CD Reviews -- 9-03-07
Arcari, Dave – “Come With Me…” (Buzz Records) CRaw, gravelly voice, spotlights his slashly bottleneck guitar chops, but still manages to be unmelodic. Not recommended.
Bishop, Elvin – “Booty Bumpin’” (Blind Pig) C
Great guitar player playing a live show of nothing but electric buzz. Hated it, but he’s probably worth a listen if you like thrash blues. Not recommended, but I’ll put him in the pond just for consideration by you buzz heads.
Casey, Mason – “Sofa King Badass” (Northern Blues) B-
A fair singer who idolizes Wilson Pickett. He writes tunes in that genre, and even has the support of Dan Penn (!) in this recording, but I don’t think he makes the same “soup” outta all those good ingredients. He’s got a Delbert McClinton gravel voice and seems to write to showcase the vocals…a little soulish. The vocals don’t strike as hard as they might and the beats are a lot the same. Not bad, not great, mostly mid-tempo.
Ciambotti, Cia – “Right as Rain” (New Light Rec.) A-
Ahah! One of those nice surprises. This woman has one of the most supple voices I’ve heard in a long while. It’s occasionally smokey, but moves through the notes with great ease and, at times, breath-taking clarity. This ain’t so easy! Also very nice songwriting. Her first cut is a pop hit I shouldn’t wonder, and she does some truly stunning doubles (self-backup vocals) on a number of tunes. She also stands balls-to-the-wall (also NOT so easy) and does a straight acapella vocal with only spare keyboard backing on #9. Best of all, she can also pull off an old soul tune (#11) with real feel. She writes with a little Bruce Springsteen in her pen and sings with a little Lucinda Williams lurking. I’m looking forward to more.
Cool John Ferguston – “With These Hands” (Cool John Records) C
Coolest thing about this self-produced record is the guy’s hat on the front cover. Tries to sing like Barry White; tries to play like John Hooker. Tries. (Not recommended.)
Delta Moon – “Clear Blue Flame” (Jumping Jack Records) B
Rockish blues put together by two slide-guitar players who write pretty nice songs. Vocals not so great, a lot of backbeat, rock-like tunes. Many of the songs make you wonder if they just put a drum machine on the same speed and wrote everything. Spots of interest, but no big-time cigar.
Evans, David – “Needy Time” (Inside Sounds) B
Evans is an old-timer, a blues historian/record label owner/old pal of Alan Wilson (Canned Heat) and he knows what he’s talking about. He showcases some tunes he did with Hammie Nixon, Yank Rachel, and others, and does a lot of authentic acoustic blues, but his wavery/shakey vocals, and percussive, old-timey guitar playing lends only more credence to the sad fact that old-time acoustic blues doesn’t really resonate with today’s audiences. Still, a good record for people appreciative of the history of acoustic blues.
Goshen Lioness – “Goshen Lioness” (Frogville Rec.) C-
Trash rock. Makes a tray of silverware falling on the floor sound danceworthy. Not Recommended.
Karp, Peter – “Shadows and Cracks” (Blind Pig) C
Not blues by any stretch. More like rock and song number 8 says it all (“I Ain’t Deep”). Not recommended.
Lighthouse, Robert – “Deep Down in the Mud” (Right on Rhythm) B+
Here’s an unusual CD. This record features a guy with all kinds of feel, starting out with some acoustic cuts. His voice is breathy on some vocals and off-note here and there, but his feel on that guitar and with the tunes is really amazing…very authentic. Authentic what I’m not quite sure, but definitely authentic. This is the kind of guy who forgets what day it is, but remembers the chords to play it. Plays acoustic blues with rhythmic thumb anchor as bottom like a lot of fingerpicking folksters. Last five songs he cranks up with his band, a three piece that really drives his music electrically. Both styles have impact, although I love the electric best. The listener enjoys the original feel and sound enough to (try to) overlook the occasional vocal train wreck, although sometimes the wandering vocals almost seem a part of the feel. Really interesting!
Southside Cindy & The Slip Tones – “Mighty Mighty” (Sour Wine Rec) C+
A weekend rock-dance band with a Janis Joplin wannabe singer. She clearly wants to be, but she isn’t and might be better advised to establish another approach. Voice okay, but not rough enough for Janis, not smooth enough for Madonna. Not recommended.
West of Memphis – “Honey Pie” (Indie) C+
This group is average for a blues band—pretty far west of Memphis I’d warrant. Not recommended.
posted by Cathi N @ 12:28:00 PM
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