Alabama Slide Guitar - Johnie Lewis

Advantages: excelant chill music
Disadvantages: none

...The basic setup of Alabama 3 is that this is a band of preachers : - All named Love who are ministers of the 1st Presleyterian Church of Elvis the Divine who mix fiery baptist minister sermons, Gospel and country music with a dance beat. It may not sound inspiring on paper but this is a joyeous entertaining music. Its at it's best when these style mix together in Converted which is gospel music about going to Church , or Peace in the Valley country music complete with slide guitar and harmonicaor Ain't going to goa which is baptist preaching - all set to chilled out dance beats. Also successful is U don't dance to Techno - a hillbilly jig. probably their best known track - Woke up this morning the theme from the Sopronas which is also present here a blues belter again with adance beat Hallelujah - I am a convert... Read review

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Advantages: A glowing showcase of talent
Disadvantages: Has to be listened to for one to appreciate

...If you have no previous experience of any Ben Harper and his music, this is by far the best CD to start out on. The diversity of this album is very intriguing, from its reggae beginning in 'With My Own Two Hands' through its softer side in 'When She Believes' and the funky 'Brown Eyed Girl', it ends up on a gospel note, with the sublime 'Picture of Jesus', featuring the Blind Boys Of Alabama, it is obvious there is no end to the talents of this young man. Every song displays a range of different talents emanating from each band member. 'When It's Good', although one of the albums weaker songs, displays Harpers lap-slide guitar ability, with the whole song almost acting as a showcase for these talents. Other songs like 'Brown Eyed Blues' and 'Bring The Funk' allow bassist Juan Nelson to show everybody what he can do, and boy... Read review

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Advantages: Warms the cockles of your soul
Disadvantages: You need a soul in the first place

...As the winter months draw in it’s good to tuck oneself on bed with a flask, in a wood cabin, and authentic Deep South gospel blues to warm the cockles of the heart. This year my musical and spiritual heat is being provided by the soulful hauntings of Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama with There Will Be A Light. We are hearing the union of a combination of artists at their peak. The Blind Boys bring the raw Negro Spiritual tradition and decades of blended hymnal harmonising. Harper and his band bring the stripped down arrangements to vocals aged in oak caskets for generations, soaking up decades and life experience. As you expect there is variety without vanity. The lonely slide guitar in Dylan cover Well, Well, Well seems to be fighting for empathy whereas accapella lament Mother Pray is touching enough to bring tears... Read review

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