Surfing the Net about Sloe Gin (Page 1 of 8)

Joe, I guess lots of folks like their Blues tried and true. I myself don't feel Sloe Gin is over-produced or that you were trying to be too mainstream. What I like about your music is that you dont try to duplicate or stay in the frame work of your previous albums. I feel each and everyone of your works are fresh in the way they're produced and performed. You can't please everyone so you gotta please yourself. Can't wait for the Live album !!     Keep it real .......... JBrules/ Paul

Thicken your skin and don't let the critics get under it. You are an artist with a wealth of talent, actually you got an overdose of it somehow. Growth is part of the artistic process, DaVinci didn't sit around painting the Mona Lisa over and over did he? As much as I love Blues Deluxe, that one's in the books. I always felt ripped off when bands would hit gold with a tune or a whole album and then come back with a modified version of it as their next release. There was probably a lot of label pressure involved in that. Personally I'm always hoping to hear your next level with each new release. I dig the covers you do, but when you & Mike collaborate it always knocks me out, Richmond is the latest example. Just follow your heart and let it flow. So when are you gonna release your bluegrass blues disc????? See you in the City maybe Tue., Thur. for sure.

                                                                                         Opinions are like a-holes
                                                                                         everybodies got one,

                                                                                         J Dawg

PS thanks for givin' a damn about your fans input.

Hey Joe,

That´s just the way things go - start something new and you´ll have to face the people that are used to the old stuff and can´t open their minds to something else.

"Sloe Gin" has often been compared with the Beatles´ later work on this forum - and think about what they had to go through when albums like "Sgt. Pepper" or the "White Album" came out. They were considered to be completely insane for publishing music that doen´t go like "Dadada I love you so" ...  .  Same with the Blues.

But Joe, you are one of the very few musicians that have the love and soul to keep the Blues alive! If they all keep on going the same old way the Blues will die out some day ... "Sloe Gin" has made me happy and made me cry - and I don´t give a f*** on the question if strings are allowed to exist in a Blues Song, if this song can bring me to tears.
Something that doesn´t grow won´t stay alive for very long - so I hope your music keeps on growing for a lot of years to come and maybe you´ll be a wise Bluesman when you´re 60 .

Thank you for your fantastic music, Joe!

Eva

One of the basic principals of designing things for consumer consumption is to design it in such a way that initially public opinion is about half the people love it, and half the people hate it. The thinking is that if everyone loves it initially then the product will have a short total life. If everyone hates it initially, then it won't sell. With the 50/50 split there is enough love to make it sell initially and then over time the other half will grow to love it and this gives the product a long life.

This may be what you have accidentally done here. 

We (Janette and I) don't expect the same things out of you each time. That is one of the best things about your new albums. We never really know what to expect, and each time its not like the last time. Almost like a surprise gift or Christmas morning.....it ups the anticipation. So I guess the thing we expect to be the same is that its going to be different in some ways. And we expect at least one really cool song that at least partially came from Mike Himelstein; you and Mike work well together.

You need to work with people like Tom Dowd and Kevin Shirley (not saying Kevin Shirley is the same as). People that are talented enough to be able to take you to new places and keep things moving forward.

No matter what you read, we believe that you know you've got it right when you look out at the crowd and see the fan reactions when you play your show. I know you got it right because to this day it doesn't matter who I introduce to your music, they become instant fans.

Keep up the good work and enjoy yourself.

PC/JC

Hi Joe

Great that you care enough to put this on here.

I was one of the people who said that it wasn't my favourite JB album on first listening. One of the other things I said was that my experience of music that I immediately like was that I quickly tired of it quite often (but not yours) and music which didn't immediately hit the cerebral cortex in the right spot was to become a loved piece of work........and so it seems with SG. I am listening and finding more as it gets more plays. It's still not my number one favourite JB album (they change with my mood) but it might be one day. You can't expect every new album to be everyones favourite straight away.

I love the melodies and changes in music - it's not all about blistering solos all the time.
I applaud the different things you try and wouldn't ever expect you to do otherwise - such a great talent can't stand still. Keep doing it please.

To put it in perspective, it's in my CD changer most of the time anyway !!

Hey Joe,
       You are one of the most unique individuals I have ever met and that is what I find so appealing about you.  You "march to that different drummer" in life, you take "the road not travelled" and I personally think that puts you in it for the "long haul."  You are like the snowball rolling down the hill and getting bigger and bigger and then pretty soon you are an avalanche.  I have had more "newbies" listen to Sloe Gin than any other of your CD's that I have offered up.  I am getting a wider range of people to listen. 
       So Joe Bonamassa, you keep that chin of yours up and you keep looking forward,  you have done yourself well and I for one, am very proud of your new accomplishment and very,very proud to be a fan of yours. 
       Joe, there's no where else but up.  Sloe Gin IS brilliant!!!!!!
                                                I luv ya' my friend,
                                                             pattyluvsjoe

P.S.  Re-read that quote I put in your card to you, that says it all.

"I'm not nice to any guitar!"     
                 Joe Bonamassa 05-03-12

JBLP CHILD #184

Criticism is just an opinion , it can positive and it can be negative from either side of the fence , i'll do it this way , i'll do it that way ,
I Wonder if people will like this , there's sure to be some that won't
Life is full of yes and no's , wrong and rights , but as individuals we all make our own decisions , That's Life
Joe you've just Released your 7th Solo Album To Worldwide Acclaim , it's gone to No 1 on Various Charts , Billboard , Amazon ahead of other well named artists , That's Positive as in 100,000's of People are Listening to your Songs.
Yes you could have Released another Blues Deluxe or a Standard Blues outting with Endless Solo's , And yes and in the short term maybe instant Success & adolation , But why ? ...... That would be false To yourself and your beliefs , Why cheat on yourself to make the fast buck , Some Have and if it's about the money , then they're happy , but deep down they were made to order for consumption by their moguls for just money and NOT THE MUSIC.
With Sloe Gin and all your albums They each have Their own Backbone and Theme and all add to make a Diverse ( Not Cliched Genre ) Musical Back Catalogue , that people will enjoy and you can bring to a live show
..... Now Sloe Gin is Different in it's Feel yes , Strong Production and Clarity , But not really as in Quality of Songs , And that Folks is Where Sloe Gin is at it's Strongest ....
At the end of the day it's THE SONGS Themselves that make this albums an outstanding piece of work , I Think i'm sure and many would Agree that it's Joe's Most Accomplished Album to Date and was The Perfect Release at the right time , yeah you are gonna get the People who won't adjust to change , but in a more positive way there are the new followers who are looking for something a bit Different and Fresh no matter what type of music.
And your Route to this Place has taken the long road " The Honest Road " No Short Cut's  Touring Constantly ,With your Driving Force
Your love for your music and what you believe to be the right and natural way , No False Ideas , Meeting your Fans , and i've said this before smiling and happy up there on stage is where you're home is , And i Quote " If i Didn't Make a Penny off the Music i'd ,Still do it" (Joe Circa 1993) ..Truest Words.
So Sloe Gin is indeed One of The Finest Music Albums Released in Recent Years By an Artist who's not Generally Known outside of Blues Music Circles , Just look at the Charts (again) for Proof , The Songs and Belief is there on That CD For all to Hear , us fans on this forum all believe like joe in his Genuine genius talent to make albums like this and take us with him on a journey , because bottom line we are all music lovers here and for us all young and middle aged ( careful michael ) lol 
We are enjoying talking here , travelling to shows and spreading the word , That Joe you need not have any doubts that you've made a wrong turn , Opposite Blues is one of the oldest forms of music and you have seemlessly moved it in to 21st Century for all the generations to hear and i'll leave The Last Word To The Great BB King
    "His Potentials are So Great , He Haven't Even Began To Scratch the Surface Yet of What and Where He Can Go , Where He Will Go If He Continues"  Amen

............................... Michael

Joe,

I am actually working on an article about your new record, so this might be a little spoiler.  But I think your new record is just about perfect, for what it is.  I think that the other records have clearly been you bucking against your talent, the wealth of it...and trying to find a direction for it.  I think your limiting yourself on so many of the previous albums.  I think that the trust that you put in the producer on this record shows just where your going.

That, for those who scrutinize, is a compliment. 

I think that this record, you found someone that you trust, and allowed him to drive the boat for a bit...what happened in that situation is your voice, and your playing were freed up tremendously.  It is clear that this guy is a strong personality, and was able to lead the sessions, because of the departing nature of this music.

I think everyone who thinks criticism is just opinions are tremendously incorrect.  As a CRITIC who has earned his position with a scholarly approach and serious investment in music...criticism for Joe needs to be seen as a discussion.  A true critics voice, should be no differant than Joes girlfriends voice...saying...the strings were too much...or you should never play mandolin...or get a haircut hippie.  But a seriously engaged critic, and review of the track is a voice of someone who is taking the time to present Joe with information, and most of the time comes from a serious place of engagement.  I for one am excited by the chance to write about Joe professionally twice in one month for two differant publications.

I think that this is not Joe's Beatles record.  But I think that it might be a good stepping stone.  I think that listening to Rod Stewarts first record, which I am going to assume is the one that has Street Fighting Man on it as the one your talking about...that is a good start.  But I think that it is a small, non challenging step.  I think it would be interesting, and I told Cathy this, to see where the music goes if Joe goes on a steady diet of the Beatles.  For a long time.  Nothing but the Beatles in the ipod shuffle.  Beatles first thing, beatles over dinner.  A serious look at that song writing progression.

That is what this record signals.  A change in the way Joe writes songs.  I question the Live record as the next record, but those are easier to do than sitting home writing songs for a year with no income.

The well that Joe draws his talent from, and the discipline he has cultivated as a player...those are pretty deep.  I think that this record is a shot across the bow...that Joe is not going to end up a guitar shop hero like Eric Johnson, or Steve Vai.  I think it means that Joe wants to be a songwriter.  Which is better in my opinion.

Seriously, who has coffee.