Search - John Butler Trio :: Three

Amazing guitar work

Jayhawk_34 | Arlington, VA United States | 09/02/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan of the guitar, check this album out. Having seen John play live, the sounds he is able to pull out of the 11- and 12-string guitar is absolutely amazing. This album is structured much like the extended jams one hears in a JBT concert and will probably appeal to jam band fans. There's a whole lot in there for fans of blues and roots music as well.



I've been a bit of a diehard JBT fan since I heard the live album, "Living" (really started listening to it on the plane ride home from Oz, go figure). This album is from about the same point in their career. John's voice is less polished than in the current album, "Sunrise Over Sea" (which I probably recommend as a more accessable starting point for new fans. The bass and drums take more of a forward part in this album as well).



The real star of the album is the guitar. The first sound of the album on Betterman is from the slide, gradually building into a picked riff until the vocals come in. The song is awesome, with a crazy solo about 3:20 in that heavily uses the slide guitar and distorted amplification of his acoustic.



Other standouts include "Pickapart," "Earthbound Child," "Take," and "Life." Another highlight is in "Money," which begins with some digeredoo (sp?) and Aboriginal singing, showing John's affinity for writing about Australian cultural, indiginous, and environmental issues. The lyrics are full of references to the environment, nonviolence, social responsibility, and even-headedness.



On that note, it is worth mentioning that the lyrical content of "Three" is more than a bit on the hippie side. For my taste, the lyrics on this album are too direct - I enjoy lyrics that are crafted and make you think a bit. This set make you think about various issues, but don't work for me and strike me as a little corny. "Media" is forgettable for this reason.



I love this album because I am a fan of the band, am always impressed by the power of the music, and because I was introduced to the band through extended versions of the songs on "Living." There is more than enough in this album to warrant a 4 star rating, but it might not be the best entry point to the band for new listeners. If this album doesn't quite strike you, definitely give "Sunrise Over Sea" a shot - it's one of my favorite albums. For fans of the band, buying this album is a no brainer. Amazing stuff."

Great Album but...

Margaret M. Hepworth | West Chester, PA United States | 05/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I own this album along with the import versions. I find that I enjoy the import versions more as the songs are different, despite the track list being the same.



The tracks on the import are longer and seem to be fuller musically.



However, both albums show the amazing skill of The John Butler Trio and are a must have for a guitarist. This man can do spectacular things a guitarist will really appreciate and wonder if the track has been layered.



As someone who loves longer more complete songs I recommend the imported version with the songs averaging at 8 minutes with the last two at 11 and 14 minutes. The album is very relaxed and subject matter is great as always from John Butler Trio.



If you prefer the shorter radio/MTV versions of songs then pick up this version."

Or, try the imports

M. Bentley | California, USA | 12/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a condensed compilation of the original releases "John Butler Trio [IMPORT]" and "Three [IMPORT]." One song is missing from each of the imports. They probably chose the best of each album to include in this one, but collectors may want to purchase the imports instead, which are available on Amazon."