when TCB does a cover or two and an album and look forward to a "live session" album. On tour, the TCB suffers only from the absence of Jim Pugh on the Hammond B-3 to fill out the sound!

Another review equates his voice with Seger and Mellencamp and Southside Johnny.
I think they sound not nearly as good as Tommy.

With a host of bona fide blues hits to his credit, Tommy Castro could spend the rest of his career touring and cashing in on the past. He could also follow an all too familiar blues tradition of putting out new but familiar sounding material year after year. Instead of taking these easy paths he has spent the past few years exploring his boundaries with a self-released covers disc and a high profile collaboration with guitarist Lloyd Jones and harmonica/sax player Jimmy Hall. These side trips appear to have served him well as he has returned with one of the strongest discs of his career. With a sound that forges the soulful horn vibe of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes with Delbert McClinton style southern soul and a heavy dose of stinging guitar blues, Castro and his sterling band (Randy McDonald on bass, Keith Crossan on sax and Chris Sandoval on drums) together with a cast of guest stars including Jimmy Pugh (B3 and piano), Roy Rogers (slide guitar) and Renee Austin (vocals) have crafted a disc that is consistently engaging. Leaving the straight blues shuffles to others, Castro and crew take on funk with the bass driven The Next Right Thing, Delbert McClinton style blues rock, Let's Give Love a Try (which conveniently was co-written by Delbert!), a bit of jazz with the flute driven Crossanova, steamy soul with the horn driven ballad, Anytime Soon, classic rock with the steady groove of Take Me Off the Road and even a Dixie -fried bit of Little Feat style rump shaking with the title track. Don't worry that all this stretching means that Castro has left his guitar in the case. While there are no long winded solos (and haven't we had enough of those lately??) there's plenty of guitar here including the driving lead on the aptly titled Wake Up Call and the slow, scorching No One Left To Lie To, which is a tale of devastating heartbreak and regret. If you're a Tommy Castro fan you'll love this. If you haven't been a fan to date you soon will be.

Castro returns to the Blind Pig label with his first release of new material in almost 4 years. A lot of blue purists do not seem to like this record, mainly due to the fact that Tommy moves in a more rock oriented direction and away from his traditional blues / soul sound. For me it works like a charm and this has become my favorite Tommy Castro album. Many of the songs have more in common with people like Bob Seger or John Mellencamp than John Lee Hooker, but I think it works and plays to Castro's strengths. Although I love good blues Tommy has always been able to rock and on this album he really explores that side of his muse without forsaking his blues roots. The opening track "Just Like Me" would sound right at home on a Bob Seger disc and I mean that as a compliment. "What You Gonna Do Now?" is a great song, "Wake Up Call" is another favorite, and "Take Me Off The Road", although a typical "on the road" song really hits the right chords with me. The album closer "Big Love" is another cool song with Tommy playing some funky guitar that closes with a killer solo. If you like Tommy's more blues side this album may not be for you, but if you don't mind when he rocks I would recommend this one.

With all due respect to the previous reviewer, when he stated, "If you are a Tommy Castro fan, You'll love this cd.." Im sorry to say, i Did Not like this cd at all...Sure there are a couple of songs, that are really good, but this Blindpig effort has way too many cooks in the stew...To diminish Tommy's guitar and powerful vocals is a mistake. The supporting musicians, and singers are all very great artists in their own..but to me it only dilluted the talents of Randy McDonald, and Chris Sandoval, and the "Known Castro Signature Sound"...I was lucky, my girlfriend preordered this cd, and i received a personal autographed copy by Tommy, which was so cool. But, you know what..? After 15 years of non stop touring, and 300 dates a year, Tommy deserves to put out what he desires..I only hope the next Blindpig Tommy Castro cd takes us all back to his killer hip shaking rock and soul sound...!!

Call me spoiled, sittin' here in Gotham with 18,000+ restaurants and most the world's great venues...we expect a lot.

The other night Tommy Castro hit town and brought down the house at B. B. King's in Times Square. Music's a funny thing. Sometimes, like Chinese food, it's not as much the product as it is the quality of delivery. Castro set about assuming command of Times Square with a stirring delivery of a GREAT product!

By the time he's in "Wake Up Call" it's obvious this is not just any night at B. B. Kings. I figured that having seen Eric Clapton raise the live performance bar at MSG that I'd seen it all, I was wrong.

No sooner does Castro have total control of the crowd that he throws a change up with Anytime Soon and follows up by a foot tapping The Crossanova. Get there tunes in your head and your "Catro-ized".

I'm back to Kings tonight for another dose and perfectly cognizant that I'm gonna tough to impress again for a bit.

Bonus points to Castro for taking time, as the King's staff tried to root folks out for the next show, for taking lots of time to visit with a throng of fans following the show. Seeing a "walk on glass to get to" performance in NYC and hearing the words "thank you" afterward speaks volumes.

Great music, nice guy, knocks your socks off delivery...the bar's been raised again.

Courtney Canfield
New York City

After following TC for several years and owning his entire collection, this is a breakout CD for him. Incredible musicians, original music and an eclectic style unparalleled in his previous outings. He takes you all over the place in style, tempo and moods. I like it more each time I listen.
This guy is truly one of the greatest bluesman in the country.