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1. She's On The Other Side |
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She's On The Other Side
Reviewed by Daniel Feiler, Host Two Steps from the Blues, Eastside Radio, Sydney.
"She's On The Other Side finds Dean Thomas swapping his resonator acoustic guitar for an electric variety, all the while maintaining the warmth and good humour of his 2003 debut release Not Really the Blues.
Thomas explores a wide variety of blues styles throught this well-crafted sophomore effort. From the groove of Like A Refugee to the '50's slick of Born To Rock, the driving Mother Needs Some Love to the countrified 21st Century Blues.
And it's hardly suprising that Thomas has taken on such an ambitious project, reflecting so many different shades of blues. His acoustic live shows of two years ago were a tasteful blend of music and history as he recounted the stories and performed the music of many Country Blues greats. It'll be fascinating to see how Thomas packages up She's On The Other Side for the road this time around.
Speaking of the road, this new CD is the perfect accompaniment when driving. The blues has always evoked travel and movement - this feeling is captured throughout She's On The Other Side. Thomas has done some travelling himself. In the great tradition of bluesmen who headed North across the Mason-Dixon line and subsituted their acoustic guitars for electrics, Thomas has made a similar journety with enthuiasm, style and wit."
She’s On The Other Side
Reviewed by Chris Peridis, Australian Guitar
Coming off the back of 2004’s Not Really The Blues, on this CD Dean Thomas travels down a path inspired by traditional blues with a contemporary twist. This is an album all blues players and fans alike will be happy to have spinning in the CD player. There is some fantastic, tasteful playing on She’s On The Other Side for anyone who likes gritty slide blues, while the closing track “Jaywalking” is a fantastic swing blues instrumental that’ll have you boogying. Other standouts include the title track and “Like A Refugee”.
Some kind words from radio stations.
Dean's CD 'She's On The Other Side' is currently Coast FM's AMRAP CD of the week. I was really impressed by the album and that's why I selected it for our feature album of the week. Jean Abbott, Coast FM, October 2007
We have received the CD and I like it! It's not pretty vocals and fancy production and stuff like that but the music itself is slick and consistent and the main strength I feel is in the different stories Dean tells in each song. Graham Smith, Radio 5GTR, October 2007
Thanks for drawing attention to Dean's great album 'She's On The Other Side'. Today I played 'She's On The Other Side' as a lead up to it being my feature album of the week for next week. We are only too happy to give it time on the airwaves. Stephanie Ellen, 2NVR, November 2007
I enjoyed the CD and really loved 'The Man From Afghanistan' track, catchy and so true in the way people forget history and the issues of the day in our fast paced life. Jeff Ruitenbach, 2CCR FM, October 2007
What a great album. Kay Howick, Music Director, Bay FM, October 2007
'She's On The Otrher Side' is still being played on my Show, Spirit of the Blues. The response I'm getting from my listeners is very positive.
Wendy Rudin, Spirit FM, November 2008
The musicians and the songs
Dean has brought together some diverse and talented Australian musicians for this album: Carolyn “Cazzbo” Johns on Tuba. Phil Grove on Electric Piano and Organ. Pete Scott on Harmonica. Doug Nairn on Guitar. Jon “Pedro” Pedrotti on Drums and Bass.
SHE’S ON THE OTHER SIDE
A song about distances - between men and women, country and country, rich and poor, life and death.
BORN TO ROCK
The original lyrics, about a rock and roll fanatic, were written by my
old mate, Michael Robinson.
CRACK COCAINE
This one was inspired by a newspaper story of a Crack addict.
LIKE A REFUGEE
Sometimes being in love is like being a refugee. You’re on the outside and you just want to get in.
GET THE PRODUCT OUT
This one’s about the way business wants us to upgrade the stuff
we already have and go for new stuff all the time.
THE MAN FROM AFGHANISTAN
This song points out how important the early Afghan immigrants were to
Australia, with their camel trains taking goods to the remote parts of
the country. And how we now make it very hard for the same people
to come here.
IF YOU DON’T LIKE MY SUGAR
This one runs through the history of modern music in about three
minutes. From Jelly Roll Morton to Bessie Smith to The
Mississippi Delta to Ry Cooder, it’s all there.
21st CENTURY BLUES
If you think it’s bad now, just wait.
MOTHER NEEDS SOME LOVE
Mother nature that is.
LOVE SO BAD
The truth about how it can feel when you leave one relationship for another.
JAYWALKING
An attempt to capture the spirit of some of the great instrumental rhythm and blues tracks from the ‘50’s.
All songs written by Dean Thomas
except Born To Rock by Michael Robinson and Dean Thomas and Crack
Cocaine and Jaywalking by Dean Thomas and Doug Nairn c Dean Thomas 2007