Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 21-25 of 65
 rock legends July 4, 2008
Denver B. Cornett (LouisvilleKY)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Stevie always has nice stuff. Good to hear from him again. Best is song with Clapton.
Steve's consistent July 5, 2008
Roger L. Sweren (Houston)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
 Freedom Overspill. May 17, 2008
Jason Stein (Chula Vista, CA United States)
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
Winwood returns after five years with "Nine Lives". How is it? It's like his days with Traffic, much like his last outing, 2003's "About Time" was. This is Winwood doing Winwood. At 60, Winwood knows his audience, he has his Wincraft label with a distribution deal from Sony/BMG for wider recognition than "About Time" received. Smart business, and Winwood has complete artistic control over his music, something that 1997's "Junction Seven" did not have.
Yet, Winwood seems to be content with the wheel, and not reinventing it. As far as his solo work goes, when artistry meets popularity and sales, that is the definitive moment, and a rare moment in any artist's career. Winwood achieved that with 1980's "Arc Of A Diver", 1986's "Back In The High Life" and 1988's "Roll With It". Definitive solo Winwood albums all.
"Nine Lives" is average Winwood. Not ghastly like "Junction Seven", but nowhere near the caliber of the aforementioned albums. The musicianship, songwriting and production are all pleasant and serviceable. All the right notes are in place, but it feels uninspired somehow. Mellow, rhythmic, well played jazz/latin/blues/r&b. Not very innovative or original when you consider what Winwood has been capable of. Has it been a nice re-visit to Winwood's earlier, organic days both on "Nine Lives" and "About Time"--the answer is yes. But, here's my challenge to Winwood: Mr. Winwood, do you still have the creative juices to make one more shining pop album that's not overburdened like "Refugees Of The Heart" or "Junction Seven", but something inspiring and classic like "High Life" or "Roll With It" or "Arc"? I'd like to see you try something more experimental like "Arc" now, or "High Life" now. I already know that you can do Traffic/Santana easily in your sleep.
So, "Nine Lives". B-/C+, three stars, maybe three and a half. The tracks that stood out to me the most were "I'm Not Drowning", "Raging Sea", "Dirty City" and "Secrets". The album as a whole was good, but nothing overtly memorable or astonishing. I'd rather listen to earlier Winwood, in other words.
So, Steve? Are you going to make that late career defining album? The one that all the critics, fans and non-fans sit up and take notice to? It's been 20 years now. Make us all glad next time.
 Is He The Comeback Kid? May 19, 2008
James H. Dusewicz (King Of Prussia, PA USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
First, I concur that if your looking for the abject dross that seemed to constitue lil' Stevie Winwood from the disaster of 'Roll With It' up to(but not including) apparently with this ears, 'About Time.' This CD is not for you. On the other hand there are referents to songs nicely buried referring to 'Back In The High Life Again.' I hear them, does anyone else?
I need not recapitulate the history and accomplishment of Mr. Steve Winwood. The corpus of par excellent recordings adequately speaks for itself; At the same time a curious blandess and unfocusedness began with 'Roll With It.' 'Roll With It' was so lame, so bland and so empty of merit that it finally convinced me that Mr. Winwood had finally "lost it."
I have always loved 'Winwood' the currently unhavable first solo album. Had it on vinyl. Miss it now. 'Talking Back To The Night' was okay. 'Back In The High Life Again' was a rather twisted return to form intermingling overt pop with something else.' Arc Of A Diver?' The jury is still out.
Then suddenly 'About Time' came out. Heard something from it and thought? Well, maybe he hasn't actually lost it. Don't have 'About Time.' On order.
The entire catalog of Traffic has been remastered. And the excellent 'Last Traffic Jam' has been released. All of which I have summarily noted.
Now, Nine Lives has been released. It's not a Winwood bland "Sellout." See 'Roll With It.' Rather it is something akin to Traffic and his first album with kudos referents thrown to 'Back In The Highlife Again.'
Any Winwood fan already has heard "Dirty City." The big question is whether this album can stand the test of time like the solo 'Winwood' or the timeless Traffic releases?
I'd say definitely, yes. Despite the more cynical reviews above; I think that this is a singular forward movement and yet a throwback to the jazz/blues/rhythm era of Winwood development. For those wide eyed cynics I say: Hell what do you want him to do? Reinvent the wheel?
Dynamic May 24, 2008
Lauren Lindsey
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This new CD from Steve Winwood is refreshing and dynamic. I find it more inspiring than some of his previous works. Winwood takes a tune and with his velvety and heartfelt voice adds soulful excitement to it. If you don't know or like blues or jazz, even rock music, you may begin to appreciate them after listening him. This CD comes with amazing clarity and transparency. You feel like clapping with him, or if you play any instrument you can be tempted to grab it and play with him. It is inviting, presented in open space, a clean and very uplifting music.
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