Category: Blues (Page 11 of 16)

Taylor Hicks: The Distance

March 20, 2009 /

It seems like a lifetime ago that Taylor Hicks was being crowned the champion of “American Idol” in its fifth season back in 2006. And while America clearly fell in love with this gray-haired wonder, Simon Cowell didn’t get it and neither did many critics, but Hicks’ debut album went platinum anyway. And while yours truly was a big fan of the material on that debut, the same can’t be said for Hicks’ latest, The Distance, released on his own Modern Whomp Records. There is no doubt this guy can sing with a trademark Joe Cocker-ish bluesy growl, but it’s pretty obvious that the recording budget was substantially less this time around, and the songs are mostly mediocre with performances at times reminiscent of cruise ship karaoke. Nevertheless, a few tracks do stand out, and Hicks is at his best when he tones things down for piano ballads – “What’s Right Is Right” and “Nineteen” are both heartfelt and destined for light rock radio repetition. And “Woman’s Got to Have It,” with fellow Idol alum Elliot Yamin, is a soulful and catchy closer. (LABEL: Modern Whomp)

Taylor Hicks MySpace Page

Adult Contemporary, American Idol, Blues, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears: Tell ‘em What Your Name Is!

March 13, 2009 /

Okay, here’s a quick question for anyone who may still be left unawares: which recent event helped to significantly narrow the racial divide? That is, what event other than the election of America’s first Black president? Give up? How about the first release by an African American artist on that esteemed Americana label, Lost Highway? It may not seem so significant at first glance, but with first listen, this debut disc by Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears confirms the suspicions most folks knew along – that pure, unfettered, classic R&B is as much a part of American roots music as any other style borne from the heartland. And while prefacing his moniker with “Black” may seem like he’s expressing the obvious, Lewis’ ability to summon the spirit of classic R&B by invoking the power and passion of James Brown, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding is awesome and impressive in itself. These ten tracks echo the sound of pure ‘60s soul, from the full-on funk of “Gunpower” and “I’m Broke” to the rock-steady shuffle underpinning “Master Sold My Baby” and the cool groove steering that “Sugarfoot.” With his band of twenty-somethings holding sway – think Booker T & the MGs and the sound of Stax Records – Lewis’ impassioned howl offers a sure sign he’s learned his lessons well. And if some of the songs reinforce certain stereotypes – “Big Booty Woman, “Get Yo Shit” and “Humpin’” being among them – suffice it to so that like his influences, Lewis isn’t timid when it comes to expressing raunchiness or wickedness. This Papa may not have a brand new bag, but he’s getting a lot of use out of it all the same. Lost Highway

Black Joe Lewis MySpace page

Blues, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, R&B, Soul

Ernie & the Automatics: Low Expectations

March 6, 2009 /

When Brad Delp, lead singer of iconic rockers Boston, took his own life in 2007, it sadly marked the end of a musical era. But consider that there were four other original members of that band, and that they were all amazing musicians in their own right. Fast forward over 30 years from Boston’s debut, and two of the original members, guitarist Barry Goudreau and drummer Sib Hashian, have formed a new band called Ernie & the Automatics. This band was named after guitarist Ernie Boch Jr. and features the lead vocals of keyboardist Brian Maes, but the elements of Boston are there – the big classic rock guitar riffs and pounding backbeat, as well as bluesy elements throughout on their debut, Low Expectations. It’s hard to re-invent the wheel in this genre, and Ernie & the Automatics don’t try to. But even though the songs are less than memorable, it’s the musicianship, and in particular Maes’ Joe Cocker-esque growl, that drives the band. The best tracks are “The Good Times Never Last,” which sounds a lot like Boston’s “Rock & Roll Band,” as well as the driving, bluesy (and quite creepy) “I’m Gonna Haunt You.” (LABEL: Open E)

Ernie & the Automatics MySpace Page

Blues, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Rock

The Blind Boys of Alabama: “Live in New Orleans”

March 4, 2009 /

They’ve never had a hit or sold a ton of records, but the Blind Boys of Alabama have been making beautiful music for 70 years and running, so in lieu of the sold-out week at Madison Square Garden they deserve, this DVD – filmed during an appearance at the legendary New Orleans institution Tipitina’s last spring – serves as a suitable tip of the hat to one of modern music’s most distinguished careers. Fittingly, the Blind Boys were on the road promoting a CD, Down in New Orleans, that paid tribute to the city, and the show’s location also enabled them to enlist a passel of the Crescent City’s musical finest, including Susan Tedeschi, Dr. John, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The production values aren’t the best you’ve ever seen, the sound mix occasionally wavers into muddy territory – and if you’ve ever been to Tipitina’s, you know that fitting all those performers on the club’s tiny stage requires some delicate balancing – but what Live in New Orleans lacks in polish, it more than makes up for with the performers’ obvious, bone-deep commitment to the music. There’s little showmanship here, just the performers’ decades of experience, but that’s more than enough for a damn fine show. Live showcases the Blind Boys doing what they do best, and functions as a nicely priced introduction for new converts, who will also enjoy the brief BET-branded documentary bonus feature. (Saguaro Road 2009)

Blind Boys of Alabama MySpace page

Blues, Cajun, Concert DVDs, Soul

Dion: Heroes: Giants of Early Guitar Rock

February 20, 2009 /

Dion’s Heroes: Giants of Early Guitar Rock is played and presented with such joy, authenticity and enthusiasm that it is one of the better cover records released since it became trendy some 10 years ago. Much like Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot Volume 1: A Tribute to Sun Records, this is a love letter to those who mapped out the first avenues of rock & roll. The difference between the two, other than the era covered, is that Dion captures the vibe and adds his own touches to each track while Setzer tried to reproduce each song as originally recorded. The material covered by Setzer is also not necessarily automatically recognizable as the material covered on Heroes. “Summertime Blues,” “Come On, Let’s Go,” “Bye Bye Love” and “Jailhouse Rock” are songs that are a part of our collective musical consciousness. Dion’s voice has great character and moxie, which perfectly suits these tracks. His band, which includes Robert “Crow” Richardson on guitar, plays these tracks with an energy and a reverence that they deserve. Dion has the credibility to cover songs like “Runaway” and “Rave On” because he was a contemporary of these folks, jammed with Buddy Holly and toured with many of these artists. The guitar work is really excellent here. No, there is no Van Halen tapping and shredding, but there are great solos with character and zip. Great songs, great guitar, what more can you ask? A bonus DVD of Dion relating stories about these songs, the original artists who recorded them and impromptu versions of a couple of them played in a studio with Richardson is also a treat. One-half star is removed from the total in that the only track that doesn’t measure up to the others is a cover of his own masterpiece, “The Wanderer.” (Saguard Road Records)

Dion’s Website

Blues, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Country, Pop

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