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John Batdorf and James Lee Stanley

All Wood and Stones II

Review by Gary Hill

This is a set of covers of Rolling Stones songs. Okay, that’s only so accurate. I think it’s more like re-workings or re-inventions of Stones tunes. Whatever way you put it, though, these acoustic guitar based renditions are great. I like every single one of them. There are even a couple that I might like better than the originals.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2013  Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
Honky Tonk Women

Somehow in this acoustic telling this seems to have more of a groove. It really works well with bits of country and other styles in the mix. 

Miss You
Wow! Done as a folky sort of balladic tune this thing really works well. I love it. I’m a big fan of the original, but I think I like this even better. Other than the lyrics these are really two completely different tunes.
Get Off My Cloud

This has a feeling much like a breezy kind of 1960s folk rock tune. It’s bright and sunny. It’s also fun.

Jumping Jack Flash

Here’s one that feels more like a high energy acoustic blues tune. It rocks out pretty well and has a cool instrumental section.

Play With Fire

A symphonically tinged folk sound makes up this number. It feels very much like something that would have come out of the folk rock movement of the 1960s. 

Before They Make Me Run
More of a flowing, energized folk rock sound is the motif here.
Sympathy for the Devil

Here’s a fun groove that’s more rock than it is folk, but still has plenty of both in the mix.

Tumbling Dice

An easy going groove makes up this tune. Somehow I’m reminded just a little of Randy Newman on this. Still, the arrangement is pretty soulful.

Wild Horses

 I’ve always loved this song. I hate to say it, but it seems like the kind of song I would write. If I had written it, though, it would probably have been somewhere between this folky rendition and the original Stones take on it. Either way, I still love this song and feel a real kinship to it.

Time Is On My Side

This version is pretty and gentle and quite folk meets prog.

 
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