Twenty

Robert Cray | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 24, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B00097DXVW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,070 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With his chocolaty cool, soulful Memphis croon and sure sense of melody, Robert Cray has never been considered a straightahead bluesman. His often interchangeable albums have instead stayed closer to R&B, adding compact, stinging lead guitar to songs about matters of the heart. That formula remains, with minor variations, on Cray's 14th release, rather confusingly named Twenty. The title track, a gripping, emotional anti-war ballad of the experience of a GI in Iraq (that, incidentally, doesn't contain the word "twenty") shows the singer/songwriter shifting his emotionally charged storytelling lyrics to the political arena. It's a brief but confident detour from his usual M.O. of relationships on the brink of collapse or in general disrepair, typically related in the first person. Subtle yet effective forays into loungey jazz on "My Last Regret" and even reggae on the opening "Poor Johnny" indicate a healthy tendency to push his established envelope, if only gently, into other genres.

But Cray sticks to his established bread and butter for the majority of this sturdy album, effortlessly churning out shoulder-swaying, foot-tapping R&B accompanied by a clean, clear tenor voice and a road-hardened band that finesses these songs with the perfect combination of fire and ice. Old fans won't be disappointed, and newcomers can start here and work backwards. --Hal Horowitz

Product Description

Robert Cray and band raise their profile recently with standout appearances in Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival film and DVD as well as Robert’s stunning performances in two in Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival film and DVD as well as Robert’s stunning performances in two segments of Martin Scorsese’s film and just released DVD, Lightning In A Bottle. The band started the year with their 1,000th performance as a unit and now the five-time Grammy winner (11 nominations) delivers Twenty, a set whose title track is a poignant commentary about the US war in Iraq.

The Robert Cray Band’s album Twenty was released on a week bookended by the May 24 birthday of one of this generation’s most eloquent protest songwriters, Bob Dylan, and by Memorial Day, May 30. The dates are significant when one considers the subject matter which defines the album’s title track, "Twenty."

While Cray has generally focused his writing on personal relationships, his song "Survivor" as well as co-producer and bandmate Jim Pugh's "Distant Shore," both on Cray's 2003 CD Time Will Tell, were also inspired by concerns about what was, at the time of their writing, an impending war in Iraq.

Robert Cray is a five time Grammy winner who grew up on military bases in the U.S. and abroad. His father served in Vietnam so Robert has personal knowledge of the effect on a family when one of it’s members is serving abroad. On May 24 – the album’s street date -- TrueMajority.org, a non partisan, non-profit, grassroots education and advocacy project founded by Ben Cohen (Ben & Jerry's), offered the song a streaming audio to its entire online community of 575,000 Americans who are committed to getting government to reflect our values of justice, compassion and sustainability.

The release of Twenty, Cray’s fourteenth album, will be backed by an extensive worldwide tour by The Robert Cray Band (beginning on the week of release with a May 26 San Francisco benefit for Music In Schools Today.) The tour will continue across the U.S. and Europe throughout the summer.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth Riding Robert Cray, May 27, 2005

By 

K. L. Woomer (San Antonio Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twenty (Audio CD)

Robert Cray hails from the BB King school of guitar playing.. and I have every single release from RC .. and they are restrained glory in every sense of the word. Then, suddenly in a song, he busts out with some very good guitar playing that catches you off guard.

This particular recording is very complete, and very gospel sounding, in a lot of places.. but yet RC's voice is very gospel sounding in itself.. so I really think that is where a lot of the gospel comparisons come into the mix... and lets face it... a lot of guitar players play guitar and will sing as well.. but in RC's case.. his singing is as every bit of (dare I say even better) than his fantastic guitar ability. This can make for a very pleasureable experience.

This cd does cut fray into the political arena, but robert sings like someone who means what he has to say and is not really trying to paint an overtly political statements... very heartfelt song.

The guitar playing on this CD... there is as much guitar playing on this CD as one would like to hear. RC uses the guitar so much in phrases, and catches so much melody.. and when he does break out in solos, they mean something.

I must admit, this RC cd is a lot better than his past couple... and they were good too, but this one is better.

Enjoy, Have fun.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Average Robert Still Great, October 22, 2005

By 

H. Tibbs "BT" (Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Twenty (Audio CD)

Like Van, or the Stones, Robert Cray has a formula that works for him. I am a huge fan and have been since day 1. I like the silky, smooth vocals and Stax/soul feel to his brand of blues. He does however need to branch out a little. Maybe back to some Chicago blues or swing a little but he has sounded a tad 'repeated' on the last few discs. I'd like to see his voice highlighted more (EX. "Don't Break This Ring"...from 'A Shame and a Sin', incredible) and his guitar work put to the forefront. Yes, a little repepitive but 'already done' Cray is better than most stuff out there. Love to hear a live album from him!! Check yourself back into the 'Done We Wrong' motel lyrically, leave the political musings to others. Don't get me wrong, a great disc, but no new charted waters musically.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 'Soul Man' of blues is in fine form..., June 11, 2005

By 

James Arria "authentic blues man" (West Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Twenty (Audio CD)

I have every RC album and after just going out today and buying it and then playing it while I was cleaning my room this new album is one of my favorites.

Cray and his crack band give this album an almost 'after hours' feel on several cuts (My Last Regret, Two Steps From The End). I also loved 'Poor Johnny' and 'Does It Really Matter'...both songs have a wonderful supple groove.

Many tin eared critics knock Robert Cray for not 'sticking to the blues.' For this I scoff and ask you to take a closer listen. What Robert Cray proves with this record is that the blues can be shaped, bent, or turned inside out, and the feeling still remains.