"Badge," "Keep on Runnin'" and "For the Love of Money" sound like decent covers of the originals, but they don't break any new ground. (They sound like a good bar band covering tunes any night of the year in any number of cities across the country.) I think Robben should steer clear of covers of contemporary cover tunes which unavoidably risk comparison to the original version, and instead go back much further for obscure tunes like "You Got Me Knocking" from "Supernatural": an early sixties soul song that was never much heard even in its original version. There is just no way Robben can take on the O'Jays or Spencer Davis Group in the vocals, or Cream for that matter, without coming up short. On the other hand, "Me and My Woman" and "Homework" have not been so widely heard that Robben will inevitably be compared to the original version. Original tunes like "Bonnie" are great. Overall, "Keep on Runnin" lacks the freshness of "Talk to Your Daughter," or the polish of "Supernatural," or the excitement of "Tiger Walk," or the musicality of "Handful of Blues." Still, it's Robben, and I'll keep listening.
Overall, "Keep on Runnin" lacks the freshness of "Talk to Your Daughter," or the polish of "Supernatural," or the excitement of "Tiger Walk," or the musicality of "Handful of Blues." Still, it's Robben, and I'll keep listening.
I only got the CD a couple of days ago ( thanks to the supplier by the way, you know who you are ) and I would totally agree with what gitarz*r*us wrote, according to what I have heard ( only listened to it 3 times so far ). It seems that Robben is heading toward simpler stuff : simpler songs, simplers arrangements, simpler playing, simpler tone... This began with "Blue Moon" for me , and "Keep on Runnin'" does further in this direction. I cannot find find anymore what was making Robben music so exciting to me . It was bluesy, yet funky, yet jazzy, with some flashy guitar , but not in excess, just enough to give you goosebumps at the right times...and I cannot find any of this on this release, no "Ain't got nothing but the blues" or "Top of the Hill" in sight. The great guitar moments seem to be kept for projects like Jing Chi, but not for his personal stuff anymore. Even his tone has changed, not always for the good imho. Anyway, this is his vision and I respect that. But I know that this one will not be in heavy rotation in my home or car CD player.
Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Posts: 21 Location: Aarhus, Denmark
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2003 11:47 pm Post subject:
PierreL:
[quote] It seems that Robben is heading toward simpler stuff : simpler songs, simplers arrangements, simpler playing, simpler tone...
PierreL:
[quote]I cannot find find anymore what was making Robben music so exciting to me . It was bluesy, yet funky, yet jazzy, with some flashy guitar , but not in excess, just enough to give you goosebumps at the right times...and I cannot find any of this on this release, no "Ain't got nothing but the blues" or "Top of the Hill" in sight. The great guitar moments seem to be kept for projects like Jing Chi, but not for his personal stuff anymore. Even his tone has changed, not always for the good imho.
Then prepare for the live versions
Live he seems to be at the top of his musical life !!!!
The courage to play Badge live is admireable. Especially that tune brought back memorys of his enterpretation of Politician (Cream).
Rasmus Andersen, Denmark
Breaks my heart to read the posts above since we are probably the most die-hard Robben fans, but I have the same feeling. I miss the FIRE of the earlier albums. My favs span from the first Blue Line album up til Tiger Walk. The last couple of albums, with the exception of some songs like Lovin' Cup, have been to polished and lacked the "fire". Some songs stand out but in general it just makes me feel "neutral"
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 9:53 am Post subject: Simpler material on the new CD...
So here are a couple of things I'd like to toss out for comment:
1) Do you all think that Robben may be actively trying to establish himself as a more "mainstream" (i.e., better paid and recognized!) artist with the last three albums or so?
Perhaps he is really just looking to crack through that barrier and get a grammy-type recording, with the attendant airplay at the next level of general popularity? And therefore not specifically looking to appeal to the same type of Blue Line crowd as he has in the past...
If that were a career strategy of mine, I would probably also look for simpler, more accessable material to the mainstream audience. Like folks that gravitate more towards Buddy Guy/BB King/Robert Cray/SRV, etc. No disrespect intended...
He currently does have more of a rep as a guitar god and tone guy than a popular mainstream blues artist and songwriter. Maybe he's getting tired of a bunch of 40-something guys always crowding up to the front of the stage all trying to get a glimpse of his pedalboard settings? ; )
2) Just a general commentary: Personally, I love all of the new albums (Supernatural, Blue Moon, and Keep on Runnin'), but I have the good fortune to be able to see him around 8 - 10 times a year on the west coast, so my experience with his music is always the same: he just kicks ass live. I really don't care what tunes he plays - they are all just blank canvases when he is doing his stage thing.
However, for an audience whose experience is more defined by the studio stuff, there be an entirely different perspective.
Any thoughts on the above? _________________ - Mayer
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 328 Location: The Netherlands
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 10:19 am Post subject:
Very sharp put, Mayer!! This is a perfect reflection of may view to this matter.
Although I posted my opinion about the new album several times already on this forum, and thought of it never to write about Keep On Running again, I cannot ignore your statements.
I'm getting the same feelings towards Robben's music as you do during the last few days, and I only see Robben once a year at most! That's the reason I still cannot believe people on this forum dislike this album! Again and again, and I keep repeating myself, I like this record a lot!!!! It's wonderful to hear him playing the music he grew up with! (we all did)
One does not have to like everything the man does, but I'm interested in the person Robben Ford; his music; his guitar-playing and his gear. In that order.
I will visit his concert in Amsterdam on november 4th, and I'm pretty sure he will kick ass! I hope to meet him, so I can tall him in person how I feel about his new album!!
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 534 Location: SF Bay area
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 11:23 am Post subject: Standing in the front at Robben concerts...
I had to laugh when I read your post, Mayer. I see Robben as many, if not more times per year, than you do, and I stand right up in the front, but I never look at his pedals. I do often notice the shoes he is wearing though. I love to watch his hands. _________________ www.elizabethgage.com
Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 27 Location: Trieste, Italy
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 1:41 am Post subject: Just bought "Keep on Running"
Hi to everybody reading (this is my first post). I guess I'm the newest member!
Well, I bought Keep on Running yesterday (European version)
So, this is what I think:
How to listen to Robben Ford's "Keep on Running":
LOUD! VERY Loud - it's a blast!
I won't miss the concert in Venice (minus 17 days). I will try and take (and post) some pictures if they let me in with a camera...
Ciao, Suzie
Mayer, of course as an artist, Robben has the right to lead his career whichever way he feels is good for him, I respect that. I can understand that being labeled as a guitar player mainly can be frustrating for him. As far as I am concerned, I am more disappointed with the songs than with the playing, I just do not really relate to them, whereas I thought that Supernatural is his best album songwriting wise, yet it is not as guitar intensive as some of his previous records. Anyway, I will listen to this album again and again, 'cause I am just a huge fan , but maybe not as much as I thought I that I would.
I am sure that he will kick ass live, as he always does . Shame that I will not be able to see him this year, I wish there would have been more than one french gig
OK, I've had it for a couple of weeks now, and have played it a lot, trying to warm-up to it. It's starting to grow on me, but the arrangements just don't do much for me.
There's some moments of great playing, for sure, but no really "inspired" playing, IMO, which is what I've come to expect from Robben...
Keepers, to me, include Keep on Running (somewhat undecided still); Homework; Peace, Love and Understanding; Cannonball Shuffle; Bonnie; and maybe Me and My Woman.
I'll certainly keep listening, and I'll sure keep seeing him in concert any chance I can... _________________ Regards, Dave Orban
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 9:51 am Post subject: Lacking the fire...
Well, I agree that I like the new disc. I just don't love it though. Badge is one of my favorite tunes, but I don't see that Robben did anything unique with it. I'll bet it will be kick-ass live, but this whole disc just doesn't grab me like the opening strains of Rugged Road did. He also did a phenomenal version of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. Then his playing it live was even more phenomenal! That's the Robben I want see/hear. I liked Blue Moon for the same reasons, that the tunes and the playing were good, and it's good to hear him get back to more R&B music, but the tunes and the playing just aren't grabbing me enough to keep coming back to these discs. It seems that if he mixed in some of the moodiness from Tiger Walk with the vocal tunes, these discs would have it made. If Robben wants to play the blues, which he obviously excels at, then I feel that Handful Of Blues is the direction to keep going in. If he keeps shifting gears like this, I don't believe he's going to keep a very large fan base going. After grooving to Talk To Your Daughter, Handful Of Blues, Blues Collection, and Tiger Walk, a disc like Supernaturaldoesn't cut it.
That's my own feelings, though. If he'd rather have a little bit of everyone check out his discs rather than a solid fan base that loves everything he does, then he should keep doing what he's doing.
Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 10 Location: Vancouver BC
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2003 5:57 pm Post subject:
I finally found the new CD in Bellingham this past weekend. I like it and will probably love it done live but it sure didn't blow me away like Blue Moon did on the first listen. Is it my imagination or are Robben's vocals realllllly smooth on this CD? I've seen him 4 times now and it just didn't sound quite like him. I love his voice when I see him perform and thought he sounded the same on Blue Moon as he did in person but there is something different about the new one. Awe, but the playing - it is fabulous as always!
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