Customer Reviews

We the People

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

 

 

I stumbled upon Guitar Shorty's previous release 'Watch Your Back' and I have been hooked on him ever since. Couldn't wait to get my hands on his new CD 'We the People' and a 1st listen confirmed my urgency. If you like testosterone drenched blues guitar, this recording won't disappoint. The cuts are raw, the musicianship stellar and the lyrics are contemporary to the difficult times we find oursleves in. I saw him lives at Buddy Guy's club in Chicago this past April and was blown away by Shorty's Guitar playing and the talent of his band mates. An interesting note on Guitary Shorty, he helped school Jimmy Hendrix in his early days. This CD won't disappoint, you'll get more than your money's worth.

You've heard the term real deal blues. Well, Guitar Shorty plays real deal blues/rock. The vast population likely does not know that Shorty represents them as a crusading spokesman, who sports a mean six-string. His tough style of music has been created and copied in the past. However, he presents it in a way that makes it feel new. All 12 songs are mostly upbeat and fast. Each seem to reflect something that's pent up deep inside him. However, Shorty will surely capture many rockers into the blues flock with this disc.

We The People does not contain the same old blues. It is loaded with rock edged music. The title track's catchy hook and wah wah splashes will generate ecstasy for baby boomers and Generation X'ers alike. Both will enjoy the song and performer's attitude, anger, and aggression. On Runaway Train, Shorty smacks and jabs with his guitar's notes and chords. Down That Road Again is a radio-friendly rock boogie where the guitar's articulate rhythm elicits zeal. Throughout, Shorty's guitar is in-your-face while his limited vocals are punchy. Together they consistently plow through you like a runaway train. Guitar Shorty stands apart from all other blues/rockers because he adds depth and meaning to his rebellious songs.

This album screams. Loaded with energy, superb guitar playing and spot-on vocals. Guitar Shorty only gets better with each recording. Turn it up loud.

Somewhere along the line Guitar Shorty lost the meaning of the word 'subtle" when he hooked up with Alligator records. He just pummels through just about every song - loud singing, guitar playing, smashing drums, etc. Where's the blues? This is a rock CD.He has had some fine releases this past decade that mixed blues and rock but now he's moved to almost all rock. This is not his forte and this big change in his sound might gain him some new fans but leaves old fans like me puzzled.GET BACK TO THE BLUES!

This Album shows Shorty as a player from the " Old School " and definitly deserves a Five Star rating as does his most recent "Watch Your Back".
If you like blues then you are going to appreciate this Album

this music is great.from song writing to guitar playing.this a great rocking blues album.it is worth a listen.

As the "The King Of The World Blues Reviewer", Shaq shouldn't have to apologize for his honest, hard-hitting blues reviews! I have liked Shorty ever since the first CD of his that I bought, "WATCH YOUR BACK". (See previous Shaq review's.) Shorty is truly a blues man, but as I've said before, he has a limited voice, that if not integrated, intelligently, with his guitar playing, results in a picture, that's not very pretty. This CD has a number of songs that just miss the target. I listen to electric blues constantly, and could not listen to this more than a few times. SUMMARY: Would I recommend buying this? No. But with that being said, If Shorty released another CD next week, I would buy it, knowing there's a 50% chance it would be better, because Shorty's heart is always in the right place, and that place is the blues. SUMMARY 2: If I knew someone, that knew electric blues like I (Shaq) do, and they wrote a review like this, I wouldn't buy it. (But, I'd read his next Shorty review, to see if the next one is recommended!)

This is an amazing combination of blues and rock with an emphasis on both. I've read some stuff from blues guys who seem to think this is too rock for their tastes. All I can say is wow! This guy is amazing and holds his own on everything he does here. The guitar setting here is "knob torn off" and it makes Mark Knopfler sound like a member of the glee club. As someone who's mostly listened to classic rock, I can attest that music like this does that genre one better. It's better musically. It's more honest. The subject matter is working class, real life in black and white. Shorty tumbles and wails through everything here. Check out the stark, yet piercing "Cost of Livin", where price point is the main story. Or "What Good Is life" with its Solomon meets Sampson decry. No lovin', no good. "Fine Cadillac" aches with innuendo and old school lyricism. Imagine a main stream song carrying this lyric-no way. Even on the somewhat lighter "I Got Your Number", you get a piercing, fierce, soul driven number, 666. Yup. Her number is akin to satan. Welcome to the world of Guitar Shorty. This tune is the cat's roar. "Blues in my Blood" ends the collection recollecting this nearly 70 year old guitar slinger's history. Simply awesome. Music doesn't get more real and more original and more rockin' than this one. "We The People" is all the people could ask for from a guitar legend.

GS is what he is. Either you like him or you don't. Or you think he's ok. That's my point. If you like his previous music, buy this disc right now, you won't be disappointed. If you don't like his previous work, don't buy this disc. If you think he's ok, wait until someone puts up a used copy on Amazon for half price. Follow my advice and you will be happy whichever group you are in.

Only way to put it, this album is horrible. It has
nothing to do with blues at all, Shorty use to be
a pretty good blues entertainer, so now he wants to
be a rock star?

Not sure how this recording got past upper management
at Alligator, but it's only for the hardcore Guitar
Shorty fan.