WRUV Reviews

Wonderful Chicago blues by two guys who have been doing it a long time. Big Eyes Smith, the youngster of the pair—he’s 20 years younger than Pinetop, who is approaching 100—writes and sings most of the songs. These guys are clearly having a good time, and your listeners will, too.

http://www.erickhovey.com/

Smooth, cool blues with a hip lounge sound in some tracks—“Soda Pop Girl” (track 3) might be the coolest song ever about a designated driver—combined with grinding guitar in other tracks. Great swing that veers toward the blues.

myspace.com/daviscoen

“Jukebox Classic” follows last year’s “Magnolia Land”, again lots of good modern Southern blues. Jimbo Mathus (of Squirrel Nut Zippers) helped on some numbers. The music is tinged with soul and country influences. Every song is “jukebox” length, and most fade out. A good album to add variety to your set.

Hard-rocking blues with Southern/Southwestern influences. Singer Warren Haynes, who founded Evil Teen Records, is also a member of the Allman Brothers Band and The Dead. Some tracks have a “classic rock” vibe, while others verge on psychedelic. It’s a weird mix, but it really works. Play liberally.

Liner notes observe that American blues derives from slave songs, & many slaves were from West Africa. Here is how the sound evolved in West Africa. The roots are clear. Note the artists on this CD (Bassekou Kouyate, Tinariwen, Ali Farka Touré…) - this is the best of the genre.

CD Booklet with detailed info here (pdf)

The album is soulful and energeticb, but for all the varied turns of this album, it is not schizophrenic in nature.  The track list was well-designed the sort of a nebulous array of tones, styles, and vocals.  The tracks are warmly produced,  It’s okay. But only okay.

Wow. PLAY THIS.
The album lives in the now: the recession of the first part of the millennium, with soldiers off to war and homeowners about to lose their homes. Gritty electric guitar and heartfelt lyrics make this a CD to play.

Anders Osborne

Great songwriting and storytelling here: occasional echoes of the John Prine/Steve Earle school. Born in Sweden, he came of age in New Orleans. At first blush, these tracks seem a bit superficial, but they get more interesting the more you listen.

Ghost Town Blues Band

Small-band feel with fine blues and plenty of humor. Hits all the blues-tradition notes. Nothing extraordinary, but still good.

[Added to WRUV 6/10] Upbeat, pop-blues vibe to this collection of unobjectionable but unremarkable songs. Track 8 isn’t bad.