Fretplay.com Michael Hedges CD reviews Michael Hedges guitar tabs Michael Hedges CD reviews Michael Hedges tabs Pure Michael Hedges


Michael Hedges - Pure Michael Hedges Audio CD

A fair review of the Michael Hedges "Pure Michael Hedges" 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 Michael Hedges reviews here, or go back to the Michael Hedges tabs.

Michael Hedges Band: Michael Hedges
Title: Pure Michael Hedges
Rating:
Release Date: 2006-06-27
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Ragamuffin 2: Because It's There 3: Chava's Song 4: The Streamlined Man 5: Aerial Boundaries 6: Rikki's Shuffle 7: The Funky Avocado 8: Bensusan 9: Ursa Major 10: Jitterboogie 11: Rickover's Dream 12: I Carry Your Heart 13: Layover 14: Java Man 15: Hot Type 16: If I Needed Someone

Snapshot of a gifted man
An amazing musician. An incredible instrumental guitarist. One of a kind. And don't be swayed by the guitar snobs regarding his singing. (And I am a guitar player. ) Michael Hedges writes and sings wonderful lyrical songs. Most solo musicians wish they could capture the magic and beauty of his voice combined with his guitar to create such beautiful works. He consistently demonstrates his incredible guitar technique woven amongst his words. There are only a couple of lyric based songs on this disc, but you wish you could hear all the others. The rest is pure instrumental bliss. Anyway. . . this is decent best-of, but I recommend listening to his entire catalogue. Enjoy. RIP MH.


+ 1/2 stars...A Gifted & Innovative Guitarist
While his primary instrument was his guitar playing, to give this release a two-star review because of a couple of vocal tracks ("The Streamlined Man" and "I Carry Your Heart") is a classic example of throwing out the baby with the bath water. Michael Hedges was an astonishing musician, who died too soon in 1997. In addition, Hedges possesses a fine singing voice, but it's his guitar playing that truly amazes. Especially haunting is his use of harp guitar on "Because It's There" and "Chava's Song. "

This is a wonderful collection of tracks beginning with his Windham Hill debut BREAKFAST IN THE FIELD ("Layover" and "The Funky Avocado) through the poshumously released TORCHED ("Ursa Major" and "Java Man"). The latter two were works in progress, but as with all of the songs on that album, they were released as Hedges left them. The beauty of those songs only hint at where his muse may have taken him.

In addition this collection includes a cover of George Harrison's "If I Needed Someone," a track which first surfaced on 1992's GUITAR SAMPLER and later on 1999's HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE. In 2000, Windham Hill released THE BEST OF MICHAEL HEDGES. PURE MICHAEL HEDGES repeats six of those tracks (seven if you count the live version of "Because It's There"). So why this new collection? Part of it is marketing--Windham Hill has put out numerous PURE releases to mark its 30th anniversary, but it's also to commemorate a gifted guitarist. PURE makes for a satisfying overview of an innovative guitarist. [Running Time - 53:29] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
.


Instrumental good, lyrics bad
With his passing in the late 90s the world was robbed of a musical genius. Michael Hedges body of work remains a spectacular example of brilliant guitar music. That said, his later songwriting with lyrics work (Streamlined Man? Please. . . ) is tedious and boring. I'd pick one of his earlier examples produced by Will Ackerman.


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

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]