Play

i love this new brad paisley cd. he is a very talented guitarist. if you like listening to a range of guitar playing you will love this. he also sings a couple too. one brought tears to my eyes about how he was helped when he was a little boy to start his way to fame. i heard on a tv program just how talented he is playing the guitar. he sure didn't let anyone down playing on this one. i love the whole cd. not one song let me down. which is rare for a cd. this is brad at his best!

Play by Brad Paisley is a departure from his other CDs. Although his other CDs have featured his strong guitar playing and sounds instrumentals, this entire CD is a guitar playing showcase. The very few songs that feature vocals are still secondary to the outstanding guitar playing, and that is just the point with this CD. Brad Paisley is an incredibly talented artist, and he gets to show off these talents with a few of his colleagues.

This is an outstanding effort from Brad Paisley. The only downside to the CD is that there are not 10+ great songs featuring vocals. That's okay though, because the other Brad Paisley CDs beg repeated listenings. If you are a new fan, don't miss out on these other great CDs:

5th Gear
Time Well Wasted
Mud on the Tires
Part II
Who Needs Pictures

This 6th effort is a 5 star effort. Highly recommended.

Brad Paisley has taken quite a risk in making a record that will likely not be embraced by his regular fans, nor those that disdain mainstream country artists. And if that's true, it's a shame, because this record is absolutely fantastic. Simply put, it's a love letter from Brad to the electric guitar. I can't think of a record that mostly consists of guitar-based instrumentals that I could ever sit all the way through. But this record encompasses such a diverse array of styles, all played with amazing bravado, that it entertains throughout. Country, bluegrass, surf, jazz, and rock are all represented here, and all of the songs are exceptionally melodic and interesting. Even those songs which may start out sounding like lite-jazz hokum ("Kim") or country schmaltz ("More Than Just This Song", "Waiting On A Woman") ultimately reveal themselves to be heartfelt and beautifully played. Throw in a healthy dose of fun and some inspired duets and collaborations ("Start A Band" with Keith Urban, the rollicking "Come On In", with the late Buck Owens, "Cluster Pluck", with a small army of guitar slingers), and you end up with one of the best releases this year.

This guy has incredible talent, and I'd have never imagined a record like this coming from him based on the what I'd presumed about him. Let me just say this: If you like great guitar music, drop your preconceived notions and give this thing a spin, because it truly rocks.

If you are one of those people that doesn't pigeon hole themselves in regards to music genres this is a must buy. If you love guitar it pays off even bigger dividends.

Brad pays tribute to all sorts of genres and artists in this diverse, mostly instrumental album. Those who expect the typical country/pop chart topping singles may be somewhat disappointed, but if you dig a little deeper you will find a showcase of talent, of both Brad and his guests, that is not constrained by the tunnel vision of mainstream media and radio. It is a blast to hear all of the great influences and try to pick them out as you listen. From the Bluegrass-on-Redbull licks of "Huckleberry Jam" to the Eric Johnson-esque "Cliffs of Rock City," there is something here for everyone. If you play guitar you will be in heaven, if you don't, you will want to buy one and learn. Either way, it is a gem to listen to regardless of what genre you gravitate to.

I don't listen to much country music; what little I do listen to is generally considered "alt-country". I had only ever heard a song or two by Brad Paisley before, but picked up this album based on recommendations from other guitar players. (I "Play", though not on par with Brad!) I love instrumental rock, especially instrumental guitar pieces, and think this is a great album. That said, it is pretty all over the place, and I can see staunch country-music fans might not like it. A couple of the songs have a very rockabilly Brian Setzer vibe, and "Turf's Up" is pure homage to Dick Dale. "Cliffs of Rock City" I've heard is a nod to Eric Johnson's "Cliffs of Dover" (another great instrumental rock piece). "Les is More" is a jazzy little number giving respect to Les Paul. The guitar playing is fantastic throughout, and the songs are creative and melodic, and honour those mentioned above without being derivative. My least favourite songs on this album are actually the songs with lyrics. If you're a dedicated country music fan, this might be a skip for you. If you enjoy great guitar playing and various styles of music, I'd say give this a shot, even if you never listen to country music.