CD Reviews -- Cathi 4/21/07
Bedunah, Steve – “Plug It In & Play” (Dog Trot Records) C+Plain songs with a dark edge. Drone-y singing mostly about alcoholism and life gone wrong. Made me thirst for 6 rums & coke.
Not recommended.
Braithewaite, Diana & Whiteley, Chris “Morning Sun” (Electro-Fi) A-
This Chris Whiteley is not the one recently deceased from lung cancer, but an excellent guitarist and singer, who now teams with a smooth lady singer to do acoustic blues that include old fashioned tunes a la Bessie Smith or Memphis Minnie, but also do Django swing fluid tunes. Whiteley seems a master of guitar and harp, and does a Sonny Terry harp tune (# 10) that knocks off the socks. Really fine. I recommend the whole disc. Good for mixes.
Hall, Jimmy – “Build Your Own Fire” (Zoho) B+
Jimmy Hall is a soul singer with an R & B and Rock groove. Can’t shake it and has moved in and out of popularity (Wet Willie, etc.) for years. Here he honors songwriter Eddie Hinton (most tunes written by Hinton) and Does some great R&B. Delbert McClinton duets on #1, and the band just rocks. Larry Byrom SCREAMS on guitar throughout. Good disc. Southern rockish.
Hambone (Nick Hamstra) – “Lightning in My Hands” (Indie) B
Ballsy approach to acoustic blues guitar. First guy I’ve heard do really credible Lightning Hopkins-style blues. Plays great slide guitar and writes lonesome blues like a pro. Vocals are a little young and undeveloped, but that’s a matter of time. Really puts it over, although I miss some of the rave-ups I’ve heard him do in the clubs. Really liked his instrumental turn on “Spanish Hula.” Fine disc.
Holt, David – “David Holt & Lightning Bolts” (High Windy Audio) A+
Loved Holt’s last slide-guitar record which he did mostly solo. Now he’s put together a GREAT band, topping their amazing playing with his slide guitar and (as usual) pleasing vocals. I just couldn’t find a stinker on this disc. It’s driving music, sometimes country and mostly blues. His son plays bass and sings one (#6)…very good record. Haven’t been that musically satisfied in awhile.
Jackson, Fruitland – “Tell Me What You Say” (Electro-Fi) B
Described as a “troubadour of blues” Jackson has been a Chicago fixture in promoting acoustic story blues. More of the same on this disc with story tunes – mostly originals. One written by Johnnie Mae Dunstan really stands out (#5), but I don’t find the songs that compelling. Still, could be just not my cup of tea. All good for mix.
James, Jemima – “Book Me Back In Your Dreams” (Labor Records) B+
Oooweee, a hard-road mama from the ’60s who did a little too much weed, checked out for motherhood, and kept a finger in the pie. Back now, playing like Mrs. John Prine—songs with minimalist instrumentation and major “furniture” in the lyrics. Tinges of country but mucho flavor. Not blues, but wow. Lines like “Took my baby’s heart to the pawn shop, cause it don’t work right” and “I dialed 9-1-1 and told them my baby’s gone” give her work the touch of humor that makes it great, and though the songs are plain, they really put over a message. She’s got a voice like a road-worn gal, but the genuine article. I liked it... (familiar history maybe? Heh heh). Also Mike Bloomfield on last three tracks in 1976 – a big admirer.
Lindsey, Carlyn & Snake Doctor – “Live at Players’s Pub” (FlagonDry Music) B-
Pretty good album for a live gig! Carlyn does the shoutin’ blues well, and stands out (with cool backup vocals) on her Etta cover of “Somethin’s Got a Hold On Me.” A good party band sound and enough blues and horn backup (with good keys) to make it work.
MoTones, Johnny & The – “Get Gone” (Altinburgh Records) B
Gritty singer backed by Muscle Shoals artists. Players are very good and (unusually) there are four instrumentals to prove it. Vocal is medium and songs aren’t rocket science, but very listenable.
Packer, Michael – “The Sunny Side of Me” (Iris Properties) C-
I think he meant the “burnt” side. Not recommended.
Pofvin, Roxanne – “The Way It Feels” (Ruf) B+
Produced by Canadian Colin Linden, this disc surprises with supple vocals, “Bad” electric guitar chops, and nice playing. Smooth voiced Roxanne Pofvin sings French-café tunes, blues, Nora Jones, and a little jazz…a nice gumbo of style with slick delivery. I was pleasantly surprised, though I’m not sure I’d call this disc blues.
Rosh, Stuart & Geniuses – “American Vernacular” (Winged Flight Records) C+
Described as “Americana Mutt Music,” this disc seems to fill the bill…some of these tracks are dawgs. Number one sends us off with promise a la Leon Redbone (someone Rosh backed in a former life), but deteriorates after three songs into an uncomfortable collection of talking vocals and non-melodic songs. Horn work is nice; lyrics sometimes okay, but mercury musta been in retrograde. Not recommended.
Whitley, Chris & Jeff Lang – “Dislocation Blues” (Rounder) B-
This Chris Whitley is the one recently deceased from lung cancer. This is the last recording he did before then…with Australian singer Lang. The guitar/banjo work is truly stunning, the songwriting not that great, and the vocals okay. I had the feeling both players concentrate most on guitar work – which certainly shows. A couple of Dylan covers. Lang does a great tune (#5) – a kind of life protest, yet the knock out of the album is not even listed on the cover…the last tune-- Whitley sings an eerie version of “Hellhounds on My Trail.” Gave me shivers.
posted by Cathi N @ 3:35:00 PM
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