Rapping ? - WTF - He s trying to Rap ?Snoop Doggy Dog is safe to say the least. Sorry Mr Lee, I respect your playing but please.Do not buy this if you like TYA, buy the new TYA album and even though you might all shout at least there is no rapping and has guitar licks to love.
Great Album - This is not a continuation of 10 years after. If you like Alvin Lee you should like this easy listening album. It is up beat and well made
40 years after Alvin Lee Still Shines - This is a strong 4 stars. The only song I don t like is the first track. You get absolutely stellar guitar work from Mr. Lee. You get some good rock songs, a rockabilly tune, a rapp song, and 4 or 5 great blues songs. In other words a nice variation. If you like blues heavy rock this is a very enjoyable listening experience. Good songwriting, excellent lead guitar with some impressive jams on the rock tunes, a very successful and creative rapp tune, and some real blues gems. Nice work Mr. Lee.
Saguitar: Move Along.....Nothing to Hear Here! - Alvin Lee rapping? Well I guess I ve heard it all now.As I sit here and tap my keyboard,I find it difficult to write what I truly feel about this album.After all,I ve seen Alvin Lee live twice,as well as Ten Years After.I ve purchased and repurchased most of the TYA catalog several times in my life.So Alvin is like an old friend.But loyalty to my music purchasing brethern forces me to come clean. While Mr. Lee s guitar playing is somewhat crisp,the backing instruments ie,drums and bass sound wooden and unremarkable.While this normally wouldn t be a problem,it does drag Alvin s guitar work down with it.Also,the drumming sounds mechanical and uneventful.It s my understanding that a drum machine was used throughout this recording (bad idea).Also, while there are many styles of music here,the rockers all sound the same and are basically indistinguishable from one another.There are a couple of okay tracks:Motel Blues and Blues Has Got a Hold of Me are bona fide blues incursions and Alvin does his best Elvis impersonations on Midnight Train and Memphis.But most of the stuff here is forgettable.That includes the awkward and embarrassing tune Rapper (white men can t jump....or rap,apparently). All in all,this recording has a basement feel to it.And while it s none of my beeswax what Alvin does at this stage of his career,it is my business when he outputs musical drivel like Saguitar and expects to be renumerated for his efforts.One would expect that as one of the elder statesmen of the second British Invasion,Alvin would be crafting gems at this point by using studio musicians or big name producers and songwriters.There is none of that here.Instead you get Alvin Lee rapping.Save your money...
Let s Rock - I had the chance to see Alvin with TYA a number of years ago after watching him on the big screen in the Woodstock Documentary. He is has been and still is one of the great rock and roll guitar players of all time. On Saguitar, he shines both playing and singing with his signature sound, This is a quality CD offering and should be picked up by all his fans and fans of rock and roll. Every song will grab you and bring back those good time feelings. Thanks Alvin for this release- You have a loyal fan base in Colorado who would love to see you come out this way. Keep on Rockin