Search - Orianthi :: Violet Journey

Find Out Why Carlos Santana and Paul Reed Smith Say This Gir

Jerry D. Neal | Grand Rapids, MI USA | 08/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are very few guitarists, artists, songwriters, or albums that really matter. Albums where the musician is so good, the songs are so well crafted, the band works so well, the production is so top-notch, that everything else you listen to completely pales by comparison.



I recently made a list for a friend, of very best albums ever made (I figured he was smart enough to guess Sgt. Pepper)



On the list were things like:

Buffalo Springfield Again

Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale

Love's Forever Changes and Da Capo

Jeff Beck's Truth and Who Else!

Eric Johnson's Ah Via Musicom

Elegant Gypsy by Al DiMeola

the Mahavishnu Orchestra's Between Nothingness and Eternity

Caravanserai, Lotus, Borboletta, and Illuminations by Santana

the first Shakti album

Love Devotion Surrender by Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin

A Long Time Comin' by the Electric Flag

the Bluesbreakers album by John Mayall and Eric Clapton

Are You Experienced? and Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix

High 61 Revisted by Bob Dylan



And right alongside those albums was Violet Journey by Orianthi.



This wonder from down under named Orianthi has been playing since the age of four, classically trained, and has been writing and recording her own albums for years.



I've been playing guitar for 36 years, and when by chance I landed on a web page playing "Lights of Manos," from this album, I was stunned.



By the time I had heard four notes I realized I was hearing something completely unique and way better than anything else out there, period.



"Lights of Manos" and the videos I saw on YouTube set some pretty doggone high expectations.



So I discovered who it was I was listening to--this Orianthi. Someone who appeared at NAMM onstage with Carlos Santana, and elsewhere with Steve Vai. Someone who Carlos Santana was saying was the only and the best new guitarist worth considering, who Paul Reed Smith himself said "will just blow your mind."



Well, after hearing this album just once, I have to say it. CARLOS AND PAUL WERE RIGHT.



This album exceeded those high expectations. It has completely blown my mind.



This is an album, an artist, a guitarist who matters. Who matters enough to go on stage this year--unknown--at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival.



There's not a single song on this CD that doesn't work, not a single solo that doesn't hit the perfect spot, not a single vocal that isn't perfect, not a single tone that doesn't give you an audio orgasm.



Frankly, since I got it I have not been able to put it down. I have not been able to stop playing it.



Orianthi does a whole lot more or this album than just play the hell out of her Paul Reed Smith like absolutely nobody else. She sings and writes just as well as she plays.



Except for the drums on two songs and one background vocal, Orianthi played every single note on this album HERSELF--bongos, drums, keyboards, acoustic guitar, synthesizers--EVERYTHING. She even produced, engineeered and mastered the whole thing.



So get yourself a copy of this monster album by this absolute monster of a guitarist, and find out what Carlos Santana and Paul Reed Smith are raving about.



The monster artist we've been waiting for has arrived. Her name is Orianthi."

She does it all

S. Becker | Keller, TX | 04/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a cd that the more you listen, the more you'll be amazed. First, Orianthi's guitar playing will astound you, then her singing and song writing kicks in and finally, once you realize she played all the instruments and sang all of the vocals (OK at least 99% of them) and did this as a teenager, you know the future is going to be big for her. She plays and sings from the heart. Santana-esque guitar licks, vocal range from Michelle Branch's innocence to in your face rock to soulful blues - she truly is the total package. Enjoy!"

Jimi Hendrex move over

Fret Freak | Phoenix AZ USA | 11/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This prodigy from Austrailia lives up to her reputation on this CD.

The guitar playing moves from eloquent to firey. If you are looking for some solid, creative, lift you out of your seat guitar, this is it.

It is little wonder why Steve Vai had her as his warm up on his American Tour."