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What To Do When Buying A Bass Guitar

The bass guitar is very much like a slightly larger version of an electric guitar, but it usually only has four strings and also has a longer neck and a slightly wider body. Anyone learning to play the bass (or planning to) needs to first understand the instrument’s place in a band – IE – what it’s main purpose is, and secondly to understand the different techniques employed for the different genres of music played by the band.

Bass playing has some interesting techniques associated with it that also have unusual names. For example, ‘slapping’ is achieved by (usually) striking the E string (normally the ‘bottom’ string – IE – the ‘widest’ one that plays the lowest notes but appears to be the ‘uppermost’ string when the guitar is strapped on and the strings are viewed) with the thumb towards the neck of the instrument. The thumb is then pulled away quickly. If you listen to any ‘funk’ music, you will hear this technique being employed quite a lot.

Another of the bass techniques is called popping. This is done by slipping one of the fingers right underneath the string and then pulling it outwards and releasing it so that it pops back. Both of these techniques (slapping and popping) can be used effectively by alternating between one and the other. Obviously, this can be done a lot more quickly than repeatedly doing the one technique with either just the thumb or just the finger.

The main backbone of a band is made up of the bass guitar working closely with the drummer. This section provides the rhythm, the main melody and the basic harmonic foundation for the rest of the band who play chords over the top of this foundation. Obviously, the bassist therefore needs to have particularly good timing. You will normally find more men than women playing the bass, not least because of how thick the strings are, therefore it needs a reasonable amount of finger strength and toughness to be able to play the instrument for very long periods of time without causing injury. It is more likely to be the case if it is a particularly aggressive, rapid style of bass playing required for that type of music.

Also many larger built men find that their finger tip size, hand size and limb length make it much more comfortable and productive for them to choose the bass rather than the electric guitar. Specifically, a rhythm guitarist will quite often only play chords, which require hand dexterity and ideally, thin fingers. So for someone with big ‘sausage’ fingers, who also might be a little more ‘clumsy’ than others, the bass is the best solution as they may find normal Guitar Playing quite frustrating.

Bass guitars can be played using the index and middle finger in alternate ‘plucks’. The thumb is often rested on the top of the pick-up nearest the middle in order to support these two fingers while playing. But the bass can also be played with a pick (or plectrum). There is also a pick that is made specifically for the bass which is larger than a typical guitar pick.|Bass guitars are most usually played by using the middle finger plus the index finger to alternatively pluck the strings. The thumb is usually used as a support and is most commonly rested just on top of the pick-up. You can also play the bass guitar with a pick (otherwise known as a plectrum) and there are bass pics manufactured specifically for the bass guitar-these are thicker and more sturdy than the typical electric guitar pick.}

If you are looking to buy a bass guitar on the internet, some good tips are to check that the sender will be using adequate packaging to protect the item in transit. Also, you should view pictures of the guitar closely if it is second-hand in order to try and find any marks or other giveaway signs that the instrument has been mis-treated or dropped, as any damage could affect the quality of the sound produced by it.

As with any online purchase, particularly if it isn’t cheap, one should take great care to examine the credentials of the seller (if it’s on eBay) or website. Look into their selling history, check their refund policy and look for any other information that will help you to make a safe and satisfying purchase.

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Cheap $12.78 The mysterious Seasick Steve does indeed offer a brand of “cheap” juke joint blues on this album. Not that it’s badly recorded at all; it’s just rather skeletal and rough, Steve fronting a core trio of himself on electric guitar, “Mr. Joe H.” on stand-up bass, and “Mr. Kai C.” on drums. In the 1990s and early 21st century, this is the kind of raw juke joint stuff that underwent a revival, or at least was recorded far more often than it had been, both by oldsters and youngsters. Seasick Steve’s somewhere in the middle of that age range, and while what he devises is acceptable and certainly gritty, it would have been more ear-catching had it come out ten years or so earlier, before other people did similar stuff (and sometimes did it better). The songs are basic, repetitive, and slightly grungy, Steve singing in a lived-in, scratchy, at times mumbly voice that might slightly remind you of Tom Waits and Dr. John at times, though it’s not really that close to either of them. The program’s interrupted by a couple of rambling spoken monologues about the hard-living hobo life, and the songs tend to ramble on without saying much as well. The result is a record that’s at once idiosyncratically down-home and kind of forgettable, somewhat akin to listening to the semi-improvised busking of a Mississippi electric blues trio, playing for passerby waiting on the platform for the next train out of town. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi Performers: Seasick Steve – Guitar

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Talk Is Cheap $6.38 Seventeen-year-old singer/songwriter Dave Melillo will make you wish you were in high school — or at least at an age where summers are still carefree days of wasting time with friends and navigating through butterflies-in-the-stomach relationships. His earnest Drive-Thru debut, Talk Is Cheap, is an acoustic and piano-tinged homage to restless youth that is ready for the embracement of his pop-punk brethren — and not just the ones going through excruciating break-ups. It’s hardly a shock that Jamie Wisner, the man behind the controls for Dashboard Confessional’s first albums, produced the EP. His skill is perfect for the job, as Melillo’s music is based in the same school of heartfelt rock that can simultaneously burst with bright passion on one track and strip back down to an emoting voice and six-strings on the next. As is the case, the EP sounds like the result of early Dashboard and the Starting Line blended into one fresh-faced emo milk shake with a touch of the Rocket Summer’s boyish charm sprinkled on top for taste. Though the styling is similar, it’s this combination that keeps the young songwriter a step past being another sulking Chris Carrabba acoustic clone: Basically, he just seems happier. Of course, love still hurts (“Sam’s Song,” “Morris County Blues”), but it’s when Melillo unaffectedly addresses more age-specific topics like moving on past high school and appreciating one’s youth that he shines. Quirky keyboards and handclaps help “Vatican Roulette” explore the awkwardness of a guy losing his virginity by following the naïve bravado of the drunken, noteworthy night, while “Knights of the Island Counter” is simply a summery ode to being young and enjoying life. Simple and pretty straightforward in his delivery, the not-yet-legal Melillo still has room to grow past the obvious hallmarks driving Drive-Thru’s roster and the Dashboard Confessional branch of emo. But he’s just getting started, and Talk Is Cheap is encouraging in that he has already found more to say outside of yesterday’s broken heart. ~ Corey Apar, Rovi Performers: Dave Melillo – Vocals, Guitar, Piano; James Paul Wisner – Piano, Guitar; Matt Mendes – Guitar (Bass)

Two Guitars $8.79 Tom Eno returns to Jack to Phono to follow up his first single La Barajadura. Two Guitars is a more uptempo return to action for the green fingered Winchester wonder. The track is so named as Tom uses two guitar riffs in the melody along with his trademark percusion. The other side features the track Estrella. Both tracks retain Latin elements with masses of Spanish guitar, clicks and claps. The version of Estrella exclusively features exciting up and coming German label Jazz & Milk. We are delighted that Dusty agreed to remix Estrella for this vinyl release. He adds Jazz & Milks bass heavy sound dusted off with some flute action! We have added the original to our download release. Tom continues to turn heads with his laidback style and will be back in the autumn with new track Tijuana featuring guest vocalist Polly Wood.

Nashville Guitars $8.78 On Nashville Guitars, produced by noted session guitarist Louie Shelton (the Jackson Five, the Monkees), he contributes the up-tempo track “High Roller,” accompanied by ten more tracks from some of the finest pickers in Nashville. There isn’t a lackluster cut among these 11 tracks. Mark Casstevens contributes an acoustic picking masterpiece in “Cowtown,” this from a guitarist who can be heard on albums by folks like Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, and Amy Grant. Reggie Young (Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds”) shines at full luster on “Exit 209,” an easy listening number, and Ray Flacke smokes the fret board on “Templar Treasure.” The variety of tunes is obvious, but so is the immense amount of talent present here. All in all, Louie Shelton has produced a top-notch compilation of some of the best guitarists to gather on one album in quite some time. ~ Michael B. Smith, Rovi Performers: Bruce Watkins – Fiddle; Scott Sanders – Dobro; Bob Warren – Bass; Charlie Chadwick – Bass; Craig Nelson – Bass; Dave Francis – Bass; Dennis Belfield – Bass; Dug Grieves – Guitar; Duncan Mullins – Bass; Jimmy Carter – Bass;

Passionate Guitars $4.88 Bucky Pizzarelli joins his son (and fellow guitarist) John (whose trio includes brother Martin Pizzarelli on bass and pianist Ray Kennedy), plus fellow guitarist Gene Bertoncini and drummer Butch Miles for this swinging session that covers many different styles of jazz, though bossa nova is the flavor of the day. In addition to the usual standards from the genre, Latin-flavored arrangements of cool jazz (Gerry Mulligan’s “Line for Lyons”), swing (“I Found a New Baby”), and standards (George and Ira Gershwin’s “‘S Wonderful”) work every bit as well. A straight reissue of the earlier Groove Jams CD titled Passion Guitars, the only significant changes are new artwork and the deletion of the ridiculous “Easy Listening, Lite Jazz” from the cover, which probably caused many would-be buyers to think of it as smooth jazz pabulum. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi Performers: Bucky Pizzarelli – Guitar; Butch Miles – Drums; Gene Bertoncini – Guitar; John Pizzarelli – Guitar; Martin Pizzarelli – Bass

Stars & Guitars $11.14 Willie Nelson’s superstar guest album from 2002, The Great Divide, was promoted by a star-studded concert released later that year as Willie Nelson & Friends: Stars & Guitars. Some of the guests that fit well include Patty Griffin, Ray Price, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, and Vince Gill. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Performers: Kim Fleming – Vocals (Background); Mickey Raphael – Harmonica; Paul English – Drums (Snare); Robert Bailey, Jr. – Vocals (Background); Vicki Hampton – Vocals (Background); Bee Spears – Bass; Bill Evans – Saxophone; Billy Gene English – Percussion; Bobbie Nelson – Piano;

Best Of Cheap Trick $19.95 “By Cheap Trick. For guitars and voice. Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions. Hard Rock and Pop Rock. Difficulty: easy-medium. Guitar tablature songbook. Guitar tablature, standard notation, vocal melody, lyrics, chord names, guitar chord diagrams, black & white photos and guitar notation legend. 96 pages. Published by Hal Leonard”

Jam on Guitars $14.38 This compilation of some of the jammier guitar tracks culled from the prog-oriented Magna Carta label looks like a quickie job. There are no liner notes, credits list the musicians on each of the dozen tracks but oddly omit songwriters, and the cover art isn’t exactly world-class. Still, there is plenty to enjoy on this sampler likely thrown together with the hopes that once you get a taste for the featured tune, you’ll spring for the artist’s release. Names such as Steve Morse, Charlie Hunter, Alex Skolnick, and Will Bernard are likely familiar to shred and/or jazz guitar fans. Others, like Oz Noy, Chris Poland, Michael Lee Firkins, and Bill Cutler, not so much. The music ranges from the funky yet straight-ahead jazz of Skolnick’s “Scorch” to Fareed Haque’s east India drone “Gulab Jammin’,” and the Clinton Administration’s hard funk cover of “Flashlight.” All but one are instrumentals, the exception being the closing track, “Starlight Jamboree.” This ballad, credited to Bill Cutler, is a schmaltzy tribute to Jerry Garcia, who appears from the grave to donate an overdubbed solo. Despite good intentions, it’s the album’s weakest song by a large margin. Elsewhere, Tishamingo does a good approximation of Santana on “Rome,” and Ozric Tentacles takes off with its patented techno-space rock groove on “Disdots.” Mike Stern, who is oddly absent from the cover credits, spars with Oz Noy on the driving “Downside Up,” the disc’s longest, most intense, and arguably most complex performance. The eclectic nature of the selections works in favor of the album’s intent. Even though the styles and genres are varied, the focus on guitars and innovative playing remains constant. Despite its cut-rate appearance, this is a consistently enjoyable listen as a label sampler and should introduce at least a few new names to most jam guitar aficionados for further exploration. In that respect, mission accomplished. ~ Hal Horowitz, Rovi Performers: DJ Logic – Turntables; Barry Sless – Pedal Steel; Dan Nimmer – Fender Rhodes; Nathan Peck – Double Bass; Robert Walter – Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes, Organ (Hammond), Keyboards; Alex Skolnick – Guitar; Andy Hess – Bass; Anton Fig – Drums; Bill Cutler – Guitar, Vocals;

House of Guitars $13.58 Performers: Ed Gerhard – Hawaiian Guitar, Cumbus, Lap Steel Guitar, Slide Guitar, Bass, Guitar (Acoustic), Percussion, Guitar (12 String); Randy Roos – Guitar (Electric); Ray Brunelle – Drums

The Very Best of Cheap Trick $9.59 With their melodic pop song sense, driving guitars, and offbeat sense of absurd humor, Cheap Trick in many ways prefigured the alt rock explosion of the 1990s, and the best of their singles, most notably the catchy and clever “Surrender,” the sly “Dream Police,” and “I Want You to Want Me” have become staples of classic rock stations everywhere. This 15-song collection has all three of the above songs but lacks anything from the group’s late-’80s “comeback,” which was sparked by a charting version of Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” in 1988, making it somewhat of an incomplete portrait of this fine pop band. ~ Steve Leggett, Rovi

Girls with Guitars $13.57 On this trio album, Samantha Fish, Cassie Taylor, and Dani Wilde begin with the Rolling Stones’ “Bitch” and end with the Steve Miller Band’s “Jet Airliner,” each taking a verse. The rest of the album is devoted to original compositions written by one or the other of the performers in a variety of blues styles, and the instrumentation also varies, though Taylor (daughter of Otis Taylor, with whom she played extensively), as the bassist, appears on almost every track. The exception is also the only solo track, Wilde’s folk-blues number “Reason to Stay,” on which she plays Dobro. Wilde also takes much of the lead guitar work, with Fish getting lead work on her own “Come on Home” and “Wait a Minute,” as well as Taylor’s “Move On.” The switch-offs make for a good balance, and it’s not surprising that this triumvirate has toured together in Europe. The album should help make their names better known, but that also might reduce their impetus to stay together. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi Performers: Mike Zito – Slide Guitar; Cassie Taylor – Bass, Vocals; Dani Wilde – Guitar, Vocals; Jamie Little – Drums; Samantha Fish – Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals

Cheap Trick [1977] $6.38 Cheap Trick’s eponymous debut is an explosive fusion of Beatlesque melodic hooks, Who-styled power, and a twisted sense of humor partially borrowed from the Move. But that only begins to scratch the surface of what makes Cheap Trick a dynamic record. Guitarist Rick Nielsen has a powerful sense of dynamics and arrangements, which gives the music an extra kick, but he also can write exceptionally melodic and subversive songs. Nothing on Cheap Trick is quite what it seems. While the songs have hooks and attitude that arena rock was sorely lacking in the late ’70s, they are also informed by a bizarre sensibility, whether it’s the driving “He’s a Whore,” the dreamy “Mandocello,” or the thumping Gary Glitter perversion “ELO Kiddies.” “The Ballad of TV Violence” is about mass murder, while “Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School” concerns pedophiles. All of it is told with a sense of humor, but it doesn’t come off as cheap or smirking because of the group’s hard-rocking drive and Robin Zander’s pop-idol vocals. Even “Oh, Candy,” apparently a love song on first listen, is an affecting tribute to a friend who committed suicide. In short, Cheap Trick revel in taboo subjects with abandon, devoting themselves to the power of the hook, as well as sheer volume and gut-wrenching rock & roll — though the record is more musically accomplished than punk rock, it shares the same aesthetic. The combination of off-kilter humor, bizarre subjects, and blissful power pop made Cheap Trick one of the defining albums of its era, as well as one of the most influential. [The 1998 Epic/Legacy reissue of Cheap Trick features a different track sequence than the original and also adds several bonus tracks, many of which are previously unreleased.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Performers: Robin Zander – Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals; Bun E. Carlos – Drums; Rick Nielsen – Vocals, Guitar; Tom Petersson – Vocals, Guitar (Bass), Bass

Open Fire, Two Guitars $5.58 The open fire of the title is a warm hearth, not an invitation to gunplay. On this 1959 album, Johnny Mathis creates an atmosphere of fireside intimacy by dispensing with his usual orchestral accompaniment so that the purity of his voice entices the listener’s full attention. Al Caiola and Tony Mattola play the two guitars that supplement Mathis’ crooning, with an upright bass providing the album’s only other instrument. Producer Mitch Miller is often associated with gimmicky or novelty productions, but his work on Open Fire, Two Guitars is perfectly understated, emphasizing the gentle caress of Mathis’ voice over the relaxed counterpoint of the two guitars. The songs give prominence to the pop standards of Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, and the Gershwins, but the title track, “Open Fire,” is a new composition by Leiber & Stoller. The album’s effect seems nearly a cappella at times, but “In the Still of the Night” finds Mathis intoning the lyrics over gently rhythmic guitar figures that educe new harmonic complexities from a well-known song. The enduring popularity of Open Fire, Two Guitars is attributable in part to its hypnotic aura of closeness and confidentiality, but also to the simple instrumentation that appeals to many rock-era listeners’ preference for guitars over orchestral arrangements. ~ Greg Adams, Rovi Performers: Al Caiola – Guitar; Frank Carroll – Bass; Johnny Mathis – Vocals, Guitar; Milt Hinton – Bass; Tony Mottola – Guitar

Cheap at Half the Price [ReR] $14.38 After over two decades of being in print only intermittently thanks to Ralph Records’ ever-changing distribution systems, Fred Frith’s 1983 masterpiece Cheap at Half the Price was finally reissued in 2005 by Chris Cutler’s Recommended Records as part of an overall overhaul of Frith’s sometimes confusing solo catalog. The charmingly homemade-sounding Cheap at Half the Price, Frith’s first experiment with home recording on a four-track recorder, sounds like it was about equally inspired by the Residents and New Jersey-based cult hero R. Stevie Moore: the aggressively childlike “Cap the Knife” in particular has the Residents’ peculiarly antic quality, and Frith’s strained, oddly high-pitched vocals — which were heard for the first time on this album — occasionally recall Moore’s signature falsetto. An odd combination of sunny-sounding pop songs with disquietingly cynical lyrics (a mix best heard on the Robert Wyatt-like “Too Much Too Little”), Cheap at Half the Price is a perfect introduction to Frith for those who might find his more staid instrumental records a harder row to hoe. This Recommended reissue features different cover art and drops two inessential tracks, “True Love” and “Person to Person,” that were added to the original East Side Digital CD release. ~ Stewart Mason, Rovi Performers: Aksak Maboul – Clapping, Handclapping; Bill Laswell – Bass; Tina Curran – Bass

The Music of Cheap Trick $23.98 Sony’s budget-priced 2010 box Music of Cheap Trick offers three discs and 40 tracks of highlights from the band’s Epic recordings, balancing hits with alternate takes and album tracks. Since this isn’t exactly targeted at collectors, the variety comes across as a bit scattershot — it’s unclear just exactly why an alternate live version of “Ballad of TV Violence” is here, or the extra bridge version of “If You Want My Love” — and it errs a little bit toward the side of being even-handed, so there are more mid-‘80s cuts than perhaps there should be, but as a reasonably priced sampler, Music of Cheap Trick certainly does offer up quite a bit of good music. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Performers: Bun E. Carlos – Drums; John Brant – Bass; Rick Nielson – Guitar; Robin Zander – Vocals; Tom Petersson – Bass

Cheap Shots, Youth Anthems $12.78 East Coast hardcore powerhouse Kid Dynamite split up in 2000. Cheap Shots, Youth Anthems is a collection of rarities and liner note reminiscences from the bandmembers. The band’s hardcore energy and frenzied approach is evident throughout the 29 tracks. There are four “classic” cuts taken from the band’s two albums; five covers, including a rip-roaring “Hateful” by the Clash and tracks by Black Flag (“Rise Above”), the Circle Jerks (“Deny Everything”), Minor Threat (“I Don’t Wanna Hear About It”), and the Dead Kennedys (“Macho Insecurity”); six songs that were singer Jason Shevchuk’s audition for the band; seven demo outtakes (four of which were for songs that ended up on its first record); and seven songs recorded on 94 WYSP radio in Philadelphia. The disc also comes with a bonus DVD filled with live footage, show flyers, and other stuff. It is always nice when a band breaks up to have a disc that gathers up all the loose ends. When done right, it can ease the sting of loss for the fans and bring a sense of closure. Jade Tree and Kid Dynamite have done it right. Extra points for the hilarious tribute to the Who’s Odds & Sods on the CD’s cover. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi Performers: Dan Yemin – Guitar, Bass; David Wagenschutz – Drums; Jason Shevchuk – Vocals; Michael “Spider” Cotterman – Bass; Steve Ferrell – Bass

Cheap Thrills, Vol. 1 $15.18 Beneath the suitably massive, trashy-looking, superhero-sized letters of the title — which create the somewhat misleading if perhaps not unintentional impression of a disposable mass-market club comp — Cheap Thrills, Vol. 1 promises to provide “The Sound of the U.K.’s Leading Dance Label: A Mix of Ghetto Bass, House, Dubstep, Electro, B-More Club and Bassline.” The accuracy of the first claim may be up for debate, but there’s no question that this compilation is every bit as wide-ranging, heavy-hitting, and fist-poundingly, well, thrilling as advertised. Offering no shortage of sirens, fidgety electro breaks, and gloriously corny vocal interludes, and veering wildly (sometimes within a single track) from the grittiest, rawest throbbing dubstep bass to the glossiest, unabashedly poppy stadium-trance synths with no regard for the niceties of subgenre demarcations, the only constant among these tracks — apart from their compulsive, beats-forward danceability — is their utter lack of restraint. It’s an approach to dance music that’s been sorely underexploited since the big beat heyday of the late ’90s, and the lack of subtlety here is marvelously refreshing, particularly since it never comes at the expense of accessibility and tunefulness. Effectively a showcase for the imprint of the same name headed up by DJ/producer Joshua Harvey (aka Hervé, the Count, Action Man, Speaker Junk, etc., etc.), who has his hand as producer, remixer, or otherwise in nearly half of these tracks, Cheap Thrills is culled from the label’s first two years (2008-2009) of output, with eight additional exclusive cuts thrown in. Only ten tracks overlap (sometimes in remixed form) between the two discs (the first is unmixed, the second a relentlessly high-energy DJ mix by Hervé — obviously each has its place and purpose, but the mix is unquestionably the best way to experience this material), which means there are a generous 25 distinct tracks included across the 35 cuts. The quality remains impressively high throughout (though even the considerable variety may not stave off listener fatigue over two-plus hours of both discs), but definite standouts include Fake Blood’s bouncy, pouncy “Fix Your Accent,” Jack Beats’ cannily deployed dubstep wobbles on both “U.F.O.” and “Labyrinth,” the pounding filter-house of His Majesty André’s “Puppets,” and the cartoonish “tribal” drums and incessant builds of Hervé and Jack Beats’ “Rainstick.” ~ K. Ross Hoffman, Rovi

Mars Needs Guitars! $10.38 The Hoodoo Gurus followed the excellent Stoneage Romeos with the equally swell Mars Needs Guitars!, a second helping of Dave Faulkner’s wonderfully skewed kitsch-pop confections. While the band’s basic m.o. hasn’t changed all that much in the interim — ’60s-era pop, garage rock, and cowpunk remain their key musical reference points — Faulkner’s skills as a songwriter have grown perceptibly: the opening “Bittersweet” is an absolute gem, with other highlights like “Death Defying” and “Show Some Emotion” trailing not far behind. Also commendable is the Gurus’ sharp wit — from the hillbilly freakout of “Hayride to Hell” to the primitive B-movie stomp of the title track, their affection for the guilty pleasures of trash culture is infectious. Irresistible fun. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi Performers: Mark Kingsmill – Cymbals, Drums; Brad Shepherd – Harmonica, Harp, Guitar, Vocals; Clyde Bramley – Guitar (Bass), Bass, Vocals; David Faulkner – Guitar, Vocals

Shadow Play: Inspired Melodies for Harps, Guitars, and Bass $15.98 Description not provided.

Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. $7.18 Dwight Yoakam’s Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. began as an EP issued on the California Oak label. When Reprise signed him, they added four more tracks to the mix to round it out as an album. Yoakam, a Kentuckian, brought country music back into its own medium by reviving the classic Bakersfield sound with the help of his producer and lead guitarist, former Detroiter Pete Anderson. As a result, the “new traditionalist” movement was born, but Yoakam was always a cut or three above the rest, as this album displays in spades. Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. kicks off with a smoking cover of Johnny Horton’s “Honky Tonk Man,” a song now so closely associated with Yoakam, the original has all but been forgotten. But this is only the beginning. Yoakam’s own songs such as “Bury Me,” a duet with Maria McKee, and “South of Cincinnati” reference both the pastoral and dark sides of his native state. “South of Cincinnati” is a paean to those who left Kentucky for Ohio in search of jobs, and “Bury Me” celebrates the land itself. In addition, the title track, with Anderson’s Don Rich-influenced guitar style, walks the Buck Owens line until the line extends to Yoakam. With fiddles and backing vocals, Yoakam’s street poetry is both poignant and profound, built into a barroom anthem. In addition to this there is the gorgeous “Miner’s Prayer,” an acoustic number powered by dobro (courtesy of David Mansfield), flat-picked guitar, and Yoakam’s singing of his grandfather and generations like him who lived and died in the mines of Kentucky. Here Bill Monroe meets Ralph Stanley meets Bob Dylan. In the grain of Yoakam’s voice there isn’t one hint of irony, only empathy and raw emotion. Yoakam also does a more than acceptable version of June Carter’s “Ring of Fire,” the “Cherokee” of country music — meaning that if you can play it and pull it off, you’re taken seriously by the veterans. The album closes with the Harlan Howard classic “Heartaches by the Number.” Because of Ed Black’s steel playing, Brantley Kearns’ fiddle, and Anderson’s guitar, the accompaniment is stronger and far edgier than the Ray Price version, but from Yoakam’s throat comes an entirely different story than Price’s. In Price’s case the song was a plea; in Yoakam’s it’s a statement of fact. An astonishing debut, Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. changed the face of country music single-handedly and remains one hell of a party record.~ Thom Jurek, Rovi Performers: Pete Anderson – 6-String Bass, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Bass); Brantley Kearns – Fiddle, Vocals (Background); David Mansfield – Dobro, Mandolin; Dwight Yoakam – Vocals (Background), Vocals, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic);

Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels $11.18 With their tellingly titled debut album, Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels, Whitey Morgan & the 78s try to transform the Motor City into Music City (that’s Nashville, TN, for you Yankees out there). Surely no simple task, most would agree, but it seems that the Flint, MI-based quintet shares a singular obsession with the outlaw country movement, and, in the case of Morgan himself, an outright fixation on ol’ Waylon Jennings. Accordingly, this 2008 debut, though recorded entirely in the Michigan chill, never wanders north of the Mason-Dixon Line, musically speaking. On the one hand, it boasts numerous laconic acoustic guitar numbers spiked with wonderfully weepy pedal steel, including the wistful lament, “Hold Her When She Cries,” the soppy “Love and Honor,” and the Waylon, Hank, Earl Scruggs, and Cash-citing country establishment screed, “If It Ain’t Broke” — not to mention a beautifully stylized cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” that fits right in. On the other hand, it finds the boys perking up to tackle several whiskey-drenched honky tonkers like “Crazy (By Any Other Name),” “Honky Tonk Angel,” “Another Round,” and the candid and amusingly self-critical “Cheating Again.” So aside from a selection of less-inspired iterations of these templates rounding out the album, the only major knock one can level at the group is that they may come off rather like an outlaw country tribute band to seasoned fans of the genre. Then again, who could begrudge Whitey Morgan and his crew’s earnest desire to perpetuate the outlaw aesthetic in its purest form, least of all by opening quite a few eyes to its wonders among Small Stone’s predominantly hard rock fan contingent? Like the song above says: “If It Ain’t Broke”… ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi Performers: Elizabeth Mackinder – Vocals (Background); Fred Newell – Pedal Steel; Ben Vermeylen – Vocals (Background), Guitar; Eric Hoegemeyer – Organ, Percussion; Jeremy Leroy Biltz – Guitar; Jeremy Mackinder – Bass, Guitar (Bass); Mike Popovich – Drums; Whitey Morgan & the 78′s – Vocals, Guitar

Supersonic Guitars in 3-D $12.78 Following a Christmas album and a standards-laden outing (with some impressively diverse guest vocalists), los Straitjackets return to their hallmark surf-punk instrumental core with Supersonic Guitars in 3-D. Producer Mark Neill coaxes a bit more grit and grime out of the quartet for these sessions, and the band’s feet are firmly planted once again in their accustomed roles. Even if the themes and riffs are all but played-out 1960s rock and roll cliches, the band never sounds stiff or bored with themselves. Still, for all the swagger and swing, the funky, 30-second-long, tremolo-laced tag at the end of “Can You Dig It?” is by far the most interesting thing happening here. This group has experimented with interesting rhythms in the past, and it’s an avenue that deserves further exploration. Bitchin’ idea to include 3-D cover art with glasses inside, though. ~ John Duffy, Rovi Performers: D.J. Bonebrake – Vibraphone; Anja Dixon – Vocals; Billy Zoom – Saxophone, Flute; Danny Amis – Guitar; Eddie Angel – Guitar, Bass; Jimmy Lester – Drums; Mitch Manker & His Brass Section – Trumpet; Peter Curry – Guitar, Bass; Stax – Vocals

Building Electric Guitars : How to Make Solid-Body, Hollow-Body and Semi-Acoustic Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars $26.81 No Synopsis Available

Blue Guitars: A Collection of Songs $58.64 UK only 130-track CD/DVD (PAL/Region 0) set comprising of 11 CD albums each with it’s own distinct musical style which showcases his passion for the guitar, plus a DVD for the ‘Stony Road’ album. Having created the cover of Stony Road and interpreted the cover of The Blue Juke Box the close relationship between Chris Rea’s music and his painting was defined. This relationship was clearly leading in one direction, a ground-breaking idea to link the two driving forces in his life. The idea of Blue Guitars was born. Eleven albums from Chris Rea in one book pack, 130 brand new Chris Rea songs inspired by the blues ranging globally across all his own interpretations of this musical form, songs that Chris believes are some of his best to date. He now had a body of work that would in normal circumstances have taken a decade to create; songs that conjured up all his favourite musical influences that had set him off down the road nearly thirty years previously. Instead of releasing all the albums in one go, or over a period of six months or a year, he decided to create something that combines his paintings with his music. Not out of some egocentric notion that his paintings and music would be appreciated in the same way, but simply that they are now inextricably linked. *Please note that you will need an ALL Code DVD to veiw. 2005. Performers: Chris Rea – Bottleneck Guitar, Calimba, Balafon, Dobro, Banjo, Vibraphone, Slide Guitar, Organ (Hammond), Mandolin, Harmonica, Bass, Guitar (Electric), Drums, Piano, Percussion; Ed Hession – Accordion; Gerry O’Connor – Banjo; Martin Ditcham – Drums; Robert Ahwai – Guitar; Sylvain Marc – Bass

Stars on Guitars [Recall] $11.98 Stars on Guitars is a collection of the Ventures performing virtually every popular surf guitar instrumental that has ever been released, along with several other rock instrumentals. The group sounds quite good as they plow through these songs, saving the first disc for the covers while the second disc is made up of music from two of their previous live releases. They go all over the map here, covering everyone from the Rolling Stones to Dick Dale with their typical moody guitar and bizarre arrangements. The reliance on keyboards does hurt the record on the first disc, but they overcome that problem with their sheer weirdness. Their covers of ’80s superhits “Axel F” and “St. Elmo’s Fire” need to be heard to be believed. Although they may no longer be the surf rock giants they once were, the Ventures can still contribute very unique and unusual music that tends to float closer to the Residents than any other recognizable reference point. ~ Bradley Torreano, Rovi Performers: Bob Bogle – Guitar (Bass); Don Wilson – Guitar; Jerry McGee – Guitar; Mel Taylor – Drums

Guitars, Beers & Tears $15.18 Long time Bad Company guitarist Dave. Bucket’ Colwell leads his all star band Bucket & Co. on his debut album Guitars, Beers & Tears. Bucket is joined by an all star list of friends including Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith, Edwin McCain, Steve Conte (New York Dolls), Spike (The Quireboys) and Mark Reid (A1) among others. The album features songs written by Bucket as well as famed Country singer/songwriter Tommy Lee James (over 50 #1 hits). Guitars, Beers & Tears has been a labor of love for Bucket. Colwell had the chance to write and record with some of his best friends and band mates from his storied career in Rock and Roll. Performers: Judd Lander – Harmonica; Lauren Harris – Vocals (Background); Pascal Magdinier – Organ (Hammond); Adrian Smith – Vocals, Guitar; Andy Hamilton – Saxophone; Bekka Bramlett – Vocals; Chris Ousey – Vocals; Danny Bowes – Vocals; Dave Colwell – Vocals (Background), Vocals, Guitar; Edwin McCain – Vocals; Harry James – Drums; Jaz Lochrie – Bass; Mark Read – Keyboards; Rick Chambers – Percussion; Robert Hart – Vocals; Seth Romano – Vocals; Steve Conte – Vocals; Will Street – Violin

Two Guitars Bass Drums [Shtei Gitarot Bass Tupim] $19.98 Ten new songs from one of the leaders of Israeli pop Arik Einstein. Lyrics to most of the songs were written by Einstein himself with music by Barry Saharov Yehuda Poliker and other major Israeli composers. The lyrics of the songs among them It’s Not Ex

Cheap Drunk: An Autobiography $6.77 Performers: Larry Franklin – Fiddle; Russ Pahl – Guitar (Resonator), Dobro; Bill Engvall – Vocals; Cindy Walker – Vocals; Duncan Mullins – Bass; Elbert West – Vocals; Jim Ed Brown – Piano; John Willis – Guitar (Electric); Russell Terrell – Vocals; Steve Br

Guitars That Ate My Brain $14.38 Performers: Blake Richardson – Drums; Jeremy Krull – Guitar (Rhythm), Bass, Guitar; Peter Wildoer – Drums