Cathi's Reviews 9-29-08
Demian Band – “Devil By My Side” (Demian Dominguez Rec) C+Argentinian guitarist/singer who is a dedicated paid-by-the-note player (more notes to the square inch is his guitar creed), but when he reigns it in (#3, 6), we get to hear him have something of a relationship with fewer notes…holding them out long enough for us to hear and savor. Really rocks it up with Bernard Allison on #2—a collaboration which he reveres in the album ads. Blues rock on speed with an accent.
Dooks, Steve – “Cocktails, Heartaches & Cigars” (Indie) C+
Cocktail/lounge music – swing/jazz…pianist Duke does some smooth lounge vocals over arranged tunes backed by horns and light backup. Extremely suitable for dinner hour restaurants. It helps if you’re drinking.
Fatz, Slim – “The Original Slim” (Aladdin Entertainment) B
Crusty vocals, like a cross between an old black street musician and Tom Waits. Plays really nice acoustic guitar/slide and sings/wisecracks over it with occasional backups by female chorus. A character record with dirty-old-man laughs and suggestive phrasing like he just stepped out of SLING BLADE wearing Leon Redbone shoes. This is a white guy (Neal James?) from New York, who worked a long time in Atlanta, then moved to the Bay area and reveres Taj Mahal. Ballsy approach but a little too cute for me. Probably great live.
Hinkle, J. Scott – “Blueridge Martini” (Indie) C+
Folk-Americana artist with songs laden with bluegrass pickin’s, banjo, dobro and a mellow mid-range voice, all covered up with a Civil War mustache and lackluster songwriting (sigh). An indie songwriter effort completed with a bouquet of good players no one has ever heard of, with some catchy titles though songs don’t quite live up to ‘em. Bristling with sad introspection.
Kight, E.G. – “It’s Hot In Here” – (MC Records) B
A Georgia-born singer heavily drawn to vocals of Koko Taylor, Kight follows that light with her big-mama-shoutin’ vocals and her songwriting. Her songwriting shows her early childhood country music influences…lots of performances with George Jones and Jerry Lee Lewis (opening for them), and some gospel too. She hits it on the head with the blues, yet her clear voice sometimes takes some of the grit out of it. Still knocks it out of the park like Jerry Lee when she wants to (#6). All songs original but 11, finding her gaining more notoriety for her writing than her singing (some recorded by Koko Taylor and nominated for songwriting awards).
Mahal, Taj – “Maestro” (Kan Du Rec) A
Well nobody can do it just like Taj…Rhythm till you drop. His phrasin’ is the best, and you can tell by the wide array of people who spring up to back him on this disc that his talents don’t go unnoticed. Whether doing a duo, solo, or backed by rhythm masters, and/or his own Phantom Blues Band, he puts it over in style. Superlatives not-withstanding…this is just the best. I hope he lives 200 years.
Muldaur, Maria – “Yes We Can” (Telarc) B+
Muldaur has been putting out whole CDS of different styles lately – stretching her love of different music in all directions. In this disc, she puts together a big female choir to back her up on a bunch of tunes, most related to the current (sad) state of the world and all it’s fighting/loss. She pulls in a bunch of folks, but high profile singers here are Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Jane Fonda, Anne Lemott, Odetta, Holly Near, Phoebe Snow, and Marianne Williamson (writers AND singers). That kind of power backup doesn’t quite overpower the place though, as Muldaur puts her band through the bases with some great funk and rhythm – mixing giant choir into background until showcasing them. Embedded Protests (#4) are heavy impact. Good for all mixes.
Playboys – “Playboy Swing 2” (JIP Recs. ) B
A kind of Texas swing variety music. Throws in Spanish flavor, swing, two-steps, and breathy-to-thin vocals by George McClure (who also writes a great many of the tunes and produces the CD) with occasional female backups (Kathy Chiavola –former Bloomingtonian—on some). Fine players, good instrumentals that defy categorization I think. Probably would have to call it Tex-Americana. Nice for all mixes though the vocals don’t do that much for me.
Scissormen – “Luck in a Hurry” (VizzTone) C-
Two words for you – Fuzz Tone. Garbled vocals over noisy/distorted to fuzz slide guitar and steady drum beat.
Can barely hear words over wide fuzzy electrocution slide. Drummer stuck on one beat. Occasionally he pulls out of it (#3) and reins in the fuzzy slide into a spare rendering of a Dylanesque vocal over woeful lyrics. George Thorogood far-gone to seed. Not recommended.
Stubbs, Matthew – “Soul Bender” (Indie) B+
Boosted by big talk from Jr. Watson (king of guitar Nazis), and Gordon “Sax” Beadle (tenor sax king), this 25-year old guitarist quickly made a splash on the West Coast with his tasteful playing—steeped in traditional style, but with his own touch. Not a singer, he paired with Janeiva Magness and John Nemeth (both great SWest Coast singers of note) and did his turns with Jr. Watson, and a host of others, finally taking the guitar spot in Charlie Musselwhite’s band. He’s the real deal and as tasty as Watson claims: “It’s not the notes, it’s the space between them.” This disc focuses on Stubbs’ unique guitar (with spare backups) -all instrumental. They make it, but I can’t help but wish for a vocal (a singer talkin’ here).
Swinging Angels- “Faster than Angels Fly” (You’re Going Up Rec) D
Pretty terrible singing, less than roadworthy/primitive playing. Lots of vocal backup much more shouting than singing. Probably better slow down and hang with the Angels. Not Recommended.
Walter Jr. – “The River Club” (Gatortone Music) B-
Swamp rock blues light by this fifty-ish guitar player who models guitar on Albert Collins and Sonny Landreth (guesting here on cut # 11). Likes to play guitar but says songwriting is the best of his stuff. Nothing flashy here, but sturdy swamp roadhouse stuff. Phrases like Dr. John but very breathy and without the grit. Seems pretty careful not to reveal his whole name.
posted by Cathi N @ 4:38:00 PM
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