Nine Lives

I have to say I am disappointed with "Nine Lives", Steve Winwood's new release. Being a bass player I don't understand the lack of electric bass on the record. Most of the songs rely on Winwoods keyboard bass support and don't have the weight or feel that a bassist can provide. Also the drum beats are similar and feature too much percussion (congas and such) and not a strong trap set. The songs suffer from the lack of a traditional rhythm section. Steve's voice is fine and he looks from the photo to have aged well. The addition of Eric Clapton on one tune helps, but most of the songs just don't go anywhere, and lack the sound of a real band playing together. Buy the "Crossroads" concert with Steve and Eric and others live, unless you are a die hard Winwood Fan. clench

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.

The more I listen to this the more I like it. Strictly from a fan's point of view, I refuse to be hypercritical. This CD runs the gamut in styles ranging from his Low Spark days to Back In The High Life. Dirty City, predictably, is a great cut with Clapton, but give the rest of it a chance to grow on you. Winwood's genius is still much more than just a flicker.

Stevie always has nice stuff. Good to hear from him again. Best is song with Clapton.

On NINE LIVES, Steve Winwood pulls together every style that he's used since he began his career in 1963, from old-school R&B to hard rock and jazzy progressive rock to progressive pop-rock to blue-eyed soul- and succeeds with every stylistic turn. He even reunites with Eric Clapton, his old mate from Blind Faith, on "Dirty City", and the result is a song with more emotion and grit than Winwood has mustered up since ARC OF A DIVER and Clapton since ANOTHER TICKET. Overall, this album successfully surveys Winwood's past even as it moves him into the future.