BluesWax Picksounding Arrival,
(01/28/09)
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BluesWax Rating: |
7 |
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Reader Rating: |
9 |
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ibuted vocals on s
A Pounding
Arrival, (1/28/09)
Mark Stutso,
long-time drummer for
Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers, that stellar Blues Rock
Band, has contributed vocals on several albums in the past, but
this is the first album of his own. It was worth the wait.
Produced by
second guitarist
Norman Nardini, the CD features 11 strong songs penned
mostly by Nardini and sung stylishly and forcefully by Stutso.
The tunes range from the slow and soulful, such as “Three Times
Your Fool,” to the uptempo ilk favored by the Drivers, like
“Scared Straight” and “Heart Break Shake.” There is even a song
with a Latino flavor, “Are You Feelin’ Me?.” “Bow Legged Woman,”
the longest cut on the album, sounds strikingly like the late
1960’s incarnation of
Fleetwood Mac when it was an excellent British Blues band
featuring the guitars of
Danny Kirwen and
Jeremy Spencer.
For the most
part Stutso focuses on his singing; his sticks work is solid and
yes, driving, but he only adds rhythmic embellishments and
variety on a few cuts, such as the rave-up Rockabilly
“Victoria’s Secret.”
Tom Valentine on bass provides laudable accompaniment
throughout, as does
Glenn Pavone on lesd guitar. The guitar interplay between
Nardini and Pavone on the opening number, “Million Tears,” is
particularly compelling.
As a singer
Stutso is impressive. He has power and range and his pipes are
reminiscent of
Curtis Salgado with faint flavors of
Little Milton and
Boz Scaggs. His vocal duet with
Whitey Cooper on “You Go Your Way” is especially stellar.
No misleading
title here: this album, a tasty amalgam of Blues, Rock, and
Soul, has the perfect name: Rock My Soul.
Steve Daniels is
a contributing editor at BluesWax. You may contact Steve
at blueswax@visnat.com
