Customer Reviews

Tore Down House

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

 

 

I just noticed that in the 6 CD magazine in my car, I had forgotten what the other 5 CD's are since I slid Tore Down House in two weeks ago. Suffice it to say that this is a truely captivating collection of music. I am not particularly a blues fan, but I am a guitar player and this is a "must own" CD. I'm a fan of Sabica's (I play flamenco), Scofield, McLaughlin, Beck, Ralph Towner, Hendrix, Robben Ford, Frank Gambale, and now with this slightly-off-center blues effort, Scott Henderson is on my "watch" (and listen) list. I had previously purchased a Tribal Tech CD and was impressed with his playing.

Tore Down House was Scott Henderson's second blues release, and he expands on the musical territory first explored on Dog Party. Henderson brings his harmonically sophisticated approach to bear on a variety of blues-based compositions. Tore Down House opens with hard-hitting funk of Dolomite, which conjures visions of 70's blaxploitation movies. The title track is a colossal blues, melding jazz-level harmonic imagination, Hendrixian scorch, and Thelma Houston's soaring vocals. Meter Maid features a Bo Diddley beat married to crunching guitars. I Hate You starts out as a hilarious parody of 50's love songs, syrupy chord changes and all, before Henderson's metallic solo takes the song into another dimension. Gittar School is an Stevie Ray Vaughn-styled vehicle with silly-but-funny lyrics. Xanax is one of the highlights, pairing Henderson's raw, no-holds-barred guitar with Thelma Houston's intense vocals. Continuum provides a respite before the hard blues-rock assault of You Get Off On Me, the heavy-hitting slow blues Mocha, and the jackhammer funk of Harpoon. The nonsensical lyrics on Tore Down House will be a turnoff to blues purists, but I kind of admire the fact that Henderson didn't try to write typical blues lyrics. The more compelling thing about Tore Down House is Henderson's expansion and re-imagination of blues-rock guitar. A stellar effort.

This guy plays the cleanest blues you're likely to ever hear, yet it's soulful and searing. Hendrix, Beck and Santana rolled into one and sprinkled with jazz. I might differ from all the raves I see here and say there are a few cuts on this CD that don't rate 5 stars at all (tend to be a bit too cute), but the title track is worth the cost of admission alone. All in all It's too good to rate as 4 stars, so let's go with 5.

This album is a great blend of huge guitar tone, kick-ass playing, nice arrangements and a great sense of humour.

"I Hate You" is funny as hell, and Thelma Houston really nails it, too.

The Arrangement of "Continuum" is really sweet and I think it brings out the spirit of the original, even though the instrumentation is totally different. (Although this is very subjective - I wonder what Jaco would have thought of it!).

If you don't have a sense of humour or if you have already made up your mind that Scott can't play blues because he is a fusion player, then this is not for you.

This album rocks. Blues playing with incredible chops and humor. If anyone is capable of taking the standard blues form to a new level it is Scott Henderson. Some incredibley searing guitar solos. A must for blues lovers.

Scott Henderson is mostly known as one of the most exciting and influencial fusion guitar player (Tribal Tech, Tom Coster, Vital Tech Tones, The Players...), but shows through his 2d Blues album, that he is a master blues guitarist, with an amazing sense of feeling, power and humor (Listen to the tune "I hate you" to get an idea of the guy's sense of humor, it could well be the story of my good friend Losis Scott Henderson is portraying here). The composition are great and never predictable. Just a killer blues album.

I recently came across this album while searching through the used cd bins. All I can say is whoever parted with this little jewel, may need a serious musical checkup. This is some of the most incredible blues rock I've ever heard. I had heard of Henderson before, from his band Tribal Tech. I always thought though, that he was strictly a jazz guitarist until i found this album, which came out in '97. Technically, this guy may be the best guitar player out there. He could easily sit in the same room as Stevie Ray, and hold his own on the six string. Believe me now and hear me later, he's that good! But sizzling fretwork is not the only thing that comes with this album. Try bringing in one of the best powerhouse r&b singers of our generation, Thelma Houston to do all the singing here. Man, this is a hellacious combination that are both in step with each other every inch of the way. But the songs also speak for themselves. Catchy tunes like "I Hate You", "Meter Maid", and "Same As You" stick out, but not by much. There isn't a weak cut on here. Songs like "Dolemite", "Mocha", and "Harpoon" are all filled with instrumental TNT. Also of note is the harp player Pat O'Brien, who is simply amazing, and very similar in style to John Popper from Blues Traveller. This cd has everything you could ask for. I don't know how something this good has languished in obscurity from my ears these last few years, but I'm glad I have it now. And I ain't gettin' rid of it! If you're a blues lover, this one should be in your collection. It's not to be missed.

Scott Henderson lays down some serious blues on this album. "Dolemite" is just incredible, "I Hate You" is brilliantly funny, and Jaco Pastorius' "Continuum" remake is the best I've ever heard - faithful to Jaco's arranging style while adding Henderson's own flavor. Tribal Tech fans will love this album, as will anyone who loves great, clean blues from one of the greatest guitarists around.

I admit at the onset of this review that I believe that Scott Henderson is a gifted guitarist and that I thoroughly enjoy his fusion work with Tribal Tech. Therefore, my review is slightly biased from the start.

On this CD, Henderson streghthens his case for why he is an extremely versatile and primer guitarist. His fantastic guitar playing is supported on the disc by drums, bass, harmonica, keyboards, sax, flute, trumpet and trombone as well as the vocals of the great Thelma Houston and the somewhat lesser known, Masta Edwards. The excellence of the playing and the superb vocals on the CD are so enjoyable that the actual lyrics, all written by Henderson, may get overlooked and, depending on your point of view, that can be a good thing. A close examination of the lyrics on some songs ("I Hate You", "Meter Maid", "Xanax", "Gittar School" and "Same As You") reveals that Henderson is not your typical bluesman writing songs about broken hearts, empty wallets, lost loved ones, broken down cars or even drunken brawls. Rather, we are talking about Frank Zappa, like "don't eat the yellow snow", wit and humor intertwined with some serious blues music.

The CD also features three instrumentals which run the gamut from blues, "Dolemite" to the jazz flavored "Continuum" to some fusion/blues on "Harpoon". The closest song to a true blues ballad is "Tore Down House" on which Houston shows her true vocal capabilities. Overall, not your typical blues CD and perhaps one that you will not return to every day, but fun nonetheless. Look for a used copy first.

Great musicianship throughout, but honestly not in touch with the blues as say a Ronnie Earl, or Robben Ford, because of Scott's jazz virtuosity. But the inventiveness, and creativity displayed in the writing, and playing makes this recording a great buy! Refreshing to hear someone play the blues with scales other than a pentatonic played off the root!