Customer Reviews

Sounds of St. Lucia

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you thought from listening to AA studio CD's that a live concert would be like a couple of guys sitting around picking a tune, this is the album that will show how misguided that idea is. From the allman-style trailblazer to the incredibly energetic finale of Lazeez, Acoustic Alchemy shows the energy and intensity they bring to their performance on this cd. The songs are a minute or 2 longer than the studio versions to allow for more solo work, but the solos never stray into never-neverland, they remain within the structure of the work. Frank Felix's strong bass which is highlighted in Panama Cat is the glue that keeps the groove throughout the concert. This was not a big crowd, as the DVD version of this show showed, but as one who has seen them perform live, you can't help but be positively influenced by the solid beats, beautiful intricate guitar work, and positive vibes. You can't help but smile ear to ear from the first note to the final encore. I only wish they included ALL of the songs from the DVD, Catalina Kiss and Casino, but if you have any curiousity whatsoever about what AA sounds like live, this is a MUST have, and as they tour in the US. from june through October, 2003, you will likely want to see for yourself.

I couldn't believe a couple of the extremely negative reviews here! Unfair! This is THE AA album I return to over and over again. Nicely produced live album too. I have the DVD as well and I think folks who haven't seen them might want this to their collection. Perhaps get the DVD version and make your own audio CD from it. (Two songs from the DVD that are not on the cd are "Catalina Kiss" and "Casino".) Interesting that the audio disc switches the playing order of the DVD, but musically it works out.
Those who still can't get over with Miles replacing Nick Webb might want to realize that Miles played in AA - mostly electric guitars - on several of their earlier albums! He fits in just nicely up front now on acoustic steel, thank you very much. Both are extremely gifted musicians who can write and perform quality pop-jazz material. And the rest of the band are no slouchers either.
You won't be disappointed with this "live" effort. 10 stars!

WOW! What great music. The interplay of guitars is tremendous. Miles does use electric guitar on some songs, but it does not take over or detract from the acoustic guitar still played by Greg Carmichael. (Well, maybe the electric guitar does take over a bit in "Panama Cat"!) Because of the setting, St. Lucia, several of the songs have a Latin flair, but not overwhelmingly so. The sound is very full, crisp and clean.

"Flamenco Loco" has several Latin passages with a strong bass and rhythm. Almost a Latin-Rock-Jazz synthesis! "Panama Cat" is the highlight of this performance. Frank Felix on bass is spectacular. Miles gets pretty heated up on the electric guitar on "Panama Cat", also. Highly addictive music. Listen to "Sounds of St. Lucia" at your own risk.

Because AA has used different instruments, here is what is on this CD:
Greg Carmichael: Acoustic Nylon String Guitar
Miles Gilderdale: Acoustic Steel String Guitar/Electric Guitars
Frank Felix: Bass Guitar
Tony (Fred) White: Keyboards
Richard Brook: Drums

The tracks:
1. Trail Blazer - 6:06
2. Playing for Time - 6:26
3. Angel of the South - 7:18
4. The Beautiful Game - 5:24
5. Viva Ché - 4:15
6. Cool as a Rule - 4:17
7. Red Dust & Spanish Lace - 4:40
8. Flamoco Loco - 7:54
9. The Wind of Change - 2:34
10. Augustrasse 18 - 7:01
11. Panama Cat - 8:46
12. Lazeez - 6:52

I haven't been the biggest AA fan because I am partial to electric guitar. However, I love this disc. Not surprising is my
favorite pick- "Panama Cat". This track features great bass, followed by great acoustic playing; and then INCREDIBLE electric
guitar by Miles Gilderdale who plays this extended wah-wah lead
solo. THe band is superb. Buy It.

This is my first (of many I'm sure) Acoustic Alchemy CDs and what a way to be introduced to them! The entire album is great, not a DOA among the bunch. One negative review said the recordings sounded terrible because it was live and if you were to take that literally as a compliment towards their studio mixed sessions then I can hardly wait to hear them because the only way you can even tell these are live performances is by the applause! When they are playing the mic levels and mixing is extremely well done, better than many studio albums I've listened critically to (I listen a lot through AKG-K701 headphones and a Creek OBH-11... you can't get much more critical than that). Absolutely beautiful! Someone else gave a negative review of this particular album because for the most part it is a compilation of songs from older albums... great! It's like a sampler box of fine chocolates then and probably the perfect album to get started with! For some reason I find the first track "Trail Blazer" a bit grating on my nerves but I can listen to the rest of the album over and over again. Great stuff!

I have ALL their studio work ... the energy and talent on this CD is off the chart , it is in such POOR taste to criticize this CD , I have seen the band four times in the Austin area....

So to mister zero and somebody else who gave it a one ... get a grip !!

This is one of my favorite CDs. Even though these are songs on their other albums, it is a live recording so you get a different rendition of your favorites like Lazeez. Awesome - I listen to it all the time.

I saw Acoustic Alchemy live at The Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan last night. It was a fantastic performance. Miles Gilderdale is an incredibly talented guitar player. Founding member Greg Carmichael, drummer Greg Grainger, and guest keyboard player Terry Disley along with Miles performed cleanly and with passion. If this live CD is anything like the show I saw last night, it is very good.

I like Acoustic Alchemy and have all of their albums. If you thought this was going to be new album, Forget it. It is old songs recorded off of their previous albums. Add to that, that it is recorded Live, so the recordings are pisspoor. Don't buy it. What a waste of money!

Sounds of St Lucia?!?!?! The only thing that made me think of St. Lucia on this C.D. is that it was physically recorded there. If you're looking for overlapping accoustic guitar harmonies that feel like swaying palms, white sand beneath your feet, and a clean, aqua blue sea, look somewhere else! I would entitle this collection, 'songs that start out sounding like a caribbean island but end up sounding like hair band tryouts'. For most of these songs, it's as if some one hit the 'scream switch' midway, and turned beauty into beast. I like AA because of the beautiful music I've heard (usually 50% of each CD), but they just kill me with the 'scream switch' crap. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
I enjoyed 'the Beautiful Game', the Wind of Change', and 'Augustrasse'. The rest varied from disappointing to "w.t.f.?!"
-MB