The Steel Guitar Forum

This is definately more mainstream than the first album with less steel emphasis, but still some incredible playing on it. More emphasis on the beat but some good jams.

Anyone else on this forum have it yet? Love Diane and Stronger.

A lot of great positive lyrics on this album also.

I got it the day it came out. Definitely more mainstream, but in a 70's revival way; lots of funk, Stevie Wonder style stuff and Allman Brothers inspired material on this. I was disappointed to see that he has gone to playing a six stringer for some material, but overall this has to be one of the best crossover albums I have heard. I kept waiting to hear Bootsy start his trademark chatting part way through one of the tracks. Very cool stuff!

I downloaded it from I-tunes as soon as it came out. I agree, the emphasis is less on the steel on this album, but the steel is still there. It seems less repetitive than most of his previous stuff I've heard. I like it, but then I'm not much of a Country fan anyway, and I use a lot of chorus, distortion, and auto wah when I play.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

I won't be buying this recording, but I understand what he is doing. He is trying to expand his commercial appeal. Wait a few more records and maybe he will return to the steel driven RR we know best.

He's a great blues player, that's what I really dig hearing from him.

Even though there is less steel on this album, there are sure some flashes of brilliance. GOing through and kind of getting a feel for what he does on each track, he has some bursts of speed on this album I really didn't hear on the last. And when really listening to this thing, what I originally thought was six-string guitar, I think it is actually steel. I know he did some guitar stuff on this album and even a couple guitar solos, but to my ear, i believe most of it is still steel.

Robert is doing what he has to do to survive. I'm cool with that because it means I will hopefully get to purchase more of his albums in the future. I was kind of afraid Unclassified would be it.

so are any of you guys doing any stuff on your own that is in the style of Robert? Or are you just fans of it?

I don't really play Sacred Steel style, but I do play my S12U in a blues band. We play Chicago blues and I play slide guitar type stuff. We also do a little fusion and jazz. I'm playing this Thursday night at the local blues club, Warmdaddy's.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by David Doggett on 25 October 2006 at 06:04 PM.]</p></FONT>

I started playing lap steel purely so that I could play this style, not necessarily for religious reasons but due to the expressiveness and emotional content. I find the steel to be much more accessible and easier to get what is in my head into the notes.