Customer Reviews

That Was Then This Is Now

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Steve Vai certainly does not shy away from the competition. Instead, showing a bit of marketing ingenuity, he has been signing a lot of extremely talented guitarist to his Favorite Nations label. The list already included Eric Johnson, Johnny A., Greg Koch, Frank Gamble, Pierre Bensusan, Dweezil Zappa and Mattias Eklundh. In addition to these fine guitarist comes Andy Timmons. This CD essentially receives treatment similar to what Vai's Favored Nations did with Greg Koch's "Grip". That is to say, they took arguably the best cuts from Timmons two previous recordings such as "Turn Away", "Farmer Says", "Electric Gypsy" and "It's Getting Better" and added four excellent new numbers as well as a moving tribute to George Harrison. If you like guitar, you will love Favorite Nations recording artist, Andy Timmons. Hopefully, Favored Nations will finally expose Timmons to the fan base to which he deserves. Great stuff.

If you dig this style of music - Guitar oriented, melodic shred-rock - then you are sure to dig this. Not much to say. It is what it is. And it is really good. Smart, interesting, and full of chops. This guy is a tasteful monster with serious command of tone. I love this record.

Since going on a buying spree on this web-site, I have added a large number of unknown guitar heros and the odd GOD. I was forced to give 5 stars to most and am stunned at the addition to my collection and the re-rating of my former heros. The most outstanding of all the new aquisitions is ANDY TIMMONS. I quite like VI / SATRIANI / MCALPINE / MALMSTEEN / and others in this genre, but it is often hard to listen to a whole CD. These virtuosos are not always gifted writers and often work to a tired formula to give their pirotechniques some framework. TIMMONS is rare in that his total control over the guitar is matched by some astonishing compositions. Supreme beauty and a huge range of influences mark this CD as very special. Only GARY HOEY offers the same quality material as well as unsurpassed virtuosity. He has speed to burn, but doesn't make it his only or main tool. His tone and inventiveness stand above all others. VI is also very inventive, but some of his more bizzare stylings are hard on the ear. Nothing on this CD is hard on the ear, and even when TIMMONS reaches the extremes of his genre he remains totaly entertainig and listenable.

An unfortunate consequence of playing fast licks and burning through scales is that emotion and feeling may be lost to technique. Amongst a plethora of guitarists with great technique, few shine through with as much soul as Andy Timmons. The songs on this album demonstrate that pretty clearly.

That is pretty much all I have to say.

there are two types of guitarist ... those that make great music, which just happens to be played on a guitar ( Steve Morse, Tommy Emmanuel, Johnny A, Eric Johnson, Michael Lee Firkins, Danny Gatton ) and great guitarists who make (some) great music ( Steve Vai, Yngwie, Satch, Greg Koch plus hundreds of others with "fretboard diarrhoea").

The key to 'which is which' is whether you pick favourite tracks off the album, or whether you listen to it all.

I had quite a few Andy Timmons tracks on MP3, and decided to buy the album on the strength of good Amazon reviews. I am WELL pleased I did.

Along with other "unknowns" like Howard Hart and ( to a leser extent) Neil Zaza, Andy is a fantastic instrumental song writer. He plays exactly like I would love to play, agressive riffing under tuneful leads but never sounding the same ( which, in truth, and I hate myself for saying it, Steve Morse TENDS to ... ouch, should I delete that ?)

This is DEFINITELY a CD I play from start to finish ....

if you love guitar, you'll love Andy's work. Not only he got the chops. but he's a great composer. If you think Steve Vai, Richie Kotzen, Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani, etc, etc are great, this album is for you. It's like Satriani meets Eric Johnson plus more.

Andy Timmons is one of the most gifted guitarist alive. He has terrific technique and a great ability to emotion his audience. His playing his truly deep, he does communicate with his playing. He doesn't play meaningless up and down arpeggios or scales just to impress his audience or to show off. He plays in a rock manner, traditionally in a sense but with a lot of chops, but moreover melodically. He is the ultimate hair metal guitar hero. This is how I see him (sure he is more than this anyway .. as you can hear for example in a sort of Jazz Eruption contained in the album Danger Danger Screw it ...). I enjoy his approach to the instrument and to music in general a lot. Chops, melody, great sounds .. this is all you ever need in this kind of music. Andy can entertain you for hours .. Talking about this particular compilation it's not a perfect job to me. A couple of tracks are really futile, the Donna Lee twist renditions is a sort of joke, ... Farmer sez is another futile track. There is also a neo classical tune and a kind of Beatles sung tune that are really nothing important. It's like if he (or Steve Vai the owner of the label) would like to let us know that Andy can play every imaginable style ... so what? Let him play what he does best for our immense pleasure. Guitar chops rock!!! In the end I would have chose better tracks from his two masterpieces Earxtasy 1&2. Anyway this is the only comfort available cd from Andy, so don't lose this opportunity to own something from this amazing talent Andy Timmons. And if you want more from Andy buy the first two Danger Danger albums. Dynamite! Amazing, mesmerizing solos from Andy!!! In the end one word about the best track of the album in my opinion, the opener "Super '70's". Truly a fantastic track with a tender, melodic, killer riff!

Somehow, I have been under a rock for several years (must be kids...) :-)

I just recently discovered Andy thanks to Pandora, and WOW! This guy is a guitar master, and his work is just so wonderful, I can't even describe it.

It's akin to the first time I heard Al DiMeola or Stevie Ray Vaughan. My ears stood up and said - are you kidding?

Andy's sense of musicality, his timing, his speed, his technical prowess, and his tone all combine to make this a listening bonanza.

Steve Vai makes my head hurt. Joe Satriani always makes me think of elevator music played at a presto tempo with shredded guitar licks that seem to sound artificial.

Andy's true heart and soul guitar work is a breath of fresh air I've not heard in a long time.

If you are at all interested in guitar or at least have a passing fancy for good solid rock music and outstanding talent, give anything Andy does a listen.

You will not be disappointed. Enjoy!!

Great Player , Great Guitar Album ! Also Download SHREDWORX here on AmazonMP3 By Guitarist Rob Johnson if you are into Gilbert Timmons Satriani Vai Macalpine, etc

I was a suprise to find Andy Timmons - fantastic electric guitar with ever-interesting compositions. Turn on the stereo, turn up the volume, sit back, and enjoy!