Posts belonging to Category Reviews

I had been looking at the Night Train since it came out last year. It had all the makings of a great little amp for worship settings. Sometimes my AC15 is a little on the loud side! But with the 7-15 watt switch the Night Train seemed to be the perfect solution. Well last week one of my buddies ordered a Night Train half, he like me had read the reviews and was impressed with the online videos and sound files. He had used my AC15 live in a club setting and had plenty of juice for whatever he needed to do. Well his amp came in yesterday, and I couldn’t wait for the call to tell me I had to get one of these. Well the call came during a coach pitch game so I when I called back I was surprised to hear total disappointment on the other end. I couldn’t believe it, hundreds of great reviews online, and Justin said it was useless for anything other than some studio work or bedroom practice. He still had my AC15 and said there was no comparison. So today we road out to his house for a little sound check. He wanted to make sure it was just him, and I had to hear this little amp for myself. Man was I shocked. It sounded so thin, no bottom end at all. Justin’s comment was “its toy like”. I mean you could work and get some playable tones but you would have to go back to the amp and EQ it if you switched pick ups on his Strat. Plugged up side by side the AC15 spanks the Night Train for any sound you want. Clean, Break Up, Loud, Quiet, doesn’t matter the AC15 keeps your tone and keeps it bite. The Night Train is boxed back up and going back to Musicians Friend as I type. I guess the point of this story is you can’t always believe everything you read online! Like any musical instrument, you better play it for yourself to be sure you like it. Looks like I will be sticking with my custom classic.

Don’t usually review Non-Christian CD’s or even buy that many of them to be honest with you, but there was something about “Slumberland”.  I saw yesterday where Lee DeWyze “Slumberland” CD had debuted at #32 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.  After a quick Google search I found Lee’s website and several links to the album.  A quick listen to a few tracks on his website, and I headed over to CDBaby for a better listen to the whole CD.  Man I can’t believe what I was hearing.  The album sounded solid, you only got bits and pieces of songs, but it was really pretty good.  Definitely sounded like something I would listen to.  So I made the quick download and loaded it up on my iPod.

The CD has ten tracks, 5 of which I would definitely recommend for a download:

1. So What Now – download it
2. All Fall Down
3. Annabelle – this one is growing on me
4. Princess – Download it
5. Flower Child – man I really like this one, download it
6. Where You Lie – download it
7. Stay – Download it
8. Another Sleep Song – growing on me
9. Sweet Sweet – sorta bluesy country, cool tune
10. Good Night

Throughout the album you will find some bluesy gritty vocals, sweet harmonies, and good licks from piano to guitar.  I don’t know if this is the kind of album Lee will make after American Idol, but he should.  I guess “Stay” or “Flower Child” are my favorites.  The albums feels real and passionate, not your typical modern day studio record.  The lack of autotune on the vocals keeps this album so real and personal, more artist should try this!  Nothing wrong with song human if you ask me.  You can get all the download links at www.leedewyze.com.

The Suntimes also has a nice little piece about the album HERE

Update:  I should have noted, anyone that is a fan of the Bluestravelers, Dave Matthews, or even Pearl Jam (Some of their more acoustic stuff) will really like this CD.  My wife actually thought it sounded like the Zac Brown Band on some of the songs.