Blues CD Reviews 3-18-06
Conrad, Burt & the All Stars – “Forward Looking Backward” (Indie) B-This is a jazz band trying to cover the waterfront. At best the disc is uneven, saved (and how) by the jazz numbers (#1, 4, 6). We then get an attempt at reggae (#2), covers (# 8-11), and most of these feature thin, wavery vocals. #7 is just smarmy. The band is good, but poorly demonstrated on this group of tunes with disappointing vocals. They should stick to jazz.
Foresman, Greg – “De Nada” (Indie) B+
This one is hard to compartmentalize. Foresman, former guitarist for Hammerhead and Martina McBride, combines funk, SRV wah-wah, and Neville Brothers beats to sometimes confuse, sometimes delight. He has an expressive voice. I might narrow his sound down to Allman Brothers meet Steve Miller. Creative arrangements with some really good guitar. Vocals promise more as they mature. Not bad.
Hannon, Dave & The Solid Sinners – “Solid Sinnin’” (Damasaca Records) B-
This is the band’s first disc – garage rock. Not bad playing, especially the guitarist (of the Jimmy Vaughan school). A party band, better heard with lots of beer.
Johnny & The Mo-Tones – “Two Hits for the Kitty” (Altenburgh Records) C
Disc starts with an interesting Sonny Terry cover featuring very nice saxophone and piano (the strongest instruments throughout the disc). After that, with the exception of a piano boogie for Jerry Lee Lewis (“Blues for the Killer”), the disc is peppered with nice sax/piano, but bad-to-worse vocals and tepid tunes. Not recommended despite some good players. Only eight tunes.
Landreth, Sonny – “Louisiana 1927” (Sugar Hill Records) A
A single tune where Sonny takes on a Randy Newman tune for Randy’s upcoming disc “Sail Away: Songs of Randy Newman.” Very nicely/creatively done with slide guitar and nice vocal.
Landry, Drew & the Dirty Cajuns – “Talgaten Relief & Hurricane Companion EP” B
Very creative songwriting…almost too reality based. Full of colorful, verbal “furniture.” Songwriting is of the Townes Van Zandt school…raw story-tellin’ descriptions, often fatalistic and some straight-ahead protest songs. “Category 5” for example is a description, with plenty of name-droppin’ invective about Hurricane Katrina and the no-leadership. “Salt Water Tears” is an attack on Pat Robertson’s attack on the Muslims, etc. The disc bristles with authenticity, suffers from sameness in spots, and weaves the occasional band number between mostly acoustically done tunes. Only 7 songs.
posted by Cathi N @ 11:15:00 PM
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