True to Yourself

Albert Cummings

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 2004)
• Original Release Date: August 31, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blind Pig
• ASIN: B0002T2QEM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,300 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Blowing through 10 songs like a six-string hurricane, Albert Cummings arrives as perhaps the first serious contender to the blues-rock guitar throne vacated by the death of Stevie Ray Vaughan. His playing crackles with energy, spinning off stuttering bends and screaming sustained tones in every solo. And there are plenty of those, even in the two ballads: "Sleep," which displays his acoustic technique, and "Lonely Bed," a slow blues dappled with sensitive, probing melody lines. Like his hero Vaughan, Cummings often boosts his knottier phrases by stomping on a wah-wah pedal, kicking his Stratocaster into a throaty roar. He also shares Vaughan's last producer, blues-rock specialist Jim Gaines, and his bassist, Tommy Shannon. What Cummings lacks is Vaughan's range as a vocalist and songwriter. His singing is short on dynamics and his lyrics comprise fairly mundane love songs built on simple rhymes. Nonetheless, this disc makes a powerful calling card for a new, high-voltage talent. --Ted Drozdowski

Product Description

A whiz-kid carpenter turned masterful blues rock guitarist, Albert’s blistering live shows -including a string of 19 electrifying performances opening for BB King - have generated a serious buzz. His astonishing virtuosity and passionate delivery mark him as a major new talent. Albert’s Blind Pig debut was recorded by producer extraordinaire Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray, Santana) and rocks hard from start to finish.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A New Talent Emerges, September 4, 2004

By	John Terry "musiclikerguy" (Kansas City, Mo) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I think "the next Stevie Ray Vaughan" label ought to be put to rest. I say that despite the fact that it almost always persaudes me to take a chance on buying an album. You add that to the fact that "True To Yourself" features Jim Gaines in the producer's chair and Tommy Shannon on bass and I couldn't live without it. Before I ever heard it. Fortunately, Albert delivers the goods. The New Englander proves you don't have to be from Austin to play the Texas blues. There's still a little something missing that doesn't make him the "second coming". Maybe that's because there should be only one Stevie Ray. It sure isn't the guitar playing which alternately roars into high gear and then does a slow, soulful burn. This truly is the emergence of a major talent. An extraordinary release.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bound for Greatness, December 20, 2004

By	M. Kleyn-schoorel "Kleyntriple" (S.F.BayArea,CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The first time I gave Albert Cummings a listen I was'nt sure what all the hype was about.Sure he can sing,and he can deffinitly shread the strings right off his guitar,but there was something that just did'nt hit me down to the bone like I was expecting after reading the rave reveiws.So the CD sat on the shelf for a couple days untill I had another chance to really listen.What can you really say about this Guitar player that can't be said much better by giving yourself the chance to sit and listen to him play for you.Here is someone who is here to stay and will and is headed for who knows how far givin the talent and soul he gives to his guitar playing.You will not be disapointed with this CD if you like the blues drivin on home with the flavor of SRV,Joe Bonamasa,Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne only to bring something even more to the show on his own.And the man can Sing too!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blues must have, January 12, 2007

By	William Brandt (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a Blues fan with hundreds of CD's in my library, I can safely say that Albert Cummings' latest CD is among the best. Albert doesn't follow a strict Chicago Blues line, straying into a country sound on Work It Out or perhaps even a Jazz feel on Sleep, but it's all Blues with a vengence. His guitar work is tremendous, easily as good as anyone out there now. Actually I think he may have been holding back a bit since I heard a blistering version of Lonely Bed on another album (reminds me of Jeff Healey's Blue Jean Blues--best Blues guitar solo ever). Regardless, if you're a Blues fan, you need this CD.