Customer Reviews

These Are The Days

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The kind of blues that you can't help but move to. Great songs written by the artist. Can't decide which CD I like the best out of his 4 CD's.

The first time I heard Albert, his voice,his style trasported me to an era of pure Blues.I would have never guessed that this talented Cuban-American bluesman is still Unknown to many.I recommend all three of his CD,s.You will hear the influence of his mentor the late Junior Wells as well as the living legend Buddy Guy contributed to his personal style.

Excellent guitar work and soulful vocals.Track one destined to become a blues classic.A must for any bluesman or woman.

So many times I'll really dig a new artist's first one or two albums, and then all of a sudden, they'll turn on me and change their genre of music, "stretching out," or "trying something new." Grrrrr! Well, not this time...Albert Castiglia, one of the finest blues singer/guitarists out there today, dishes out more of the same Chicago-styled blues that he's known for in this outing. He pays a fine tribute to the late great Ray Charles in "Night Time is the Right Time", and includes a guitar solo, which I think makes it better than the original, at least in that respect. Nobody can sing that song like Ray Charles, but Albert comes as close as anyone else can get, without losing his own style. "Another Bloody Day" is my other favorite cut off this album--great hard-driving blues rock!

I would recommend this and Albert's other two releases, "Burn" (harder to find) and "A Stone's Throw". Great blues from a cat young enough to keep delivering for years to come!

This is his best album so far. No one plays the Blues like Albert!!!

All though it's not as great as "A Stone's Throw" it's still good guitar blues from Albert. 4 stars.

A Stunning CD, by an amazing talent, and someone who I am proud to call "Friend". Albert has a BMA nomination for
song of the year for "Bad Year Blues" Track 1 on The CD.

For more information on Albert Castiglia, visit [...]
You can listen to Bad year Blues at

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