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Blues Traveler - Blues Traveler Audio CD

A fair review of the Blues Traveler "Blues Traveler" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Blues Traveler reviews here, or go back to the Blues Traveler tabs.

Blues Traveler Band: Blues Traveler
Title: Blues Traveler
Rating:
Release Date: 1990-05-18
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: But Anyway 2: Gina 3: Mulling It Over 4: 100 Years - Blues Traveler, Joan Osborne 5: Dropping Some NYC 6: Crystal Flame 7: Slow Change 8: Warmer Days - Blues Traveler, Joan Osborne 9: Gotta Get Mean 10: Alone 11: Sweet Talking Hippie

One great song and a couple of very good ones
(Typically, on Amazon, people only visit the music sites for the bands they love, so if you write something bad about a band, you develop an enemies list). TOO MUCH HARMONICA BUT NICE BACKGROUND VOCALS FROM JOAN OSBORNE

I know I am going to get a lot of hate mail for this review. Anyway, I am not a big fan of Blues Traveler.

I bought this CD because I had heard "But Anyway" on the radio and really liked the song. I am also a big fan of the type of music they were playing. It is sort of a jam/blues/southern rock style (although the band is from New York. . . and maybe that is there problem. . . oh no, more hate mail). I was living in Austin when this came out, and was really into artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Widespread Panic. I kind of lumped them all into one music style.

I got the CD, played it, but after the first track, I just zoned out. Many of the songs are just bland and do not go anywhere. I found Gina and Mulling It Over just boring.

The CD does pick up on again on the 4th track, 100 Years. There are some very nice background vocals by "Joan Osborne", who I am guessing is the same Joan Osborne who had a smash hit with (What if God were) One of Us. She would have been around 17 at the time, but was in NYC then. Although her vocals are nice, the editing and the mix are not good. It sounds like the vocals were just crammed into place, like an overdub that was done after the song was completed.

The next 5 songs are mostly flat. Chrystal Flame has got to be the deadest 9 minute song I have ever heard. It just drones on for the whole 9 minutes.

Things do pick up with Warmer Days (with a nice blues harmonica solo and very nice background vocals from Joan Osborne), and Alone. But then the CD again end on a bland note.

The other problem I have with this CD is that I think they rely on Popper's harmonica playing too much. He is just not versatile enough at this time to carry a whole album. Much of the playing is just running the harmonica back and forth, like we used to do when we were kids. I honestly think that I did some more interesting playing at 10. I think that much of the harmonica playing is as lame as the violin playing in the Dave Matthews Band (more hate mail). Popper does have a very nice blues solo during Warmer Days.

I have read many professional reviews saying very nasty things about Blues Travelers live performances and live CD's. I usually don't pay attention to the music press, as they have their own musical favorites. But from limited exposure to Blues Traveler's music and some videos I could see where I they might be right. But I can say, I am very glad that Popper has ditched that stupid fishing vest. .


Watch Blues Travelers 5/3/08 at 9am EST on A&E
O. This Sunday, May 4th at 9 am Eastern, in an in-depth exclusive interview the dynamic John Popper, Tad Kinchla and Chan Kinchla of BLUES TRAVELER tell all from their beginnings to starting the H. R. D. E. Festival to becoming one of the most followed jam bands around. They perform acoustic versions of their hits "Run Around", "Hook", "But Anyway" and "Mountains Win Again". Plus, check out [. . . ] for a web-only exclusive performance of "Just for Me". Don't miss it!.


The best live studio album ever!
" That's how much energy there is on this album. Blues Traveler could have called this album "Live from the Studio. The only thing missing is screaming and applause from thousands of fans. With their debut album, Blues Traveler has successfully captured the energy and thrust of a live performance. The excitement of the musicians on this album is outstanding. John Popper's harmonica work is extraordinary. The ensemble is tight and always playing together collaboratively. The other members are always playing off of the soloist. This album is outstanding. If it doesn't get at least get your foot tapping, (If not dancing about with abandon) I'm not sure that anything else could.


How about next time there is a CD in the case
But after i spent a long time prying it open, I was shocked and very disappointed to see that there wasn't even a CD in the box!!! How does this happen? I ordered it new. I was really looking forward to listening to this CD because it brings so many great memories to me. I am being credited and I will receive a new one next week. I hope the same thing doesn't happen.


great collection
this cd is a cd you can put into the cd player and just listen, and you never lose interest. This over all is a perfect cd, with upbeat beats and as always with Blues Traveler good vocals. trust me you will find yourself listening and tapping your foot to the beat. If you like jazzy music and unique voice this cd is worth the money. A very talented bunch of guys!! The songs that stand out for me are "But anyway", "100 years" is also good and alittle more mellow same for "Crystal Flame" this song is very long at 9:39sec. But like I said you never lose interest. The type of music that would sound wonderfull in a high quality system. Enjoy.


You can see a complete list of all Blues Traveler discography, or go back to the Blues Traveler tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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