Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers - Solid Ice

Since co-founding the Nighthawks in 1972, this singer-guitarist's compass has pointed steadily toward the blues, but like 2006's In a Natural State collaboration with the Cate Brothers, this disc veers into roadhouse rock, country, and even jazz. Although it ends with a suite of three soulful instrumentals, including the Wes Montgomery-influenced title track and Jimi Hendrix's rarely covered psychedelic funker "Who Knows," Thackery's concentrated as much on songwriting here as his bruising guitar tones. He trashes the cult of celebrity in "Hit the Big Time" and "Fifteen Minutes," dripping pure acid over riff-based grooves, and "Blue Tears" is melancholy honky-tonk, sold by Thackery's thin, quavering voice and faux-steel-guitar string-bending. The spoken blues "XXX Wife" plays marital collapse for laughs, but Thackery remains most articulate when he's picking. The shuffle "Hobart's Blues" is a stone Texas 12-bar guitar showcase, and the album's beautiful centerpiece is "Daze in May," a Tex-Mex reverie that glides on Thackery's mix of acoustic tones, with a sunny, mellow electric melody and volume swells that conjure clouds floating through a peaceful desert sky. --Ted Drozdowski Amazon.com

jimmy thackery solid ice

i have most of jimmy thackery's cds,and i think this is pretty equal to his others. January 15, 2008

Solidly Average

Being a teacher and a solid Blues fan and Jimmy fan on a good day "Solid Ice," would at best receive a C+. Nearly a third of his tunes here are instumental way too much for this fan. Hobart's Blues being the only solid one.The title CD song Solid Ice perhaps in person would go over but not here, it is just WAY too long. Fifteen Minutes is the best here. The only one that gets a B grade and worth listening over along with Hobart. If you like Country, you may enjoy this CD. Unfortunately I don't and three tunes here are basicly Country and don't belong on a Blues CD. Sadly, nothing here has any fire in it's belly. Solild Ice at best is solidly average. October 21, 2007

Oops ...

Having only heard Solid Ice and Who Knows before buying this album I can only say that someone forgot to inform me that Thackery's vocals sound like Bob Dylan on his deathbed (if he isn't already). I mean, come on. The guitar chops are great, but it's a stretch to call the vocals even average for good blues. September 30, 2007

Once rocking and then a bit to slow

This album starts with some great rocking numbers, then some to slow, but then a good ending. August 31, 2007

Thackery at his best!

When I saw Jimmy Thackery perform two months ago with only 150 other lucky souls I was completely blown away. Had heard his CD's but nothing prepared me for the pure power and guitar virtuosity that he displayed that night. When I heard "Solid Ice" live , I told my friend it sounded like a cross between Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix....and I still think so.
I bought the CD at the show and it immediately became my current favorite. All but two of the songs are great, several are awesome! You can't go wrong with this if you are a fan of blues/rock guitar. July 28, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...