Hard Believer was produced by John Porter (B.B. King, Elvis Costello, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo, The Smiths, Otis Rush, Billy Bragg, Roxy Music) and recorded in Castro's hometown of San Rafael, California. The album is anchored by... more » Castro's soul-baring songs, filled with profound emotion and fueled by Castro's powerful vocals and propulsive rhythms. "If there's no groove there," Castro told Guitar Player, "I can't sink my teeth into it." On Hard Believer, there are plenty of satisfying grooves to bite down on. But what really drives the songs home is Castro's telepathic interaction with his band. The group operates as a single engine, firing on all cylinders, sometimes pushing the pedal to the floor, other times slowing things down for a simmering ballad.« less
Hard Believer was produced by John Porter (B.B. King, Elvis Costello, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo, The Smiths, Otis Rush, Billy Bragg, Roxy Music) and recorded in Castro's hometown of San Rafael, California. The album is anchored by Castro's soul-baring songs, filled with profound emotion and fueled by Castro's powerful vocals and propulsive rhythms. "If there's no groove there," Castro told Guitar Player, "I can't sink my teeth into it." On Hard Believer, there are plenty of satisfying grooves to bite down on. But what really drives the songs home is Castro's telepathic interaction with his band. The group operates as a single engine, firing on all cylinders, sometimes pushing the pedal to the floor, other times slowing things down for a simmering ballad.
"A change in record labels has certainly not done much to change the Tommy Castro band. Not a bad thing mind you. Coming on the heels of the excellent 2007 Painkiller, this disc does a terrific job of capturing the band's energetic live sound. A phenomenal cover of Allen Toussaint's "Victims of the Darkness" is the highlight of arguably the bands best disc in years. The not so hidden treasure is the incomparable sax man Keith Crossen, who's work is brilliant throughout. Castro's lead guitar work is tight and economical, no wasted notes here. At times John Porter's production smooths out the rough edges of this potent brew of soul infused blues, but be it the slow shuffle of the title track or the funky reading of Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody", the band is in top form from beginning to end. The BB King entertainers of the year for 2008 have put the party on cd. Let the fun begin."
Hard Believer Delivers Over and Over
Robert Weaver Jr. | South Florida | 09/16/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tommy Castro delivers a great combination of originals and uniquely arranged covers on "Hard Believer". If you like the blues or soul or R&B or rock&roll, you will like this CD. Tommy's guitar riffs, his soulful vocals, and the horn arrangements come together beautifully to provide a number of tracks that you will want to listen to over and over. Tommy has risen to the occassion to pen some really good songs for this CD with "Definition of Insanity","Monkey's Paradise", and "Trimmin' Fat" standouts in my mind. Throw in a rocking blue eyed cover of a Wilson Pickett classic, a moving version of an Allen Toussaint number, and a fresh approach to Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" and you've got a CD that covers all the bases. Best of all, I am so glad Tommy put "It Is What It Is" on this CD. What a fitting tribute to the late guitar legend and inspiration to many, Stephen Bruton."
You can't just rip one or two/
D. Young | 09/11/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You don't want to rip one or two songs, you want to listen to all of it. One of Tommy's best yet."
Can't miss---R&B w/sax!
Mac Dean | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 08/22/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
Tommy Castro vocally ABSOLUTELY CHANNELS the late Wilson Pickett on "Ninety-Nine-and-a-Half". I'm writing this review on 8/22/09....next Fri (8/28) he's appearing at a club here (Albuquerque) and WE WILL "get up and boogie" when he plays "Make It Back To Memphis". Haven't been to ANY concert/show in YEARS, but the moment I heard he's coming I said "I'm there!""