Artist: Elmore James Album: The Sky Is Crying

Year: 1965
Duration: 0:0-1

A Critical Review of Elmore James' The Sky Is Crying

Elmore James's The Sky Is Crying is a blues album that was originally released in 1965. It features some of his best works as a blues guitar player. James is widely regarded as the Father of the Modern Electric Blues. His unique style and guitar techniques have influenced many musicians, including Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.

In this blog post, we will take a critical look at The Sky Is Crying, discussing the artist's brief history, the music genre, the best songs of the album, the most innovative parts, and, of course, a brief critique of the album.

Elmore James was born in Mississippi in 1918, and he started his music career while still a teenager. He became a popular blues musician in the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1950s and 1960s. His innovative guitar playing style, combined with his raspy singing voice, set him apart from other blues musicians of his time.

The Sky Is Crying is a blues album that features James's best guitar-playing techniques and singing abilities. The album incorporates elements of Delta blues, Chicago blues, and rhythm and blues. It's a classic blues album that showcases James's ability to blend different blues styles into a cohesive and unique sound.

One of the best songs on the album is The Sky Is Crying, which serves as the title track of the album. The song features James's signature slide guitar style and has a slow and haunting sound that captures the essence of the blues. Another standout track on the album is It Hurts Me Too, a classic blues ballad that showcases James's singing abilities.

The most innovative part of the album is James's guitar playing style. His use of slide guitar and open-tuned chords is unique and has become a defining characteristic of blues guitar playing. James's ability to improvise on songs and blend different blues styles into his sound is also noteworthy.

One of the critiques of the album is that it lacks variety. The majority of the songs are slow-tempo blues ballads that can sound repetitive. However, James's guitar playing and singing abilities keep the album interesting and engaging.

In conclusion, Elmore James's The Sky Is Crying is an excellent example of the blues genre. The album showcases James's guitar playing and singing abilities and his ability to blend different blues styles into his unique sound. While the album lacks variety, it's still an excellent listen for fans of blues music. James's unique playing style has influenced many musicians and continues to be a defining characteristic of blues guitar playing.