Sonny pretty much exists in a world of his own. No one plays like he does. I just saw him at Jazz Fest when I went to the Blues Tent after Boz Scaggs did a fantastic "Loan Me A Dime" in the middle of his set. (I grew up in the Bay Area in the 60's where Boz was huge and really wanted to see him again.) As I headed over from the Big Stage with Boz doing "Lowdown," the sound there faded just as Sonny's came up from the Tent. It was like a masterful DJ fade...in real life. I wandered down the side of the Blues Tent as Sonny was playing one of his speed metal instrumentals and the entire crowd was still like they were mesmerized. Got all the way to the front facing the video screen with the PA right there super loud. That was cool 'cuz you could watch Sonny's hands in the video close ups. Again, no one plays like that. The guy next to me turned to me and asked, "Are there only three guys up there?" Yup... I was lucky enough to see Sonny and Derek play together at a TTB show in Lafayette a few years ago, on "Going Down Slow," as I recall. They went off at the end and after about five minutes, you couldn't tell who was playing what, they had intermingled so completely. One thing is Sonny plays basically the same set every time. Derek is more versatile. Both are absolute masters at the very top of the heap.
I put on the CD for the first time this morning and really dug it. I think it's their strongest original material yet. Hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg - I'd like to hear some all-out rocking. I loved the instrumental even if it's just `Mountain Jam' without Donovan's theme. Nonetheless, a blissful 12 minutes. Bring on volume two!
I listened to it for the first time this morning and loved it. Absolutely loved it. Yes, vol II can't come soon enough.
I think this may be a file size limit on Bandcamp. I recall buying from Bandcamp an Explosions In The Sky album (I think) which were all long tracks and it was 16/44, but was 24/96 on HD Tracks etc. I used the contact artist button on Bandcamp to ask why and one of their staff replied it was file size related and sent me a link to an alternate download of the full hi-res. You may want to contact them to ask.
I pre-ordered the 4 lp set which includes downloads. My ALAC download also had first 4 tracks 192/24 and Pasquan at 44.1/16. So this doesn't seem to be a bandcamp only issue. I also have Apple Music and it shows all 5 tracks as 192/24.
I have pre-ordered the vinyl box set and got the email from the official UK store a couple of days ago. I did download the five tracks in FLAC format, and it was the same thing, the long instrumental is only in 16/44, the rest is high-res. Since the instrumental is my favorite track of this release, I sure would love to have it in high-res. Best regards, Roland
This is certainly a thoughtfully conceived, prepared, and performed album. The musical experience is exquisite, the liners notes are some of the best I've read in a long time, and watching the film after reading what the album is all about and about all that is in it was illuminating. This CD will get a lot of play in my car, and I look forward to the discovering a lot of details I missed in my first listens. I'm also looking forward to the next three parts of this work.
Well, they are both instrumentals and Mountain Jam was taken in so many directions beyond the theme by Truck/Haynes, so it isn't a stretch to "hear" Mountain Jam in Pasaquan. I am blown away by the whole release and Pasaquan leaves me wanting more...NOW! I've been a Tedeschi fan from the beginning and had given up on the ABB until Derek and Warren reset the bar, but this combination has been on a serious trajectory since putting their own (and the ABB) bands aside. Derek has always been an alien with his SG but seems to be going beyond that now. Pasaquan...whew!
Nobody's better than Sonny Landreth as a player. But as noted, Derek seems to have more vision as a composer/bandleader. Sonny seems content to be the virtuoso guy that people like Buffett and Hiatt can call on.
I love when I go to write a response and I don't have to because someone else has already said it perfectly. Thank you.
Awaiting the vinyl later in the year but got the download from bandcamp and it’s excellent . Great to hear Gabe develop in the band and it feels like a real band effort. Pasaquan does have that Mountain Jam feel for sure. All the songs are strong.
This one has grown on me after multiple listens, but still not my favorite work of theirs. By all means, that doesn't mean it's not good. It's just a little too mellow, I feel like most of the songs are at the point they are about to take off when they end.
Made Up Mind is my favorite studio album. I think they have always been far better of a live act than in the studio.
I received an email that the last track has been upgraded, and is available at the link in the original email.
repeated listens has only made the record grow on me. “Circles ‘Round the Sun” is seriously psychedelic, and I love Derek’s call & response with himself toward the beginning. But there’s no tune I do not love.
That's true, but I still enjoy studio sets from those type of bands. Like, I think Phish and TTB and Umphrey's and the like make good, and occasionally great studio LP's, and it requires them to focus on the compositions. Like, I don't think I'd appreciate the Fillmore East "Whipping Post" as much if the original studio version didn't exist to remind me that it's a great song, not just a vehicle for jamming.
Listening to samples on ProStudioMasters. My immediate reaction is that it sounds... compressed. PSM reports DR 7 for the album, and my ears agree. Real shame as the music is lovely. Their other albums on PSM are all at least DR 9. I hope that's just the digital mastering and the vinyl will be more dynamic.
I COMPLETELY forgot that this was being released last week-glad I hit this forum to be reminded! LOVE this first volume-gorgeous music-making. Bring on volume 2!
Don't have a fully-formed opinion to share yet, but, I grinned from ear to ear the entire time while listening!
