Search - Galeseric :: Crystal Vision

What can I say

Travis | Memphis | 03/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What can I say... I don't know if Eric will ever become the household name that his talent calls for. To me he is without a doubt one of the best, if not the best, guitar players on the planet. He has come so far from his first release to Crystal Vision. He has taken the next step on this album. Not with his guitar playing, that was going to get better anyway, but with his vocals. When you listen to Freedom from my Demons, his voice, along with his guitar playing and tone, is what takes you to another place. I am from Memphis, and as good as this album is, to truly witness his greatness you have to see him live. I saw him at a local bar perform with Lance Lopez and Wes Jeans, and it was amazing. He sat in with Wes Jeans, and Wes started a song, which I assume will be on his upcoming album, and Eric Gales took over the song and started playing notes and creating sounds that I have never heard in my life. Wes Jeans getting caught up in the music coming from Lance Lopez guitar, put his head down and started to shake his head. I said Lance Lopez guitar because when Eric Gales sat in with Wes, he played L.L. guitar. He took his guitar and just flipped it over and played it backwards. It was incredibe to see. Up until that time the best guitar playing performance I saw live was Henry Garza Jr. from Los Lonely Boys. But Raw Dawg is a superior player. His tone, and his phrasing has no peer. I don't mean to hate on John Mayer, but people are saying he is the torch bearer for the blues and the guitar, but he isn't in the same room as Eric Gales. Quite frankly nobody is. Crystal Vision goes from one place to another. It goes from metal to blues, but somehow it all fits, and it all works. I totally agree with one reviewer here, when he said imagine a Stevie Salas album with better vocals and better guitar playing. That was truly an accurate statement. All I can say is if you have the time and money, pick up this album, especially if you are a guitarist. You won't regret it."

Eric Gales is back!

John Terry | Kansas City, Mo | 03/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Crystal Vision" is a full on, no holds barred claim to the blues rock throne that many thought should have been his years ago.Dubbed by the Hendrix family as the one to continue Jimi's legacy, Eric has been in and out of the spotlight since he was a teenager. This time, he should be there for good. "Raw Dawg" is back and he'll take no prisoners."

Simply Excellent.

M. Hofmann | Malvern, PA | 03/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fan of Gales ever since I saw him open for Indigenous in 2001. I think this album is his best work to date. Production is great and really highlights his amazing guitar tones and playing. This album is really a collection of styles, from King's X-style hard rock/blues to funk to slow blues to even a little jazz fusion.



Aside from his guitar-playing, I think this is also his best vocal effort. Again, to use a King's X comparison, he really sounds like Doug Pinnick and there are even some vocal harmonies that you'd swear Ty Tabor is doing. The band is tight and still grooves like the old band.



Gales is really an amazing player and he absolutely BURNS live. Like all the great blues artists before him, his most virtuosic playing is reserved for the live shows. I really hope more people start digging this album, because it's one of the best blues records released in years and Gales is one of the best blues guitarists alive today."