09-10-2018, 11:38
DOYLE BRAMHALL II - Shades
![[Image: MI0004481413.jpg?partner=allrovi.com]](https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0004/481/MI0004481413.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
Well that was a fairly pleasing listen – primarily because it was all a bit different. Definitely doesn’t subscribe to any one particular genre – I got rock, blues, R&B, a little bit of funk, some experimental semi-grungy sounds, a touch of zaniness and a lot of very nice guitar work … oh, and even some soul. Contrary to the mishmash of horror one might be forgiven for imagining thanks to the previous sentence, this album is confident, relaxed and there is no doubt at all about musicianship and ability to deliver.
Doyle Bramhall II is accustomed to playing with some heavyweights – Eric Clapton, Roger Waters, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Tedeschi Trucks Band, T Bone Burnett, Allen Toussaint, and has done session work for very many others – grew up surrounded by amazing artists thanks to his father, drummer Doyle Bramhall’s association with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Freddie King, and various other legendary bluesmen. I think his pedigree is evident in the sounds, and although he seems to be a bit of a chameleon, and is maybe just a tad too insouciant, he’s still firmly in command - enough of an orchestrator to hold everything steadily in orbit around him, no matter what colours he chooses to flaunt! It was engaging – I wanted to hear the next song – some I liked, some I can leave – a mixed bag. He has a few guests on this, Slowhand, Norah Jones, Greyhounds and Tedeschi Trucks (covering Bob Dylan’s "Going Going Gone") – I quite liked that one – the final track … again!
Another long list of credits includes the distinctive Hammond B3 played by Todd Caldwell, the oud, played by DBII (who while known as a guitarist, seems to be an accomplished all-rounder) and a host of other lovely things – horns, cello - nice strong definitive sounds - mostly up-tempo with the odd ballad here and there. I think the album has been well engineered too, but I am not gonna rush out and buy it; would probably pick it up if it did an appearing trick!
Neither of these are favs, but they’re all YT has on offer at this point - (if I had to pick one, it would be "Break Apart to Mend"):
Possibly the heaviest track on the album – the opener, “Love and Pain” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOGXbtOePc
And "Everything You Need" ft. Eric Clapton who is mysteriously absent from the clip …
Well that was a fairly pleasing listen – primarily because it was all a bit different. Definitely doesn’t subscribe to any one particular genre – I got rock, blues, R&B, a little bit of funk, some experimental semi-grungy sounds, a touch of zaniness and a lot of very nice guitar work … oh, and even some soul. Contrary to the mishmash of horror one might be forgiven for imagining thanks to the previous sentence, this album is confident, relaxed and there is no doubt at all about musicianship and ability to deliver.
Doyle Bramhall II is accustomed to playing with some heavyweights – Eric Clapton, Roger Waters, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Tedeschi Trucks Band, T Bone Burnett, Allen Toussaint, and has done session work for very many others – grew up surrounded by amazing artists thanks to his father, drummer Doyle Bramhall’s association with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Freddie King, and various other legendary bluesmen. I think his pedigree is evident in the sounds, and although he seems to be a bit of a chameleon, and is maybe just a tad too insouciant, he’s still firmly in command - enough of an orchestrator to hold everything steadily in orbit around him, no matter what colours he chooses to flaunt! It was engaging – I wanted to hear the next song – some I liked, some I can leave – a mixed bag. He has a few guests on this, Slowhand, Norah Jones, Greyhounds and Tedeschi Trucks (covering Bob Dylan’s "Going Going Gone") – I quite liked that one – the final track … again!
Another long list of credits includes the distinctive Hammond B3 played by Todd Caldwell, the oud, played by DBII (who while known as a guitarist, seems to be an accomplished all-rounder) and a host of other lovely things – horns, cello - nice strong definitive sounds - mostly up-tempo with the odd ballad here and there. I think the album has been well engineered too, but I am not gonna rush out and buy it; would probably pick it up if it did an appearing trick!
Neither of these are favs, but they’re all YT has on offer at this point - (if I had to pick one, it would be "Break Apart to Mend"):
Possibly the heaviest track on the album – the opener, “Love and Pain” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOGXbtOePc
And "Everything You Need" ft. Eric Clapton who is mysteriously absent from the clip …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
