Fretplay.com Leo Kottke CD reviews Leo Kottke guitar tabs Leo Kottke CD reviews Leo Kottke tabs Great Big Boy


Leo Kottke - Great Big Boy Audio CD

A fair review of the Leo Kottke "Great Big Boy" 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 Leo Kottke reviews here, or go back to the Leo Kottke tabs.

Leo Kottke Band: Leo Kottke
Title: Great Big Boy
Rating:
Release Date: 1991-07-23
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Running up the Stairs 2: Other Day (Near Santa Cruz) 3: Great Big Boy 4: Driver 5: Pepe Hush 6: Big Mob on the Hill 7: Ice Cream 8: Nothin' Works 9: Summer's Growing Old 10: I Still Miss Someone

masterpiece
His voice is at its best and the lyrics are a marvel. Leo's masterpiece--really! Fabulous song writing--more poignant and funny than weird--arresting melodies and typically good guitar work. There are a couple mood pieces, but mostly he tells great stories, about dying migrants, yappy dogs, funerals, deflated wealth and a guy looking for hippie chicks. It came out in 1990 or so, and I thought it was better than anything that arrived in the decade that followed. So did Rickie Lee Jones. .


Great Big Letdown
I listened to it once; but not again until I was ripping stuff for my mp3 player. I got this disc around thirteen years ago when I was in a 'new Kottke music drought'.

Leo always serves up a good effort of guitar picking. His voice is best when used in sincere ballads, such as 'Pamela Brown', 'Saginaw Michigan', 'Louise', or 'Sonora's Death Row'. He'll even surprise you now and again with something like 'Hear the Wind Howl', 'Eight Miles High', or 'Power Failure'.

I'm sorry to say, the song choices and vocal stylings on 'Great Big Boy' are just plain awful.

I'm a geese fart fan from way back, don't get me wrong. But this disc is not for the usual Kottke fan, nor is it appropriate as an introduction to Leo's body of work.

There are zero instrumentals on the disc, a Kottke abomination. The song choices are far too esoteric. Leo's voice just doesn't sound right uttering stream of consciousness.

I totally agree with the reviewer who said it's as if Leo made a whole concept album centered around "Till Billings and the Student Prince". I think one song like that on an album can be a jewel. More than one is pretentious.

If you want a few Kottke instrumentals snuck in between songs featuring Leo's pleasant baritone, I recommend 1983's Time Step.
.


Great Big Buy


He sings accompanied by his own guitar, supported by modest backing (keyboards, bass, drums). Striking songs + exceptional acoustic guitar work = really worth buying

An unusual release by Kottke: no instrumentals, only his own outstanding folk-pop songs - with blues and jazz overtones and voicings. Steve Berlin's production provides a clear, strong, up-front sound.

The melodies and arrangements fix deep in one's mind. There are many exceptionally strong tracks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 & 10. Other songs are more complex, discordant and inaccessible. Kottke nimbly moves from unusual hybrid chords to finger-picking and strumming to produce matchless, sometimes bewildering guitar work.

Songs here are unusual and memorable - you'll find yourself compulsively seeking another listen. It's not always easy to fathom what some songs are about, as his lyrics reflect his unique, quirky, surreal outlook.

`Running Up The Stairs', `Pepe Hush', `Big Mob On The Hill' - all draw you in and involve you with intricate guitar and atypical lyrics.

`Great Big Boy' describes youthful reflections on being in the rat trap and is full of Kottke's sardonic wit and irony. `Driver' relates a strange tale of the terrible fate of bus passengers - and employs an utterly stunning guitar arrangement.

Last track is his cover of `I Still Miss Someone' by Johnny and Roy Cash - effortlessly superior in every respect to Cash's version. It employs punchy, attacking guitar and a slower tempo, to underpin the wistful emotions perfectly - a must hear.

This CD proves that Leo Kottke is amusing, can sing, write songs and skillfully play the steel strung acoustic guitar like no other on earth - this man, yes, can do all these things.


One Guitar, All Vocals
This album features his gifts with his second instrument--his voice. Everyone knows what a talented guitarist Kottke is. Sure, his trademark guitar sound is there on every track, but these are all vocal tracks and his voice is used to wonderful effect. Some fans may feel this was a wrong-headed turn for Kottke, but it shouldn't have come as a surprise. Go back to Kottke's 1974 Ice Water and listen to "Tilt Billings and the Student Prince" and you hear the genesis for this album. I've always loved Kottke's voice as well as his guitar playing. As such, this is one of my favorite albums. RECOMMENDED.


not what I would expect
Why Oh Why does a drum track show up with his work? I'm spoiled by "One Guitar, No Voice" perhaps but this has no "driving solo" if you will excuse the cliche, nor does it satisfy. I've always loved leo's guitar standing alone. It's like committee Kottke if you will. Backup singers, flute (although i kindda liked that; i play)and the drumming. Leo carries a pulse all of his own and i think putting other percussion instruments in his mix obscures his sound. Had i known i would have bought the Stevie Nicks album i was also considering, i could only afford one. . . . . peace-ken.


You can see a complete list of all Leo Kottke discography, or go back to the Leo Kottke 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 ]