Sweetest Thing I've heard in some time!
fred barnsworth | New York City | 02/16/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'd only heard good things about the music from California's PEACH before I listened to her new album. Even what I had heard didn't do her talent justice! Fabulous vocals and music from Peach and crew. Great guests performances from Paul Barrere, Taj Mahal, Amos Garrett (one of my favorite guitar players), the Band's Garth Hudson and others.The lead track "Lie Down" is superb, but my favorite is #4, "Love You". I'm a huge fan of Bonnie Raitt's music, but I forgot all about Ms. Raitt when I heard this Peach track!For an independent label, the packaging was unbelievable - the tri-fold digipak rivals releases from the major artists of our time. Peach's "The Real Thing" is a must-have for any library; definitely worth five full, shining stars!"
Heartfelt American Blues!!
Brian Ball | Oakland, CA USA | 10/18/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It feels so good to be able to pick a compact disc out of a pile of hundreds, even thousands and to be able to listen to it in its intended and entire duration. Peach immediately welcomes her listeners with warm and soulful rockin' blues that affords that certain "southern hospitality" that you should demand from purchasing an American blues album produced any time after Robert Johnson had "met the devil at the crossroads" and offered his soul in trade for an innate guitar playing ability.
The first two songs on The Real Thing allow Peach just enough time to invite you into her mansion of blues and let you get acquainted with her tasteful style and sensuous adornment, while the next several speak of some all-too-realistic viewpoints of our life's relationships and concerns.
The 5 star blues musicians featured alongside Peach play with the spirit of over 100 years of blues experience and the undying quest to spread the language of the blues on songs such as "Love You" and "Won't Be Long", while Taj Mahal's timeless guitar and harmonica playing ripen Peach's vocals "right on the tree" on their hip shaking duet and title track, "The Real Thing".
Once the "fruit has been picked from the tree" we see it's true potential for ripeness on the five songs either written or co-written by Peach herself.
What really got us movin' in our seats was the up-tempo-but also emotionally stimulating, "Might Have A Move or Two", where Peach and Marty Grebb have co-written a humongous blues number focusing on the empowerment of self and the realization of the "true value" our lives so dearly hold.
Another co-written "masterpiece" tucked away near the end of The Real Thing is this very cool rockin' electric blues song about the drummer, James Gadson and his "Big Back Beat". Marty is kickin' out the jams on the piano all while the rest of the band fits right into the groove and allows Peach to regain her faith in some "real men".
The perfect ending to the perfect album would have to be, you guessed it, the perfect song. "I Must be In A Good Place Now" is that song, and The Real Thing is that album. Subtle melodies flow from the accordion as the butterfly who has recently been named in song flutters in its post-pupal stage across the meadows of our eardrums. All while we are serenaded with Bobby Charles' masterful and humbling lyrics as taken in through the golden vocal chords of today's songstress, Peach."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1