New Music Review
Posted on Monday, January 16, 2006
So I had some gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket after Christmas and I’ve now purchased three CDs and had time to give them a listen.
Mattias IA Eklundh – Freak Guitar: The Road Less Traveled. This guy is insane. He plays the guitar like he’s from another planet – but he’s only from Sweden. (Which is close, right Lunis?) Go here and download a few sample mp3’s. He manages to make some of the weirdest sounds ever (with no effects – no joke, that’s not a whammy pedal you hear), but writes such cool melodies it works.
Richie Kotzen – Get Up. Kotzen is one of those 80’s guitar players who actually went on to make great music after his initial success in shredderdom. This album’s really good – and he can actually sing!
John Mayer Trio – Try!. I’ve actually always liked John Mayer and have his other CDs, but it was always one of those guilty pleasures I didn’t tell anyone about. But he’s gone blues now and it’s cool! I always thought his voice was kind of weird and original, but now that I hear him in this context, I realize he was just ripping off SRV. My favorite part about this CD though is this: after a ripping solo, you’ll hear the audience applause – but it’s a bunch of screaming young female voices! He’s got the same audience, but now they’re freaking out over a blues solo! That, right there, is a huge service to the electric guitar, Mr. Mayer.