Artist: Rodrigo Y Gabriela

Rodrigo and Gabriela are two fast-fingered, Dublin-based Mexicans with a unique sound created on acoustic guitars. Their music is difficult to define, straddling both world and rock, and often imbued with the timeless Hispano classical influences. The fire in it comes from their life-long passion for metal music. Rodrigo is a deft finger-picker who can move from raging speed to sensual soul in the space of a fret, while Gabriela employs fast, rhythmic techniques. Her percussionist’s thrashing of strings and drumming of the instrument’s body inevitably raises comparisons with flamenco which they acknowledge as an influence but swerve as a pigeonhole. The duo’s repertoire flies beyond familiar Latin folk guitar styles because of the metal connection: their reworkings of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven and Metallica’s Orion are musts, and the presence on "Ixtapa" of the fiery Hungarian gypsy violinist, Roby Lakatos, is inspirational.
Rodirigues Y Gabriella, 2010-08-15
This CD is excellent, a real reflection of the duo if you get to see them live, which you must!
Saw them live in Greece in 2009 what a great sound.

Artist: Etta James

AN ALL-TIME GREAT - A TRUE LEGEND, 2010-09-03
The multi-talented Ms James now in her 70's and until recently, when a debilitating disease was diagnosed, was performing at the highest levels and showcasing her remarkable contralto range voice, encompassing Blues, Rock and Roll, R & B, and Jazz. Winner of 4 Grammy's and 17, Blues Music Awards and has been inducted into just about all the Musical Halls Of Fame that are going.

Her gutsy, husky, strong, and unique voice delivers on every track, no more so than her signature number "At Last."

Highly recommended as a must have, as there are no guarantees that such a talent can be replicated in the future. Truly a remarkable one-off performer of immense artistic stature.

Artist: Fleetwood Mac

Pure magical brilliance, 2010-07-09
I went to see Fleetwood Mac at the Sheffield Arena recently, absolutely bowled over how good they were. Followed that with a trip to Buxton Opera House to see Pete Green - quite a sad experience but worth the seeing, he was slow but the rifts came.
This album captures the sheer brilliance of the man and his influence on the group - its been on constant play since I got it. Living in the past? Possibly, but this music is timeless - I would recommend to any music lover, A Classic.

Artist: C.W. Stoneking

Weird but wonderful..., 2010-09-03
I saw C.W. Stoneking on a TV programme presenting new acoustic music from the Barbican and was impressed by his authentic country blues sound - amazingly for a big-boned young Aussie he sounded very much like Leadbelly! Here, backed by his Primitive Horn Orchestra, he sounds even more authentic, this is antiquated blues meets Dixieland jazz, like something from the 1920s/1930s, with some of the spirit of Tom Waits (especially on "Early in the mornin"). All the songs are by C.W. except for "Brave Son Of America", which is by W. Houdini (?). C.W. plays a National guitar or banjo and sings throughout (except on "Housebound Blues" were C.W.'s partner Kirsty Fraser handles the vocals) with the 4-man Orchestra adding cornet, trombone, tuba/bass and drums. Weird but quite wonderful...

Artist: Seasick Steve

Just Brilliant Album, 2010-08-16
This Album is brilliant, it is that simple, if you have any other Seasick Steve albums and weighing this one up then i'll save you the brain burned calories and tell you to buy it right now, it's fantastic. I wouldn't take anybody else remotely seriously if they were singing about getting a tractor but Steve makes me sing that same song in my head all day to the point i'd think it'd be a great idea to get one myself.
If you're new to Ol' Seasick then you really are missing out on something special, so it's in your best interest to rectify it immediately and get Seasick.. (boat and ocean not necessary).

Artist: Eric Clapton

Guitar Genius!, 2010-03-07

Eric dear Eric..how to make a Black Beauty sound better..Okay we had The Yardbirds,then the psychedelic 'Cream' offerings..to 'Derek and the Dominoes' and 'Layla' to just straight 'Eric Clapton' born 'Eric Clapp' in Ripley ,Surrey...got on with the 'Beatles'..George Harrison especially..Patti Boyd included..but here is a man that can make the guitar really talk..Okay 'Jimmy Page' with his violin bow bonus amazing!..Hendrix burning his guitar ay Monterrray and smashing his guitar through the speakers..and setting it on fire!...Eric seemed to to get through all of this without being a 'Show Off'.. Eric shruggs it off saying quote 'I'm Not the Best by Far!'....'Peter Green is by far better'...and in a way,i agree...but when Eric is on form,none of them can touch him!..Jimi Fans no dis-respect...the best lead guitarist in the world is none other than this man!

Artist: Carolina Chocolate Drops

A Lost Tradition Found, 2010-06-21
The Applachians have always been associated with blue grass and the white music of the lost provinces of North Carolina and the Blue Ridge mountains. Slave labour was as useful in the mountains as the Mississippi Delta and by the mid 19th century there was a considerable black musical presence in North Carolina and Virginia which drew on the Scots and Irish music traditions as their African roots. The Carolina Chocolate Drops are superbly gifted musicians who bring alive this tradition along with rag-time blue grass and traditional British folk tunes. 'Snowden's Jig' (the genuine negro jig of the title) dates from Appalachia 1850 and sits comfortably with the up tempo novelty song 'Cornbread and Butterbeans', the 1920s torch song 'Why Don't You Do Right' and Papa Charlie Jackson's rag 'Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine.'

This is not prissy perfect musical homage to a dead tradition but a vibrant reinterpretation of fabulous roots music. Just listen to 'Peace Behind the Bridge' or 'Hit 'em Up Style' if you need convincing.

Artist: Joe Bonamassa

A REALLY GOOD GUITAR GEEZER, 2010-08-27
I've recently cottoned on to Joe and cannot fault him as an all round rock/blues performer. This album is excellent. I'm beginning to realise,also, that Joe is into the original Jeff Beck group, with 'Spanish Boots',originally on 'Beckola' and from the 'Blues Deluxe' album a version of the self same title originating from Jeff Becks 'Truth'album.This is no bad thing as Jeff is my all time guitar hero . Now Joe is one of my heros too.Brilliantly competent stuff.

Artist: Seasick Steve

The most unlikely of stars, sixty-something Seasick Steve Wold might have started out with nothin', but these days he can headline the Royal Albert Hall. The second solo album from the much travelled bluesman (and, let's not forget, studio owner--he didn't suddenly step off a boxcar with a demo tape in hand--refines the sound that made 2006's Dog House Music so instantly appealing. Guests include Ruby Turner, KT Tunstall (playing rather than singing) and Nick Cave and Grinderman--Cave and Steve duet on their collaboration "Just Like a King". The title track, "Started out With Nothin'", is as catchy as it is wise, "One True" laments Steve's late dog ("my one true friend", of course) and the catchy full-band "Happy Man", featuring Turner and Tunstall is as near as Seasick gets to offering a single. Without the visual impact of seeing an elderly man tell travel stories in between torturing a three string guitar while kicking a wooden box, I Started out With Nothin' and I Still Got Most of It Left can only offer a simulacrum of his live show, but his crude appeal remains obvious even as his sound gets smoother. --Steve Jelbert
nothin!, 2010-07-17
A very 'seasick steve' album. Fantastic raw blues. Fills you with a great feeling of existential acceptance. I brought it for my husband, but I haven't stopped listening to it.

Artist: Nina Simone

All you need...and more!, 2010-07-16
This CD can serve one or more functions. For those who only know of a little of Simone's canon this will give them what they want. For others it may spark their curiosity and send them in search of more of her work.

No matter what reason you buy it for it will bring great satisfaction to the listener.