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John Cale - Guts Audio CD

A fair review of the John Cale "Guts" 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 John Cale reviews here, or go back to the John Cale tabs.

John Cale Band: John Cale
Title: Guts
Rating:
Release Date: 2001-06-05
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Guts 2: Mary Lou 3: Helen of Troy 4: Pablo Picasso 5: Leaving It up to You 6: Fear Is a Man's Best Friend 7: Gun 8: Dirty-Ass Rock 'N' Roll 9: Heartbreak Hotel

Excellent Cale compilation
At its foundation, this is 45 minutes of rhythmical countryish rock, performed by respectable musicians like Phil Collins, Geoff Muldaur, Chris Spedding and Phil Manzanera. A collection of some of the nastiest songs ever recorded.

But projected over the top of that is the violent, perverted filth of John Cale, twisting every sweet harmony and country nuance into something truly unsettling. Brilliant!

From the infamous opening lyric, through an eight minute ode to homicide, to Cale screaming "Fear is a man's best friend!" repeatedly while playing his guitar like a deranged chimp, this is a savage business. But a hugely enjoyable business too. The lyrics are smart, endlessly quotable, and often hilarious. Highy recommended.

The album cover is my all-time favorite too.


Clarification
It is a collection of songs from the "Fear," "Slow Dazzle" and "Helen of Troy" albums (plus "Mary Lou"). Just to make a point, this is not an album of new material. It has some terrific things on it, including the title track and "Leaving It Up to You" with its reference to Sharon Tate, and an anguished version of "Heartbreak Hotel" which makes one realize the meaning of the words, if they're taken seriously. But if you like the hard-rocking Cale, the three original albums are all good ones.


Art Rock/Hard Rock
K. By the time Cale ended up recording for Island, the label had already established itself as a leader in avant garde rock and pop (thanks to such U. signings as Roxy Music, King Crimson, The Strawbs, Traffic, Nick Drake and John Martyn). Cale seemed to fit right in and the label wasted no time in setting the ex-Velvet Undergrounder with top-notch players like Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera (who turns in remarkable guitar pyrotechnics on this album) and Phil Collins (long before he turned into an Adult Contemporary mainstay). Guts is Cale's brightest Island release; its power growing stronger through the decades thanks to hard-edged performances filled with anger, thought, hooks and imagination. Yes, this is thinking-person's rock and roll. No, it won't alienate fans of either Roxy Music or the Velvets. Superb!.


Captures the emotions of the late '70s
For Cale fans only. Angry, savage, and eloquent. I was listening to Guts in Europe in 1978; as my second exposure to John Cale, after Paris 1919, it departed from the classical themes down different roads to DirtyAss Rock 'n' Roll.


Exhilarating, Phenomenal rock and roll
This, in my opinion, is by far some of the hardest rocking music ever recorded. This CD is very hard to explain. From the title track "Guts" to "Pablo Picasso", John Cale elicits your emotions and emplores you to listen. I had the wonderful experience to see John perform this CD live in the late 70's as he was touring the bar circuit in Texas. It was just as unbelievable, live. Hard driving lyrics and mega sound mark this CD. I recommend this to any Rock and Roll enthusiast.


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

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