Eric Sardinas 2003 Black Pearls

Genre: Blues-Rock
Rate: 320 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:48:17
Size: 110,48 MB



Eric Sardinas has a keen sense of history when it comes to the blues. With his musical passions driven by the likes of acoustic blues pioneers like Bukka White, Charlie Patton and Mississippi Fred McDowell, coupled with the electricity of Otis Rush, Albert King and the classic sounds of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, it only makes sense that Sardinas would choose the hard hitting blues path that he has personally groomed since his debut CD, Treat Me Right, in 1999. The Florida-born, California transplant followed his debut with a second incendiary release, Devil's Train in 2001 and his latest release from Favored Nations Entertainment, Black Pearls.

Lovers of hardcore blues-rock will really enjoy the hot sounds found on Black Pearls, a collection of twelve original songs by Eric Sardinas, backed by Paul Loranger on bass and drummer Mike Dupke. With his trademark electrified slide guitar and distinctive vocals, Sardinas sounds very much like a younger, healthier Johnny Winter. The music on Black Pearls offers an excellent representation of Sardinas' sound since it was recorded live and direct to analog tape.

The recording gets off to a fiery start with the aptly titled "Flames of Fire," laden with lots of Sardinas' guitar. Produced by the legendary Eddie Kramer, producer for the late guitar god, Jimi Hendrix, there are definitely times when Sardinas takes on the Hendrix persona with his guitar, as noted on "Liar's Dice Blues," midway through Black Pearls. The CD also has some less heavy moments as well, especially on the acoustic slide-laden "Big Red Line," "Sorrow's Kitchen" and the exceptional "Old Smyrna Road." On several songs, Sardinas' sound "flips" between a lighter acoustic sound with sudden shifts to a very heavy electric sound. This shift can be noted on cuts like the previously mentioned "Liar's Dice Blues" and the title track, "Black Pearls," offering a bit more Hendrix-like sound as well. The CD ends with two songs offering examples of both of Sardinas' styles with the heavier, more electric "Tenfold Trouble," followed by the decidedly acoustic "Wicked Ways."

With the combination of Texas blues rock, delta slide blues and a bit of hard rock, Black Pearls offers a sound that is modern enough to attract a younger audience (this is borne out by attendance at Eric's live shows), yet can still be of interest to the more traditional blues lover. To find out more about Eric Sardinas and to pick up a copy of his latest release, Black Pearls, visit the Eric Sardinas website at www.ericsardinas.com. (This review is copyright © 2004 by Dave "Doc" Piltz, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com)



Tracklist:

01 - Flames Of Love 03:43

02 - Same Ol' Way 03:48

03 - Bittersweet 04:03



04 - Ain't No Crime 04:22

05 - Big Red Line 02:47

06 - Liar's Dice Blues 06:29



07 - Black Pearls 03:56

08 - Sorrow's Kitchen 04:23

09 - Four Roses 03:23

10 - Old Smyrna Road 04:03

11 - Tenfold Trouble 03:52

12 - Wicked Ways 03:28





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Eric Sardinas 2001 Devil's Train

Genre: Blues
Rate: 192 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:52:45
Size: 72,38 MB



Listening to Eric Sardinas one has to conclude that he is one of the top electric slide guitarist in the business today. Based on this sophmore release, it's clear that he continues to grow and sharpen his skills. However, as with his previous release, it's clear that his hard edged style of blues will not be easily appreciated or accepted by many blues fans. Much of that has to do with Sardinas's singing which is smokey, strained, gruff and at times uneasy.

On "Killin' Time Blues" and "Gambling Man Blues" which features HoneyBoy Edwards, Sardinas does demonstrate that he is capable of some rather pleasing vocals, showing that the harsh vocal tone throughout the remainder of the CD is intentional. If you like your blues hard and heavy and your guitar smokin', this CD may well fit your bill. (deepbluereview)



Tracklist:

01 - Piece Of Me 03:07



02 - My Sweet Time 04:16

03 - Texola 03:38

04 - Aggravatin' Papa 03:57

05 - Killin' Time Blues 04:27

06 - My Kind Of Woman 04:39

07 - Country Mile 04:08

08 - Gambling Man Blues 05:07



09 - Down To Whiskey 03:04

10 - Devil's Train 03:01

11 - Be Your Man 03:28

12 - Sidewinder 05:51

13 - 8 Goin' South 04:02





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Eric Sardinas 1999 Treat Me Right

Genre: Blues
Rate: 192 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 01:02:57
Size: 86,48 MB



Review by Cub Koda

If you buy into all the hype and the look, then all your standard journalistic clichés about "a man playing like he was possessed" would certainly seem to apply in the case of this record. Eric Sardinas has only one groove, and that's the one with the pedal put firmly to the metal.

Playing electric Dobro gives his sound a raw, distorted edge right down to the wah-wah pedal that flirts with comparisons to George Thorogood and other ham-fisted slide rockers (he plays unamplified on his originals "Cherry Bomb," "Goin' to the River," and "Sweetwater Blues"), although Sardinas is a considerably more able player than Thorogood. Comparisons with Johnny Winter would also not be unfounded; he makes a guest appearance here on vocal and guitar on his "Tired of Tryin'." Hubert Sumlin is also brought aboard to reprise his original rhythm part of "Down in the Bottom," although he's totally swamped in the mix by Sardinas' over the top bombast, both vocally and instrumentally.

Fans of the Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, and George Thorogood style of blues-rock will want to add this one to the collection.



Tracklist:

01 - Treat Me Right 04:18

02 - Write Me A Few Lines 04:52

03 - Murdering Blues 05:24

04 - Cherry Bomb 03:32



05 - My Baby's Got Something 02:52

06 - Give Me Love 03:42

07 - Rollin' And Tumblin' 03:07



08 - Low Down Love 07:29

09 - Get Along Rider 05:23

10 - Goin' To The River 06:20

11 - I Can't Be Satisfied 04:06

12 - Sweetwater Blues 03:04

13 - Down In The Bottom 04:14

14 - Tired Of Tryin' 04:34





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Eric Sardinas & Big Motor 2008 Eric Sardinas & Big Motor

Genre: Blues-Rock
Rate: 192 kbps CBR / 44100
Time: 00:48:19
Size: 66,29 MB



review by Hal Horowitz

Playing sizzling slide guitar and dobro is only part of the equation. Writing good songs is the other, and that's where Eric Sardinas has come up short on his previous three releases. While the tunes on his fourth won't revolutionize the blues boogie genre where it seems he intends to reside for his career, they are better and more intricately arranged than in the past. The slashing slide shenanigans that get the shredder's pulses racing are slathered over the tracks as before, but there is greater emphasis on subtlety "this time" out. Credit guest keyboardist David Schulz and a pair of female backing singers for bringing a gospel feel to the music, also adding a touch of class that nicely balances the grinding groove.

Surely nobody would confuse Sardinas' gritty voice for a soul singer, yet there is a newfound confidence to his approach that is certainly soulful. Tunes such as "Gone to Memphis" and "This Time" sport memorable choruses that are some of the guitarist's finest. Covers of the Elvis standard "Burning Love" and Tony Joe White by way of Rory Gallagher's "As the Crow Flies" don't add much to the originals but are far from embarrassments either. Stompers such as "Find My Heart" and "Just Like That" are reminiscent of the glory days of Southern rock, specifically Black Oak Arkansas, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Molly Hatchet, but with hotter, better delineated guitar. Sardinas moves into '70s hard rock territory with the Free/Bad Company influenced "Door to Diamonds" yet the arrangements are spacious enough to include his crunchy slide lines without sounding exaggerated. Those looking for a ballad to lighten the mood will need to search elsewhere because once Sardinas revs up his engine, there is no slowing down.

Sturdy bass and drums from his Big Motor backing duo do their job and stay out of the way allowing the guitarist freedom to do his thing. Sardinas keeps the songs concise and tight, reins in the solos, and hugs the curves of this material with far more nuances than in the past. That makes this his finest effort yet and shows that he's a rugged blues-rocker with brains and brawn.



Tracklist:

01 - All I Need 04:34

02 - Ride 04:40

03 - Find My Heart 04:09



04 - Gone To Memphis 03:47

05 - It's Nothin' New 04:33

06 - This Time 04:14

07 - Just Like That 05:02



08 - Burning Love 03:04

09 - Wonderin' Blues 03:59



10 - Door To Diamonds 03:51

11 - As The Crow Flies 06:26





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