THE REX CARROLLL BAND - review added 19th August 2010
Album Review: That Was Then, This Is Now (2010)
For fans of: Blues Rock... and seriously good guitar playing.
Rex Carroll is best known as the guitarist with Christian rock band Whitecross. Starting in the mid 1980s, with Rex in their ranks they released several albums, won awards, and even got their music videos featured on Headbanger's Ball. After a few years away from group, he returned and, to all intents and purposes, Whitecross are still going today.
The Rex Carroll Band, Rex's other main band, has been around since 2004. "That Was Then, This Is Now" is the debut album from the Chicago trio - Rex on guitar and vocals, Antonio Acevedo on bass, and Michael Feighan on drums.
The sound may be bluesy, a little grungy, laced with country rock 'n' roll, but the thing that really stands out is Rex's guitar playing. This guy can shred! He doesn't necessarily show off his true potential that much throughout the record - preferring instead to stick to the album's laid back persona most of the time - but when he does go for it he is up there with the finest players in the world. He has won numerous awards for his fretwork over the years, and it's no surprise. Just listen to 'Foolsgold' to see why. Imagine Eddie Van Halen crossed with Dann Huff crossed with Yngwie Malmsteen. And then put the result in a cowboy hat.
Sadly the songs aren't quite as good as the guitar playing would or should suggest. The main problem is Rex's vocals. He isn't a bad singer as such, but his style comes across as muggy and downbeat. He manages to make even the happy songs sound a tad depressing. It's a shame because, in the live setting of a smoke-filled bar, the music would come together like that of few other groups. On CD, sat in a nice bright house, or driving along through the English countryside, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Still, what quality there is still peeks its head through on occasions. Best tracks include the aforementioned guitar solo, the bouncy 'Working Man’s Blues', the vast 'Rock My World' and the tremendous slow number, 'My Train'.
I would like to hear more work from Rex playing in a hard rock band with a real top end singer. This album is okay in it's own way, and will be brilliant for a small percentage of the market, but it doesn't do enough for me. Don't get me wrong though. Rex Carroll is a legend and deserves all the success he gets.
Check out... That guitar work.
Track List:
01. Find A Way
02. Circle Of Love
03. Foolsgold
04. Working Man’s Blues
05. Walk A Mile
06. Rock My World
07. Witch Dr. Bones
08. Delta Memories
09. My Train
10. Throw Them Bones
Label: Retroactive Records
Artist's website(s): MySpace
