| CUSTOMER REVIEWS: | 5/5 - Bleu Lane's debut album really ROCKS!
I first became familiar with this album when lead guitarist Bill 'Bleu' Lane came up to Nashville in the Spring of 2003 prior to it's release to shop major labels and artist management. I got an advance copy from Lane when I ran into him at the Hard Rock Cafe here in Nashville.
I work in a publicist's office for major artists. I listened to the cd in my truck on my way home and I was sold right then and there. This is just the kind of Hard Rock and Blues Rock I thrive on but hear little of from radio stations locked into play lists and who refuse to play what people like me want to hear.
I have since become invovled with the band and Lane doing their web press releases. I have ordered over 25 copies for my friends who have heard me playing it at work, at parties in my home, and who hear it
when they ride in my truck. I could get complimentary copies from the band but am willing to buy this cd for my friends because every song ROCKS!
The opening track begins the straight up in your face Rock that is missing from major label releases and MTV. I find myself immediately identifying with the lyrics. Every song has a different feel with haunting melodies and catchy lyrics along with rippin' guitar solos which lead the listener through this album without having to jump around to favorite tracks or changing cds to keep your attention. From Bad Company, Lynyrd Skynyrd,. Foreigner, ACDC, to the Allman Brothers this band covers the whole genre and adds their own to this album. Something that has been missing from the newer Rock bands but remains the arsenal of the afore mentioned groups who still are putting out albums and touring to full stadiums around the world.
I love this cd so much that I still play it every day on my way home. It is still drawing me into the songs that I feel have some personal meaning to me. Still everyone who I have brought it to feels the same way. If only the record moguls could come up for some fresh air they might find this album just what the business needs. Not fuss, no muss, good ole' Rock'n'Roll that keeps you coming back for.
I especially like the difference in the 2 lead vocalists with Jimmy Davis bringing us the more Bluesy texture and then how the title song uses Stephen Fredrick for the raw ACDC rough whiskey laden Southern
Rock style that Lane has been part of for more than 34 years. Lane put together the best players he could find to bring this album to us. Once you listen to the album you will know just what I mean.
From Davis, who has won the W. C. Handy Award for Best Male Blues Vocalist for a number of years running; to Ian Wallace, the drummer from King Crimson and touring drummer for the likes of Don Henley, the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Carly Simon; to keyboardist Jim Brown, a Nashville session great; and lead guitarist Mike Estes who has toured with Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle; and 20 year Matt Stauffer who Lane found
in the clubs in Atlanta then took on as a guitar student when he was
just 16.
It doesn't stop there as Debbie Davis - Estes colors the background
with Fredrick on backing vocals. Bassist Lee Coate was a hold over
from Austin who Lane met in 1999 when Lane moved back to Austin
to form this band. All in all this band has a lot of depth.
(...). Like I wrote
earlier you can't go wrong with this cd. It has something for everyone.
Now days the listening public doesn't hear much from groups like Bleu Lane because of play lists controled by a select few who think they
know what we want to listen to. May be the major labels would not be fussin' so much about losin' money if they would sign groups like Bleu Lane.
I do have some favorites on this album even though I feel every song
on it ROCKS! Of my more favorites are "Losin' End", "Rock Me Drop
Me", "Set Free", "Oh Baby" ( the only song on this album Lane did
not write or co - write), " Everything I Want", "Church Of Da Blues",
and the title song which is smokin' with Lane and Estes tearing it up
on the final solos. Other songs like "One More Night" have that Bad Company feel that takes us back to the Hard Rockin' bands of the
1970's and that resurfaced in the late 1980's when groups like Skynyrd,
Paul Rodgers, Foreigner, and the Allman Brothers reformed and
started putting out albums again. Not that you would ever hear their newer albums as radio stations never play them.
To sum up I give this album 5 stars simply because it rocks from the
1st song to the very last. No holes or gaps. No fuss or muss just plain ole' Rock'nRoll. If you have been waiting for that cd you can pop in
your deck and cruise down the highway Bleu Lane's "Just Livin' My Rock'n'Roll Life" is just what your looking for. As this band begins
to get ready to cut their second cd I can't wait for it to be released.
5/5 - Still rockin' after all these years!
From the first song to the last this CD never stops rockin'. As founding member and principle songwriter Bill Lane has been playing around the US for over thirty years. He is still packing them in at front line clubs to this day. He is gaining wide acclaim
all over the music industry from other recording artists who like what they are hearing.
Each song has a different texture. With 2 different lead vocalists (Jimmie Davis/Stephen Fredrick) most of this album has Davis fronting the band until Fredrick takes over on the title cut. There is a heavy connection to Bad Company & Lynyrd Skynyrd whose straight up in your face style dominated the 1970's. Other songs such as "Black Moon Groove" have a more Allman Bros. feel. "Oh Baby" borders on being like Led Zepplin. "Rock Me Drop Me" more like ACDC.
Lane's sweet melodies and rippin' guitar solos leave you wanting more. Let us not forget that this group has 3 guitarist whose talents are all displayed on "Black Moon Groove'. While keyboardist Jim Brown doesn't miss a lick either. The ending solo on "Losin' End" is Southern Boogie Woogie all the way.
One thing that stands out is this is the first album I have heard in sometime that I can play the whole album without wanting to skip over songs or change cds. It is just what the music industry needs today a rip snorting rockin' down the highway
groove that nevers ends. If you have been missing this kind of Rock'n'Roll then this album is a must.
I would like to see more of this group on cd to see what they will have up there sleeve for their next album. With members like Ian Wallace (King Crimson, Don Henley, Eagles, Jackson Browne, Carly Simon and more) he holds the texture together with raw emotion and power missing from many of the newer bands. Other members like Debbie Davis & husband Mike Estes have worked with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Stephen Fredrick has a seven octive range which is why the backing vocals on a number of the songs, most notably on "Everything I Want", show just what kind of versatility his voice has. Newcomer, Matt Stauffer had just graduated from high school the year the album was recorded and had been Lane's guitar student. Lane must have seen something in this kid. It shows on "Black Moon Groove" and the dual solos at the end of "Everything I Want".
The raw in your face style of this album is what has been missing from Rock'n'Roll for sometime. Although groups such as Areosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels, Dickie Betts, and ACDC are still turning out cds working groups like Bleu Lane get very little notice by major labels. This cd should get more notice than it has but Lane is still out making music people actually can sit down and listen to. It is a far cry from the Rap/Hip Hop that has taken over MTV.
After years of banging around the business this album finally verifies Lane's talents as a performer and a songwriter. For those of us forunate enough to live in Texas
Bleu Lane has been our best kept secret. With this album they may finally find a wider audience. As Lane says, "I'm still alive & well in Austin, by God Texas, USA."
JEN
Austin, Texas
5/5 - Rock'n'Roll the way it is meant to be played!!!
I really dig this album. It has a little something for everyone. There are no slow songs or sappy, whiny, crying or whimpy songs on this CD. What is here is some straight up Classic and Hard Rock tinged with somes Blues.
For those of us who like our ACDC, Led Zepplin, Bad Company on one hand and gotta have our Southern Rock in the vain of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, ZZ Top on the hand this album is just what we have been waiting for. A guitar oriented CD with catchy lyrics, sweet melodies, and stinging guitar solos this album measures up to some of the best I have heard in a long while.
If you have not caught this group live then you should the first time they play a venue near you. They rock even harder live with a 2 & 1/2 hour set (including oncores) that has no weak points in their show. Caught them in Nashville last summer and I have already bought tickets for their upcoming show in early June.
So if you have been missing a Cd that you could put in your vehicle and drive on down the road this CD is for you. I play it every day on the way home from work instead of listening to all the ads or DJs on radio. Can stop hearing the songs in my head. Rock to you drop with Bleu Lane. |
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Last visit: 28/12/2009
