Robby Krieger, originally from The Doors, plays a really tasty guitar focused album here with no lyrics sung in the appropriately named “No Habla” album. In this album plays about 35 minutes of really great guitar work, complemented well by some swirling organs (although not accompanied by Ray Manzarek also of The Doors). The album contains a couple of Doors songs. For instance, the first track “Wild Child” originally appeared on “Soft Parade” by The Doors in 1969, and this time around Robby Krieger is the main focus and he goes all in on the track to hook you in.
“Eagles Song” has some nice jangly acoustic that changes up the vibe. “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine” has some really excellent and creative guitar work, as does the entire album, but the slide guitar really stands out to me when it keeps on coming and the songs becomes more bluesy as it continues, and especially when the harmonica comes in to complement Krieger’s stupendous playing.
“It’s Gonna Work Out Fine” has a really great gritty feeling to it and Krieger’s continuous swirling with the slide playing keeps the listener dazed and amazed, and at one point he really takes the track out to exploratory areas and you have to wonder how it can possibly get brought back in, but you keep the faith in Krieger and he delivers, as it indeed works out fine.
“Lonely Teardrops” brings in a sort of reggae/island type feel to the table, which really shows the unique range that Krieger was able to deliver for the album and throughout his career.
The next track, “Love It or Leave It” is totally 80s all the way, and you gotta love Krieger for doing it. The drums and the synth really set a nice platform up for Krieger to demonstrate his ability to transform and evolve his playing over time, and Krieger just keeps going further into the track. I’ve only started getting into music from the 80s in the past few months, but Krieger really makes me want to listen to more.
“The Big Hurt” sounds like The Doors meets the 80s, which is really something to think about – however – Krieger most definitely creates his own sound that you can still distinguish from The Doors, making his guitar playing a unique voicing all his own. There’s even a bit of his Spanish/flamenco influences audible in this track, and that makes it all the more exciting. The track continues building on itself and making the album all that more masterful and worth the listen.
“Piggy’s Song” has some really comforting acoustic guitar work, but honestly I was first hooked in by the really tasteful, almost jazzy, bass playing in the tune. This album’s range keeps developing more and more and diverse, as the other instruments in the track pick up sort of a jazzy feel to them as well and it evolves to something of a fusion type track.
“I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” sounds like the 80s playing a great song from the mid-50s days of early rock and roll, which is exactly what’s happening, and its honestly pretty neat for doing so. Krieger at this point is sort of rollicking around in his guitar playing because at this point, you’re hooked.
The album finishes on “You’re Lost Little Girl”, one of my favorite Doors tunes from “Strange Days” (1967), and Krieger doesn’t hold back on this one. It’s got that great Doors vibe, but Krieger mashes that with some 80s and makes this version one to write home about – when the chorus breaks it’s just surreal. I’d say if you have to listen to just one track from the album, make it this one, but that’s not doing any justice to Krieger or the rest of the album. Weighing in at just ~35 minutes, I’d recommend taking a listen if you can spare the time.
-A