Customer Reviews

Tornado

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

 

 

I discovered Rory Block one night on Austin City Limits. I was captivated. On stage by herself, performing passionate folk/blues, singing and playing her acoustic guitar as if she meant every word and note. Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez all rolled into one. I went on a quest to find some of her CDs, and eventually bought Mama's Blues, which I liked. I also recently bought Confessions of a Blues Singer, which is even better.

Tornado disappointed me. Only three or four of the songs were the bluesy stuff I was expecting. Most of the rest are more mainstream ballady things, and they really drag. I really love the artist, but this was one CD I wished I hadn't bought.

Rory Block has accumulated enough accolades and awards over the course of her career to where she doesn't have to worry about what her critics may have to say. (That being said) Tornado may not be her best work, but the title track alone is worth the price of this CD. Growling synthezized guitar and keyboards drop into a bluesy gospel-tinged vocal that grab your attention and have you reaching for the volume control (turn it up!). And there are other noteworthy tracks, including the album opener, Mississippi Bottom Blues. This is the Rory we all know and love, putting her finger-picking style up front in a blues-charged rocker. And who can resist Gone Woman Blues, just Rory and her acoustic guitar underscoring her breathy vocals in a moaning, blues-infected tour-de-force. And I challenge anyone to find a more intense vocal from Rory than on "The Last Leviathan"; absolutely jaw-dropping!! These aren't the only great moments on this album, but unfortunately to get to them you have to wade through some surprisingly dull tracks that seem to suffer from over-production. Was Rory trying to be a little too MOR when all she needed to be was herself? But that won't stop this fan from collecting any and everything this woman chooses to record. Buy this CD folks!

It's a wonder I havent worn the grooves off three of these songs. The rest of the disc probably looks brand new. They don't appeal that much to me. However, those three songs I loved made this CD more-than-worth the price of it.

I never, ever get tired of listening to Indian Ernie, which I must have played a hundred times. Block sings a lot of slow, haunting blues-type numbers and I, obviously, think this track is her best.
The others I enjoy over and over are the title track, "Tornado," and "Pictures Of You."

Judging from this CD, Block is an "aquired taste," and so listening to a few of her albums might be good advice before deciding what you think of her.

Damn, apparently I really am to have a love/hate "relationship' in reviewing the CDs of Ms. Rory Block. I have thus far expressed my gratitude for her fine work in her "Gone Woman's Blues" album (as well as `saving' me, see that review in this space for the details). The same for "I've Got A Rock In My Sock" and "Ain't I A Woman". I, however, had to pan her 1994 effort, "Angel Of Mercy", as it did not "speak" to me. In that review I made the following point:

"... Rory, I believe, has always had two speeds. The natural blues one and the contemporary folk stylist one. That latter style is on display here and not to her benefit. Probably, and here I may get back into "hot water" politically, the main problem is that the lyrics of these songs do not "speak" to me. It could be age, it could be gender, it could be the wayward subjects but they just do not resonant with me. Not to worry though there are other Rory CDs that do "speak" to me and will get more a more positive review like the one given to "Gone Woman Blues"."

Here we are "Angel Of Mercy" turf again despite some good material and various all-star back up performers. That Block folk stylist nexus is on display here, as well as a bit of overall overproduction on most of the songs. Again, maybe it is that the lyrics just do not "speak" to me but something is off here. I will make one great exception for her inclusion of "Gone Woman Blues" from a previous CD mentioned above. I will make an even greater exception for an incredible cover of Andy Barnes "The Last Leviathan" (that's right, about the fate of the whales, and us). Wow. That said, two out of eleven do not a great CD make.

Stumbled across this album on a drive in Texas - couldn't believe it! I love it - and if this one is bad, I can't wait to hear the "good" ones!