Tommy Castro plays the blues by the book, but it's a solid text. On numbers like "Right As Rain" and "I've Got to Change," he applies the rules of Memphis soul: horns, organ, a chorus of background singers, plus his own signature combination of shouted vocals and spare, driving guitar. The rich, saxlike tone of his crashing chords on the title track is a gas, and its solo comes in thoughtful, climbing phrases. That's a technique for building excitement he shares with fellow San Francisco Bay Area bluesman Robert Cray. Castro's just as comfortable with an old-fashioned shuffle like "Kickin' In," where his guitar purrs through a warm-butter solo before a big-chorus finale. Castro's trouble is that he lacks restraint. There's always a big chorus or a powerhouse chord in the mix, and his constant shouting bludgeons the emotional resonance of his lyrics. So a potential heartbreaker like "If I Had a Nickel" becomes merely a brass-knuckled punch to the eardrum. --Ted Drozdowski
Publisher: Blind Pig
Customer Reviews
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Damn!
Damn this album is good! Definately worth of 5 stars. More given today's music scene. This album and Tommy Castro as an artist give me new hope that music, rock in perticular, is not dead, but a healthy breathing animal. 'Right As Rain' has got to be one of the best blues or blues/rock albums I've heard since Indigenous, Mark Selby or B.B. King. I found him right away on the internet and ran right out to buy the album. Can't wait to get ahold of his other stuff.
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One Hell of a Ride
I recently purchased this CD and let me tell you one thing, Tommy Castro is one great guitar player. Lucky in Love is bound to have you going 80 in a matter of no time. This is one of my first true blues CD's that I have ever owned. Tommy Castro gives all his energy into this CD. He also has one hell of a voice, and when the sax gets played with it, you can feel the soul and power that he has. Every song on here, is worth giving a listen to. I'll tell you one thing, this is definitely worth your money!!
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One Hell of a Ride
I recently purchased this CD and let me tell you one thing, Tommy Castro is one great guitar player. Lucky in Love is bound to have you going 80 in a matter of no time. This is one of my first true blues CD's that I have ever owned. Tommy Castro gives all his energy into this CD. He also has one hell of a voice, and when the sax gets played with it, you can feel the soul and power that he has. Every song on here, is worth giving a listen to. I'll tell you one thing, this is definitely worth your money!!
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