Search - Eric Gales :: Psychedelic Underground

Incredibly great....

Travis | Memphis | 02/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It isn't quite 5 stars. There are a couple of songs I can do without, so that is why it doesn't get 5 stars. Having said that, Eric is getting dangerously close to reaching his potential on record... Seeing him perform live it doesn't get any better. As a guitarist, he is as good as it gets, but that doesn't always correlate to a great album, or a great musician for that matter. But after hearing Crystal Vision last year, I knew there was more that he can do, although it was a solid effort. It wasn't great though. I am still waiting for that "great" album from him. I have bootlegs of him, and sometimes it reduces me to tears to hear him perform on it. So, I am still waiting for the studio album to match the bootlegs I have of him. He is getting close. Mike Varney is helping him get there... With "The Psychedelic Underground", this is the closest he's been. I can't compare this album to any other album that has been made. Normally I would try and give a reference point, but I can't. I just think it is extraordinary. "Dark Corners of my Mind" is worth the price of admission alone. This song is arguably his greatest effort on record. It is absolutely SICK!! I've never listened to a guitar driven song like I have "Dark Corners of My Mind" so much. It is just an incredible performance. For the past few days I've been playing this record over and over again sky high, because my neighbors moved, lol. So I can... As a fan I just hope he continues to put out music. He went 5 years of not making music after realeasing "That's What I Am". So it is great to see him focused and release another record, just one year after Crystal Vision. Buy it!!!

The only person that can stop him from being a legend is himself. If he continues to grind out good music like this, lookout!!!"

What a Treat

Eric C. Smith | El Cerrito, CA USA | 02/28/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Gales came into my radar with the release of "that's what i am" and then there was a long 5 year wait for "crystal vision". Now a year later we have this release and I can only say that I am thankful. When an artist touches my heart ......... graditude.



I've always thought of Gales as a strange offspring of the greats. What Albert King was the granfather, Hendrix and Trower the Dad's while Jeff Beck babysat the kid while he grew up. What king of player would he be? He'd be able to play 32th note ascensions and decensions up and down over a 4/4 beat in a triple phrasing, and it would sound like a butterfly flying from flower to flower. Gales plays with a attitude and intensity that can only come from the streets yet he brings grace into every song.



Well, enough with my petty senimentality I love the guy what can say? The focus on "underground" brings the vocals up in the forground more than other CD's. His singing now deserves this attention. Vocally this is a great disc. Guitar wise, the man can't seem to play a bad note.



All I can say is Thank you and I hope this a trend that repeats and we get another disc next year.



Bless you, Eric"

Another great album by an underappreciated artist.

Brian J. Laws | Newark, DE USA | 07/30/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I remember a friend turning me on to Eric Gales in the early 90's when he was in The Eric Gales Band and thinking that this guy was a great guitar player, but most of the originals he did kinda all sounded the same. (Though they did a cover of the Beatles' "I Want You" that was amazing). Then he came out with a solo disc around 2000 called "What I Am" and I was totally blown away. Every single song on there was excellent and different, plus the guitar work by Mr. Gales was phenominal. This album is very similar to his last album, "Crystal Vision", which was good but not as great as "What I Am". This album continues to show Mr. Gales growth as a musician and I would highly reccomend it to anyone looking for some great guitar work in some blues infused rock music."