Fretplay.com Chris Rea CD reviews Chris Rea guitar tabs Chris Rea CD reviews Chris Rea tabs Espresso Logic


Chris Rea - Espresso Logic Audio CD

A fair review of the Chris Rea "Espresso Logic" 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 Chris Rea reviews here, or go back to the Chris Rea tabs.

Chris Rea Band: Chris Rea
Title: Espresso Logic
Rating:
Release Date: 1994-03-08
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Espresso Logic 2: Julia 3: Soup of the Day 4: If You Were Me - Elton John, Chris Rea 5: Johnny Needs a Fast Car 6: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 7: God's Great Banana Skin 8: Miles Is a Cigarette 9: Summer Love 10: Red 11: She Closed Her Eyes

Logic and Beyond
The music is thoughtful, tuneful, off the beaten path. I happened to buy my first Chris Rea album at a Half Price Book Store and became a fan. "Espresso Logic" is the best.


Different version of Euro release
The edition I have is all new material which I think makes it superior to the rehash of God's Great Banana Skin that the album here presents. I have a German release of Espresso Logic which has a different track line-up and some completely different songs.
Nonetheless, Espresso Logic is a nice album in either form. You could say it's just more of the same from Chris Rea, and I have noticed that he uses the same riff again and again. The riff on Johnny Needs a Fast Car was used before on the songs Auberge and Just Wanna Be With You (from The Road to Hell). But it's a nice riff.
Chris always starts his albums well. The title track is a pleasant moody intro to the album, and Julia, the obvious single, is a strong pop song with an infectious drum line. On the Euro release, Julia only turns up later (beginning of side two on the LP version). Soup of the Day is more true blues, as are some of the latter songs (New Way and Stop, which are not on this version) The aforementioned Johnny Needs a Fast Car is a catchy piece, another one of my favorites.
God's Great Banana Skin and Miles is a Cigarette were repeated here from the 'Banana Skin album for some reason. If You Were Me is from Elton John's Duets album, probably included here just to please commercial listeners.


Rea continues to defy logic
If you can listen to She Closed Her Eyes without a shiver and a sigh, you aren't paying attention. Espresso Logic is different enough from his other CD's to keep your attention, yet retains enough of the voice and guitar to continue to define Chris Rea as one of a kind. A must for fans, and a good place to start for the newcomer.


Rea still making strong records...
The songs are generally more pop friendly and the lyrical commentary is brighter and more trival. Espresso Logic finds Chris Rea taking life a little less serious than on his last two releases. Sometimes that doesn't work to good effect, like on "Julia" for example. But Rea maintains his moments of moody atmospherics, such as the dream-like intro to "Espresso Logic" and on "Miles is a Cigarette," both being fine songs. Rea should have made the Top 40 on some format or another with "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" and the spectacular riffery towards the end of that track. Much the same could be said for "Johnny needs a Fast Car. " If you only are familiar with Rea's work through "The Road to Hell" and found that album interesting, it would be worth your while to track this one down.


Chris Rea at his BEST
The duet with Elton John, "If You Were Me" is a must for any collection. With such a variety of tunes, I find this to be the best work yet.


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