The Best Blues-Rock Albums of 2009
Since The Blues Foundation sees fit to begin a separate "blues-rock" music category in its annual Blues Music Awards nominations, who am I to veer away from this conventional wisdom? You've already read our selections for the best blues albums of the year, here are the Reverend's picks for the best blues-rock albums of 2009. Any of these discs would be a welcome addition to your blues music library.
Those of us that have followed Dave Perkins' lengthy career as sideman, band member, producer, and solo artist have never been surprised by the artist's immense talent, deep musical knowledge, and ability to perform well in nearly any musical genre. Nothing could prepare the listener for the nuclear-strength fall-out of Pistol City Holiness that cascades from your speakers.Perkins has created a masterpiece that fuses Mississippi Delta and Chicago blues tradition with a hard-rocking, guitar-driven blues-rock sound that fans haven't heard since Stevie Ray Vaughan burst onto the scene.
The incredible musical chemistry of the road-tested and studio-savvy band behind guitarist Derek Trucks is undeniable, and the loose feel to the material is the by-product of the low-pressure sessions held in Trucks' home studio. Already Free is a landmark collection of songs and performances, and an excellent example of what can be done within the blues framework, the Derek Trucks Band one of the best there is at combining traditional blues, roots-rock, and vintage soul with various more exotic influences in the creation of exciting, vital music.More »
Although Warren Haynes is typically lauded for his incendiary six-string skills, many overlook the fact that he is a fine vocalist capable of great soul and subtlety as well as blow-the-roof-off-the-juke-joint bluster. Haynes continues to push himself and grow as a songwriter, too, and his lyrics convey strong emotion with often well-drawn imagery and creativity. With the current Gov't Mule line-up he's found an explosive chemistry that allows him to pursue his musical vision without restraint. By A Thread is Haynes' best work with Gov't Mule, a high-octane headrush of guitar-driven blues-rock that has dragged the beast, screaming and kicking, from the 1970s into the 21st century.More »
The songs on Seven Moons Live are an instrumental showcase for the musician's incredible skills. Jack Bruce and Robin Trower have both long passed by a respectable retirement age, but both men retain fierce chops and display a remarkable joy in the simple act of pure music-making. There's nothing left to prove for either of them, no commercial expectations or exercises in career-building...just music. The songs documented by Seven Moons Live are a brilliant fusion of electric blues and hard rock, delivering a breathtaking showcase of instrumental virtuosity that will entertain and enthrall any listener that enjoys guitar-driven blues-rock performances.More »
Given the very nature of Songs From The Road, with eleven cuts taken from three different performances, one might accuse producer and band member Alec Fraser of cherry-picking Jeff Healey's performances for the album. That may be so, but the truth is that Healey was just so damn talented, and felt so much at home on stage, that Fraser's dilemma probably wasn't finding enough great performances to include on the album, but rather which great songs to exclude. Songs From The Road stands as a fitting swansong for the guitarist, an illustration of Healey's love of music and performing. Jeff Healey seldom disappointed, and neither does Songs From The Road.
There's no doubt in my mind that The Ballad of John Henry is a career-advancing album on the part of Joe Bonamassa, the album placeing a greater emphasis on the artist's growing songwriting skills, with seven of the album's twelve tracks penned by the artist himself. Bonamassa has always been a great blues guitarist, and The Ballad of John Henry certainly includes enough ripped-and-torn solos and inventive riffs to keep the blues-rock fan happy. But Bonamassa also uses the album to challenge his own preconceived notions of his music, slipping in various elements of change beneath the surface that work to make The Ballad of John Henry Bonamassa's most interesting and entertaining album to date.More »
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•Dave Perkins – 'Pistol City Holiness' (Lugnut Records)
Those of us that have followed Dave Perkins' lengthy career as sideman, band member, producer, and solo artist have never been surprised by the artist's immense talent, deep musical knowledge, and ability to perform well in nearly any musical genre. Nothing could prepare the listener for the nuclear-strength fall-out of Pistol City Holiness that cascades from your speakers.Perkins has created a masterpiece that fuses Mississippi Delta and Chicago blues tradition with a hard-rocking, guitar-driven blues-rock sound that fans haven't heard since Stevie Ray Vaughan burst onto the scene.
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•Derek Trucks – 'Already Free' (Victor Records)
The incredible musical chemistry of the road-tested and studio-savvy band behind guitarist Derek Trucks is undeniable, and the loose feel to the material is the by-product of the low-pressure sessions held in Trucks' home studio. Already Free is a landmark collection of songs and performances, and an excellent example of what can be done within the blues framework, the Derek Trucks Band one of the best there is at combining traditional blues, roots-rock, and vintage soul with various more exotic influences in the creation of exciting, vital music.More »
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•Govt' Mule – 'By A Thread' (Evil Teen Records)
Although Warren Haynes is typically lauded for his incendiary six-string skills, many overlook the fact that he is a fine vocalist capable of great soul and subtlety as well as blow-the-roof-off-the-juke-joint bluster. Haynes continues to push himself and grow as a songwriter, too, and his lyrics convey strong emotion with often well-drawn imagery and creativity. With the current Gov't Mule line-up he's found an explosive chemistry that allows him to pursue his musical vision without restraint. By A Thread is Haynes' best work with Gov't Mule, a high-octane headrush of guitar-driven blues-rock that has dragged the beast, screaming and kicking, from the 1970s into the 21st century.More »
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•Jack Bruce & Robin Trower – 'Seven Moons Live' (Ruf Records)
The songs on Seven Moons Live are an instrumental showcase for the musician's incredible skills. Jack Bruce and Robin Trower have both long passed by a respectable retirement age, but both men retain fierce chops and display a remarkable joy in the simple act of pure music-making. There's nothing left to prove for either of them, no commercial expectations or exercises in career-building...just music. The songs documented by Seven Moons Live are a brilliant fusion of electric blues and hard rock, delivering a breathtaking showcase of instrumental virtuosity that will entertain and enthrall any listener that enjoys guitar-driven blues-rock performances.More »
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•Jeff Healey – 'Songs From The Road' (Ruf Records)
Given the very nature of Songs From The Road, with eleven cuts taken from three different performances, one might accuse producer and band member Alec Fraser of cherry-picking Jeff Healey's performances for the album. That may be so, but the truth is that Healey was just so damn talented, and felt so much at home on stage, that Fraser's dilemma probably wasn't finding enough great performances to include on the album, but rather which great songs to exclude. Songs From The Road stands as a fitting swansong for the guitarist, an illustration of Healey's love of music and performing. Jeff Healey seldom disappointed, and neither does Songs From The Road.
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•Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat – 'Tijuana Bible' (Underworld Records)
There's something in the water down in Texas that seems to breed talented blues guitarists, and Jim Suhler is the latest in a long line of skilled, passionate fretburners that began, perhaps, with Blind Lemon Jefferson, ran through Lightnin' Hopkins and Johnny Copeland, and was rekindled by the Vaughan brothers. Monkey Beat is a more than capable blues-rock outfit, perfectly pacing Suhler's incendiary guitarplay and imaginative lyrics. Tijuana Bible is a lot of fun, a roaring bonfire of bluesy riff, razor-sharp leads, and rocking rhythms strong enough to kick out the jams and please the ears.){kind=link}
•Joe Bonamassa – 'The Ballad Of John Henry' (J&R Adventures)
There's no doubt in my mind that The Ballad of John Henry is a career-advancing album on the part of Joe Bonamassa, the album placeing a greater emphasis on the artist's growing songwriting skills, with seven of the album's twelve tracks penned by the artist himself. Bonamassa has always been a great blues guitarist, and The Ballad of John Henry certainly includes enough ripped-and-torn solos and inventive riffs to keep the blues-rock fan happy. But Bonamassa also uses the album to challenge his own preconceived notions of his music, slipping in various elements of change beneath the surface that work to make The Ballad of John Henry Bonamassa's most interesting and entertaining album to date.More »
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•Joe Louis Walker – 'Between A Rock And The Blues' (Stony Plain Records)
Whereas Walker's 2008 album, Witness To The Blues, was a fine collection of rambling soul, bluesy guitar, big band blues, and rambunctious R&B, his Between A Rock And The Blues lives up to its title, exploring a more of the rock 'n' roll side of the guitarist's persona while downplaying the R&B and jump blues of previous releases. With Between A Rock And The Blues, Walker lets his freak flag fly, delivering a collection of barn-burner blues-rock and sizzling soul-blues that is sure to satisfy and pacify fans of both styles with stellar performances all around from the guitarist and his seasoned band of merry pranksters.){kind=link}
•The Nighthawks – 'American Landscape' (Powerhouse Records)
For 36 years, the Nighthawks have punched it out night-after-night, and in every way American Landscape is a true heavyweight bout. That the band manages to dance on the same hallowed ground that they always have, and yet still make each performance fresh and exciting, is a testament to both their talent and commitment. American Landscape is a hell of a lot of fun, a heady brew of blues, rock, soul, and twang guaranteed to please even the most finicky music fan.More »){kind=link}
•Tinsley Ellis – 'Speak No Evil' (Alligator Records)
The blues-rock style is lousy with Stevie Ray wannabes, young (and some old) guitarists that mistake style for experience and have little knowledge of where the music comes from. That isn't Tinsley Ellis, a top-flight six-string technician capable of coaxing sounds and emotions out of his guitar that lesser talents can't imagine, much less duplicate. Speak No Evil is a fine example of Ellis's work, a showcase for his considerable instrumental and songwriting skills, and a heck of a fun album. Ellis never fumbles, and he doesn't so much as wink at passing musical trends...he just consistently delivers entertaining, exhilarating blues-rock music for we folks that like our guitars played loud and our music full of soul.
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