Heaven or Hell by Maurizio Lauroja

Lauroja is an outstanding and very tasteful guitarist, who scores extra points with me for exquisite tone (just listen to "Love Struck") with lots of wah-wah and electric type boogies. He is backed by a great rhythm section of Roberto Gualdi on drums and song - TOM BRANSON

FROM ELECTRIC BLUES SITE

A CD arriving a EB's doorstep all the way from Italy, a

recording called "Heaven or Hell" by Maurizio Lauroja. I can't believe I've finally scooped our illustrious TNTom, our resident expert on International guitarists. This guy is one hot player, and the vocalist

is solid as well. This is another collection of very impressive, all original songs. There is literally not one bad song in this CDs, and I highly recommend it.

at EB! - Herm Electricblues.com

Most people begin their music career at a young and tender age, Maurizio Lauroja challenges that notion by beginning his music career at the age of 40. Despite his age, his music is a fresh look at blues-rock with soul firmly resting under both arms. "Heaven or Hell" is the type of debut that really just smokes from beginning to end with a feel that classic rock artists impressed upon the music world years ago. Yeah, I'm talking about the Stevie Ray Vaughn's, Clapton's, and even the mighty Hendrix's. And while it's a stiff nod to the classics, one can't help but cough up Lenny Kravitz whose sole purpose on earth is to steal riffs from Hendrix and others, but Maurizio Lauroja and his band don't fall into that trap thankfully.- J-Sin

This is surprisingly tasty for a mainstream style of release. By mainstream I mean a cd that will appeal to fans of rock, blues, funk, classic rock, jam bands and alternative. Normally, that would be spreading it too thin for me but it works here somehow. This guy's guitar playing is outstanding, I mean, Stevie Ray Vaughn or Eric Clapton outstanding. "Heaven Or Hell" is one of those cds you throw on when you've got people over for the first time and your not sure what kind of music they like but you know they'll dig this. - J.R. Oliver

Новая пластинка итальянского исполнителя Маурицио Лауройя (Maurizio Lauroja) именуется Heaven or Hell (Рай либо Ад). Данная работа с нарочитым подчеркиванием демонстрирует решение Маурицио отойти подальше от кавер-версий и показать слушателям свой собственный оригинальный материал, написанный совместно с другом и коллегой Guido Block. Пластинка вобрала в себя все самые лучшие тенденции мейнстрима - смешение блюза, фанка, классического рока и альтернативной музыки. Гитарные партии, исполняемые Лайройя многие критики с восторгом сравнивают с эталонными Клэптона.

Blues rock from Italy may not sound as plausible as, say, pizza or linguine, but after listening to Lauroja's disc, I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. It is always interesting to see rock and roll from a foreign perspective, and when it's good stuff, so much the better. Lauroja plays a mean guitar, and his style, essentially blues rock, but with elements of classic rock and a dose of Brit glam, comes across as fresh as a pie out of the oven. You can hear the influences, like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Gibbons, but they're not overt, and you won't be sitting there listening to the disc and saying, "oy, another guy who thinks he is Stevie Ray Vaughn." Part of it has to do with the songs - not the tired, depressing blues rock that fat white guys love to mope over and drink beer to while pretending they have a life, but rather engaging, up-tempo stuff that makes you want to get up and dance. Though Lauroja has been playing guitar since he was a kid, and performing with bands all along, this is the first time he has stepped forward to be the frontman, belting out the vocals. Oh, and he made the switch at 40. Call it a mid-life crisis if you want, but the change seems to have done him good - Bill Ribas New York Rock Street

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