Surfing the Net about Sloe Gin (Page 4 of 8)

I hear what you are saying because when I heard joe was dropping the all acoustic cd my hope was for some more of the familiar joe. but really when I started listening to Sloe Gin I think he has gone to a whole new level vocals .arrangements.songs. the guitar does not dominate the cd [like we might still want]but is used to enhace the songs.there is still enough bluesy guitar work in it for me. yes I still would like some of the familiar joe type songs in a cd.maybe not this new one but in future projects. but if you compare SILT to Blues Delux , there are 2 cds that bear no reslemblance to one another but both are beyond outstanding in their own way. Thats how I think one should look at SG.compared to all Joes other works its great just in a diffrent way.

I tried to stay away from this topic but I have to throw my $.02 in here- we're all here because we like what Joe does musically- Joe is not here to please our every wish- he is here to play what he wants and become an original artist and hopefully have some people listen (he's obviously accomplished that- look at all the people here... and growing!).  If anybody wants to hear Joe's old stuff again- then GO LISTEN TO THE OLD STUFF... stop complaining about a new direction... if musicians never pushed the envelope when it comes to music, we'd still be listening to cavemen banging on sticks.  New directions are a good thing- Joe should be able to do what he wants with his music when he wants- if he thinks it's good enough to put out into the world then there has to be something special about it.  We should respect Joe for what he wants to do musically.  Personally I feel that the new feel of SG is perfect for Joe- his voice out front and some tasteful playing, while focusing on the song (and I used to not even listen to songs much if they didn't have a guitar solo in them) I love the production on the record and the strings in certain spots add a touch of class.  This is the first JB record where I've listened to it and though that it was listenable all the way through for the general pop-loving public (not saying anything bad about Joe there- its just that the people who listen to the music they're told to through MTV etc. dont have a very long attention span when it comes to actual music and not just speaking a rhyme over a beat- which is NOT music... never has been and never will be). 

I really respect Joe for coming on here and asking us what we want in a record- thats class.  Joe- you should make the record you want to make.  Music is about self-expression and you do it better than almost everybody.  I know I've beaten this over the head already, but you should not have to apologize to your fans for making the record you wanted to make and you thought was your best yet.  I think most of us are EXTREMELY excited to see where this new direction takes you for the next record.  Can't wait to hear it!

Scott

Hi Matt

I loved reading your reaction. My musical interest goes as far as the early 70's (schoolperiod), from the old blues/rock Led Zeppelin, Ten Years After, Black Sabbath etc, symphonic bands as Yes, Genesis, Camel, etc and of course Rush. Hard rock, some metal, it all suits me. Can you imagine the following week in october: friday night 12 oct Amsterdam Joe Bonamassa; wednesday night 17 oct Rush in Rotterdam. It could be worse.

And yes: I turned 50 last week.

Eric

Suhl, I just had to agree with this part of your last post: "and someone saying they dont like it because there are srings in it is just downright silly.  if you even feel that way say i dont like the part with strings, dont say i dont like the entire album because of one small aspect of it.  anyway the strings fit.  the sirens i am really indifferent about, i dont think they make the song any better or any worse, they just make me check the rearview when its on in the car."

I was playing Sloe Gin in my car the other day (again) and I'd stopped at some traffic lights just as the siren came in. My daughter was looking around for the police car and had me looking in the rear-view too.

Hey- sorry you took it that way- to tell you the truth I actually hadn't even read your post yet... I was just kinda going off at some people I've heard (especially commenting on youtube videos and some here) who ONLY want to hear early Joe and not what he's come up with now.  Plus I kinda had a bad morning (I know thats not an excuse, but I was a little angry at the world haha).  But hey- I love hearing people's opinions on music- I think it was Joe's early stuff that attracted us to him (for me it was a copy of ANDY from my friends dad)... thats the stuff we fell in love with but people gotta grow man- Joe is growing right now as a guitarist and musician... I just hope he keeps going on this forward path and gives us some more different, interesting stuff...

Didn't mean to offend anyone on my earlier post, just venting and speaking my mind.

Scott

Hey Rev, its all good with your opinions on SG. Hope everything is good in the Land of Les Paul.

You are right, the album is not a blues revolution, but I also think its not out of Joe's creative reach. I think that BB King is capable of making ground breaking music....good example: look at Carlos Santana. I totally agree that JB's past albums are what turned me on to his music. So I'll buy anything he comes out with next. It doesn't need to be next musical revolution.

I gotta say humbly (or embarrassingly) Chris Whitely Who? <insert your laughter here>
I personally ever heard of him. If you know of him (and listen to him) that's fine, but I cannot listen to every JB track and say what it could be a musical derivitive, influence, or "ripoff" of. (no offense there) I could go and record my next album with JB influence and have critics pawning be off as a carbon-copy of a guy I never heard of.

I have to admit that those of us who are new to the blues know guys like Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Joe Bonamassa - we are working our way backwards. We ate our dessert first. Those of us born at the end of the tree branch have to climb down and dig for the roots.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping.

You hit the nail on the head Joe. Keep on keepin' on.

Glen Winfrey

Hi Joe - I hope you read this. My first day on this forum nd already I'm doling out lengthy feedback directly to you.

I dont listen to the blues because it follows a scripted format that every artist must strictly adhere to - the blues certainly was not born of that tradition and it's an insult to the idea of the blues for people to think there's anything such as "going soft" just because somone is trying something different - and doing an amazing job of it as well.  It's also contrary to the concept of the blues to think there's only one type of sound that can be called the blues.

Growth = Life.
The opposite is stagnation, atrophy and eventually, death. Sorry to be so grim, but it's just a fact of life.

Hahaha, that's really funny! I view creativity as, BY DEFINITION,  opening your eyes to new possibilitiies, seeing things in a different way and putting that experience into something tangible or accessible to others. Just don't expect that every member of your audience will be so open-minded otherwise they'd be up there trying new things too or at least be willing to taking musical risks in what they listen to. Not everyone is comfortable with the unfamiliar - so let them go seek the familiar - it's definitely out there massproducing it's own boring self over and over in mindless amoeba-like fashion.

But I don't buy new CDs or check out new (new to me) artists because I want more of the same stuff that I've already spent my hard earned cash on.  This is not to cast judgement on your straight-ahead classic blues or rock work or anyone's preference for that - I love it and crave it! My name should tell you all you need to know on that count. And maybe that's where the criticism came from - not a craving for the same, but a craving for a certain sound which that particular listener was hoping for. But it's no excuse for closed-minded criticism.

Well thats what i expect when i open a CD - that the artist was true to himself, feels like what he/she laid down was something they can be proud of and expresses what they were feeling in a way only that artist could express it. I usually hope they will take some musical risks and try something innovative and new that they haven't tried before or I havent heard anyone do before or that they have been reworking in different ways to get just right in their own view.

I also expect that they themselves like the music they put out at least as much as I do, that they want to play it at least as much as I want to hear it and that they get a rush off it too!! If you feel Sloe Gin did that, then at least you already met my expectations. In my humble opinion you exceeded my expectations and maybe even changed them.

Yawn. been there, done that, spent my $$ on your CDs DVD and concert instead and plan to do more of that.

A big fat chunk of ca$h and #1 from week 1 onward for the next 4 weeks and counting - for doing it the way you feel it and like it and want it to be is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond icing on the cake and should clear up any lingering doubts.

When I got lucky enough to come back to see you in SF, you were in a conversation about connecting - which is such a vital part of what music is about.  Now I'm posing a question to you - do you feel that is happening through this CD? I think you can plainly figure out my response to that, but I am hoping you will read this and respond with your view.

My unsolicited advice to everyone: If you're doing what you love and it's paying off in ways that matter to you, ignore the BS and keep doing what you love!