Customer Reviews

Stealing the Devils Guitar

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

 

 

I post this review on Amazon when the CD came out in Europe not long ago. Now after several weeks of listening I can only confirm my first impression - best Popa Chubby recording so far! Recomended.

"Got the CD the other day, mainly because I am completist fan of Popa Chubby. His latest live CD/DVD package is good, but not excellent. Stealing The Devil's Guitar is in par with his best recordings to date and then some better.

Obviously every artist wishes his latest work is his strongest. With this CD it's true. This is kind of "Best of..." package with newly written tunes. I have heard a tune or two live before, however the studio recordings are above expectations. Popa Chubby is versatile (uses and uses them well) number of guitars, diverse and above all entertaining. His voice is matching the guitar playing and the songs are strong. With the instrumentals I needed some time to get use with, but now I am enjoying them big time. There's a Hendrix cover (Axis, bold as love) that gets the full 5 ***** stars right away. And of course the ever presented guitar solos.

Popa Chubby has a instantly recongnisable tone and sound. His guitar is harsh and melodic in the same time and his love for jazz druming is well hinted. He's a strong storyteller and this is his best storytelling CD".

This is an interestingly different blues recording from Popa Chubby. There are plenty of noteworthy guitar licks and all original tunes, with the lone exception of the cover of Jessie Mae Hemphill's "In This World". As you might expect from this unusually large man, he is all over the place on this recording. The CD opens with "Slide Devil Man Slide" with lyrics spoken in a manner which made me recall the 70's "Hot Rod Lincoln" by Commander Cody. He maintains that rather awkward style on two other tracks, "Young Guns" and "Smugglers Game." While that is style will not appeal to everyone, Popa returns to a rocking blues style on songs like "Long Deep Hard and Wide" and two up-tempo instrumentals, "Kinda Dicey" and "Buffalo Chips." To me the standout track is the mid tempo "Why I Can't Have You." Overall, this is not as good as some of Popa's earlier releases but in this day of cookie cutter blues, the originality of this composition is worth noting.

Popa Chubby is a mountain of a man and even bigger mountain of a guitar player. He plays with a hard edge,yet his strong point is his melodies. I have seen him several times and met him. He meditates before each show and his intensity is evident in his performance. This album is one of his best, so far. I'm sure there is more to come from this prolific writer/player. If you like hard edge electric blues with great riffs and melodies and even humorous lyrics, get this CD. Popa Chubby RULES!!!!!!