Hell or High Water

Tinsley Ellis

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2002)
• Original Release Date: February 26, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000060OJ4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,762 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Tinsley Ellis has earned a reputation for heavy blues-rock guitar since he quit Atlanta's Heartfixers in 1987. Often it's been a little too heavy, ignoring the dynamic nuances that bring out the emotional nature of the blues. But Ellis's first album for Telarc lightens up just enough, so the sweet-and-high six-string intro to "Stuck in Love" enhances the song's guitar melody and the tenderness of his lyrics. He aims for a softer, thinner tone on "Real Bad Way" and turns "Feel No Pain" into a slow, soulful essay in guitar anxiety, full of telling fills, bends, and solo breaks. He also plays some acoustic numbers that allow the butter-and-black-pepper tones of his Southern-accented voice to emerge. Not that Ellis is playing things too cool; there's still plenty of guitar fire all over this record. It's just that he's learned to control the burning. --Ted Drozdowski

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TINSLEY HITS HIS 'HIGHWATER' MARK!, April 21, 2002

By	Patrick Earley (Edmond, Oklahoma USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I didn't really know what to expect with this latest Ellis effort, especially with this being on the Telarc music label, which isn't exactly known for carrying hard rockin' blues acts. As it turns out, this is 12 great tracks of blues rock with Tinsley's trademark powerhouse guitar playing stamped all over it. His six string has never been stronger, and his songs has never been better. Some of the highlights on here include the wonderful "Mystery To Me" which features a very cool wah wah pedal guitar sound which has both a psychedelic feel and a 70's style soul vibe thanks to the strong backing vocals of Atlanta singer Donna Hopkins. Really a unique slant on the modern blues sound. I also liked the 8 minute blues burner "Feelin' No Pain", one of his darkest songs about lost love, that also features some absolutely searing guitar work. I also liked "Ten Year Day", a song inspired by the events of September 11, which has a little bit of a ZZ Top mid-seventies sound to it. If you've followed his music for very long, you know that Ellis has always worked on the dark and dirty side of the blues. He still has his playful moments though, like on the infectious Texas blues shuffle "Hooked" and the fun "Love Come Knockin", which reminds me of the music Ellis did in the early 80's with his band the Heartfixers. If that's not enough of a mix, he also does a very nice southern rock tune "Stuck In Love", which sounds like a cross between the Allman Brothers and Derek And The Dominoes. This ones a beauty, and so is "Hell And High Water". How much you like this cd depends on your musical tastes. If your a blues purist this probably won't be your favorite listen. If your into straight rock, this maybe too bluesy for you. If your an in-betweener who likes their blues served on the rocks, you should give this one a try. From start to finish, this is a very entertaining listen. Turn it up loud and enjoy!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Tinsleys' Best!", November 15, 2003

By	"bowkerbob" (SAN DIEGO, CA) - See all my reviews

I'll make it short and sweet..... by far Tinsley Ellis' best effort to date. When I bought this CD I thought after the first two tracks, nothing special....... but the next nine tracks in a row from "Mystery To Me" to "Ten Year Day" is in my opinion, the finest material Tinsley has released in his career...so far. If you buy only one Tinsley Ellis CD, do yourself a favor, make it "Hell Or High Water" I guarantee.... there will be no disappointment!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tinsley Ellis at his best, July 12, 2002

By	Jeff Randell (West Chester, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

Tinsley is an unbelievable live performer who absolutely plays and sings from the heart, but his albums don't always capture this energy. I was lucky enough to catch this set live before listening to the CD and while Hell Or High Water won't be mistaken for a live performance, it is the closest thing to the "real" Tinsley Ellis I have heard on disk. Over the years Tinsley has continued to hone his craft as both a guitarist and vocalist resulting in a CD that shows us a mature performer with great command of his instrument, who can tear it up without ever getting out of control. While this CD may fall into a niche market, for those who appreciate Tinsley's work, this is a great CD.