Doyle Bramhall II & Smokestack - Welcome

Doyle Bramhall certainly has impressive rock & roll connections. His father played drums for Lightnin' Hopkins; Texas-born Bramhall himself has served as guitarist behind Jimmie Vaughan in The Fabulous Thunderbirds and alongside Charlie Sexton and Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section, Double Trouble, in Arc Angels. However, anyone who buys Welcome looking for a companion piece to Texas Flood is likely to be sorely disappointed. This is defiantly unreconstructed rock & roll, all growling vocals, pounding four-square drums, and interminable guitar solos--matchstick models of sailing ships have been made in less time than it takes Bramhall to get from one end of "Thin Dream" to the other. It is done quite well, as these things go, and may find favor with fans of fellow blues-rock revisionists The Black Crowes. Ultimately, though, there's not much here that you wouldn't find in any truck-stop bar north of the Rio Grande and south of Chicago. --Andrew Mueller Amazon.com

Rock & Roll Uprise

"Welcome" sat on my wishlist for a long time. Bramhall blasts and milks the blues-flavored rock sound from his amazingly expressive guitar. The closing track "Cry" meanders by like a slow-running river with Bramhall's vocals oozing pain until his guitar bleeds emotion, "I need a place to rest my heart right now." "Last Night" is also a favorite as it chugs forcefully and then blasts out, "Love's the one thing stronger than desire & the only reason to walk from temptation." The opening track "Green Light Girl" is also classic with its electric drive, "All the boys want you, your glamour and despair; She smiles & rolls her eyes in a rock 'n roll uprise." Other tracks like "So You Want It to Rain," "Life" & "Smokestack" are also very strong. "Welcome" is an incredible rock blast well worth seeking! Enjoy! September 6, 2008

doyle bramhall 11 & smokestack

i bought this item on the basis that doyle bramhall 11 in my opinion and also the opinion of my family is a supurb artist; singer, songwrighter & guiterist. i recomend a purchase of this item and any other of his work. i think his music on this album sounds a bit like jimmy hendrix; although his work with other artists especially roger waters are a must have! July 22, 2007

Bramhall & Company

This is a solid effort by a solid guitarist. This album reminds me A LOT of Ian Moore's "Modernday Folklore", where it mixes a lot of blues and modern day guitar-rock that is produced to a quality finish. Key standouts are "Green Light Girl" and "Cry". If you want to hear a smokin' version of "Green Light Girl", check out the live performance at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Benefits DVD where it's performed with Robert Randolph - it's an AMAZING version!!! March 19, 2007

Step over, KWS

This CD makes me drive my car way too fast. Enough about putting Kenny Wayne Shepherd in the same par as Doyle. Kenny Wayne's a boy, but Doyle is a MAN.

This CD has everything from soulful vocals to electrifying guitar. Admittedly, when I first heard Doyle's voice, I wasn't too impressed. The guy grows on you though. He is absolutely the most commercially under-rated musician EVER. Give this CD a chance. He definately has something, and when you see him in person - he blows you away. November 22, 2006

Like the hungry roar of a rock crusher being fed quarry stone

Doyle Bramhall II and his band Smokestack pretty much pile drive their way through this entire set of pulsing, droning, classic, old school blues-rock. And for many folks, the growling vocals, relentless guitar solos, and slamming drums equals audio nirvana. For me it equaled headache.

But as I recently listened to "Welcome" from start to finish, I found I wanted some space in the music, some chance to breathe, and some time to listen and anticipate what was next. The music seems oddly suffocating and heavy for all of its kinetic energy, like the hungry roar of a rock crusher being fed conveyors of freshly dynamited quarry stone. That is, all the songs pretty much sound the same---which suggests that Mr. Bramhall is content to play---and play well---but not to explore much beyond the somewhat tired playbook of this genre.

I've heard him in other contexts, e.g. Arc Angels, where his playing had more dimension and texture. "Don't Come Back" might be a better name than "Welcome" for this effort.
August 10, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...