Customer Reviews

A Stone's Throw

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mick Taylor has finally returned, 20 years after his last studio album. It was worth the wait. This is a great CD! On "Stone's Throw" you get a mix of rock, blues , with a hint of jazz thrown in. What really makes this album work are the great arrangements, with generous amounts of hammond organ, piano, Taylor's impeccable slide guitar work, and some excellent songwriting. It all makes this CD irresistable. Eight of the ten songs here are originals. One of the two covers is a nice and wicked reworking of Bob Dylan's BLIND WILLIE MCTELL, which ends the album. Most of the tunes on here clock in at 6 minutes or more. With this album though, that's a good thing. It's easy to get lost in the groove of many of these songs, especially the jazzy LOST IN THE DESERT and MORNING COMES. The Chicago blues come out on BLUES IN THE MORNING. Taylor also shows his rock chops on two of my favorites, the sizzling TWISTED SISTER, and LATE AT NIGHT. Even though Taylor doesn't have a great singing voice, it fits very well within the framework of his music. He knows what works and how to utilize his talents where they work best. There's not very many musicians out there who can do it this well. This is a work of a seasoned veteran who's resume includes John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones, who were the worlds greatest rock and roll band BEFORE Mick Taylor left the band. If you don't believe this guy had a big impact on the Stones, check out his credits on "Let It Bleed", "Sticky Fingers", their best album "Exile On Main Street", or "It's Only Rock And Roll", which produced their best guitar song TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE". As for "Stone's Throw", it's like fine wine. It just keeps getting better and better with time. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. I just hope I don't have to wait another 20 years for his next album. This guy is too good a musician to let his talents go to waste. I have a feelin' though, that Mick's back!

this low key, relaxed album is a pleasant journey through a variety of guitar styles: from slide guitar to wah-wah to overdriven power blues. the songs are well crafted and noticeably different from each other. 8 of the 10 songs were written or co-written by Taylor, and I recommend the first 2 cuts, " Secret Affair" and "Twisted Sister" as well as the quirky "Lost in the Desert". his singing style is adequate, and reminded me of Clapton . but the guitar work is extraordinary. the net result is a little gem of a album that will please any blues fan

Excellent album. This is the type of music that I like. The music is soothing, jazzy, and blues or blues-based. Mick's arrangements and backup musicians are excellent. And that guitar ... sublime. Mick Taylor is one of the finest guitarists around.

Mick Taylor gave so much to the Rolling Stones when he was with them. Some of their most beautiful, layered music happened when he was in the band, including perhaps their greatest guitar solo track, "Time Waits for No One" on 'It's Only Rock and Roll'. Though I love all the Stones' stuff, there is something extra in the Mick Taylor years. Whereas after he left, the Stones developed a lean sound, with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood practicing the ancient art of weaving, Mick Taylor did his own bluesy riffs on top of Richards. At times, it borders on symphonic.

On this solo album, Taylor has put together a solid cadre of rock and blues musicians and produced a beautiful work that can be listened to over and over. I have only had it a few days and have already listened to it three times. There really is not a weak track on the album, which leans towards a rock/blues sound that highlights Mick's blues guitar skills. It proves to anyone who has listend to the Stones from the Taylor years that Taylor wrote a few songs that ended up being credited to the Glimmer Twins instead. Eight of the ten songs are written by Taylor himself, demonstrating his wide-ranging abilities in the songwriter department. Too bad he never got the credit (or royalties) he deserved from his contributions in the Stones.

It's the kind of album you can listen to any time. And I disagree with some reviewers about Taylor's voice. It's not great, but it's got that smoky, rough sound that works with the blues, comparable to Clapton's. It works with the material.

Recommended very highly. Kind of hard to find, but worth the search.

Five Stars.

A very listenable recording that sounds better the more you play it!!Each of these tracks has an its own feel, however all keep within the blues and jazz influence M.T. favors. Buy it!!!!!!

A very catchy, listenable album. Each track has a different texture/feel in keeping with the blusey-jazz inspired influences we love. Buy it!!!!!

Mick Taylor demonstrates why the Stones best years were during his tenure. On "A Stone's Throw Away: Mick displays the technical skills of Steve Morse with the Soul of Stevie Ray Vaughan. This album is a must for anyone who loves all out guitar playing.

When asked to rate Mick Taylor's latest recording effort, multi-dimensional guitar virtuoso John Rachkoskie described it as "the nuggets". I agree. What Mick lacks prolifically, he makes up in proficiency. From the introspective "Losing My Faith" to the haunting rendition of Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell", this inspired collection of self-penned and cover tunes delivers! I saw Mick and his outstanding band in Boston last year perform much of this material with blissful technical and emotional execution. "A Stone's Throw" serves to further validate that Mick Taylor is doing just fine at the turn of the Millennium without the Rolling Stones. The same cannot be said for his former chemically calcified bandmate, who is still bitter 25 years later about Mick's departure....a departure that overnight transformed a supreme guitar duo in what was accurately called "The World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band" into a sad mockery and parody of itself with Keith and a test pilot for Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals lamely still trying to recreate the lost magic of the 1969-1974 era.

This record grows on you. The first time I heard it, I thought it was well made, and mildly interesting. It gets better the more you listen to it.

It is great to find a record on which every song is good. Songs are solid with subtlety that is revealed after repeated listening. I have listened to this record every day for a week and I appreciate it more after each listen. I would classify this record as mellow rock and blues, for adults only - not for kids. "A Stone's Throw" takes a place on my topshelf alongside other favorite CDs on which every song is enjoyable and can stand up to repeated play.

I love listening to Mick Taylor. I only wish he was more prolific. To hear how great he really is, listen to Blind Willie McTell. It may never leave your player.