Cathi's CD Reviews 5-17-09
Martinez, David – “David Martinez” (Indie) CNew discovery working with “Leroy” (Smash Mouth) and Adam MacDougall (the Black Crowes), Martinez comes in with a pop-ish, rock approach. It’s a singer-songwriter, very introspective collection with nice musicianship, but overall, not very impactful. VERY nice lady choir backups, but still, not recommended.
Ramblin’ Dawgs – Rockin’ Blues (Indie) B
Three-song sampler by this New Jersey group, a big electric rock bunch. The first tune is definitely a big stage rocker with all the knobs twisted off. The second tune is a slow one that allows a little of their obvious instrumental prowess emerge. Still topped with that rock voice vocal. Really not bad as a rock sampler, but there ain’t much blue about this except for the three chords. Probably a good drinking, bar band. All too electric for morning mix I suspect.
Ricci, Jason & New Blood – “Done With the Devil” (Electro Groove) A-
The young harmonica wunderkind continues with his “bombastic and innovative” approach to music…declares it blues, but it’s definitely rock driven in equal measure by the talented Shawn Starski and Ricci’s blazing harmonica. Although he teeters on harmonic gym, unlike others (unnamed here) he manages to wrestle it back into melody and percussive motion throughout even the fastest tunes. Can’t argue with the “innovative” moniker or the “talented” or “bombastic” for that matter. Ricci certainly has a lock on that harmonica. Peels off great transitions ordinarily heard only on chromatic, it’s nothing to hear amazing runs at lightning speed that make anyone who plays harp shake their heads in wonder. I plead a lack of vitamins in my makeup for this type music, but I vote yes for the breathtaking imagination and playing. This man is not FROM here! Still on this disc he reins it in from time to time to help us remember he feels his music has a blues base (#7). Some of the other titles and the absolutely raging beats on a few tunes remind us that he definitely IS taking vitamins!
Smith, Gordon – “The Essential Gordon Smith” (Note Records) B+
The first solo album for a British road musician with minimal backing. He is clearly a student of some of the masters (Furry Lewis, Muddy and the Wolf), a good fingerpicker and here backed liberally by a harmonica player doing accents to his acoustic guitar work. He’s an old-timer on the English club scene, adeptly pulling off the old-style acoustic stuff (1 & 2, esp. # 10), yet makes an even better attempt at the Chicago electric approach (Muddy’s “She Moves Me,” and “Home Sweet Home Chicago” lift titled here “Take a Little Walk with Me”). His guitar work (especially resonator and slide--#10, #3) is nice; voice not so much. His electric Chicago stuff is definitely his most impactful. Most okay for morning mix.
posted by Cathi N @ 12:07:00 PM
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