16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Inspirational,
June 19, 2001 Russell Diederich (Littleton, CO United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Beyond Nature (Audio CD)
Jimi Hendrix is reported to say that Phil Keaggy was the best guitarist around. Listen to this solo-acoustical album and you just might have to agree. Purely instrumental, this is every finger-picker's dream. If this is your type of music, than this is one album that is definitely worth tracking down. Keaggy has been blessed with lightning fast arpeggios, a command of alternate tunings, and right hand slap/harmonic technique that all adds flavor to his music. "County Down" is a playground for him to use his repertoire of skills. The song is brilliant in it's own right. "Fair Thee Well" is built around a theme comprised of both right and left and tapping, add in some fast runs, and you have another great tune. There isn't a bad cut on this album.Another neat item about this album is that Keaggy provides the alternate tunings that he uses for each song in the liner notes. For you finger-pickers who would like to emulate him, you at least have a place to begin. If you like guitar,...Read more
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
The Reason I Fell In Love With The Acoustic Guitar!!!,
July 30, 2005 Patriculus - See all my reviews
This review is from: Beyond Nature (Audio CD)
I first heard this record back in 93 and it has been, in one form or another, in my collection ever since. It is to my mind one of the finest guitar recordings ever produced. I am a fan of Andres Segovia, Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler, and a host of other FS guitarists, so I hope you can appreciate what I mean when I say this.
What Keaggy manages to do here, and sadly only here, is to weave a collection of tunes that provoke the emotions as much as the ear. He has said that he intended the songs on this album to be in the Impressionist veign. And I cannot think of a better decription.
Listening to "A Place of Springs" for instance, one has the impression of a mind struggling with the wieght of the world and with it's own weakness. And in Keaggy's arrangement of Grieg's "Symphonic Dance" we not only hear but truly feel the elation of the instrument (as narrator) at some joyous moment we will never fully comprehend (though I...Read more
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Truely a remarkable album...,
March 1, 2004 By A Customer
This review is from: Beyond Nature (Audio CD)
This is one of those albums that has never really left my player since I bought it 4 years ago. Keaggy is truely a master of his craft and his songs bring a smile to my whenever I hear them. This is album calmed and relaxed me during some of the most stressful years of my life. Really beautiful and I cannot recommend it more highly.
(23 customer reviews)