generally does hit the note - this is Derek Truck s first studio album with ABB. If you enjoyed the Duane Allman/Dickey Betts guitar combo, you will dig Haynes/Trucks here.
Percussion and guitars - I ve been an Allman Brothers Band fan since the beginning. Much of my guitar style is derived from Duane and Dicky. It s been tough through the years to watch Greg fighting so hard to re awaken the original energy of the band. Sadly, mostly without success. This album asserts itself from the first measure as a departure from re-hashing the old licks, while retaining the synergy of Duane and Dicky with new hands Warren and Derek. Truly great guitar work. But the biggest shift for this (non-drummer) fan is the addition of Marc Quiñones on percussion. It s hard to overstate the impact of this guy. He adds just enough Jazz/Latin flavour to the Southern Blues/Rock sound of the dueling Gibsons and Greg s older and wiser vocals to make you stop and wonder, What the heck is going on here? It s enough different that it announces not so much a new direction for ABB as a powerful refinement of Duane and Greg s original mission. The new lineup coupled with a fistful of original songs make for a real keeper near the top of the stack.
inspired, but flawed - No doubt, this is an inspired album. The songs, the singing and the playing are all first rate. Derek Trucks certainly has a style that is much different from Dicky Betts, but he is no less of a player. I gladly give it 4 stars for that alone.Here s the rub. As great as the intense-hot tone of the guitars are, they never vary...too much continuous brightness and distortion. These guys get a great smokin hot tone on their electrics, but how about a mellow tone every now and then? What made extended numbers like Whipping Post and Reed work was the variance of dynamics. Granted, ears aren t young, but they felt assaulted after 76 minutes. An acoustic number or two in the midst of the program would have helped. By the time Old Friend comes at the end, it s too late. I already had ear fatigue, and I wasn t listening at a loud volume.As good as this album is, (and it really is quite good, Woman Across The River is a great cover, and really well done. there are also some really great soul/blues numbers), it will not receive a lot of repeated listenings. I may pick out the best numbers and make a best of 1989-present, to break up the sound.I will say this: if you are younger and like a really hot mix, I think you would really enjoy this album. Older fans, beware, great material, but lacks dynamics. If you re prone to ear fatigue, you will certainly need to take this one in two bites.
MASTERS AT WORK - This long-awaited release will not disappoint you. The Brothers have always stayed true to their roots, and this one is no exception. Bluesy, jazzy, and ROCKING! The playing is incredible and the sound quality superb. High Cost is the centerpiece of the album, with it s inspirational, strutting outro being the absolute high point. The band denies this song is about Dickey Betts and his departure. Desdamona is slow blues, with a nice tempo change/jam in the center. Gregg Allman s vocals may not what they once were, but his work on the Hammond B-3 is better than ever. His organ work is very prominent in the mix on this album. Instumental Illness is nothing short of amazing.Old Friend is another standout, penned by Warren to close out the album. Derek and Warren alone belting out some great acoustic blues. Sounds like they are right in the room with you....Warren Haynes tapping his foot on a piece of plywood.
Superlatives abound for this magnificent album.... - There will be superlatives only in this review. This is another amazing album, a term I use a bit, but I have to find another word that goes beyond amazing. This is one of The Allman Brothers Band s best albums, and it gives you hope for the future of rock and roll. The 2 lead guitarists, Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks (nephew of Butch Trucks, not son as he s been mistaken for sometimes), are the 2 best guitarists working in rock today. Gregg Allman sounds better here than he has in years, with his amazing blues voice raging and crying at the same time. I ve always liked Gregg s vocals more than Dickey Betts s, and his lyrics have always had a deeper, more soulful approach than Betts. Betts always had a more countryish approach to the Allmans, which always conflicted with Gregg s blues apporach. Now that Betts is out of the band, Gregg really takes over here. His organ playing is the best I ve heard probably since the Allman s early 70 s work. It s up there prominently in the mix, something that didn t happen during the mid 70 s, early 80 s Allman incarnations. Sometimes I used to wonder whether Gregg was playing at all (the Allmans had a 2nd keyboardist from Brothers and Sisters through Seven Turns). Here there s no mistake. It s him, and he s back in full force. He s living clean now, and it s reflected on how focused his singing is, along with his organ playing and songwriting (he co-wrote many of the tracks here). It s also great to hear the blues sung again by a man who knows what pain is. There weren t that many woman done me wrong songs in the 1990 s, perhaps because the bands then thought they were sexist or misogynist. No, they re just HUMAN, and it s great to hear one of the masters of blues/rock belt it out for us. Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks jam together beautifully. They are both rare finds, in that they are technically brilliant, but also soulful. Trucks especially has a great blues feel, and it makes the whole Allman sound much bluesier and soulful. It s nice to hear musicians who can actually play their instruments, instead of those who look hot on camera but who can barely play a note. As for the Derek vs. Betts debate (which still rages), it s time to stop it. Trucks is a much better guitarist than Betts, but Betts was great in his time with the Allmans. Betts still tours with Great Southern, so it s not like Gregg and the other band members abandoned him. If Dickey had quit drugs like Gregg and the rest of the band did, he still be in the band. The trio of percussion clicks like never before. The twin drums of Butch Trucks and Jaimoe are still fantastic. Marc Quiones plays the congas like another drummer. He really compliments Butch and Jaimoe very, very well, and it feels like The Allman Brothers Band has 3 drummers now. Oteil Burnbridge is a great addition here, giving the Allmans a funky feel that they ve never really had before. I love the opening track Firin Line, a nice, blues scorcher. The next song High Cost of Low Livin has one of Warren s most majestic solos ever. It can really bring tears to your eyes. Desdemona is a beautifully sad, epic ballad, with amazing guitar work from Derek. The song Instrumental Illness sounds like it wouldn t be too out of place on one of Miles Davis s fusion albums from the late 60 s, early 70 s (which is a good thing). I was waiting for his trumpet to come in. Gregg s organ work on this track really stands out. Hittin the Note is such a remarkable album, in that it was the first Allman Brothers Band album in 9 years, and they didn t miss a beat. And the album is so vital and real. This is not a band that is just kicking about, trying to make some $$$ from touring. They mean what they play. It s the kind of music that makes live worth living.