Blues-CD Reviews
Riley, Steve and the Mamou Playboys -- "Dominos" (Rounder) A+Not really blues, but--Wow--a great feel-good Cajun music package featuring musicians of many ages. All vocals (but the last one) are in French and the flavor added in that language is fantastic with the Cajun foundation here. The music is just stellar and every track moves you in some great way. This is good all over. I especially enjoyed the a capella harmonies of "Les clefs de la prison" (Keys to the Prison), but the whole disc really makes it. Enjoy.
Santana -- "All That I Am" (Arista) A-
Santana manages to break out of relative silence into the spotlight again with his aged-like-wine guitar chops, great sense of beat, and the good sense to add fine vocalists and a variety of styles to this disc. Even Steven Tyler sounds good (!). Anthony Hamilton weaves in some smooth soul vocals, Michelle Branch does her pop thing, and all the Latin beats, and hop you could hope for visit as well. All iced with the Santana guitar sound. Not really Blues, but good.
Taildragger -- "My Head is Bald" (Delmark) B+
Ah ha...real blues for sure. Taildragger, a Chicago blues institution in himself, almost as well known for his outrageous womanizing as his music, sings through this disc with a voice like broken glass, but his blues credentials are readily apparent. KILLER support players that include Billy Branch, Lurrie Bell, Kenny Smith, Jimmy Dawkins and Bob Stroger really make the music great. It's a live disc which gives it a good "real" feel, but sound quality suffers a bit. The disc is also "thinned" by several "talking" tracks of Taildragger philosophizing or just ranting to the crowd. But hey -- he enclosed a free plastic comb! Can't be bad. (Some of the talking tracks have swear words -- not for radio...noted on review.)
posted by Cathi N @ 5:28:00 PM
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