Eddie Turner: Rise (NorthernBlues)
The
title track "Rise" opens this album and indeed summons
you to the table of Eddie Turner who serves up some
Blues ala Jimi Hendrix with a little on the side. There’s
a conventional presentation to the first couple of tracks
that gets knocked out of the box with the brilliant
"The River" which features several layers of Dobro guitar
that all fit together nicely.
"The
Wind Cries Mary" is presented in a very subtle
form that has the soul of Jimi Hendrix written all over
it. Eddie shows he has a very nice touch and doesn’t
want to kill his guitar (there’s a few too many of those
guys out there). Excellent production on this tune by
Kenny Passarelli who also holds down the bass parts.
Passarelli, of Joe Walsh, Dan Fogelberg and Elton John
fame, has produced this entire effort and there’s a
mutual admiration between Kenny and Eddie.
"Resurrection"
definitely rises up with various textures of guitars
in this instrumental. "It’s Me" is more guitar
anthem than any other song on this album. Another instrumental
that showcases Eddie’s electric capabilities and gives
the impression that he’s fairly well rounded across
instruments, i.e. electric, acoustic, dobro, etc. This
may be what the guitar cravers are looking for.
"Gangster
of Love" cruises along at a pretty fast speed with
a LaGrange (ZZ Top) feel to it. Nice lead guitar work
on this tune by Eddie, strange ending though – it’s
a fairly short song at 2 minutes. Another short song,
"Sin", follows that starts out a capella and
should end that way, but unfortunately there’s some
ambient guitar effects in the background.
"Play
it Cool" is a slow twelve bar blues that goes for
sexy and succeeds. Nice guitar work on this one by Eddie
as well. My only disappointment with this song and with
some of the others is that the guitar is mixed to sound
rather distant (use of effects). It never really gets
right up in your face. I would understand if Eddie Turner
was a supporting musician, but since this is his effort,
he needs to be more upfront. I also understand the adage
of "be careful what you wish for" as there’s
enough of the in-your-face guitar players around, but
Eddie’s worthy of bumping up.
"Privileged
Life" leads with a strong beat and talks about
revealing and stripping away pride to get down to the
man. Most of Eddie’s songs have a spiritual theme that
seems to be right from his heart and soul. "Confusion
Allusion" has an interesting beat, with 60’s soul
influences, and delivers a message about false witness.
"Secret" wraps up the album with a drum loop
and has a nice ethereal feel to it. Eddie does best
with the chick singers and Anna Givens helps him out
on this and the 1st track. I’d like to hear more of
her throughout the album because I think it’s a good
contrast to Eddie’s voice. I’m not sure who "Devil
Boy" is, but he’s also credited with supplying
vocals throughout the album.
"Rise"
is a good first effort by Eddie Turner that delivers
a message of spirituality and emphasizes Eddie’s talents
as a songwriter, arranger and musician. It’s a delicate
recording and sometimes a little safe. It doesn’t seem
that Eddie’s potential is exposed enough on this record
though and I think cutting him loose and having him
play with his own band (the Eddie Turner Band) over
the course of a year would define him more as a front
man. He appears too much in the background of his own
record and that is a shame for such a talented man.
By Dave
Glynn
Lead Singer of the Empty Can Band found at www.emptycanband.com
This review
is copyright © 2005 by Dave Glynn, and is reprinted
by permission by Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com,
all rights reserved
