Too Old To Rock - Too Dumb To Quit
Self-Financed
Instrumental Guitar Hard Rock
12 songs (57'15)
Release year: 2002
Reviewed by Marty
Surprise of the month
From the tongue-in-cheek song titles and the front cover of this CD, I thought this was some sort of joke or novelty album. Nothing could be further from the truth. This band, from Florida U.S.A., consists of only 2 members, Jim Reindel, guitars and Chris Hattingh, guitars, bass and drums. Their debut album is a whirlwind of bluesy hard rock and progressive rock guitar which even has metal like qualities due to the shredding leads and guitar riffs. The production is fairly basic as far as the drums and bass go, allowing for the amazing guitar talent of both of these men to be front and center. This album may not appeal to everyone especially if you don't like instrumental albums, but myself, also being a guitar player, I love this stuff, especially when it's done as well as it is here.

Solos are split 50/50 between the two guitarists and an amazing example of this can be found on Arthritic Shredfest (love the song titles!!). It's an eight minute song that for the first half, is nothing more than a pure Eddie Van Halen Eruption style ripping solo lead guitar. Speed picking, dive-bombs etc., it's all here and I love the way that the finger tapping section fades out only to have the other guitarist fade in doing the same thing before ripping into his full on assault. The lead playing by both these guys is simply out of this world. Their speed and technical skills shine on every single track. The actual shredding and speed picking is not overdone thankfully, instead, these 2 individuals prefer to write very thematic and hook laden material. Expressive and touching melodic solos on some of the tracks really bring Joe Satriani to mind whereas influences from Michael Schenker and Eddie Van Halen are evident on some of the more rockier up-tempo material. The leads are very smooth, very, very precise and become the voices for the songs. This is one of the few instrumental guitar albums that you really don't miss the vocals.

If you're looking for variety, this album has plenty. Songs range from mid-tempo rockers to laid back acoustically driven songs with a few blistering and almost metal-like tracks. Each track has a unique feel and quality to it that is a result of the leads and melodic hooks that are so prominent throughout. Every song has elements that grab you right from the start and manages to keep your interest, something that can be quite rare with these sorts of albums. Some of the riffing has Rush like qualities to it with these two gentlemen obviously being influenced by the playing of Alex Lifeson. A few tracks employ more chunkier guitar riffs giving a harder-edged sound and some wonderful Led Zeppelin style acoustic melodies and lead passages grace a couple of the tracks. Fans of Joe Satriani will almost certainly like this album as there is a familiarity in the style and structure of the songs.

Guitars have a voice, some hear it, some don't. When great guitarists play a solo, it's like their guitar is singing, with the song coming straight from the heart of the person playing it. Nothing is more melodic or beautiful sounding. There are many examples of this heart-felt, spine-tingling lead playing on every single track on this album. One could go over every inch of this album, phrase by phrase, solo by solo, but there's not enough space for that! Suffice to say that if you like instrumental albums (especially guitar based) or just like to hear enough great lead guitar playing for 10 albums, pick this one up for sure (Lots of ear candy!!). This is quite simply one of the best instrumental guitar albums I've ever heard. Well done guys......I can't wait for the second album and some more craziness.........

Killing Songs :
Shuffleboard Champs, Bingo Night At Emily's, Arthritic Shredfest, Pass The Geritol and Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Marty quoted 85 / 100
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