Tampa Red, Pink Floyd, Beatles, MC5, Duane Allman, Rory Gallagher, Keith Richards, Syd Barrett, Mississippi Fred McDowell
È simile
A mix of British Psychedelic blues rock and Delta blues, juiced with punk energy and world class guitar hero virtuosity.
See his page at www.paulfenton.com for full bio, discography, photos, streaming videos and more. Also presently rocking YouTube.com, just search for "Paul Fenton" videos.
Another news flash: Corus radio's "Max Trax Digital Music" has added “Rattlesnakin’ Daddy” “Checkin’ up on my Baby” and “Stranger Blues” which will be their focus track. Music Director Peter Silversides said "All three songs will be featured in a regular rotation with the emphasis on “Stranger Blues.” Congratulations on a great sounding record…I love the raw feel to the whole thing. Thanks again for sending the disc. We are available to digital subscribers of Rogers, Shaw and Cogeco cable and to StarChoice satellite customers as well."
News flash: The CBC requested 35 copies of the record and playlisted the new Fenton-Lazz CD nationally.
GIGS:
May 25, 2008: 4pm Matinee Black Sheep Inn: Sunday matinee` 'Rattle Snakin' Daddy' CD Release Party
LATEST HOT REVIEW APRIL 2007:
Paul Fenton “Judgement Day”. Jealous Monk 2006. Si os gustan las referencias a los sonidos psicodelicos con reminiscencias del Delta blues mas toques de punk rock, entonces no lo penseis dos veces en adquirir una copia de este último álbum del cantante y guitarrista Paul Fenton que, una vez más, nos sorprende de nuevo con un trabajo serio, sobrio, original y de gran calidad artística. Paul es un músico competente con ideas brillantes y grandes aportaciones a la estética musical actual. Como suele ser habitual en él, Paul se encarga de tocar con técnica y atinado gusto, todas las guitarras del disco, slide, acústica, electrica, mas el bajo y el bajo con slide. Su voz no suena como la de un cantante de blues ortodoxo, pero eso no es óbice para que aflore profunda y equilibrada con un toque mas bien áspero y muy particular, embelleciendo sobremanera todas las canciones que interpreta. Este nuevo trabajo es totalmente diferente a lo que ha publicado hasta el momento y creo que deberíais apostar por él si os gusta lo más novedoso. MUY BUENO.
If you like psychedelic sound references with Delta blues drops and a punk rock touch, do not hesitate and get the new singer and guitar player Paul Fenton recording. Once again Fenton surprises us with a serious, restrained, original work and high musical quality. Paul is an able musician with new bright ideas who has done a great contribution to contemporary music. As usual, he tastefully plays with great technique all kind of guitars, slide, acoustic and electrifyied, plus bass and slide bass. His voice does not have the orthodox blues singer record, but it sounds deep and balanced, with a very special harsh touch which improves all songs. A new piece of work completely different to what he has been doing till now, you should bet for, if you like the most new fashion trends. VERY GOOD. - Vicente Zumel, "La Hora del Blues" Barcelona Spain
*****
"Perhaps only the Australian Dave Hole is comparable in the slide guitar stakes, as Canadian Paul Fenton plays some of the most mesmerising, warm toned slide guitar you have ever heard...A majestic player who at times seems to weave his guitar lines through the eyes of an imaginary needle, 'Judgement Day' is the perfect introduction to those who have never heard Paul Fenton before. Once you've heard this album you will be hooked." Pete Feenstra, www.getreadytorock.com, London England
"He doesn't really sound like a blues singer in the traditional sense, but more like a rock vocalist, and actually, more like a punk rock vocalist. He's gotten more and more into developing a distinctive style of his own since I first heard him, which I think is a really good thing. This new album in particular, is different than anything else you've done before." Marty Murray, The NAIL (St. Catharines)
Thomas Ruf, president-owner of Germany's Ruf Records label, after hearing a preview of the new CD said "It was a real listening pleasure! Different, very cool and well crafted."
"What a wonderful sound this is, slide with a touch of Sixties music, this makes you think about life." Bobtjeblues.com, Belgium
Paul was the featured artist on "Blue Jeans Generation" radio show Tuesday Sept. 19. "Mr. Paul Fenton is presented as the 'headliner' of this edition of the radio emission. His extraordinary music deserved it." Dragutin Matosevic, host.
"One can't help but be impressed with Paul Fenton's new CD, headstrong as it is with powerful evidence that we have a king-sized talent in our midst. The production values are flawless, as are the powerful vocal and instrumental tracks. Let's welcome him out of his comfortable obscurity in Ottawa, Canada and into the high-pressure skillet of the big time." G. Seedorff, BCB magazine, Detroit
"Tasteful, piercing solos that display how, on a whim, Fenton can push a song into overdrive." - Steve Baylin, Ottawa XPress
"He has got a terrific punching sound and the backing band also give their 'warrior' strong sound, perfect for emphasizing Fenton's original performing. This is one of those CDs I would highly recommend without making a mistake to those of you who like electrifying vigorous guitars. GREAT."
Vicente P. Zumel Barcelona Spain "La Hora del Blues"
"What a wonderful sound this is, slide with a touch of Sixties music, this makes you think about life." Bobtjeblues.com, Belgium
PAUL FENTON Judgement Day Jealous Monk Records JMR0208 (2006) [full review]
Perhaps only the Australian Dave Hole is comparable in the slide guitar stakes, as Canadian Paul Fenton plays some of the most mesmerising, warm toned slide guitar you have ever heard. In fact 'Judgement Day' is not so much about the strength of his songs as establishing different musical context's for his searing slide. From the opening repeated catchy slide motif of 'Lost In The Woods' to the two part closing title track, Paul seeks out every nuance and every tone colour imaginable on his array of guitars.
On the aptly titled instrumental 'Red Tele Raga' he extends the Eastern feel explored on the preceding George Harrison influenced 'The River', and both pieces suggest Paul is happiest searching out different textures and drones rather than focusing on one particular style...it's a rare pleasure to hear such musicianship outside of the usual 12 bar context on, although when he does dip into the Bo Diddley beat underpinning 'Skydog', he comes up with a Keith Richard style triumph...(and) by the time of the penultimate hard rocking intro of 'Nothing To Say' you get swept along by the sheer frisson of it all.
The closing title track is a tour de force guitar piece opening with a mournful sounding slide over a lilting blues backing. Paul reverts to a an effective laid back Dave Gilmour style vocal and for the rest lets his playing colour the piece.
The closing use of harmonics is perfect. A majestic player who at times seems to weave his guitar lines through the eyes of an imaginary needle, 'Judgement Day' is the perfect introduction to those who have never heard Paul Fenton before. Once you've heard this album you will be hooked.
Review by Pete Feenstra
getreadytorock.com
*****
Brand new review from Norway
CD REVIEW: Paul Fenton Judgement Day (Jealous Monk Records, 2006 Canada)
Remember I gave Canadian Paul Fenton's previous CD (Live! In Toronto , 2002) a terrific review. And when I now, in receiving Judgement Day, his fresh release on my desk, am giving another excellent thumbs up to this brand new disk. Man this is a very good one, categorically! Fenton has composed a bunch extraordinarily varied songs and sounds that absolutely creep under your skin and stay there.
They aren't pure blues, by any stretch of the imagination, but they're not pure rock rather. Both describe the music here but let's call it blues rock along with hippie - active psychedelia. Listen to the lovely instrumental track "Red Tele Raga", and you'll see what I mean. The superb title cut "Judgement Day" also deserves special mention. Paul Fenton is plainly put an incredible slide guitar player, a slide guitar player without equal.
He has during his 5 or 6 solo CDs clearly invented absolutely his own radical down'n dirty slide tone and is in a class by himself. I said before I was glad to make the acquaintance of this special musician, and I say it again after hearing this superb new CD.
Decca said in ’62 as they declined to sign The Beatles that 'guitar based music is on the way out.' Absolutely not!
Bjorn Wiksaas
Om Radio Ung
Norway
*****
(Dutch original below the English translation):
PAUL FENTON - "JUDGEMENT DAY" full CD - CAN
I didn't know the Canadian Paul Fenton until I received his new album "Judgement Day." What a revelation this mix of blues, punk and psychedelic rock. A sound that brings us back from the late sixties to the early seventies. His is a great guitar player when it comes to rhythm guitar but his slide distinguishes him from other guitar players. He learned it from books by the way. One of the biggest influences to start playing himself was the late Rory Gallagher, but his list is much longer. Mainly blues guitar players who made Paul play the way he does now. His new album "Judgement Day" doesn't contain your every day blues which we (read you and me) can expect on a blues site, but there is enough blues in this album for those who want to listen carefully. Blues isn't the same for you or me. On this album we hear twelve fresh songs and the majority stays in your head and is all very well performed. I must say I played this album over and over again for several days before I was ready to write an honest review. I cannot compare him with any other guitar player which means that Paul has, for me at least, a unique style. There's only one cover to be found on the album and that's 'Your Close Friends' by Blind Willie Davis. All other songs are written by Paul and the title track "Judgement Day" got the most of my attention, because it has got a blues base, although "Skydog" has got it as well. He finishes the song with a blues turnaround. For all you guys who want to try something else I advise this album, and don't judge it immediately but give it some time. Definitely worth the effort.
Reviewed by "BluesBoy" Georges Dorka, www.bobtjeblues.com, Netherlands/Belgium
"De Candees Paul Fenton was tot kort geleden nog een onbekende voor mij, tot ik de cd "Judgement Day" ontving. Wat een openbaring deze mix van blues, punk en psychedelische rock. Een geluid wat ons gemakkelijk terug voert naar eind jaren zestig tot in het begin van de jaren zeventig. Hoewel Paul een goed ritmegitarist schijnt te zijn gaat zijn voorliefde duidelijk uit naar slide wat hij op zichzelf geleerd heeft via allerlei boekwerken. Een grote invloed om met muziek te beginnen was die van Rory Gallagher. Maar zijn lijst met invloeden reikt veel verder. Voornamelijk bluesartiesten die op een of andere manier een stempel gedrukt hebben op hoe Paul nu is. De cd "Judgement Day" bevat minder alledaagse blues dan dat wij (lees U en ik) zouden verwachten op een blues site. Maar er zit voldoende blues in verwerkt voor wie het maar horen wil. Blues is voor U niet hetzelfde dan voor mij. Op deze schijf horen we twaalf frisse nummers waar het merendeel van in je hoofd blijft zitten die stuk voor stuk goed uitgevoerd worden. Ik moet er wel bij vertellen dat ik deze cd meerdere dagen onafgebroken gedraaid heb voor ik zover was om voor mijn gevoel een eerlijke recensie te schrijven. Ik kan dan ook geen vergelijking maken met welke andere muzikant dan ook. Dit spreekt in zijn voordeel als je het hebt over geluid en stijl, uniek voor Paul Fenton. De enige cover komt van Blind Willie Davis en heet 'Your Close Friends'. De rest is van eigen hand waarvan de titelsong 'Judgement Day' mij het meest aanspreekt, waarschijnlijk omdat hier een lekkere bluesbasis in zit. Maar dit horen we ook in 'Skydog' waar Paul afsluit met een blues turnaround. Voor wie eens iets anders wil horen adviseer ik deze cd en dan niet gelijk oordelen maar even op je in laten werken, zeker de moeite waard." 'Blues Boy' Georges Dorka www.bobtjeblues.com
Paul's videos are creating a real grassroots buzz (if not an outright wildfire) in the YouTube music category so if you haven't yet checked them out, don't miss out on the excitement.
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