These Are The Days [Special Edition]

Albert Castigila | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 8, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Special Edition
• Label: Blues Leaf Records
• ASIN: B000VXW9F0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,847 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really good..., May 4, 2008

By 

M. Bernocchi "mbernocchi" (Old Windsor, Berkshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: These Are The Days (Audio CD)

A couple of years after the excellent "A Stone's Throw" Albert is back with a new CD that, in my opinion, is even better than the previous one. The Florida based artist come back is once again a mix of originals and covers that confirms his undisputable talent as guitarist and blues singer. I would like to point out the fact that Albert's singing is not second to his ability as guitar player and this is not so common in the blues world. The songs mix is excellent alternating fast and slow numbers and an acoustic cut. Compared with Albert's previous work in this one there is more space for his guitar soloing that is always tasteful and inspired. A special mention is deserved by his guitar work on the Bob Dylan cover "Catfish" and on the fantastic reinterpretation of the all time classic "Loan me a dime". In conclusion a very enjoyable blues CD that surely deserves attention.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful, rocking blues album, June 12, 2008

By 

Richard Wallace "Miami-Ace" (Miami FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: These Are The Days (Audio CD)

This is a joltingly strong album from a virtuoso bluesman whose career is gaining velocity. These Are the Days is Albert Castiglia's newest disc, and it's eclectic, electric and flat-out excellent.
There's nothing typical about these cuts.

High-gain, rockin' music mixes with some moody acoustic picking that can be downright eerie, particularly on an eccentric baseball-flavored number called Catfish written by an eccentric guy named Robert Dylan.

The disc also features some deeply personal (but seriously rhythmic) songs written by Castiglia, notably including Godfather of the Blues, which is a hot-shuffle tribute to Albert's former boss in Chicago, the late Junior Wells. Also powerful is Another Bloody Day, which blends some smoking Stratocaster tones with a sharp anti-war message aimed at the current D.C. military-industrial brain-trust. Another of my favorites is the wry Bad Year Blues.

All the covers here are worthwhile, but I think the most sizzling one is Night Time Is the Right Time, which is packed with sounds to love. Albert's gritty vocal is outstanding, the guitar work is excellent, and the sexy-ladies background singing is very, very nice.

The album's title derives from the lyrics of Celebration , a great song on the disc written by Castiglia's friend and musical collaborator Graham Wood Drout, leader of the Florida-famous swamp-boogie band Iko Iko. This song is one of the elements that make the album rise above the 12-bar blues routine. It has a mystic feel and sounds like it's already been a hit before, emerging as a folk-rock anthem from an alternate universe.

If all this sounds as though I'm a Castiglia aficionado, hey I'm guilty. But there's a reason: The man's music is better than good.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars These are GOOD days., April 12, 2008

By 

dickydo "Richie D" (Warwick, RI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: These Are The Days (Audio CD)

This is a terrific disc, one that really grows on you after repeated listens. A good mixture of contemporary and traditional blues. A ballsy cover of the Fenton Robinson song Loan Me a Dime, made famous by Boz Scaggs with Duane Allman's transcendent guitar solo is surprisingly good. As is the uptempo homage to mentor Junior Wells, Godfather of the Blues. One of the most interesting covers is Bob Dylan's slow burner Catfish. Weaving an interesting tale about Hall of Fame baseball pitcher "Catfish" Hunter. Castiglia turns a familiar groove into a very clever song. Another Bloody Day, a familiar lament on the current state of the world rocks, despite pedestrian lyrics. The perfect disc is in this guys grasp. More originals and less covers may just put this guy over the top.