CARLOS GUITARLOS: Straight from the Heart

Carlos Guitarlos

Straight from the Heart

© 2003 Carlos Guitarlos/Nomad (724101831829)

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“Possibly the Album of the Year” -Creem Magazine // “…Best Contemporary Blues Album come next year's Grammy Awards” -Entertainment Today // “Truly one of a kind, he's put out a masterpiece with Straight From The Heart” –Blues Revue Magaz

tracks

1 Damn' Atchafalaya
2 The Love I Want
3 Ain't That Lovin' You (w/Mike Watt)
4 Straight From The Heart
5 Easyrider
6 The Sea Of All My Troubles
7 Poppin' & Bumpin' (w/Dave Alvin)
8 Keep My Hot Tamales Warm
9 Two Tavern Town (w/John Doe)
10 Dance With Your Baby
11 Everybody's Got The Blues
12 The Drought Song
13 Women & Whiskey
14 Co Co Club
15 Where Is The Music?
16 You Don't Know What Love Is
17 When The Pain Stops Killing Me

notes

Carlos Guitarlos is the REAL-DEAL and "Straight from the Heart" proves it. The disc features Mike Watt, John Doe, and Grammy Winner Dave Alvin. Carlos earned his reputation as the lead guitarist/songwriter of the legendary L.A. band Top Jimmy & the Rhythm Pigs. Many of you may remember the Van Halen song, "Top Jimmy", penned as a tribute to Carlos' band. VH wasn't the only ones on which Carlos left a lasting impression: You can count the Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan, Dwight Yoakam, Beck, and the Flaming Lips as fans. Carlos has recorded and/or played with: Tom Waits, Los Lobos, The Blasters, X, and The Breeders. He went on to become a street legend in his adopted hometown of San Francisco. There, he often lived the streets on which he played (we'll just say he's more than paid his dues). His hard living landed him in a S.F. hospital bed, fighting for his life with congestive heart failure, hence, "Straight from the Heart" (the title track was written from his hospital bed). That experience, combined with the alcohol-related death of his former band mate, Top Jimmy, was the catalyst of his recent personal turnaround and career resurgence. Carlos Guitarlos is once again a musical force to be reckoned with. "Straight from the Heart" greatly adds to his already significant legacy and cements his status as one of the great songwriters and musicians of our time. Pick up your copy now and hear for yourself!

Press:
There's a very good reason Carlos Guitarlos is not a household name: The music industry doesn't have a clue what to do with him. He's a walking encyclopedia of musical forms. And he's not afraid to combine, say, African highlife basslines with a Mexican guitar lead and a Cajun accordian line - and then tie it all together with a Creedence-like rhythmic thump. That's just one example. And the man has 3,500 more. That's thirty-five hundred. Carlos can write 20 songs in a day without breathing hard, and at least 19 of them will be better and more inventive than anything you've heard on the radio since Clear Channel took over the planet. Try fitting THAT into one of your silly little Alternative/Blues/Top 40/ genre check-boxes, Columbia House!

Carlos' music just doesn't fit into the current popular musical climate, packed as it is with poseurs, silicone-injected Pepsi shills and pierced-out white boys whining about Mommy. He is the Real Deal, a fountain of creativity, a two-fisted mouthsmasher and a swell guy, to boot. Who else can command the respect of Flea, Kim Deal, Jello Biafra, Tom Waits and David Lee Roth?
-Chris Grier, The Virginian-Pilot

A grudging compliment from Carlos is worth more than a hundred flattering emails from the average Joe. What can I say? He's one of those dudes that, assuming you aren't an arrogant ass, you must listen to because he'll teach you something. If Carlos says you're wrong, even if it's a core belief on music, you'd be well served to sit back and re-think things.
-John O'Neill, San Francisco Bay Guardian

reviews

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  • veroademing!!!
    author: Theun

    Dit is 1 van de beste bluescd's die ik de leste tied heurt heb. Eindelijk 1 die er tussn uut springt. Goa zo deur mien jong. Klasse!!

  • You cann't fool anybody playing with Dave Alvin
    author: Guy Mees (Belgium)

    Most unexpectedly I was listening to this great album from an unknown artist.At the end found out about Carlos Guitarlos playing reckless music with Dave Alvin. 'Straight from the heart' hits you immediately. An album I will recommend to everyone who has a CD-player.

  • Straight From The Soul
    author: Rob A - Toronto

    What a great CD! Every song is fantastic including The Love I Want and Keep My Hot Tamales Warm. Carlos certainly is straight from the heart played and sung with passion. Nomad did a very nice job with the recording quality and to learn that Carlos laid all seventeen tracks in one day is unbelievable. A must have CD for all!

  • wonderful
    author: Ginny

    I first heard one song of Carlos' on public radio. It was intriging enough to make me want to try the CD. This CD exceeded all my expectations. The music has feeling and meaning. I compare it to soulful Van Morrison. encore, encore.

  • terrific music
    author: phi phi

    I wanted to get my husband a CD, but he's very particular about his music and hard to buy for. He loved it! Whew, now I have to think of something he'll like as much for Xmas...

  • Life on a Disc
    author: Alan Callaghan

    A Friend reccommended this cd,thanks Dave!This is a cd of blues,it is not a cd about the blues.This is life compressed on a disc.From the opening track with its Orleans flavor to track 7 with the genius of Dave Alvin onboard this disc delivers.Production is good with no overproduction.This is a keeper!

  • More forceful and expressive than ever!
    author: Johnny Whiteside, LA Weekly

    The once-corpulent fireball has wizened down to a wraithlike troubadour, and after years of dissolute excess and punishing street life, Guitarlos has re-emerged with all his considerable blues-rocking talents not only intact, but more forceful and expressive than ever. His new Straight From the Heart finally cements Guitarlos’ reputation as an artist rather than a mere madman — although that’s still a welcome and crucial element.

  • No Cookie-Cutter Here!
    author: Steve Pringle, KMHD-Portland, OR

    It really is a fun and different sounding disc...and that is very welcomed with the plethora of cookie cutter Blues and Roots out there now. The feel of the disc shows you couldn't have named it better, it does seem ‘Straight From the Heart’.

  • Terrific!!
    author: San Francisco Bay Guardian

    A terrific album by a soulful guy

  • The Ballad of Carlos Guitarlos
    author: Bob Baker, Los Angeles Times

    The truthfulness of the voice commands you to listen

  • Sounds Damn' Atchafalaya Fine
    author: Brian J. Bowe, Creem Magazine

    Some of the finest recorded tunes of this or any year.

  • NPR Fresh Air story 9/17/03 and I was hooked!
    author: Dr Steve

    Driving home from work this afternoon and tuned in to NPR, heard a great sound with a strong review by Milo Miles, a Rolling Stones contributor. Carlos has made it there and is back! I could swear that I saw and heard him in SF back in '97.....

  • I love it, Carlos is true to his music and very real.
    author: Dave T

    For about 7 years I would walk past Carlos on the way to work. He would be sitting on his amp playing guitar in front of the train station. When I left for work, he was there, when I came back from work, he was there. The guy only knows music and suffering. From suffering comes honesty and it really shows on this album. I am so glad he is on tour again. I wish him the best!

  • very surprised---this cd is wonderfully diverse and non-corporate
    author: jayhawk jones

    i got the cd cause i thought anyone with a name like that has got to know the blues. this guy knows more than the blues he knows music and the direction it needs to start heading. keep up the good pickin carlos and don't ever sell out.

  • GREAT, GREAT CD Carlos is "THE BEST"
    author: arizmary@aol.com

    CD arrived promptly and I have enjoyed listening to CARLOS IN FACT went to see him in person in ALHAMBRA had a great time LOVE THE CD

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