SHOOT OUT AT THE FANTASY FACTORY

Often regarded as "Low Sparks Vol. 2", "Shoot Out" is another brilliant album from the Fantasy Factory of Winwood, Capaldi and Wood. If "Evening Blue" and "Uninspired" may at times even sound low-positioning and withdrawn, especially when contrasted to powerful jazz/rock/blues/soul energy explosions of other three tracks, this is still a somewhat more coherent album than its masterful predecessor. Although lacking the magnum opus like it was the title track of "Low Spark", this fine record still shows enormous talents and musical and composition abilities of these underrated guys. Additionally, the opening title track contains rare (and quite amazing for that matter) heavy guitar solos by Winwood unheard before. "Roll Right Stones" contains phenomenal bridge arrangement with chorus melody that is similar to GOLDEN EARRING's "Are You Receiving Me", recorded if I am right only later in 1977! Overall this album is not 100% a masterpiece and 4,5 stars would be justified for me, but I must command it as a strong continuation of ideas and styles and a further progress from previous essential albums like "Low Spark" and "John Barleycorn".