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PRETTY GOOD NOT ARC OF THE DIVER OR ROLL WITH IT STILL PRETTY GOOD
I mean It's about Time and 9 Lives could be a really good one. Buy a used cd so you wount feel so bad that only the first 5 songs are worth it.Common Stevie , 2 cds to make one. There are some fantastic songs on these cd but there are some repetitious ones that i could live without. I give it 4 stars because the fantastic songs are worth listening , even that this is the most Eric Clapton composition style Steve has written. I will wait for Comming of Age.
He is an ORIGINAL, and that - is THAT. Overall, Winwood's vocal abilities still amaze, his lyrical sensibility is always interesting, and the musicianship on this record surpasses anything by ANY new band pretenders out there. Not since his collaborations with Remi Kabaka and Abdul Lasisi Amao (Aiye-Keta, 1973) has Winwood explored African rhythms and style in such depth as on this recording. A perplexing album if one is looking for vintage Winwood pop or even latter-day Traffic (although elements of both survive and even thrive on this recording). The heavy reliance on percussion is curious, but Winwood still manages to pull off a better record at this stage of his career than practically any of his younger wannabes.
I believe Jose backed Harry Belafonte for twenty years, and has been with Winwood for the last ten. The riffs on "I'm Not Drowning" are absolutely hypnotic*. Jose Neto is a incredible guitarist, plays so simply yet melodicly it's like being thrown in the air and borne aloft by many wings. Highly recommended, with the entire band at their finest on this particular song. Fantastic. My opinion, anyway. Lives in Marin County with his wife and travels to England to record, rehearse and hit the road with Winwood.
Sounds like a good life for all. Jose Pires De Almeida Neto plays a killer guitar. Haven't heard anything quite like it in years; jazz and rhythm and blues all together now, don't stop, don't stop, keep it going. Forced me to finally uncover my electronic keyboard (groan. but it's modern times) and pull out the manual and try to learn how to play it just to keep up with this fantastic song. * * * * *Note: for guitar enthusiasts, you can find the guitar tabulature at: tabs (dot) guitarworld (dot) comhttp://tabs.guitarworld.com/tabs/gwtabpage/2000/1024/im-not-drowning*I may be wrong about this: Perry Bookstein comments:"Winwood plays all instruments including guitar on "I'm Not Drowning" but Jose is great."
Not a whole lot of broken ground here, but solid music with great percussion, and classic organ. His voice is still as good as when he was with Spencer Davis doing "Gimme some lovin". Steve still has it. Nice surprise.
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