1 (edited by Rocket 2007-09-06 11:06:56)

Topic: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Good Day!  I am not asking for high 5's, this is about Joe Bonamassa and Sloe Gin, just wondering whether you feel this is a good enough review to leave as is on Amazon.com...  I've never put a review on Amazon before this, and the first version was very short.  It's (***UPDATE-NOT ***) there now, but before I edited it, only 2 out of 7 found it helpful.  Do you, or would you find it curiously helpful now?

..Oh, he's drifted from the blues, he was better with the power trio, this doesn't suck, he can do better, why's he doing covers, hot solos lacking, not up to par, disappointment, disappointment, disappointment? What the heck? Who says we get to determine what someone should do? How can you be critical of someone like you are their parent and know what's best for them? How can one or two lie and imply most fans hope Joe switches producers when they mostly look forward eagerly to continuing with the producer for a live product(not disclosed if it'll be another live DVD, quite possibly though) which will further the desire to continue with him? Ignore the agendas of the minority who seek to discredit all things this great talent lays on the public. Fans of Joe Bonamassa, and they are becoming legion, come from the top eschelons of music business & talent, down to average people tired of castor oil music forced upon them, to just plain everyday folks with age ranges from children to seniors! I don't care what you call it, modern or throwback (retro), adult contemporary, rock, whatever. YOU be the judge! For me, like heck this isn't a great blues rock album! So there's less guitar pyro. So there are covers. That's a blue tradition anyway. Remember the argument in The Blues Brothers whether John Lee Hooker wrote Boom Boom? No? Only shows you don't listen as well as you hear. So you like another lineup. Get real. If you want to criticize, do it objectively! This is a "blues deluxe" album more so than the namesake album by Joe Bonamassa from 2003. That was more traditional style. This is mentored style blues perhaps, but it's also the most original blues album of the young century / millennium. Are these Joe's dark thoughts? Visions of his bright yet distant hopes? Possibly both? All at once? Listen and guess. Analyze Sloe Gin in any way to the Nth degree! This one showcases more than Joe's biting guitar & amazingly soulful vocals, it's the whole real deal package, a wrapped Christmas present. The whole album showcases the amazing talents of everyone involved, excepting Bonamassa's tour drummer Bogie Bowles, who only plays on the title track. But no fear, he has an astounding drum solo slot in the live show to support my case. ...Rick Melick stands out, by...not standing out yet his contributions are of the highest order. This album is indeed a gift to the musically thirsty! Not the same old same old anything, it's just a creative, living, breathing creature start to finish. A better way of those crappy feelings, creeping away somehow, indeed! A modernized, male-spirited version of something significant and beautiful. Like Carole King's quadruple Grammy winning "Tapestry" was back in 1971. If you listened well to her songs and presentation of them, you got it. This one happens to be a cornucopia of blues-inflected rock stylings worthy of high praise and expenditure of your hard-earned, low net balance funds. Even if it develops Sloe-ly, like trying to get a buzz off a watered-down sloe gin fizz, it's a four seasons, five stars, any frame of mind or mood listen you'll enjoy, a Gin and again...and your kids and parents may also.......decades from now.

Especially want to know if you feel it's appropriate for offsetting some of the the other (not the objective ones, the silly / asinine ones) reviews.   Plus, I want it to help create possible sales most of all! Bring it please!

Rock On & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Hard to follow Rocket and I know what your usually talking about. There is a place to comment on the reviews. I would just review the record with out confusing would be buyers with responding to the negativity in your own review.

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

I didn't read your whole post Rocket, but I think I get the point.  There are a bunch of negative reviews from Blues purists that seem to be bombing the positive reviews with negative helpful votes.  Anyone here who likes SG might want to head to Amazon and leave a positive review to offset some of the negative ones if they feel like it (hint, hint).  It seems the purists are angry and are taking it out on Joe (in the reviews left there) because they don't want him to pull the Blues into the 21st century.

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

PLEASE do not post that to Amazon. It is DEFENSIVE, when it should be OFFENSIVE. Turned me OFF from the first sentence. No high 5 from me Rocket, not this time anyway.

Rocking On & Keeping The Faith......

<G>
“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”  Theodore Roosevelt

5 (edited by Rocket 2007-09-06 10:37:56)

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Thanks G! Seriously! That's exactly what I needed to hear G! The thoughts I had in the back of mind were such, yet something overtook better judgement. Back to the short nondescript one. If it won't be helpful, oh well...if helpful to one person 2 years from now, good & well.  I have never ever read a review from anyone on Amazon, but that's just me. So maybe it's all not as important as my regular street preaching for Joe. Roy, that avatar was what I thought Joe must feel like sometimes, with the hard-charging, sideswiping devils...all he can do is hold up a little "help" sign. I'm sticking with it for a while...I leave the review here for funkiness, posterity, and comments, but I think I'll just delete it from Amazon if possible. If not, I guess I have to think again, rewrite and/or edit.   Any suggestions as an offensive coach G (that may sound like a strange request coming from me I suppose, I thought I could usually get on the offensive for Joe)?

<G> wrote:

PLEASE do not post that to Amazon. It is DEFENSIVE, when it should be OFFENSIVE. Turned me OFF from the first sentence. No high 5 from me Rocket, not this time anyway.

Rocking On & Keeping The Faith......

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Beautiful writing, but when I look at an Amazon review , I look for a one liner, general concensus, and how many different people come to the same general conclusion, and would rarely read that much text, but I read all of yours here.  Sloe Gin is very moving and emotional work in it's entirety, which is probably somewhat rare. 
My opinion is that,

To me, Sloe Gin represent's Joe's finest hour, and I feel it elevates him into yet another league, if that's possible.
kat

The funny thing is that we both heard this once & came to this "OMG" conclusion.  It was like instant bonding and rapport for us. Sometimes, you have to warm up to a song.  Not this time, not with Sloe Gin, at least for us.

7 (edited by Rocket 2007-09-06 10:58:20)

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

EDITED to this right  now (when it updates...feedback please...I think it's ok if not neceasarily helpful...)

I don't care what you call it, modern or throwback (retro), adult contemporary, rock, whatever. YOU be the judge! For me, like heck this isn't a great blues rock album! This one album, Joe Bonamassa's sixth , his second with top-notch producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, who seems as high on Joe's talent as anyone these days, happens to be a cornucopia of blues-inflected rock stylings worthy of high praise and expenditure of your hard-earned, low net balance funds.

  So there's less guitar pyro.  So there are covers. This is a "blues deluxe" album more so than the namesake album by Joe Bonamassa from 2003. That was more traditional style.  This is mentored style blues perhaps, but it's also the most original blues album of the young century / millennium, brandishing in your face much more than Joe's biting guitar & amazingly soulful vocals, it's the whole real deal package, a wrapped Christmas present. The whole album showcases the amazing talents of everyone involved. Indeed a gift to the musically thirsty! Not the same old same old anything, it's just a creative, living, breathing creature start to finish.  A modernized, male-spirited version of something significant, yet still beautiful. Even if it develops Sloe-ly, like trying to get a buzz off a watered-down sloe gin fizz, it's a four seasons, five stars, any frame of mind or mood listen you'll enjoy, a Gin and again...and your kids and parents may also.......decades from now.

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

jim sounds like you want me to take the gloves off almost roll

jim m wrote:

Hard to follow Rocket and I know what your usually talking about. There is a place to comment on the reviews. I would just review the record with out confusing would be buyers with responding to the negativity in your own review.

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Hey Rocket,
for what it's worth, I like this better, but the line I like best in your review, the one thing that would cause me to buy right there on the spot is:


"Indeed a gift for the musically thirsty".  If this were my review, I would move that one line to the very beginning and continue it from there.

just my 2 cents.

Kathy

10 (edited by Rocket 2007-09-06 13:25:14)

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Indeed at one iteration I had it precisely there...What does repetition hurt???  Here goes...definitely some butt wipes hitting not helpful just to be punk. 

Rock On & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

Kat&Jim wrote:

Hey Rocket,
for what it's worth, I like this better, but the line I like best in your review, the one thing that would cause me to buy right there on the spot is:


"Indeed a gift for the musically thirsty".  If this were my review, I would move that one line to the very beginning and continue it from there.

just my 2 cents.

Kathy

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

11 (edited by Rocket 2007-09-06 15:17:55)

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

I've finally settled on this. Keep it or can it?

Indeed a gift to the musically thirsty! Includes free refills! I don't care what you call it, modern or throwback (retro), adult contemporary, rock, whatever. YOU be the judge! For me, like heck this isn't a great blues rock album! This one album, Joe Bonamassa's sixth , his second with top-notch producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, who seems as high on Joe's talent as anyone these days, happens to be a cornucopia of blues-inflected rock stylings worthy of high praise and expenditure of your hard-earned, low net balance funds.

This is a "blues deluxe" album more so than the namesake album by Joe Bonamassa from 2003. That was more traditional style. This is mentored style blues perhaps, but it's also the most original blues album of the young century / millennium, brandishing in your face much more than Joe's biting guitar & amazingly soulful vocals, it's the real deal! A gift-wrapped package of delights, despite side trips through depressive states, for the ears and soul. It defies categorization and no description does justice. The whole album showcases the amazing talents of everyone involved. Not the same old same old anything, it's just a creative, living, breathing creature start to finish. A modernized, male-spirited version of something new, significant, rock & stroll, yet still beautiful. Even if it develops Sloe-ly, like trying to get a buzz off a watered-down sloe gin fizz, it's a four seasons, five stars, any frame of mind or mood listen you'll enjoy.

Rock On & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Rocket wrote:

Indeed a gift to the musically thirsty! Includes free refills!

LOL love the first line! 

I read somewhere that SAT graders who grade the essays like when the writer indents frequently and doesn't create mega-paragraphs.  The same goes for these reviews.  Great job editing!

Mary

LOL-ler-tastic.

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Kudos to Kat & Jim for the suggestion!

it's_all_about_apples wrote:
Rocket wrote:

Indeed a gift to the musically thirsty! Includes free refills!

LOL love the first line! 

I read somewhere that SAT graders who grade the essays like when the writer indents frequently and doesn't create mega-paragraphs.  The same goes for these reviews.  Great job editing!

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Interpret as a guy who is a real man!  Not to be confused with mean-spirited, something merely males easily exude, and a direct cause of women's blues!!! 

Jane H. wrote:

thumbs up bro!
i don't know what male-spirited means but maybe that will intrigue some of them

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Rocket wrote:

I've finally settled on this. Keep it or can it?

Indeed a gift to the musically thirsty! Includes free refills! I don't care what you call it, modern or throwback (retro), adult contemporary, rock, whatever. YOU be the judge! For me, like heck this isn't a great blues rock album! This one album, Joe Bonamassa's sixth , his second with top-notch producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, who seems as high on Joe's talent as anyone these days, happens to be a cornucopia of blues-inflected rock stylings worthy of high praise and expenditure of your hard-earned, low net balance funds.

This is a "blues deluxe" album more so than the namesake album by Joe Bonamassa from 2003. That was more traditional style. This is mentored style blues perhaps, but it's also the most original blues album of the young century / millennium, brandishing in your face much more than Joe's biting guitar & amazingly soulful vocals, it's the real deal! A gift-wrapped package of delights, despite side trips through depressive states, for the ears and soul. It defies categorization and no description does justice. The whole album showcases the amazing talents of everyone involved. Not the same old same old anything, it's just a creative, living, breathing creature start to finish. A modernized, male-spirited version of something new, significant, rock & stroll, yet still beautiful. Even if it develops Sloe-ly, like trying to get a buzz off a watered-down sloe gin fizz, it's a four seasons, five stars, any frame of mind or mood listen you'll enjoy.

Rock On & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

You got to dumb the Rocket down for the masses. That one is perfect. Unlike some of the cheap shots that are on there where very little effort was made dissing the album. You took the time to write a good one. That review would help me Rocket.

I like the way Amazon gives you an opportunity to comment on individual reviews so you don't have to address them in your own.

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Rocket, I'm voting for the short but to the point statement. It's very witty...Cathy  Hey , you slipped right over 500 without any noise so BAH! BAH! BAH! with peace and groovy love, Cathy

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Well said Rocket, I like your lastest version the best.

Music is good for the Soul...

18 (edited by Rocket 2007-09-06 18:31:01)

Re: Sloe Gin Amazon Review

Thanks for the smart advice everybody! I knew I couldn't do it alone.  You know if some Joe basher said something quasi-objective, like "the song Sloe Gin sounds too much like the song Feelings" and said they could hear Bill Murray's Saturday Night Live lounge crooner singing it better, I might not even consider it a cheap shot! lol
Rock On & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

jim m wrote:
Rocket wrote:

I've finally settled on this. Keep it or can it?

Indeed a gift to the musically thirsty! Includes free refills! I don't care what you call it, modern or throwback (retro), adult contemporary, rock, whatever. YOU be the judge! For me, like heck this isn't a great blues rock album! This one album, Joe Bonamassa's sixth , his second with top-notch producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, who seems as high on Joe's talent as anyone these days, happens to be a cornucopia of blues-inflected rock stylings worthy of high praise and expenditure of your hard-earned, low net balance funds.

This is a "blues deluxe" album more so than the namesake album by Joe Bonamassa from 2003. That was more traditional style. This is mentored style blues perhaps, but it's also the most original blues album of the young century / millennium, brandishing in your face much more than Joe's biting guitar & amazingly soulful vocals, it's the real deal! A gift-wrapped package of delights, despite side trips through depressive states, for the ears and soul. It defies categorization and no description does justice. The whole album showcases the amazing talents of everyone involved. Not the same old same old anything, it's just a creative, living, breathing creature start to finish. A modernized, male-spirited version of something new, significant, rock & stroll, yet still beautiful. Even if it develops Sloe-ly, like trying to get a buzz off a watered-down sloe gin fizz, it's a four seasons, five stars, any frame of mind or mood listen you'll enjoy.

Rock On & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

You got to dumb the Rocket down for the masses. That one is perfect. Unlike some of the cheap shots that are on there where very little effort was made dissing the album. You took the time to write a good one. That review would help me Rocket.

I like the way Amazon gives you an opportunity to comment on individual reviews so you don't have to address them in your own.

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”