The Road We're On | Sonny Landreth | Six Stars? Maybe Eight?

The Road We're On | Sonny Landreth | The perfect guitar album?

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The Road We're On

	The Road We're On Sonny Landreth Sugarhill, 2003 average customer review:based on 30 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Sonny Landreth's 10-year career as a leader has always seemed tenuous, because he's a one-dimensional singer and only an adequate songwriter. But these 12 numbers run deeper than his previous recordings. Like much of his catalog, they straddle the worlds of blues, Cajun and zydeco, and New Orleans party music, but the blues dominates. And that gives the conflagrant Mississippi-born and Louisiana-raised slide guitarist plenty of fuel. So he burns liberally at every turn, from the acoustic resonator guitar that opens and closes the disc to the percolating funk of "Hell at Home" and the Allmans-like, riff-driven intensity of "Fallin' for You." "A World Away" is this album's tour de force, with Landreth summoning soul from the seldom-used soft side of his voice and slow, moaning guitar lines, whose steel-on-steel cries echo the resigned heartbreak of the lyrics. The CD's sterling production puts Landreth's guitar front and center, which reaffirms the former John Hiatt and Clifton Chenier sideman's instrumental mastery. --Ted Drozdowski

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Six Stars? Maybe Eight?

The only way Sonny Landreth gets better than this is live in concert. "The Road We're On" has it all: Sonny's unique synthesis of blues, rock, zydeco and that special touch of genius that is pure Sonny. His songwriting reaches a peak that nears perfection, his blues groove is solid and deep, his instrumental breaks are inspired, and it's really cool to hear him on a range of instruments, including a National resonator guitar. Nobody is as innovative stylistically as Sonny, and I think he hit a high point in his career on this one. Just about the only CD that knocks "The Road We're On" out of my player is "Grant Street," and they're both going on my iPod. Buy it. Buy copies for your friends. Give a copy to your mother if she's cool enough to stand it. While you're at it, drop a note to thank Sugar Hill for letting Sonny make records there. This one turned me into a real Sonnyvangelist.

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The perfect guitar album?

From opening track to the final note, this cd is fantastic! I have to say that this cd has spent the most time in my cd player over the past several years than any other. That tells you it is one that you can listen to over and over. Sonny gets an amazing tone on his guitar. He is a true innovator on slide guitar using technique that is new to slide players. A Natural World is a great tune, and A World Away is great blues. If you do not have any Sonny Landreth in your cd collection, get this one. You will not be dissapointed. But a warning, after a few listens, you will want his entire collection!

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Great Album

I bought his latest, "From the Reach" I liked it so much that I started working backwards and buying his previous recordings. "Grant Street" was a great album too and the next mouse click brought this one in the mail. What a nice surprise this disc was - I like it even better than his latest effort and that one is in the 'must have' category as well. Maybe it is the lack of talented guests or the simple, yet tastefully done, lyrics that allow all that great slide guitar come to the front of this disc. Whatever it is - this album definately has "it". My advice - get this one AND his other two latest discs!

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Blistering Slide

I've heard many slide players and I don't think any of them are better than Sonny. This particular recording has no weak spots: just Sonny laying down some basic blues and stomp, Louisiana-style. You just cannot go wrong with this one. Sonny's style is truly unique, a joy to behold. He is a "National" treasure--check out his steel standard-driven "Jukebox Mama" which finishes the disk. One great tune after another, all guaranteed to get you up and moving.

Sonny Landreth - More Great Slide Guitar

Landreth takes another 3 year break between albums finally releasing "Road" in 2003. This is another solid release from Landreth featuring plenty of smoking slide guitar and Cajun blues. The album frequently steps into more straight ahead rock territory as well which is yet another style that Landreth seems completely comfortable with. Personally I don't think this album is quite as good as either "Outward Bound" or "South Of I-10", but it is an improvement over the mixed results of his last disc "Levee Town". Highlights on this one include "True Blue" that almost sounds like Foghat to my ears. "Gone Pecan" is a cool little rave up with an irresistible chorus and lightning fast guitar. "Natural World" is Sonny's message song about the changing nature of the environment around us. "Gemini Blues", features more great guitar work from Sonny. Overall this is another album that should please the Landreth faithful and fans of slide guitar Cajun blues in general.

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