Guitar Software Reviews

The Best of the Best Air Guitar Albums in the World… Ever
Artist: Various Artists

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Hit and miss…
There is an equal measure of classic rock songs that you probably already own, pretty decent rock songs that you wouldn't have gone out of your way to own, and some rubbish that you wouldn't have seen dead playing on this compilation album.

Also, if you are a previous owner of the albums in this series, then this is pretty superfluous, as most of the songs appeared on their previous albums.

Expect the usual Queen, Darkness, Motorhead, to fill up the playlist. Any afficiando of this kind of music will most likely own most of the songs. However, if you are new to this style of rock music, then the CD does give a good overview of the genre.

Still, inclusion of Alien Ant Farm and Beastie Boys, among others, really don't belong in this kind of album.

Still, most of the songs are quite rightly classics, and the CD on the whole is something you just can't but help flinging yourself round your living room, strumming along on your invisible guitar…

Where is the AC/DC?
Basically a re-hash of the other “Air Guitar” albums, hence the low score. What I'd like to know is why we still haven't had a single AC/DC track on any of these albums. I mean, an air guitar album without “Whole lotta Rosie” is simply a travesty.

Kick ass album .> as good as predecessor and more
This is a brilliant collection with some realy hearty tunes, get the beat goin baby! if u know what i mean. 3 discs of heaven with brian may playing god. GO BUY!

Greatest Hits : Shining Like A National Guitar
Artist: Paul
Simon

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Nothing he has released since has matched the sales heights of Bridge Over Troubled Water, but the quality of Paul Simon’s solo work is undeniable–indeed it could be argued that the songwriter’s work post-Simon & Garfunkel has been even more rewarding aesthetically. Shining Like A National Guitar–the fourth compilation to be drawn from Simon’s eight solo albums–offers another welcome opportunity to appreciate this extraordinary career arc: tracing Simon’s fascinating musical odyssey from Jamaica’s “Mother & Child Reunion” and South Africa’s “Boy In The Bubble”, to Latin America’s “The Obvious Child”. Along the way, marvel at the articulate precision of Simon’s music–”Graceland”, “Hearts & Bones”, “Still Crazy After All These Years”, right up to the recent undervalued album of Capeman. He may not have been particularly prolific, but it’s possible to be dazzled afresh by the sheer brilliance of Paul Simon’s music. –Patrick Humphries

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A PERFECT INTRO TO AN ARRAY OF TALENT
An excellent beginning for those buyers “just wondering” about adding Paul Simon to their c.d. collections. The age of the purchaser will determine as to whether they actually remember any of the “hits” on this collection, but this c.d.can serve as a perfect introduction, not only to the work of Mr. Simon but also to the fantastic musicians he has worked with over the years. Take note of the superb contributions by the African and Brazilian musicians involved, but do not overlook the brilliant contributions from Simon’s homeland. Ralph MacDonald, Anthony Jackson, Tony Levin, Mchael Brecker, Dean Parks,the late and much missed Richard Tee and Eric Gale, and, of course the legendary drum work of Steve Gadd.Best Tracks: Late In The Evening, Hearts and Bones, Graceland, Trailways Bus.BUY THIS ALBUM, BUY MORE PAUL SIMON,PICK A MUSICAN AT RANDOM…BUY THEIR SOLO C’D’s

The Misssisssipi Delta Still Gleaming After All These Years
This is a very acceptable compilation of Paul Simon’s solo career spanning both his years with Columbia Records and Warner Brothers who now have the rights to all his back catalogue.From the early days we have Me And Julio… up to the more recent Bernadette.Most fans will have these tracks on several albums already so it is difficult to see who this album is aimed at.Paul Simon solo and with Simon & Garfunkel has so many compilation albums available that they vastly outnmber his albums of original material.With the addition of digital remastering, few could fault this collection though the inclusion of Rene And Georgette Magritte And Their Dog is strange.I know few people who like this track which finds Paul at his most pretentious and dull.However, the rest of the album is great and a fine inroduction to the music of Paul Simon.Magic moment- Steve Gadd’s drumming on Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover.

A quality collection from a quality singer/songwriter.
This long overdue compilation of Paul Simon’s solo career, containing over 77 minutes of his very best music, has much to commend it. An interesting feature is the imaginative rather than chronological ordering of tracks which provides a sense of unity seldom apparent in ‘best of’ albums and sadly lacking in the earlier ‘Antholgy’. Good sleeve notes and the complete lyrics compliment an impressive package. The fact that no room has been found for the magnificent ‘Something So Right’ is a pity but no easy omissions could have been made from what is an outstanding collection. If you are already a fan this is still worth buying, especially if there are gaps in your Paul Simon CD collection. If you are new to Paul Simon’s work this is a real must. A quality compilation of the work of an outstanding talent.

Great Artistry of Django Reinhardt/Django’s Guitar
Artist: Django
Reinhardt

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The Guitar Player
Artist: Davy
Graham

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#1 in a field of 1
This is a great value album, if you are trying to fill in your collection with some Davy Graham.

Containing a monster collection of 20 tracks (in itself a justification for the purchase) you have a complete outline of why Graham exerted so much influence over his contempories.

My only gripe with the album is recorded quality about which neither you nor I can do a thing. For some reason the guitar has been recorded on the left track and the drums on the right. After a while this does tend to grate but you really need to stick with it.

The track list is awesome with Graham covering a mixture of folk, blues and jazz greats.

The seven bonus tracks include live performances and complete with the virtuoso showcase of Suite in D Minor.

Graham is only now getting the recognition he deserves as leading influence on the 60s blues and folk revival. If you really want to understand where the likes of Bert Jansch, Ralph McTell, John Renbourn and even Jimmie Page learned their chops then you have got to listen to this album.

Pye high
I still have my original purchase of this album (on the Pye ‘Golden Guinea’ label. The CD has a lot of extra tracks, including ther seminal ‘Anji’.
By today’s standards, the sound is rather dated, the line-up is basic and the recording techniques were bog-standard. But the playing - oh, the playing - it’s fantastic. As with all great players, Davy makes everything sound so effortless. With this album he virtually started the revolution in acoustic guitar playing which later became known as ‘fusion’ music …. part folk, part jazz, part blues, part world-music. Guitarists such as John Renbourne, Bert Jansch, Richard Thompson, John Martyn etc. all owe him an enormous debt. He changed the way people listened to and played acoustic guitar. This album was the starting point for so many young fans of the guitar who were able to buy such an ear-opening introduction to the future.
Sadly, after initial success, Davy hit hard times and became a recluse, but he is now back on the road.

Spanish Guitar Music
Artist: Various Artists

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overkill
I bought this because I like the sound of the spanish guitar and I thought a whole CD of it would make for a plesant hour of music-listening. It is exactly that and there is no denying the intricate skills of the performers. But unless you are a real boffin or anaorak on this type of music, this may just come across as a little indistinguished. There are two CDs and although the sounds are relaxing and pleasant, to my untuned ear there is little difference between any two tracks on either CD - it’s like listening to two hours of one song. Thankfully that’s a very good song, although there is no singing, but this is certainly not remakable. Good value at its price but I would suggest others like me buy something with half as much content.

Yes, it’s the real thing!
Three very different styles of Spanish guitar and all magnificent! Andres Segovia provides music to dream to. Carlos Montoya makes you want to stamp your feet, click your fingers, clap your hands and shout Ole! And Paco de Lucia hypnotises you into believing you could manage one of those sultry looking dances in the big swishy frocks (well, not if you’re a chap - but you know what I mean).

Only one little problem marred the Segovia section. Some poor soul in the audience had a nasty cough and must have been suffering horribly trying to keep it in and having occasional unavoidable eruptions. It isn’t too noticeable unless you really concentrate on the music though.

3 legendary players. True Spanish magic!
This edition includes 3 monumental players - Andres Segovia for Classical, Carlos Montoya for (older style) Flamenco, and Pcao de Lucia for (newer style) Flamenco. The Segovia recordings are live in concert, i believe in his late years. The performances are full of life, particualry Albeniz’ ‘Sevilla’ - i just wish i was at that concert! Paco de Lucia offers beautiful pieces, which are often Classical, in a Flamenco style. The highlight however is the ferocious and passionte Montoya! These roughly recorded old numbers are absolute legends. His playing burns with emotion, and the lighting speeds cannot be ignored! I disagree with those who believe Carlos was ‘naive’, or a ’show-off’ - his music is true Spanish folklore, absolutely from the heart.

6 and 12 String Guitar
Artist: Leo
Kottke

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Unbelievable1
If you like your blues guitar played with feeling, I challenge you to sit still listening to this1 Although ‘Vaseline Machine Gun’ is the better known track, ‘Jack Fig’ and ‘Coolidge Rising’ are up there with it. It’s never off the CD.

DANGER - BRILLIANT!!
Absolutely brilliant virtuoso guitar playing, will send shivers!! This album will have you running off to you nearest music store to buy a guitar! If I grow to play guitar half as good as this I’ll die happy. I can hardly believe the sound quality is so good if recorded thirty years ago, it sounds so live! Essential purchase for any collection!

Beautiful and raw
I’m not familiar with any of Kottke’s other work, but that will soon change. This album features some delicious guitar finger-picking, beautiful rhythms and melodies, all delivered with pace and obvious joy. The recording of the music is great too; it’s filled with incidental noises: the rattle of the slide against the frets, mis-plucked strings, all the stuff that makes a guitar recording come alive. This isn’t about ponderous precision, it’s about the guitar as an expressive instrument. The music feels predominantly American in influence, smacking of blue-grass and folk, although Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” allows Kottke to demonstrate his technical prowess when he isn’t hammering the strings for all he’s worth. Stand out tracks for me are “Watermelon” and “Vaseline Machine Gun”. There are a couple of over-sweet moments, but this music is a great experience, especially if you’re a guitar player.

Dark Chords on a Big Guitar
Artist: Joan
Baez

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Continuing a career that stretches over six decades, Joan Baez sticks in Dark Chords on a Big Guitar, with her successful habit of reinterpreting the works of America’s finest contemporary roots musicians. Her voice, still patrician, is thankfully huskier, not as strident as in days gone by, the renowned revolutionary playing it deadly straight as she recounts these new takes on traditional subjects–the loss of innocence, the destruction of rural communities and, of course, the eternal quest for redemption. This toned-down style works particularly well on Gillian Welch’s gritty murder ballad “Caleb Meyer” and Natalie Merchant’s “Motherland”, a haunting tale of human greed and desperate escape, where a minimalist band provides an appropriately rough backing. Indeed, Duke McVinnie’s sudden stabs of dirty guitar add colour and drama throughout. Other highlights include the spiky blues of Caitlin Cary’s “Rosemary Moore”, Joe Henry’s disturbingly thoughtful murder song “King’s Highway” and Steve Earle’s angry and sorrowful “Christmas in Washington”, a political diatribe in keeping with Baez’s own history of protest. Unsurprisingly, the over-rated Ryan Adams’ “In My Time of Need” does not fare so well, while Welch’s “Elvis Presley Blues” is throwaway at best. Nevertheless, fans will be pleased to find Baez in fine form and still introducing them to younger talents. –Dominic Wills

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Hippy Hits the right note
For a detailed, in depth or more knowlegeable opinion, I suggest you read the other expert reviews contained here. I can only say that I agree with all the positive comments, where I understand the prose! From my perspective, I simply suggest that you dump any pre-concieved ideas you have of a has been folk singer, regurgitating old hits in a worn out voice. Because they either need the money or haven’t twigged to the fact that they’re no longer cutting it. So swallow your hip hoppin, house blasting, rap-a-tap rapping ministry of sound pride and be prepared to be amazed, you don’t need to know the history of the artiste. This album is chocabloc with timeless lyrics sung with the voice of a maverick angel. Fronted (backed ain’t the word here) with great musicians, who stand on their own merits, but collectively with Ms.B form a hell of a band in the true sense of that loosely bandied-about word. You would have to be really into the outer limits of non popular music not to enjoy this revelation. Honest, I had no idea who she was and bought this on hearing a snippet of the track Christmas in Washington on the car radio, driving to work on a miserably wet Monday morning. It made me smile, got me fingers a-tapping and has a subliminal political message that you don’t need a University education to appreciate! It’s nice to see she is still protesting with grace as oppossed to amazin’ grace. Yes, I have now done my homework and enjoyed a live performance from the current tour, and wow she’s as good on the ‘ol peepers as she is on the ears! If you consider yourself a fan and haven’t got tickets, you’ll be kicking yourself all the way to Woodstock and back after hearing this breathtaking new album. Ave it!!!

BAEZ AT HER BEST!
With “Dark Chords on a Big Guitar”, Joan Baez has graced us with a thought-provoking collection of songs that touches both the heart & soul. Reflecting the times in which we live, this is a dark album in both music and lyrics. But Joan’s smile on the black & white cover photograph hints of the hope and happiness that still exist, which she proceeds to uncover through a series of ’song snapshots’.
The album succeeds first and foremost due to Joan’s voice & vision. Starting with “Play Me Backwards” (1992), and continuing with “Gone From Danger” (1997), Joan has honed her interpretative abilities. After 62 years of life, Joan’s “lived in” voice serves as the perfect instrument for these brilliant songs. The angelic qualities of her younger voice have been replaced by a more Earthly warmth. Her range, in a sense, has gotten wider. She sings as if she has stepped into the shoes of these various personas and walked around for a while.
The next positive factor here is due to the musicians. The album’s intimate sound is provided mostly by members of Joan’s touring band. This makes for an unusual, but winning situation. “Dark Chords on a Big Guitar” has the sound of a live album, but with studio recorded quality.
The third ingredient in this superb mixture is the choice of songs. While there is not a dud among them, standouts include 2 Greg Brown songs: “Sleeper”; the tale of a former lover haunting our dreams, and “Rexroth’s Daughter”; wherein what appears to be a search for an individual turns out to really be an exploration of the meaning of one’s life. The literal & spiritual center of the album is provided by Natalie Merchant’s “Motherland” and Josh Ritter’s “Wings”. Both of these poetic songs seem to have struck a chord in Joan, producing heartfelt renditions. We are all reminded here of the arms we have for hugging, and the “wings” we have for soaring above the fray. The album ends with Steve Earle’s “Christmas in Washington”, so timely (with the coming presidential election), and unfortunately also timeless, in its tale of hypocritical greedy politicians. The song’s protagonist’s story eerily mirrors Joan’s own life’s journey, and Joan gives it a knowing take.
Another of the album’s highlights is Ryan Adams’ “In My Time of Need”. This story song shares a universal truth: We all need, whether from a friend, family, or a companion, someone to be there for us in our time of need, and us for them. Ultimately, this album contributes to the soundtrack for that provided comfort. Take a listen, and let Joan’s smile and singing “just off and carry you”.
[Note: Joan will be touring the UK and Ireland in January & February of 2004.]

Joan’s new “older” voice
Like other Dark Chords reviewers I feel that Joan Baez is
choosing to use her voice in a particular way on this recording in a way that suits the music, the songs themselves and the times we are living in. It is a number of years since I heard Joan Baez sing live -1997, I think - when she sang “Matty Groves”, from one of her earliest recordings in full soprano and faultlessly - all 22 verses! These songs on Dark Chords would not sound right sung in a high soprano voice: they are more earthy and I think Joan’s treatment of them on this CD is no less than superb. To my ear this CD sounds as good - and at times as raw - as a live performance. It’s true that Joan’s voice is changing over time but she seems to be rising
wonderfully to the challenge of a new style suggested by the songs themselves. I feel, too, that her singing voice is now much closer than before to her speaking voice which always has to my mind been much deeper than her “achingly pure soprano” when singing. Her current singing style has a contemporary edge to it, which is likely to get more people listening to her work and more radio playing than was maybe the case previously. People I have played the CD to are using words like “mellow” and comment how well the voice and the band blend on most tracks. I was pleased to see Dark Chord listed on some website
under “Adult Contemporary”. This recording seems to be leaning
towards commercial values without compromising the integrity of Joan, the main performer, or her beliefs. Joan Baez is back on the music scene (though for her die-hard fans she has always been there.) All this just to say that I like this CD very much!!! Go on, treat yourself! Buy Dark Chords on a Big Guitat and revel in the quality of a lovingly put-together piece of music craft!

While My Guitar Gently Weeps Vol.2
Artist: Various Artists

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No Need T(w)o Weep Here!
Having purchased the first CD in the series (now extended to three), I decided to try the second volume - and I have not been disappointed!

The standard has been maintained with some great artists and songs, all with strong guitar influences. Many were already well-known such as Bread's Guitar Man, The Cars' My Best Friends Girl and Cream's White Room but the more popular numbers have been interspersed with some arguably lesser known tracks such as Stony Road (Chris Rea), Don't Believe A Word (Gary Moore) and the impressive Whirlpools End from Paul Weller. I haven't heard Mott's All The Young Dudes for years and still sounds as good today as it did away back then! Such diversity has prevented this particular 2-CD compilation from falling into the trap of other Various Artist albums that resurrect the same tracks over and over again.

If George Harrison had still been here today, I'm sure he would have been proud that his song title had generated such a robust series of guitar-led CDs.

Now where can I can get Volume III? Amazon, of course!!!

same again please
another gorgeous installment of classic guitar songs. it keeps many of the artists from the first cd, which in my oppioion is not a bad thing. The cd is packed with tons of famous songs and a few that are not as big but your left wondering why they weren’t. a great gift for dads all over the country or, in fact anyone who knows good music when they hear it! a must buy for any classic rock fan or fan of While My Guitar Gently Weeps 1.

Superman Lover (1): the Ultimate Collection
Artist: Johnny ‘Guitar’
Watson

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While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Artist: Various Artists

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If you like guitars, buy this!
What an absolutely stunning album. Not a single track that I didn’t like. Never before has so much guitar playing talent been assembled on one album, its just a shame they missed Hank Marvin off. With a Fender Strat (admittedly cream in colour not Fiesta Red) on the cover you almost expect something from the great man himself or The Shadows!?! Other than that minor gripe the only other flaw in my opinion is the inclusion of Texas’ ‘I don’t want a lover’. Don’t get me wrong, I like Texas a lot (I’ve got several of their albums) but this track just doesn’t seem to fit in the playlist. Can’t help but think it should have been ‘Wondeful Land’ or ‘Apache’ in there. No input from Brian May or Status Quo either but I guess the mood is more chilled out than they would cater for. Still, don’t let this stop you from buying what is a magnificent collection of tunes. Stand out tracks for me are Santana’s ‘Samba Pa Ti’, Peter Frampton’s ‘Show Me The Way’, Robert Plant’s ‘Big Log’, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, Boston’s ‘More Than A Feeling’ (the reason I bought the album!) and J.J.Cale’s ‘Cocaine’. Amazingly I had only heard one of these tracks before - honest! I did recognise around half of the album. Seriously, if you want to drift off with purely magical tones and riffs this is where it’s at - buy it, you won’t be dissapointed if you’ve bothered to read all through this! I’m so inspired, I’m off to buy a guitar.

Eclectic and indifferent
Wile several tracks on this album are excellent examples of guitar work, most are not. It is an eclectic mixture spanning several popular styles, but most of the ‘classic’ guitar tracks are from the world of heavy rock. As a fan of that style, it’s rather nice to see such tracks being included, but there are much better examples than many of those exampled here… I’m wondering why there is nothing from Deep Purple, for example, or Steppenwolf? Where are The Rolling Stones, who certainly knew how to put a great R&B riff together. Why is there nothing from the world of country in this collection? John Denver could make an acoustic guitar sing, Joni Mitchel’s Big Yellow Taxi is absent yet is one of the liveliest pieces of acoustic work on record, and Bachmann Turner Overdrive’s You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet is noticeable by its absence.

So it’s a strange and limited mixture of tracks with no real theme to hold it together, despite its title. And if you’re going to call an album While My Guitar Gently Weeps, at least the title track should be by the late, great George Harrison himself (even if Eric Clapton did play it on the recording).

Footnote: it’s JOHN Lodge with Justin Hayward on Blue Guitar..

Shines Silently
What, “While My Guitar…” without George Harrison? The answer is a resounding YES as Jeff Healey’s version is far superior to all other versions of this song I have heard, including the original.

As for the rest of the album, it’s a bluesier collection than most compilations, featuring corkers by Prince, Big Country and Dire Straits. It has a lot more soul than most collections and in my opinion is perfect for night time listening. Yes, there are omissions (such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King), but songs by Robert Cray, JJ Cale and Snowy White more than make up for what’s not there.

I personally recommend it whole-heartedly.