Search - Steve Salas :: Back From the Living

Little known album, but he is fantastic

02/27/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It took two or three listens, but this is a damn fine record. I thought Stevie Salas was just a guitar hero, and he is that, but his songwriting and melodies are strong too. At times he reminds me of an inverted Lenny Kravitz: Lenny sings just a little better than Stevie (but not much!) and Stevie plays guitar better than Lenny (a lot better!). Granted, their not clones of each other by any stretch of the imagination, but it's the only comparison I can think of. Either way, Stevie Salas is the complete rock package with songs, vocals and great guitar playing.This record rocks HARD most of the time and Stevie plays mean funk guitar with some sizzle to it. Tell Your Story Walkin', Start Again, Crack Killed Applejack and Born to Mack are funky as hell and the guitar solos absolutely wail. He does a good job of taking the best bits of 70s, 80s and 90s rock guitar and blending them into a great modern yet familiar sound. I hear Hendrix, Eddie Hazel, Vernon Ried and Dave Navarro all in there a little bit, but ultimately he is his own man. There are some pretty songs on here like I Once Was There and The Lying Truth and he pulls these off just as well as the heavier stuff. The only tune I didn't care for is Amelia.I'd only heard rumors about Stevie Salas and bought this record without hearing it. I was very pleasantly surprised. I can't believe this guy hasn't made it in the US and that's a shame. I look forward to hearing more of his records, but most of them are very expensive imports. It might be worth it to support a guy like him though instead of some of the modern garbage that's out there. Check him out and support real talent!"

WHAT A TALENT - WHAT A MUSO

HANS D HARMS | runaway bay, QLD Australia | 08/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not only is this man a monster guitarist, he writes some of the most diverse and almost uniformly interesting material. The chops are all there, but they are not the sole purpose for the musik. Every song tells a story, and tells it well. Great imagery and some very unorthodox compositions as well as the all out tear up rockers. He does it all and better than most. It may take a few listens, but after a while, every song will connect with you and reveal depth that you at first did not notice. No stupid jock rock here. Great musik, blistering guitar virtuosity. If that sounds like you, don't miss out on this."