Customer Reviews
An under-rated diamond - By: Dr. Robert A. Josey, 11 Sep 2008 
I have never quite understood why reactions to this album are/were so hostile. It's one of his very best.
Granted some of the longer tracks like 'Cochise' meander slightly but generallly there is a sharp precision to the tracks, & an undoubted emotional underbite. 'Summit Day' is one of my favourite Oldfield pieces - it is just incredibly melancholy & beautiful. 'Embers' & 'Out Of Mind' too have the same feeling.
'Guitars' has a more intimate mood than many of other 'grander scale' albums. But, hopefully, it will be remembered as a cachet of hidden gems. It truly deserves to be rehabilitated. I believe Oldfield refined & revised some of the tracks for concerts given in Spain a few years ago, with extra full-on bass which wowed the amphitheatres. That would've been sweet to listen to.
two string guitar ! - By: Arthur Dooley, 05 Feb 2006 
Forget the depth & invention of Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge or Ommadawn.
Guitars offers a limp selection of off cuts & leftovers which makes for a particularly indigestable musical fry up.
No stand out tracks & nothing to recommend it I'm afraid.
The Canterbury Commercialist - By: Mr. M. A. B. Brown, 08 Nov 2003 I loved this album,but compared to the other Canterbury success stories,this man is a minor.Try Caravan,Soft Machine,Kevin Ayers,Egg,if you reallly want a buzz.This album will get you off if you're in the mood,but it's one of his minor achievements!
Prehaps his greatest work to date - By: , 26 Jul 2000 Since I picked up a vinyl copy of TB back in '73 I've been sold on MO as an artist, admittedly not alll his tracks have been great, but I was very impressed with "Guitars". After having wondered off a bit previously it was good to see him come home to what he does best - i.e. play guitar.
Music that can leave you breathless - By: simon.slator@zoom.co.uk, 18 May 2000 
Mike has a perfect knack for mood & composition but, if your ideal guitarist is someone along the lines of Yngwie Malmsteen - you'll find very little here. Mike's guitar work, when fused with the songs on display here, is nothing short of spellbinding. "Cochise" proving to be a good live piece on the 1999 tour.
