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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2016 20:23:21 GMT
The CD chosen by John for Cycle 1 of the TAS CD Swap is: 'Matt Schofield - Far As I Can See'
Wiki Link: Unfortunately this album is unavailable on Wiki. Spotify Link: Each of the participants of the TAS CD Swap will get a chance to listen to this album and shall place a review within this thread. John , please can you let us know why you chose this album, thank you. |
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Post by John on Oct 22, 2016 20:44:06 GMT
It is one of the my favourite albums of recent times
Matt Schofield is a very talented guitar player and this is my favourite album he recorded. He has a good voice too. Its really good blues rock imo so hopefuly a few people might like him
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Post by MartinT on Oct 28, 2016 13:35:24 GMT
Matt Schofield is not someone I had come across before. Vaguely reminiscent of Gary Moore at times, he is the lead guitarist in this album of mostly rocky blues numbers. Reading up on him, he certainly seems to be held in high regard. I've played Far As I Can See through a few times now (all in the car and at work I'm afraid, the 'big rig' is currently in kit form). What I hear is a very capable player backed by a pretty tight and funky band. I think this is one of those collections of songs that work well in the background for me, enjoyable when I'm somewhat defocussed. What doesn't work so well is his voice which I find a little bland and 'young' sounding for a blues singer.
It might surprise John and others if I say that the moment I try to listen intently is when it slightly falls down. There is nothing here to hook me once I'm past the admiration for the band's great timing and general instrumental brilliance. The songs are not really memorable - or perhaps it's the style - and it begins to sound like many very capable pub bands. Put these songs in front of, say, Diana Krall and she would make more of them. I know I'm doing it a disservice and I'm just trying to be honest - it doesn't really grab me. 6/10.
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Post by John on Oct 28, 2016 14:59:02 GMT
It's ok Martin I do not expect others to like it although Chris might
It's well recorded so pity you not able to hear it on your system
Matt really comes into his element live
Whilst I can enjoy Diana I tend to turn off
All I can say beware of the next album then
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 28, 2016 15:56:19 GMT
Yes, this is one I am looking forward to.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 28, 2016 21:31:54 GMT
John, I will listen to the Spotify hi-res version when I have my kit back together.
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Post by John on Oct 28, 2016 21:40:58 GMT
Spotify is not the same quality as your CD player. But to be honest I just think its not music you enjoy no matter how well recorded it is
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Post by MartinT on Oct 28, 2016 22:50:19 GMT
It's just that I doubt I'll have the CD when I've got the system up. If I can do it, I will.
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Post by Mr Whippy on Nov 27, 2016 22:38:02 GMT
Not bad. But the vocals did little for me, I'm afraid.
Think track 2 with the organ featuring (not enough organ music in today's popular music I think) was probably my favourite.
Didn't grab me though enough for me to want to go out and buy it, I'm afraid.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 28, 2016 6:29:15 GMT
(not enough organ music in today's popular music I think) I love a bit of Hammond organ in a song. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2016 15:38:13 GMT
Love it, love it , love it. I'm only on my first play and have already ordered the album as it's right up my street. The guitar work is superb and I can see where Martin was coming from in terms of the Gary Moore connection, there's a bit of a John Lee Hooker too. Wasn't instantly sure about his voice as it doesn't growl quite like you'd expect from a traditional smoking, whiskey drinking blues artist, but it's grown on me as the album has gone on. Thanks to John as this has introduced me to a superb guitarist, singer and blues artist that I may not have come across otherwise. Shows me the instant benefits of this scheme   |
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Post by ChrisB on Dec 30, 2016 1:06:29 GMT
I received this today and played it on the main system with the Radford sitting in on power amp duties. I was not listening with my full attention but I plan to do that in the next day or so. If you must know, I was washing up cutlery and chopping veg for a curry I was making!
First impressions: I didn't spot the Gary Moore influence at all (which I was reminded of just now on re-reading the previous posts). However I did hear what I thought was an extremely strong flavour of Albert King, which, I suppose amounts to the same thing, as Gary Moore idolised King. I also heard a lot of Albert Collins in there too, not least in the rhythm section. For me though, Jimi was writ large over this album, especially in the final track, which felt like a rewrite of 'Voodoo Chile' - the long all-star jam version on Electric Ladyland, rather than the '....(Slight Return)' version. It has exactly the same Hammond sound as Steve Winwood played on that track and follows the same pattern.
Does that make it sound as though I don't like the album and thought it was derivative? Errr...No! Voodoo Chile was a rewrite of 'Catfish Blues' by Muddy Waters, so what's the difference?
I shall check back in when I have played it a few more times.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2017 7:43:54 GMT
I purchased this last month and have been playing it a lot since. I am still really enjoying it and would like to thank John again for the introduction.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 4, 2017 8:00:31 GMT
I'll be sending the CD on to John today.
tbh - it's not really my thing. Pleasant enough, and good musicianship, but kind of generic in style and not at all memorable for me. I had a bit of a sinking feeling the first few bars of the 1st song, I knew exactly what the rest of the album would be like!
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Post by John on Feb 4, 2017 9:20:28 GMT
I would of been very suprised if you liked it Jerry
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