After a brief break from two years of non-stop touring, Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam is back with a new album produced by Peter Frampton and mixed by Bob Clearmountain. Coming Up For Air, a smorgasbord of rockers and ac... more »oustic ballads, includes Davy s and Peter s dueling guitar solos on George Harrison s anthem, Hear Me Lord, and an extraordinary bonus track duet with Jonatha Brooke of her Taste of Danger. The album is built around nine Davy originals (two co-written with Peter Frampton). Highlights include rockers Tear Down The Walls and Riverbed and the soulful Can t Take This Back. After a three week solo stint opening for Jeff Beck in April, Davy and the band are hitting the road again in support of this album.« less
After a brief break from two years of non-stop touring, Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam is back with a new album produced by Peter Frampton and mixed by Bob Clearmountain. Coming Up For Air, a smorgasbord of rockers and acoustic ballads, includes Davy s and Peter s dueling guitar solos on George Harrison s anthem, Hear Me Lord, and an extraordinary bonus track duet with Jonatha Brooke of her Taste of Danger. The album is built around nine Davy originals (two co-written with Peter Frampton). Highlights include rockers Tear Down The Walls and Riverbed and the soulful Can t Take This Back. After a three week solo stint opening for Jeff Beck in April, Davy and the band are hitting the road again in support of this album.
"It's not as bluesy as the previous one (Roll Away), it is more appealing to the broader rock audience. Easily one of the best albums this year so far. Brilliant - highly recommended - a must for every serious CD collection."
Good........Not Great
Paul | Clinton, CT United States | 07/06/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This album is quite good and seems to get better each time I listen to it. However I enjoyed the first album a great deal more. I was hoping for something bluesier and heavier like the first few tracks on the first album. This album is more polished and perhaps more melodic but I don't think that is what the fan base for this group was looking for. Good album but a notch below the first effort (IMO). If you get the chance, see this band live, Davy is awesome.Coming Up for Air"
Hard to Meet Expectations
MrTwistoff | Colorado, USA | 09/05/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Unfortunately Davy Knowles (and the original Back Door Slam) set the bar way high on the first CD. That makes it really hard to meet the expectations of fans, and I think this CD shows that.
While, from a Producer/Manager perspective, I'm sure the result is seen as well done - it expands the repertoire of the band, showing greater skill in other techniques/styles etc, from the pure blues guitar fan perspective this one does fall short of the mark. It doesn't live up to the great stuff you see on YouTube that he's done (i.e great work with Govt Mule). However, working with Peter Frampton as Producer, it makes sense that he would be advocating to expand style - and become more available to a wider audience.
However, that approach can't help but disappoint the band's loyal fans. With a new band behind him, you have to wonder what the backstory was and if it had to do with moving away from their roots.
A wiser move may have been to expand the base by including blues legends, or bringing in more funk/ragtime/acoustic sensibilities a bit. This does take a slight pop bend to it.
I'm not saying I don't like the CD, it's just that I like the first one A LOT more. If you're a fan of the first, you may have to adjust expectations to get this second one - although the track "Tear Down the Walls" excels just as the first CD did."
Amazing Davy
K. Brophy | 09/02/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent follow-up to the first BDS album "Roll Away". For folks that haven't heard much of this kid yet, they should take a listen. He is truly amazing. I love all the songs, but especially his guitar work. He's fantastic on electric or accoustic. He's truly got a great future. Maybe since he's traveling with Chickenfoot, he'll get more exposure. I ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND EITHER OF HIS ALBUMS!!!