Search - Jack Rose :: Two Originals

Excellent Album But Not Recommended as a First Buy.

William J. Walker | England | 10/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I got this album having been blown away by the quality of his more recent Kensington Blues which, I would say, is the better album. I've seen him referred to as 'the natural heir of John Fahey'. He certainly manages to evoke the memory of Fahey, Basho and (Sandy)Bull, blending a Mississippi blues drawl, folky americana, eastern and other more obscure influences to create wonderfully rich pieces of, at times, almost classically symphonic structure. All this is combined with the supreme technical virtuosity of, say, Leo Kottke.



This release compiles his two early LPs (Red Horse, White Mule and Opium Musick) recorded for the Eclipse label, that had become impossible to get hold of. Not surprisingly there is a lot of music here which makes it quite difficult to take in. So intense is the listening experience, it can be almost draining to listen to the whole album in one sitting, but by goodness it can be a rewarding one.



There are sprawling epics and a couple of delightful vignettes. Overall I would say this has a slightly 'cooler' feel than his later work, with an, at times, almost hypnotic quality, particularly on the longer tracks. Most importantly this album is a 'grower' and requires some perseverance.



This is an excellent album but I would strongly suggest getting Kensington Blues first and if you enjoy that as much as I did you won't need further persuasion to buy this."

Fahey style: American Primitive Guitar

J. Scott Moore | Longmont, CO USA | 11/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a CD that has it all. 12 string guitar, slide and good old Takoma style 6 string work. I think this is a very accessible work by Rose for anyone that is more than a little familiar with John Fahey. Of course it does have some longer pieces that are improvisational in nature; I think they hold up well. Go to the label site and check out all three of Rose's releases. VHFrecordsdotcom has sound samples, a comprehensive review AND...hold on to your hat! A GREAT price! I bought all three Rose CD's for 30 bucks, including shipping! Amazon is a good site, but hey, why are the discs more than 50% more? Please, that is ridiculous! Check out his other titles for my reviews on those, as well."

Evolution of the Older Masters

John A. Sargent III | 10/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If You have enjoyed the musical mysteries of John Fahey, Robbie Basho, Sandy Bull, then You are in for a delightful treat. Mr Jack Rose draws from ragtime, raga, drone, country blues, etc... synthesizing a terrific stew of transcendant acoustic improvisational compositions. This music takes You places far and near, the past and maybe the future... beautiful stuff."