• Band / Artist : The Paul Rose Band
• Genre : R&B / Rock
• Sample Track Download : All Along the Watchtower
• Buy CD : Buy
• Buy Digital Download : N/A
• Rating : 9 out of 10

Let me get this out of the way first. Man can this guy play. I’m not going to get into the comparisons with Hendrix, Clapton or any of the many other fantastic guitar players, but suffice to say my air guitar is totally worn out and my speakers are in need of a long rest. Yes, this is one of those albums, that really needs to be cranked up to 11 and crank it up I did.

This is sort of a semi live album, but it’s much better described on the bands website, “The CD is a half live, half studio album. Recorded at ‘Kich’ studios in Chorlsey, near Oxford, with the live tracks from the 2003 show at the ‘East Grange Loft’ in the Scottish Highlands. It has very few overdubs and is as honest a representation of the band as you’ll get”

Consisting of 9 fantastic tracks spanning 49 minutes, all featuring a faultless performance by Paul and his band, I can only say you have to hear this to believe it. The CD opens with the classic Bob Dylan song, later covered by Jimi Hendrix, All Along the Watchtower and featuring some blistering guitar work. Upon reaching track 4, Touch Wood, things get a little more laid back and it’s good to have a pause from the frenetic pace of the early part of the album. The later half of the album is much more relaxed and rounds off with a wonderful rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s Hey Joe.

I have to admit I’ve never heard of Paul Rose, but it’s definitely a name I will be keeping an ear out for.

Conclusion : For anyone that enjoys rock music at it’s finest and appreciates a master of his trade, then this is a must have album. There is much to love about this album, even for the casual music lover.