You could say that this is a solid pop rock album. The thing is, there is a lot more range than that heading gives this credit for having. It’s got everything from funky soulful music, to country blues, classic blues and classic hard rock. It’s quite an effective set start to finish, though. That much is consistent.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2015 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
You Don't Know What Love Is
This is a soulful groove with a lot of funk built into it. It’s great stuff.
Do You Read Me Hard edged bluesy rock, this is another smoker. It’s classic and classy.
Rock My Soul There is a bit of gospel vibe on this cut. It’s still got a lot of the same kind of soulful retro sound as the previous two pieces. At the same time, somehow this makes me think of something like Head East just a bit.
Reconsider Me This sounds like an old school country blues song. It’s good, but seems out of place and out of time to me.
Queen Bee A more high energy blues number, this feels like B. B. King.
Livin' a Lie There’s still a lot of blues on this, but it has more of a classic hard rocking sound. This feels like it could have come out in the 1970s. The slide guitar is particularly noteworthy.
Death Bed Blues I love the scorching hot guitar soloing on this one, too. The song is an older styled one. It’s another that makes me think of B.B. King a bit.
What Is Love Here we get a full on country tune. While it shares the genre with the title track, this is more modern in nature than that cut is.
Call'em All Baby Another hard rocker, this sounds like a cross between The Black Crowes and Bad Company.
Three Ways to Fall More of a traditional slide electric blues number, this is a powerhouse.
Blue Monday Here’s another blues number that’s quite retro in texture.