Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mmm...blues!, 15 Feb 2009
To me, this is Buddy Guy's best studio album since "Slippin' In" 15 years ago, and certainly his most genuine blues record since then. No watered-down soul, Bob Dylan-covers or misguided pop here, just a slew of tough blues tunes, and original ones at that! And if the production is a bit too slick at times, Guy's rough, fiery lead guitar more than holds its own against the backdrop of mellow organ and the occational small, soulful horn ensemble.
A few guest stars pop up, but the show belongs to Buddy Guy himself all the way. He duets with Susan Tedeschi on "Too Many Tears", and relinquishes the position of lead guitarist to her husband Derek Trucks, and neither manage to come anywhere near to stealing the spotlight way from Guy. I would have preferred him to just sing and play himself, but other than that, there's really not much to nag about. Listen to Guy's slowly smouldering lead guitar on "Lyin' Like a Dog", or the rollicking, piano-driven 60s throwback "Show Me the Money", and just enjoy the fact that Silvertone finally decided to have George "Buddy" Guy record a real blues album again!
Even at 72, Guy's voice is still powerful, and his playing makes you wonder if he (or his record company) invited Eric Clapton and Derek Trucks simply to make a point.
The band sounds good, even if the production is a little bit too clean at times...bass, second guitar, keyboards (played by Reese Wynans), and former Bo Diddley-drummer Tom Hambridge, with whom Guy has written most of the album's songs, behind the drum kit. And the material is strong. Not uniformly, five-star strong perhaps, but really strong nonetheless.
Highlights include the gritty "That's My Home", featuring Robert Randolph, the swinging "Best Damn Fool", and the aforementioned "Show me the Money". But it's almost all good, really, including the mellow title track, the nostalgic "Who's Gonna Fill Those Shoes", and the sparse, stripped-down "Out in the Woods".
Fans of the REAL Buddy Guy won't be disappointed!
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2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
skin deep, 14 Oct 2008
Fantastic guitar work from buddy and nice to here derek and eric playing to They also played together on the Crossroads DVD.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Skin Deep - The Best Of Today's Blues!, 21 Oct 2009
Over the last few years I have become more and more infatuated by the blues. I have enjoyed (and bought the complete) Stevie Ray Vaughan/Eric Clapton/BB King/Joe Bonamassa/Walter Trout/Jonny Lang/Kenny Wayne Shepherd and many others. But...This offering from Buddy Guy is outstanding, even within that company. A truly stand out collection of blues tunes performed the way only Buddy can! Not a weak track here. Standouts...? Maybe the third track 'Lyin' Like A Dog' a slow searing blues, along with the opener 'Best Damn Fool', title track 'Skin Deep' and the blues homage 'Who's Gonna Fill Those Shoes'. Apparently Buddy Guy is 73 years old....Well, Buddy, if you are out there and you can, tell us what your secret is! Probably the very best CD I have heard this year...and I have bought boatloads...
If you love the blues, do not let this album pass you by!
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