Search - Robert Cray :: Time Will Tell

Take it from a pro. Cray's the real deal.

Kevin L. Junemann | Midwest USA | 04/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Being a working professional musician I am always looking for music that is true and inspiring. Regardless of if you are a blues fan or not, Robert Cray is one of the best performers out there in any genre. His recent work (Midnight Stroll and newer) leans more towards soul than traditional blues. The subject matter is your typical "she done me wrong" blues cannon but he sells it like it should be sold. It's completely genuine. He's an incomparable vocalist who sings like a bird. His guitar playing, while on the surface seeming simple, portrays exactly the proper "feeling" for the arrangement and song. His playing is a statement; emotionally mature and marked by brevity. It does what music is supposed to do, express feelings that words cannot. It doesn't suffer from the continuous, spaceless, blues-chops-heavy solos that most post-SRV blues players suffer from. This isn't music for chops-meisters. I've seen his live show and it's better live. Great guitar tone, super solid band, it's one of the best shows you'll see. If you're a fan of the groove and soul music check it out. I've seen reviews of this album that pan it strictly for the political subject matter of one of the songs. If you are that easily offended you may want to stick to reading as a hobby. Personally, I don't think that "Ya take a little school boy / and teach him who to hate / then you send him to the desert / for the oil near Kuwait" is too far off base. That's just my opinion. Listen for yourself."

No Strong Persuader but Good Nevertheless!

Frederick Baptist | Singapore | 12/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Robert Cray is a leading light of his genre; way back when I first heard "Strong Persuader" and "Who's Been Talking" I was struck by just how good this guy was in making what had become stale sound fresh and new again. Even the top proponent of the electric blues at the time and probably ever, Eric Clapton, thought so as he publicly announced at the time that he was a fan.



Now we get on his new record label, Sanctuary, something different but still fresh-sounding, reviving what for him has started becoming stale. This is Robert Cray still showing great feel for the blues but with a little bit of soul influences which results in a refreshing twist to what we have become accustomed to from Cray. This album is an attempt to get out of a rut and no one can blame any self-respecting musician for trying new things instead of selling-out and sticking with what is safe all the time.



I note one reviewer expressing disgust at Cray's views on the war and national policy; it's really amazing to me that in a country which prides itself on its liberties and the Bill of Rights that a citizen cannot freely express his views in his album but you guys treat a Canadian, Neil Young, like a hero for doing just that. I believe he has an album out now that is extremely critical of U.S. Foreign Policy.



Anyways, as to the album itself, I was impressed with the musicianship and composition of all the tracks and I couldn't find anything that remotely resembles filler material although granted this is not as good as "Strong Persuader" but this is still a good album. The packaging is also refreshingly different from the old jewel casing as this album comes in cardboard gatefold sleeve with an 8-page colour booklet of photos and cd credits included. The sound quality is also very good reflecting great mastering and sound production too.



Recommended."

No sellout here..

...... | Brooklyn, N.Y. United States | 06/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""I'm so glad to be here today"

"The good old days were such a waste of time"

"surviver,you got to choose"

The song is much more than an Anti war song.

"Back Door Slam",is another bomb,in a good way.

"What you need,is a good man" is another vintage Cray band track.



This is real music for real people.

No one could ever sway me...

"