★★★★★
In 2011, Leslie West, erstwhile guitar god of Mountain fame, underwent surgery to have his lower right leg amputated after diabetes got the best of him. Rather than give up, West doubled down on his music, returning to the stage and the studio in no time flat. Still Climbing is the follow-up to that year's Unusual Suspects and it's nothing less than one of the most powerful records that West has ever recorded...
- www.relix.com
2013-11-12
★★★★★
Leslie West is a genuine legend of the guitar. He was part of Mountain and then West Bruce & Laing and his playing has been held up as a perfect example to years of young players starting out. Somehow he has never got the accolades amongst the public that he deserves but the line-up of musicians on this album suggests that his contemporaries know what he is about ? Slash, Joe Bonamassa, Zack Wylde and Steve Lukather: not a shabby bunch...
- www.music-news.com
2011-09-27
★★★★★
Sound: Those who lust for raw (almost bloody) blues rawk will surely know Leslie West (ex-Mountain). This album is his latest effort and he sticks with his two successful formulas: balls out blues rock in the mold of Gary Moore and strictly covers. There are no new songs on this record. But really who cares? Covering is natural in the blues genre. Every song has new aspects and even long time bluesrs will have their fun with this traditional album...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2009-11-15
★★★★★
Sound: This album is nothing but a solid 66:36 blues and rock adrenaline ride. Mountain's Leslie West really shines on this solo album as his guitar riffs either rip into you with force or soothe the soul. The sound is extremely crisp and will be welcomed not only by the large and dedicated Mountain fan base but also fans of well crafted and more importantly fans of well-played guitar led music. The album features some of Mountain's classics, covers of other bands and excellent new tunes...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2009-11-15
★★★★★
Here's a real cornerstone for any classic rock collection. Leslie West formed half of the creative heart of Mountain, one of the super groups of the '70s. Mountain holds the record for the longest piece of music ever put on vinyl, the 45-minute long, double-sided "Nantucket Sleigh Ride." Brilliantly conceived, it required you to get up and flip it half way through the song. Excess like that seems to be missing today.A few years ago, West's co-artist Felix Pappalardi died, and Mr...
- www.ink19.com
2009-07-20
★★★★★
Whaddaya mean, is Leslie West a singer? Is the Pope Jewish? Do bears hum in the shower? And why has the hairy guy in the wet vestments forgotten the tune to "Ave Maria"?
- www.robertchristgau.com
2009-07-10
★★★★★
With Felix Pappalardi singing and playing bass regularly this could be New York's third supergroup. (The Rascals and the Spoonful got there first.) The visual possibilities alone--with West, the enormous ex-Vagrant guitarist, set against the hyperactive Pappalardi, are fantastic. West plays good guitar and is a good roarer, and Pappalardi is not only first-rate on several instruments but has a wonderful singing voice, sweet and mellow...
- www.robertchristgau.com
2009-07-10
★★★★★
He's half the man he used to be in terms of mass, but when it comes to rock & roll, just stand back and listen as the master holds court. The man who once recorded an album called The Great Fatsby is back, slimmed down and kicking as hard as ever on tracks like "Palace of the King" and "Allergic...
- music.aol.com
2008-08-27
★★★★★
Originally released in 1989 on IRS' Illegal Records imprint, Leslie West's Alligator seemed then and still seems now, as evidenced by this straight reissue from Voiceprint Records, to be mostly West treading water. He plays some hot guitar here, of course, but then not as much as one might like, and he sings a lot here, too, perhaps more than one might like...
- music.aol.com
2008-08-27