Variety is the spice of Can You Live Without, the third album from Austin-based guitarist Guy Forsyth. This collection of 12 songs mixes some tasty straightahead blues with ventures into country-flavored ballads and even t... more »he swing-inflected "Tattle Tale," making for moments that land somewhere between peculiar and sublime. Here, the bluesiest stuff is the best: the opening track, "Calico Girl," immediately conjures images of a city street at night in its twangy guitar and bent notes, while "If I Was Sick" has some great slide work and the upbeat "Faith" is a rollicking joyride. Then there's "New Monkey King," which from a low-key beginning somehow slides all the way to alternative rock and back, and the sensual "I Like It When She's Easy." There are some weak moments here; Forsyth isn't as good at ballads as he is at just playing the blues, and the closing track, "True Friends," is an acquired taste. Still, there's enough here to bear listening, and to leave the impression that Forsyth is a musician to watch. --Genevieve Williams« less
Variety is the spice of Can You Live Without, the third album from Austin-based guitarist Guy Forsyth. This collection of 12 songs mixes some tasty straightahead blues with ventures into country-flavored ballads and even the swing-inflected "Tattle Tale," making for moments that land somewhere between peculiar and sublime. Here, the bluesiest stuff is the best: the opening track, "Calico Girl," immediately conjures images of a city street at night in its twangy guitar and bent notes, while "If I Was Sick" has some great slide work and the upbeat "Faith" is a rollicking joyride. Then there's "New Monkey King," which from a low-key beginning somehow slides all the way to alternative rock and back, and the sensual "I Like It When She's Easy." There are some weak moments here; Forsyth isn't as good at ballads as he is at just playing the blues, and the closing track, "True Friends," is an acquired taste. Still, there's enough here to bear listening, and to leave the impression that Forsyth is a musician to watch. --Genevieve Williams
"This album is great. Living in Austin, I get the chance to see Guy live quite often. Believe me, he has one of the greatest voices I've ever heard. I was worried that it would not come through in CD format. But it does. His songwriting is sometimes outstanding, as in "Children of Jack," but sometimes a little on the weak side. Nevertheless, this album has MANY highlights. "Calico Girl," "Tattle Tale" and "True Friends" are among the best. This album will probably classified as "blues." That's true in a way, but also a misnomer. Forsythe and band do know what the blues are all about. But they are far to innovative, forward looking and yet backward looking ("True Friends") at the same time. Buy this album for his voice-- I once saw Guy play in a 3,000+ venue and walk off stage during a song... the band kept playing onstage while Guy sang sans amplification. The crowd hushed in awe, his voice filled the place. It's that powerful. But listen to this album over and over because the songs stick in your head and the band provides plenty of delicious licks... And did I mention that "Children of Jack" is one of the greatest songs ever?"
Guy's best
David A. Farnell | Fukuoka, Japan | 08/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been listening to Guy ever since a friend introduced me to the Asylum Street Spankers, way back before they had any albums out. Now I live far from Austin, but I still listen to Guy Forsyth. This is his best one so far--while still firmly planted in the blues, he grows beyond the boundaries, following the music where it takes him. This CD has music that can make me cry, that can make me sit very still and think.More like this, Guy, please!"
As good as it gets
Fernando Piedrafita | Madrid, Madrid Spain | 10/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I went to Austin in a 3,000 miles trip on the south of the US. Being a Fabulous Thunderbirds' fan, I thought that a visit to Antone's was well worth. The night I did it Guy Forsyth was playing; I had never heard of him before.I think I will always remember the moment they opened the show: it was so powerful I was shocked. Then it went on; it was so good that my shock just went deeper. Later, when I bought both the "Needle Gun" and the "High Temperature" CD's, I gladly realized that there was the song that amazed me: "Don't turn me in". It looks powerful on the CD, but it gets much stronger live. The rest is just as good as this, and even better.I have been a no. 1 fan of Guy Forsyth ever since, and I was looking forward for the next release of his. As soon as it got out, I bought it, and I have to say that once again the money was well spent. This record is not straight powerful blues; it is more folkier and traditional blues-y, but it displays the commitment of Guy Forsyth to do good music no matter what the style is.Check it out; you will not be disappointed."
The Rose Is Burning
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 08/18/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Can You Live Without" is such a strong set that although it is now fairly hard to find, it remains in strong demand. Forsyth has re-recorded many of the tunes on this disc to his new release "Calico Girl." I loved his CD Love Songs: For and Against & have been watching the used prices for this disc. "If I Was Sick" has a classic rock feel with a blues flavor. Forsyth plays stinging electric slide; and Mark Addison is on vibrato guitar, "If I was high & I couldn't come down, would you give me your hand? If I was high & I couldn't come down, would you watch me crash land?" "Don't You Mind People Grinning In Your Face" starts with a disjointed percussion that seems off-kilter leading to Forsyth's vocal swagger. "Tattle Tale" sounds like a cousin to the "Hong Kong Blues" with a crazed percussion, "Well I trusted you with my butterfly knife, German rain coat and sister's life; If I was good as gold, you would melt me down." Forsyth's stinging electric slide with Mark Addison on piano are front & center on "Faith." The set ends with a ukulele solo and clarinet soft shoe called "True Friends" that sounds incredibly tongue-in-cheek, "You're the one I'll be returning to when all the rose is burning and the moon is sinking in the bay." "Can You Live Without" is a daring and breathtakingly successful set, well worth seeking almost a decade after its 1999 release. Enjoy!"
Awesome music!
Katherine T. Rettke | Bethesda, MD United States | 05/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Can You Live Without" is one of the most powerful songs I have ever heard. I have wonderful memories of camping in a redwood forrest, close to a lake and near a fire, and hearing this song for the very first time. The entire CD is worth the price for this one song alone."