Customer Reviews

I Want It All Back

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

For fans of Coco Montoya, this disc will come as a bit of a surprise. This is NOT a blues album. Let's face it, Montoya, as good as he is, has made the same guitar oriented blues/rock since the early 90's. This time around the guitar playing is terrific as always, but shall we say restrained. It's Montoya's underrated, superb vocals that are center stage. Backed by a crack band that includes Keb Mo playing tasty rhythm guitar as well as co-producing. This has much more of a soul/r & b vibe. Standout tracks include the cover of the Motown gem "The One Who Really Loves You". "Fannie Mae", featuring Rod and Honey Piazza offering their usual tasteful harp and piano work really pops. Also, the groove laden "Don't Go Makin' Plans" co-written by Little Feat's Paul Barrerre sounds both soulful and funky. It's about time Montoya gets his just due as a great vocalist. This is a nice change of pace, while it won't be for the blues purists, it sure does sound good.

Every once in a while an artist who has a long, successful and highly-influential career suddenly does something that is a significant move in another direction and, ultimately, ends up defining a new era in the artist's career. Albert King's Blues at Sunrise and Etta James' Let's Roll are two examples. Coco Montoya's newest CD, I Want It All Back is definitely in this category. For the most part, I Want It All Back leans more toward soul than blues. Broadening the musical horizon can be either destructive, tearing the music apart at the center, or constructive, bringing the listener to new territories and experiences. It all depends on the strength of the emotional core. The emotion on I Want It All Back is rock solid and goes deeper than any of Coco's previous recordings. The vocals are clearer and more direct, the guitar solos are more closely aligned with the structure and movement of the song itself, and the songs are more cohesive and unique. It's significant that the CD begins and ends with new life breathed into two familiar numbers, The Penguin's 1954 hit, "Hey Senorita" and Jackson Brownes' "Somebody's Baby". Often when a musician treads new ground, there are some who see it as a threat to the past. These are usually the most ardent fans, and it's really a compliment to the artist that his audience would be so satisfied that going on in the same direction would constitute a success. But stasis is not what artists are about and, in many ways, we rely on them to take us to new places. Mission accomplished with this cd. For those who fear that this new venture will cancel what Montoya has done in the past, relax. It's no more likely that Montoya will completely change his set list than Bonnie Raitt finishing a concert without playing at least two songs from Nick of Time. Instead, the songs from I Want It All Back will most likely provide greater variety to an evening of live Coco Montoya music, and the inclusion of the hard-driving "Fannie Mae" on this CD confirms that blues-rock will be the mainstay of the event. A Coco Montoya gig has always been worth a two-hour drive in each direction, and with this new material added, if you can get there and back without getting fired or divorced, go. And listen to I Want It All Back on the way.

I have been a Coco fan from the beginning. Anything he released I would automatically buy, which is what I did with I Want It All Back. Boy was I disappointed with this one. Since purchasing this in 3/10, I have repeatedly listened to it, hoping to catch something I missed. So far, I got nothing. I enjoy Coco's voice, but I buy Coco for his intense, soulful, energetic guitar playing. The vocals are good, but the guitar is non existent on this one. Way too slick/commercial. What, pray tell, was he thinking?!? As bad as I hate to say this, I would strongly advise anyone considering purchasing this Montoya release to sample before purchasing it. I really hate to dog Coco, but this is NOT what I have come to expect from him. I HOPE that this is just a hiccup in a long line of very impressive releases, and that he will be back on his "A Game" for the next one.

Even though this is a little bit different than the blazin' Ice man chops were use to hearing from Coco, it's still a really good album. I admit from the first listen I was a little thrown off with the slow grooves but I got into it quickly thereafter. There is a really good mixture of singing, song writting, guitar & producing going down on this album. I would recommend buying but make sure you sit down and listen to the whole thing before judging. I would suggest going to see him live if you need that low down electric blues fix... He never dissapoints.

Don't get me wrong, I love the music of Coco Montoya and have seen him live numerous times. I just wish this was a MIX of blues and soul, much like Tommy Castro does.These are mostly slow or mid-tempo numbers, with not much of his guitar work I like to hear. He is, however, a great singer. I just kept wishing the next song would be a butt kicker, but it never happened. It's a nice CD, but never picks up any steam.

This is NOT a blues CD. Pop R&B vocals, middle-of-the-road adult contemporary background vocalists, Good grief! I have everything that Coco has ever done, but if this is his direction, we'll be parting ways. I can only hope that this CD does not sell, so he'll wake up and get back to what he does best...down & dirty blues.

I'll take a pass too. Coco needs to realize there's a lot of good music out there like he used to play. Better shape my friend!

This album is a colossal yawn, as others have noted. Coco has been a good (if not always great) blues musician since he stepped out from Albert Collins' shadow, and I've enjoyed his previous albums. This album is recorded well and the individual musicianship is solid, but these songs don't set Coco apart from the thousands of other pop artists. We just don't need another pop love ballad! (And others have better voices for that genre.) I would advise Coco to remember that he's a blues musician and to continue to mine that rich vein. These sappy lyrics put me to sleep by the third song. ("Forever..." please!!!!) (I bought this disk used and will be listing it right back, something I almost never do.)

excellent album, coco is an incredible guitarist and I love his music. I just discovered him this year (2010) at the Calif. Mid-state fair and had to get some of his music!

For Coco Montoya fans, "I Want It All Back" has to a highpoint of their Spring. There's nothing weak among this collection of songs. Its my favorite CD of this season to listen to while sitting by the pool as the day is dying, a good smoke in one hand and a glass of 15-year-old Irish Whiskey in the other. Life is good with Coco.