Music : Nine Lives

Rating: - Meandering Quality
I find it very hard to criticise Steve Winwood.He is a quality musician with a quality voice. He started out a teenage prodigy who took the charts by storm, then spent much of the 70's doing pretentious but quality material typical of the era with various line ups. In the 80's he went commercial and had massive success, particularly in the States. Then he tried to carry this theme into the 90's and somehow it didn't work any more. His last album 'About Time' was largely based on latin rhythms with an intimate sounding combo and was a classy piece of work. This new effort seems to fall somewhere in between that album and his 70's work. Whilst it lacks a certain focus and dynamism, it is still a quality piece of work. For me, the bluesy minimalistic opener 'I'm Not Drowning' and the more full on 'Raging Sea' are the highlights. It does meander at times but his undoubted skill carries it off. If there is a next time, I think he'll have to change tack and 'wake up' a bit otherwise he risks becoming boring and he deserves much more than that.

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Rating: - They call me mellow yellow
This is another fine piece of work from Steve Winwood, who's unique voice and keyboard playing have blessed the world for over forty years.

After all these years it is difficult for an artist such as he to stir up the emotions of youth but the experience of the years of playing with some of the best in the world shows through.

For me this is a direct descendent from the Traffic years with the jazzy and funky orientated pieces and the homage to Chris Woods with the hauntingly beautiful flute contibutions. I may be reading too much into this by suggesting that this is Winwood's Eulogy to his former bandmates, most of whom are no longer with us.

I particularly enjoyed Hungry Man which could well have been a jam with the Grateful Dead from their second album Anthem of the Sun.

This album grows and grows with repeated playing and at higher volumes and is particularly appropriate in these long hot days of summer here in North carolina. If you liked High heeled Boys or On the Road, then you will like this.

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Rating: - REALLY DISAPPOINTING
I just cannot relate to most of the other reviews. "About Time" was very good - but this does not feature one memorable track. I am a big Stevie Fan - right back to the Spencer Davies Group - brilliant musician and singer. However the guy has never been a great song writer - now and then he has teamed up with someone who pushed him on a bit - e.g. Will Jennings but the stuff here is really second rate. May be I am being a little hasty - I'll hang on to the disc, and keep playing it who knows - might grow on me. If you want some recent Stevie and don't already have it - buy "About Time" would be my advice.

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Rating: - talent never leaves
Bumped into this by accident due to looking for another track by the king of soul heart music. Initially searching for arc of a diver as someone purloinedit heard the track raging sea and that was that. Musically steve never lets you down no ,matter where he has been from spencer to traffic and the faith. Whole album is a revelation and in my mind now eclipses arc as my favorite. Keep it coming Sir Winwood a true knight to hisd followeers and truth in his beliefs in where his music takes himself and us another blinder.

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Rating: - on higher ground
This is an album by a musician in a state of grace.
While most of his legendary contemporaries are croaking and wheezing their unintelligible ways to eternity this guy's voice is as good and as sound as ever. Perhaps he's been down to the same crossroads as Robert Johnson and made some sort of pact with the devil. If he has the powers that be don't seem to mind because "God" himself is on hand to play a cooly corruscating bit of guitar on the moody fade out to "Dirty City".
This is melodically more varied and adventurous than his last album and all the better for it. There are blues, funk, r'n'b and spot on latin percussion. The musicians are consummate and the rhythm section is as tight as it was on "Hold On" - which is saying something.
One always wishes that Steve would play more guitar but his Hammond organ is a delight and we just have to be grateful for a little bit of fretwork now and again.
The opening "I'm not drowning" is a driving acoustic blues on which he plays all the instruments - including guitar!
The second track "Fly" is quite simply majestic and worth whatever price you'll have to pay for the album. Think of the "Far From Home" album and you'll have an idea of what "Fly" sounds like but nothing will prepare you for its aching intensity. An instant classic track from one of the great musicians of all time.
I sincerely hope that he is as happy as he looks on the cover of the cd. He deserves to be for having given us so much fine music for so many years.