Jellycream

Doyle Bramhall II

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 14, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00000JY7P
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,915 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Texas guitarslinger Doyle Bramhall II, like his Austin pal and ex-Arc Angels bandmate Charlie Sexton, has had a hard time finding a coherent style that suits his varied talents. Part pop-rock singer-songwriter and part bluesy, Stevie Ray Vaughan-influenced guitar hero, Bramhall tries to have it all with Jellycream. Predictably, the results, much like the Arc Angels single disc, are mixed. A funky pop tune like "Marry You," with its multitracked harmonies and stabbing guitar accents comes on like Lenny Kravitz. That's followed by "Snakecharmer," where the grizzled guitar and lowdown choruses come out of the Fabulous Thunderbirds school of Austin blues rock. Those are the two major stylistic extremes throughout the recording. A gang of pros--including Sexton, keyboardist Mitchell Froom, ex-Stevie Ray Vaughan drummer Chris Layton, and producer Tchad Blak--give the record plenty of chops and sheen, and Bramhall's singing has never been better. Still, if Bramhall wants to create a unique hodgepodge such as he's striving for here, he'll need stronger material. --Robert Baird

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guitars, songwriting, innovation - has it all!, February 21, 2001

By	Magin (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

Another reviewer commented that Little Doyle may be the music industry's best-kept secret. Well, this is one fan who hopes he doesn't stay secret for long. Hopefully, the release of Double Trouble's "Been a Long Time" will garner Doyle Bramhall II some much-deserved notice.

But this album is fantastic, even to someone (like me) who'd never heard of Bramhall before purchasing it. I felt like I'd stumbled onto something great in the making.

Doyle is unquestionably one of the finest guitar innovaters of our time. His musicianship is so highly original (and, unlike far too many Texans, not SRV-derived) that you almost miss what he's doing. Then you hit "rewind," listen again, and are blown away. Listen to "I'm Leaving" twice before making a decision about this album. That song creeps up on you and becomes your favorite while you're not looking.

In fact, the whole album does that. This is more than the pop-rock album it seems to be. Packed with creativity and solid songwriting, "Jellycream" may be the album that signals the end of the SRV-imitation era in blues/rock.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Re: Bramhall, Listen Up!, June 30, 2000

By	Tom White "playwright" (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

The heir apparent to Hendrix, Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughn, Doyle Bramhall II's CD "Jellycream" was one of the most important records of 1999. (Clapton and B.B. King just released not one, but TWO of these Bramhall songs on their new collaboration, "Riding With the King.") That pretty much acknowledges Bramhall as the best new blues/rock guitarist songwriter to come along in many a year. East meets West, as Bramhall's melodies integrate--strangely enough--influences from the Far East with more traditional blues structures. Clapton and King covered two of the best songs, "I Wanna Be" and especially "Marry You," but they left a third classic unpicked--called "I'm the One." If you're serious about guitar playing, this CD is essential. Produced by Tchad Blake.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overlooked artist, July 22, 2002

By A Customer

Doyle Bramhall II is without a doubt one of the best young musicians out there today and probably one of the most overlooked. This guy can do it all. He played most of the instruments on this CD, wrote the songs, arranged the music and sang. This is not really a guitar record as most would expect. If folks are expecting the ARc Angels part II then they will be disappointed. People need to keep an open mind and listen. The chops are there but they are more subtle...