Album of the Month 2018
Scores out of 5.00
Scores out of 5.00
January 2018
Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes
Reach Up And Touch The Sky (Live) (1981)
Genre - NJ Rock, Blues & Soul Web - http://www.southsidejohnny.com/ My Rating - 4.80. Notes - Fan of the New Jersey sound from the early 70's. Powerful live album, just amazing! I do have most of his albums, so all songs were familiar, loved it all, best live album I've heard in a long time. |
February 2018
Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa
Black Coffee (2018)
Genre - Soul, Gospel, Jazz & Rock BLUES! Web - https://hartandbonamassa.com/ My Rating - 4.90. Notes - Firstly kudos to producer Kevin Shirley for uniting the immense talent of Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa, now their 3rd release of classic songs, another amazing record! As for Black Coffee, what an album, just love it. Back to back plays all day. |
March 2018
Eric Steckel
April 2018 |
Polyphonic Prayer (2018)
Genre - Rock Blues Web - https://www.ericsteckel.com/ My Rating - 4.98. Notes - As a blues axe fan, this was close to my idea of perfection. Wow! Love it all, amazing..... |
Vanessa Collier
May 2018 |
Heart Soul & Saxophone (2014)
Genre - Various Blues Genres Web - https://www.vanessacollier.com/ My Rating - 4.90. Notes - Really enjoying the variation of blues styles and sounds, class album, respecting the ethos of all Blues! There is so much to appreciate and discover with every play, a perennial grower. As for Vanessa Collier, what a talent, sings, composes and plays all instruments superbly, but most of all I enjoyed the saxophone solos, akin to Clarence Clemons my sax hero. |
Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul
Soulfire Live (2018)
Genre - New Jersey Soul Rock Web - http://www.littlesteven.com/ My Rating - 4.90. Notes - Always will love the soulful sound from the NJ three, Springsteen, Southside Johnny and Steven Van Zandt (Little Stevie). Amazing live set, fantastic album of magnificent songs written and performed by Little Steven, accompanied by the superb band - The Disciples Of Soul. Check out an in-depth Australian review. http://www.noise11.com/ Click on cover for Amazon Review |
June 2018
Ray Wilson & Stiltskin
Unfulfillment (2011)
Genre - Rock Web - http://www.raywilson.co.uk/ My Rating - 4.75 Notes - Played this album back to back four times!! REALLY impressed, has intelligent lyrics, quality music and amazing vocals. Loved all of it. Downloaded more of his solo work - will be rated in July. |
July 2018
Ray Wilson
Chasing Rainbows (2013)
Genre - Rock Web - http://www.raywilson.co.uk/ My Rating - 4.70 Notes - Downloaded three of Ray's albums in July and honestly they are all exceptional, had to choose one so Chasing Rainbows got the nod, the other two were Propaganda Man (2008) & Makes Me Think Of Home (2016). All three got multiple back to back plays and every play sounded better than the last. Discovered a genius! |
August 2018
Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen
Break It Down (2018)
Genre - Rock Blues. Web - http://www.dustindouglasmusic.com/ My Rating - 4.70 Notes - Break It Down is the second LP from Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen, coming after last years EP of mainly covers – ‘Blues 1’. This full sounding power trio from Pennsylvania consists of Dustin Douglas on vocals and guitars, Matt Gabriel on bass, and Tommy Smallcomb on drums. Although many influences for the band are drawn from Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and SRV, from the first track “A Little Bit” pulls us into now with a hip-hop-esque drum beat intro. This is really just the Electric Gentlemen juggernaut getting started, laidback bass line enters, and screaming guitar follows. Across most of the thirteen tracks a fun and romping groove persists, with each song never sounding like the last. It only slows down a touch with “Ain’t No Denyin’”, being more Southern Rock tinged, and the slow-burning “Out of My Mind”. (Edited Review from Blues Rock Review) bluesrockreview.com/2018/06/dustin-douglas-and-the-electric-gentlemen-break-it-down-review.html |
September 2018
Joe Bonamassa
Redemption (2018)
Genre - Blues Rock Web - https://jbonamassa.com/ My Rating - 4.80. Notes - JB can do no wrong in my opinion, another masterpiece, loved the brass, backing singers and of course his guitar playing. Quality record. |
October 2018
Sari Schorr
Never Say Never (2018)
Genre - Blues Rock Web - http://www.sarischorr.com/ My Rating - 4.65. Notes - Great album all round, exceptional vocals and outstanding songs makes Never Say Never a must play anytime! Simply brilliant from start to finish… and the good news? It gets better the more you listen to it as the individual performances reveal themselves. If you love blues, blues-rock or rock you will adore this record. (Excerpt from - http://bluesdoodles.com/cd-reviews/sari-schorr-never-say-never-is-a-tour-de-force/ ) |
November 2018
The Marcus King Band
Carolina Confessions (2018)
Genre - Rock Blues Web - http://marcuskingband.com/ My Rating - 4.70. Notes - Hooked after hearing the riff on the opening track "Confessions", sublime. Ten tracks of quality, definitely no fillers here! Loved it. |
December 2018
Layla Zoe
Gemini (2018)
Genre - Blues Web - http://layla.ca/ My Rating - 4.65 Notes - With 20 tracks this album is too long, could have cut a few filler tracks. Impressed with the opening song She Didn't Believe, only Layla and guitar, works well. Top blues album even with the skipped tracks. Click on cover for Amazon Review |