Don Ross - Music for Vacuuming: A

Music: 8/10 Production: 5/5
Total: 13 of 15: A

Don Ross is a phenomenal acoustic guitar player. He perhaps has the best picking right hand in the business. He has won the US National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship twice.

This is an instrumental album of just Don and his one guitar. There are no overdubs. There are only other rhythm instruments on 2 songs. This is music done in one take. Little mistakes and half notes make it into the recording, but that's what makes it so human and real.

Clearly there are standouts on the album. The opening track "How to Eat an Avalanche" is a fast and furious piece with amazing up and down the fretboard movement. "Tochigi" is a swirling rhythm that hypnotizes. It gets you into a trance and then breaks out into new directions only to come back to the original. It's a very nice ride. Finally, "Never Go to Pernambuco" is a sad and soulful number making you think of loves lost on rainy days.

The only real issue is that it is very hard to write solo acoustic guitar songs that last more than 3 minutes. Nearly all Don's songs top 5 minutes. So, at times songs repeat too much or stay on the same refrain too long. I can imagine actually playing these songs or being in close proximity that it would be easy to lose yourself in the music. But the experience doesn't translate as well to the car or office.

Slightly too long songs is hardly a bad criticism, especially when the guitar is so amazing. If you like acoustic guitar or perhaps want some excellent ambient music, this is fantastic stuff. I highly recommend it and look forward to getting more albums by Don Ross.