Monte Montgomery is hailed by many people as one of the best 10 unknown guitarists in America or maybe the world. Monte certainly has a lot of people on his side including two of my favorites Joe Ely and Delbert McClinton. Joe has said "He's a monster.....he sets the guitar on fire". Delbert has said "My Favorite guitarists are Stevie Ray Vaughan and Monte Montgomery". It's a very impressive C/V.
Wishing Well is Monte's third album and Monte has also produced, written and arranged the CD with help from Carl Thiel on production. "Tug Of War" is the opening song which is a melodic catchy gutsy piece of soft rock, which almost has a sing along chorus. Monte also has a masterful guitar solo in the middle of this pleasant number. Monte plays a verity of guitars which seems to add interesting layers to the songs as Monte's vocals blend with the songs as on the title song "Wishing Well", which has an heavenly quality. Phil Bass on drums lays down a good beat on "Tomorrow Begins With Today", Monte gets to play piano as well on this choppy chugging melodic nagging song. "Bagpipe" is an instrumental with no bagpipe in it, but Monte does manage to sound like a bagpipe on the guitar.
The songs are very friendly and they sound like you've known them all your life, "Sunset Lullaby" is a lush sounding song that will probably be covered by some big star and become a worldwide hit. "Catch Me" sounds like it belongs on a Dave Mason album, it is wonderful lazy infectious drifting dream like song, my favorite. Chris Maresh on bass under pins "Solider At His Best" as Monte competes with him on his acoustic guitar. "Radio Girl" has two speeds to it, as one minute it's fast, then Monte slows it down to great effect, then of course repeats it all through the song, which alias bring to a close a very good album. Monte comes across as a very good melodic catchy songwriter who certainly knows how to write a good song. "Wishing Well" is an album full of great songs. Monte is hailed as a great guitarist, but that is not the strength of this album as his guitar playing is concise and to the point, it's the songs that make this album a first class piece of work.
Monte Montgomery has a website at www.montemontgomery.com The CD is available from www.antonesrec.com
Simply click on the CD cover at left to order this CD NOW!
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