http://www.guitar9.com/wordofmouth.html http://www.guitarnine.com/image/g9wordofmouthrss.jpg http://www.guitar9.com/wordofmouth.html 144 22 Customers of Guitar Nine Records exchanging feedback and reviews on the thousands of guitar oriented CDs and DVDs available on the site, and to offer opinions on other subjects of interest to the group. 180 en-us Thu, 4 Aug 2011 11:44:32 EST Thu, 4 Aug 2011 11:44:32 EST music reviews http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss guitarnine@guitar9.com guitarnine@guitar9.com 2011, Guitar Nine Records http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1542 I ordered Andy Timmons' Live Bootleg dvd. Not only is this a SWEET find, but it was shipped in RECORD time....got it in 2 days....AND my birthday is tomorrow! Happy Birthday to me!! Will DEFINITELY be buying from Guitar Nine again!! hhughes07 2011-7-02T02:00 PM+00:00 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1542 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1541 Neoclassical Fire is Dean Cascione’s second solo album release, following up on his acclaimed Guitar Chop Shop from 2008. Dean describes himself as an “American Neoclassical Shred Guitarist” and backs it up with his flawless technique and compositional skill. For those not familiar with the genre, neoclassic rock brings the rhythmic and melodic elements of classical music into a heavy metal format. You’ll find no blues based stuff here! If you appreciate powerful virtuoso instrumental rock guitar full of classical violin influenced riffs with memorable melodies, then this album does not disappoint and will have you listening again and again. The CD packaging looks fantastic with cover artwork by surrealist artist Weiye Yin that is totally bad-ass and awesome when you really check it out in detail, including the panoramic Citadel painting inside. On the back there is a cool photograph of Dean Cascione with his ‘DemonWing’ guitar. His vision projects pure metal conviction that fully delivers 100% through his masterful fretboard prowess and musicality on this album. Dean has composed a brilliant work of consistent quality and no filler tracks, confirming he is a leading force in today’s neoclassical music scene. Dean Cascione has been a Rising Star on the move in the neoclassic rock genre due to his own unique style more evident that ever, and re-defines it in a special way that makes him stand out among his peers. All of the songs on Neoclassical Fire are at a much higher calibre than anything he has done to date. They are full of burning passion, emotional feeling, high energy, unrestrained power, and pure awesomeness. Having followed him for some time, I’m floored by his marked improvement in all areas, exceeding even my best expectations. No one else in my opinion plays neoclassic rock trademark techniques like pedal tones and arpeggios any better on the planet. He is a guitar God in that regard; dare I say Maestro? His electric guitar tone sings with a thick yet smooth vocal-like quality. Even the lone acoustic song on this album has a beautiful heavenly tone with the dual guitar counterpoints, especially when listening with stereo headphones. Dean Cascione’s album also includes a special bonus guest solo by the ‘Shredlord’ himself Joe Stump, and Paul Wandtke’s drumming is a great contribution too. I enthusiastically rate it 10 out of 10, because simply put Neoclassical Fire is outstanding! snmavronis 2011-6-12T11:27 PM+00:00 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1541 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1540 This is an amazing CD! The tone the melodic feel and heartfelt emotion it's all there being played to perfection. There is know one else that sounds quite like Patrik Carlsson. Another World for me is easily one of the best instrumental CD's ever made! If you like Patrik Carlsson music and haven't bought this yet then you have to get this CD! je_ae 2011-3-17T06:50 PM+00:00 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1540 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1539 Extremely strong and rich compositions, fantastic sounds, top notch playing. This is an extremely strong collection of tunes with a story line lying somewhere between Terry Gilliam and Frank Zappa on E. This guys plays the hell out of his guitar. When is the movie coming out? karlfest 2011-1-24T03:22 PM+00:00 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1539 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1537 Wow, a new player on the shred scene and one not to be taken lightly. This cd never lets up it's audio onslaught until the very last track. it's like the smoke after a good roll in the hay. I dont know how this guy can play fast all the time. it seems he is on go 100% of the time. The only reason this doesnt score a 10 is because it is a little on the redundant side and the songs dont really separate themselves too well . But, if you want an ass kicking fired up experience,I highly recommend buying this cd.I will certainly be waiting for his next release. wardog92 2010-11-18T09:03 AM+00:00 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1537 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1533 "100 Worlds" is a great journey for those of us looking to venture down the prog rock path. It contains elements of old and new, it has a few twists and turns. And, the Bryon Nemeth Group is a great all-around polished band. You hear the influences of Yes, particularly from the Relayer period. You hear tastes of Genesis around the "Selling England By The Pound". And, you hear modern edge progressive rock. There are the Rush elements, the Dream Theatre with some Mahavishnu thrown in, as well. This CD doesn't skimp and the musicianship is top notch. Mr. Nemeth has formed himself a great team of musicians and everyone has a chance to be heard. This is an all instrumental CD, so I am REALLY intersted in hearing what vocals sound like on a current release. Still, a great effort and an excellent choice for those looking to add some real prog to their collection. Pick it up and enjoy! Cheers! Prattmoore2010 2010-7-07T03:24 PM+00:00 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1533 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1530 Joe Mersch "Freestyle" and "The forbidden anthems" Cds. Joe Mersch is an execellent musican. I am desperatly waiting for his new album. evitaschreiner 2010-2-17T06:24 AM+00:00 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1530 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1529 With all the technically astounding guitar playing happening today, the inherent musicality of guitar playing is often sacrificed. Mad Guitar Records debut release, Melodic Soloists, is a showcase of highly skilled modern guitarists delivering emotive, melodic and groovy guitar driven rock music. The compellation features both recent releases as well as unreleased tracks. Every artist brings their own uniqueness to the record, which is not only about highly skilled guitar playing but also catchy and emotive instrumental songs that anyone can enjoy. Let’s look at the tracks: Epic – Mr. Fastfingers An intense acoustic intro gives way to rocking riffs and eastern European, Oriental and other world sounds, look out for the flute solo. The main guitar solo has a huge sound, while the overall production quality is excellent. Danse Pauline Danse – Stephane Dufour Classic rock riffs, great tone, interesting chromatic ideas, a straight up rocker. Definitely one to get your foot stomping and your head bopping. For You – Jose de Castro A great bluesy number, Jose’s strat tone is awesome. The verse section has a cool 7/8 groove, with the overall vibe of the track being laid back but rocking. The solo fits the track perfectly and has some very tasteful phrases. Power Lane – Magnus Olsson The first of 6 previously unreleased tracks kicks off with an atmospheric intro featuring a clean guitar and a cool fretless bass. More in fusion territory, this tribute to Shawn Lane has some very interesting lines, an awesome tone and Magnus’s trademark smooth legato runs. Finding the Edge – ED To Shred Previously unreleased and blasting off with an interesting filter and wah laden intro, Dean Shred Search winner ED To Shred brings the big arpeggios and crazy picking runs, while the rhythm section allows the guitar to really shine. Heat – Roo The first thing about this track is the clarity of the production. Every instrument has its perfect place in the mix, making it a joy to listen to. Roo has some rocking riffs, a big tone, an interesting motif, very cool breakdowns and the driving bass line keeps things moving well. No lack of shred skills here either. Space Anthem – Tony Smotherman Opening with a funky bass line, the motif is straight from the school of Steve Vai. Tony is making a great name for himself at the moment and his astonishing technique makes his success well deserved. Rule 14 – Jerry Jennings This track from Mr. Jennings has a wonderful chilled out vibe, a great fusion tone, fantastic fusion ideas with blues, rock and jazz flavours and a great musical sense. Production is top quality and all the instruments are very clear in the mix. Glue Trap – Porty An intro of changing through different TV channels, this track is very uplifting with a driving rhythm. The cool bluesy shred ideas are kept fresh with elements of fusion. I really enjoyed the hugely emotive solo and cool prog elements of the outro. Sombre el Agua – Frederico Miranda My favourite track on the album, and indecently, also the slowest. While essentially a ballad, there are strong elements of prog and fusion. Frederico has a great touch and incredible feeling in his playing. He has an interesting choice of notes and of course, massive amounts of shred ability when the need arises. The Grind – Scott Allen This is one big rock track. The heavy blues phrasing has to have been played while pulling a crazy “bent face”, and the crazy picking and tapping during the solo create a fantastic climax to the track. Feel the Breeze – DIP Another previously unreleased track, this one has some fun chromatic ideas, a cool break with a string section and a stinging lead tone. Funky Satellite – Karmattitude This fantastic track shows a great use of arpeggios and has very clean lead tones. There is an excellent climax at halfway, an insane guitar – synth solo trade, and an emotive piano section. Furious playing all around. Atomic Blues – Ponch Satrio Yet another previously unreleased track, this one delivers an interesting combination of shred and blues with great bluesy tone, a very catchy head and no lack of advanced guitar skill. Fall From Grace – Kris Barras This slightly faster ballad is also previously unreleased. Kris plays with a lot of feeling and has awesome skills. The cool harmonized guitars, interesting tapping section and sweet scalar runs in the last solo all make up a great track. On The Road – Guitarsnake The rocking wah intro and solid rhythm section make up a great song for long drives, while the excellent outro solo trade and harmony make it an exciting ride. Lookout for the crazy V8 engine making its own music at the end. Insideout – Rick Graham Rick has an awesome tone, great feel, and wonderful note choice. With a 6/8 time signature, this emotionally charged track exhibits amazing shred skills, a very interesting guitar and synth harmony section and a huge shredding outro solo. Mad Guitar Records is dedicated to producing original guitar material and supporting the finest in instrumental music. With a strong focus on guitar fans, Mad Guitar Records strives to offer attractive prices along with album extras such as picks and stickers with all CDs. guy 2010-2-10T05:45 AM+00:00 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1529 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1528 CD is great and as promised. I will be using this site again without a doubt. Thanks for the speedy delivery. G.I. greggeye1 2010-2-08T07:37 PM+00:00 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1528 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1527 Universal /adj. /present everywhere, not limited or restricted; Mojo /n. /a person's groove. If ever there was a title of a record that encapsulated all that is contained within it, Tristan Klein's Universal Mojo is IT. Every sound emanating from this deep foray into the transcendental headspace of what I'll call the "Kleinmind" is deliciously diverse.. spellbinding.. joyful.. saturated with a "take no prisoners" intensity. Mr. Klein proves fluent in every conceivable musical form, effortlessly flowing between and through them with the skill of a surgeon and deadly as a sniper. Slicing up time signatures like a sonic chef, he transitions between emotionally heartfelt, light touch subtlety to fret melting, raw nerve bunker-buster riffs like a trapeze artist, making difficult moves seem effortless. "Universal Mojo" lays to rest the idea that a guitar instrumental record can't keep it interesting over an album's worth of tuneage. Whether displaying incredibly vocally-inflected and organic wah work in "Alligator" and "Solid Ground" or a heartfelt and restrained interpretation of the classic "Georgia", a total control of the guitar is on display. "Dark Side" goes from a barely audible hyper-articulated deftness to nitro-jaked full auto shredification - all within one solo section! "Not Dead Yet" is an emotionally-charged bluesy "dead stop to faster-than-light velocities within the same breath" gem that is the most intense 2:46 ever committed to the digital domain. You'll be shaking your head and hitting the repeat button to confirm to yourself that you actually DID hear what you thought you heard. Yikes! "Green Zone" sports a funked up 12-bar with a sing-a-long main riff with brother Klein leaping 12 bars in a single bound - like a sonic superman - in an inside/outside riff romp that mixes reckless abandon with Swiss watch precision. "Shades Of Blue", an artfully restrained blues sporting a fabulously beautiful progression, packs an understated yet devastating emotional wallop. Vicious grooves like "Solid Ground" and "Retro Voodoo Funk Express" grease the rails of hyper hipness, the later featuring the always gristlicious Greg Koch trading "happyhappyjoyjoy" teeter totter riffs with Tristan. The solo section is so much fun to listen to I made it my ringtone. No kidding. On "Mojo", the great Craig Erickson and Tristan tradeoff in a solo section that is sort of like a musical version of ice dancing - precise, athletic, moving at breakneck speed - both beautiful to behold and dangerous to perform. "Blues For J.M." features fellow fret slinger J.M. Kajdan riding the wire with Tristan in an octified, wahed-up jazzy blues fusion, featuring an Oscar-level arrangement with "mature" chords sprinkled throughout. This one maintains the cool factor squared. An "Extra Special Credit" is due to each of these players - it's rare that the background comp work is as interesting as the breathtaking "Clash of the Titans" solo excursions themselves. Kudos, boys! "Gratitude" closes the set with a pleading melody, as if to give thanks to the Gods, then rips the roof off with a dazzling display of power-soaked squeezed-out smoking blues shred - by the way, the "Kleinmind" proves that shred ain't dead - if it's done right (and he does).. and just when you think it's over, a bonus hidden bluesy groove comes into play.. with Tristan and his guests pulling out all the stops and joyfully indulging in some pretty manic improvisations. The Art Of The Jam is alive and well. A wide and transparent mastering job by none other than the great Ty Tabor (King's X, Platypus, Jelly Jam) puts a rich sonic sheen on this pristinely recorded and flawlessly executed musical document. What direction is Tristan headed in? Well, after multiple listenings, in a much more musical direction than most of today's talented (yet criminally overhyped) players who arent qualified to change Mr. Klein's strings. He embodies a new breed of guitar hero for this millennium, rising from the landscapes created by influential peers into a new musical world of his own making. The harmonic sophistication and virtuosic chops of cats like Michael Landau, Steve Lukather, Scott Henderson and the late great Shawn Lane come to mind, but I mention these players as reference beacons only. Tristan is his own alpha and omega. Universal Mojo is an awe-inspiring display of compositional adventurism and transcendent improvisation, expanding the musical vocabulary of those greats that came before him.. and in the process taking the genre of instrumental guitar to an entirely new level. This comprehensive musical vision, composed, arranged and all instruments played by the man himself, is an essential guitar document that should be "required listening." Tristan Klein is the whole package, and then some. This CD is absolutely fantastic. jimmy 2010-1-27T01:27 PM+00:00 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1527 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1526 Tristan Klein's no-nonsense non-vocal CD is full of guitar chops and funky grooves that serve to redefine instrumental music with a bluesy edge. Ironically, the CD is lyrical, too, though no lyrics reverberate in its nearly one hour of breakthrough music. What this means, essentially, is that the CD never gets boring, as many instrumental CDs tend to do. Rather, memorable riffs and virtuoso playing permeate each track, with nuance and meaning that usually characterize vocal CDs and popular songs. Guest guitarists, such as Greg Koch, Craig Erickson, and J. M. Kajdan, augment several cuts, adding spice to an already tasty morsel. Not that Tristan needs the help. His phenomenal ability finds him equally fluent in jazz, blues, funk, rock, and everything in between. He is clearly a guitarist's guitarist, with a sense of time and taste that would be the envy of the greatest of players. Joe Satriani and Steve Vai move over: Tristan Klein is destined to become the world's leading instrumental guitarist. rosen108 2010-1-27T01:27 PM+00:00 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1526 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1525 Get ready for old-school guitar-oriented blues-rock that almost surpasses the masters. This is a seasoned musician who has studied everyone from Hendrix to Montgomery, from Moore to Beck, from Trower to Green (both Grant and Peter). And yet he offers something of his own -- he has taken these players to new heights, capturing their various moods, accentuating both their subtlety and their ferocity, their gentleness and their fire. When he is soft and understated, he has the ability to calm the savage beast; and when he lets go, he makes you feel his tormented soul. Only a true master can express this diversity in guitar music, and Freischlader does so with style and panache, intensity and grace. This CD has to be heard to be believed. Guitar fanatics watch out -- a new god has arrived! rosen108 2010-1-27T01:26 PM+00:00 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1525 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1524 Guitarisma is in my opinion another one of those guitar recordings that you have to own in your guitar collection like Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien or Andy Timmons - Ear X Tacy. I am a fan of Torben Enevoldsen's band proyects(Section A, Fatal Force and Decoy(One that I highly recommend)) I began collecting his solo albums and out of the three he has done for Lion Records, this is my personal favorite. This album is filled with beautiful, catchy melodies and it was very well produced even though Torben used a drum machine and if you don't listen very carefully you probably couldn't tell because the dynamics are the same of a live drummer. It also features an unknown vocal talent called Kenny Lubcke on songs "Time Ran Out" and "Reach For Perfection" If you are looking for one of those RARE gems that no one knows but you are looking for a very very good guitar recording here in guitar9.com give this one a shot. You will not be dissapointed. Ray Gayo 007 www.facebook/ray.gayo raygayo 2010-0-25T11:05 AM+00:00 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1524 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1523 I love this CD, hard rock the way I like it, crunchy riffs, biting leads and melodic tunes.This guy is only 21? Wow! I'm already looking forward to the next.jjp jamesjporter 2009-10-22T02:19 PM+00:00 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1523 http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1522 Greg Rapaport's "Homunculus" is an exploration into the human psyche, using exponents of dark metallic fusion to guide the listener through 10 different personalities. One may argue that this subject contains a lot of different opinions, I feel Greg took an honest approach like most musicians and made it his take on the subjects. Greg's guitar work is melodic and experimental and his bass work fits the grooves he has concocted for each song. There are elements of humor, dispair, anger, mystery and just some balls-out playing. I feel this disc should be experienced through a pair of high quality headphones to get the full effect. Quite possibly, some of the compositions contain elements of a soundtrack for sinister movies involving a psychotic nature. Not quite demonic but not happy-go-lucky. Since the human personality can be complex, Greg takes his approach and does a fine job of releasing his thesis on the listener. Not one for the faint of heart but you shouldn't experience night terrors from repeated listenings....unless your bode contains paranormal activity! If dark, metallic fusion is your bag, check this disc out. It may force you to look at yourself in the mirror! Prattmoore2010 2009-10-08T09:57 AM+00:00 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:55:09 EST http://www.guitar9.com/cgi-local/wordofmouth.pl?seq=1522