Customer Reviews

Sound Proof

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Greg Howe has done it again. This album is sure to satisfy any guitar shred craving you may have. Greg is always striving to push in new and different directions with his music and Sound Proof is all the proof I need. This album is already one of my favorites and I highly recommend you get it NOW!!

Despite the wonderful reviews I am afraid I will have to pan this particular album. I have 5 other Greg Howe's and they are all superior. So if you are just discovering him buy earlier efforts.

This isn't a bad piece of work; it just doesn't come close. For example, I am listening to it on Itunes as I type. Itunes went from the last cut of this album to the first cut of Extraction and I could tell immediately that I had stopped listening to Sound Proof and had moved onto something else.

Sorry, Greg

Greg Howe is at a point in his career where he's just amazing. This is his best recording yet; no matter which perspective you analyze it from: his playing, compositional skills, or his sound; he's just at his best.
He's also reached a level of maturity that you will not find in any of his earlier recordings; so feel free to buy this album and enjoy one of the finest jazz/fusion guitarists the genre has ever seen!

I have several of greg howe's releases. this is another incredible composition! I agree with all the current reviews. if you like greg howe, get this cd. I have my personal favorites like "sound proof", "child's play" and "morning view", but that is a matter of personal taste. ( I especially became "affected" by the movement beginning at 1:06 and then again at 1:52 of the song "morning view." I just had to keep repeating it, over and over. then I picked up my guitar and started playing it. I just had to smile, as I loved the "feel!") there's something on this cd for everyone, and one will have the same experience throughout the cd. greg howe is a MASTER guitar player, but he also showcases his drummer, Gianluca Palmieri, who ROCKS!!!!! as a guitar player myself, I found this cd inspiring, and I just love following the drumming!!!!!!!!!!! greg is smooth, effective and of course, the consummate musician. recommendation: BUY IT! Greg Howe is one of the finest players around. true musicianship!

Greg Howe is an inspirational player but he plays it safe on this recording and the result is a mediocre outing.

I have always been inspired by Greg's playing and you will be too if you explore his other recordings. But, I usually can not get through one of Greg's disks without wanting to pick up a guitar. I am typing as I listen to Sound Proof. That is a big vote of "No Confidence."

While I love Greg's playing, his tone has always annoyed and perplexed me. At first I thought it was that "lost high frequency hearing to countless loud nights on the road" syndrome I often associate with players with a very bright guitar tone. Then, I thought it might be that years of practicing with the Rivera era Fender had just conditioned him to play his best in that (less than pleasant) tonal range.

The guitar tone is pretty good on this record and I guess we have people like Greg's Producer and Gurthie Govan's influence to thank for that (Cornford Endorsement). But, the mix of the album is subdued, lacks lower and mid-bass and the drums are an overcompressed jumble.

Bottom line: Listening to Sound Proof you just can't help but wonder what would come out if you put Greg in a room with Scott Kinsey (keyboards); Gary Willis (bass); Kirk Covington (drums) and put TJ Helmerich behind the console.

I've been a fan of Greg Howe for ages and really like this new album. I agree with the other reviewer that it's got a similar feel to Introspection--many tunes are jazzier and not as heavy as some past work. But true to all of Greg's music there's a ton of fantastic grooves with lots of detailed and intricate, melodic playing. Greg's just an amazing musician and one of my favorite guitarists. Very solid playing from all the other musicians on the CD as well. If you ever get a chance to see him play be sure to hold onto your seat.

Don't know why I never checked this guy out before. This has become an instant favorite for me. I love shredding guitar, but I love it way more when it's sensible and melodic. Greg Howe is a true master. These are not only fantastic compositions, but they're played with a refined sense of musical maturity that I wish more guitarists had--myself included.

If you enjoy Petrucci, Vai, Herring and Gambale, you're going to love this.

I think the songs are a bit hit or miss for me. Songs like Walkie Talkie and Emergency Exit are too "difficult for the listener" for me to really enjoy, with the disjointed rhythm and avante garde melody sense. I do think that this has some of Greg's best compositions. I feel very moved by Morning View, and Child's Play puts a smile on my face and makes me groove. Melody, feel, and catchiness reach a new level for Greg. I think the lead playing suits the songs and is very impressive. It's not quite as flowing and jaw-dropping as on Extraction, but I think that it's nice how he uses the lead guitar more as a melody driver than as a constant stream of consciousness improvisational tool. The guitar sound is excellent, probably as crisp as it's ever sounded. I think the drums could use a bit more sparkly highs for better definition, but overall the production sound is quite good, excluding the artifact on the acoustic guitar on Sunset in El Paso (clipping? fret buzz?).

With most of the tracks of this album played straight into his Cornford amp, the songs are addictively complex, yet catchy and melodic. I have lots of Greg Howes work and this and Introspection are my top picks for all. Now for the guitar players out there any will do. You can't go wrong. This is probably his most commercially accessible work but the insanity never stops. Greg Howe is the man.

This is the most user friendly effort since Introspection. Also the most impressive line-up he's ever had, in my opinion. I liked everything on it first time through. Never too far out there which is just what the doctor ordered. Drummer and bass player are monsters. Best Greg Howe cd yet.