Cathi's Reviews - 3/23/08
Basile, Al – “The Tinge” (Sweetspot Music ) BTrumpet player who wrote for a living meets Duke Robillard and the next thing he knows, he’s touring everywhere behind Duke and Roomful of Blues—musical accents on swing and jazz. Duke and have of Roomful back him here and you get that same big horn band professional sound atop Al’s vocals.. Vocals color great music not necessarily for the good, but Roomful sure knows how to play.
Beirne, Chris – “Freezerburn” (Dino Ranch Rec.) C
Solo effort of a man fond of country and rock. He’s really gonna be a better day job kinda guy. Vocals are almost bearable; music is bland. Not recommended.
Evans, Mack – “Lowdown” (Storm of the Century Music) B
Man with bass register voice who more talks than sings lyrics. Music, however, is standout – esp. on resonator and acoustic guitar blues. Songs tell a story. Some are a little passé-blues, but a few are really stellar and I give him big points for interesting topics. Really can play that guitar – and a bunch of real pro backup musicians put this disc way over.
Legendary R & B Review – “Command Performance” (Delta Groove) 2008 B
Live jam with Tommy Castro, Deanna Bogart, Deanna Bogart, Marcia Ball, Magic Dick and Curtis Salgado. Sounds like it was a lot of fun in person. A little sloppy and slam-bang on record. Rockin’ and some good blues by Ronnie Brooks. Always interesting to hear Salgados’ vocal phrasing and Magic Dick must be rich as much as he plays like he gets paid by the note.
Popa Chubby – “Deliveries After Dark” (Blind Pig) B+
Papa is quite the hero of the rock screamers. He’s very fast on guitar, prolific with cranking out albums, most all filled with hard rock tunes and paid-by-the-note solos. I’m not into his usual stud rock, but he puts some surprises on this disc (also stud-laden, but with enough surprises to remind me that he really CAN play good music. Nice reggae on # 12.
Various – “Honeydripper” Soundtrack (Warner) B
Soundtrack album with a blues speakeasy focus. Old time blues shouters and mamas, with many instrumentals of the period. Nice to hear Ruth Brown and Keb Mo doing old standards, but the music is pretty average…definitely of a period.
Various – “Soulsville Sings Hitsville” (Stax) C+
Stax soul singers cover hits of the 60s. Most of them are poor copies of the originals, but there are a few keepers. Can’t go wrong with the Staples who can sing the phone book and sound good. Isaac Hayes is schmaltzy but smokey on #6, and The Soul Children’s (#10) is the winner. Otherwise, nothing to write home to mom about.
Various – “Stax Does The Beatles” (Stax) C-
Painfully schmaltzy…eek…put it out of its misery quick!
posted by Cathi N @ 9:15:00 AM
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