5 comments about King of the Delta Blues Singers.

1. If you're new to Robert Johnson, start here. The Complete Recordings box is all fine and good, but this disc has (drastically) better sound quality, better sequencing, and more historical value (if you're into that sort of thing). It's also cheaper, and less bulky. Plus, it cherrypicks most of Johnson's best recordings. Of course, Robert Johnson never recorded a bad song, but these sixteen (seventeen, if you count the previously unreleased alternate take of "Traveling Riverside Blues" that was discovered after the release of the box set) are the cream of the crop. My only complaint is the absence of "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom," which has long been one of my favorite blues songs, but that's just a nitpick. This record really is the bee's knees.
   
   Snag a copy of King Of The Delta Blues Singers, and you'll make the acquaintance of such potentially life-changing songs as "Kindhearted Woman Blues" and "Ramblin' On My Mind." You'll encounter nightmarish poetry and primal guitar genius. You'll wander lonesome dreamscapes full of poison whisky and evil women. You'll feel the devil's breath on your neck and the sting of loneliness in your heart. You'll hear evil moans and frightened cries, and you'll smell the mud and blood of Mississippi. Your spine will freeze and your skin will crawl at the panicked desperation of "Hell Hound On My Trail." Your toes will tap and your dark side will flare up at the jubilantly psychotic "Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)." You'll marvel at "32-20 Blues," whose casual misogyny is so unflinchingly convincing that it puts most gangsta rap to shame. Once you've absorbed the length and breadth of this classic record, move on to King Of The Delta Blues Singers Volume 2. Enjoy!



2. Robert Johnson lived from 1911-1938, and died at the age of 27. But during his years active as a performing artist, 1934-1938, he recorded some of the best blues ever.
   
   The recordings had been lost for many years, but in 1961, Columbia released them on the vinyl release 'King Of The Delta Blues Singers.' The record inspired guitarists like Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Robert Cray. It remains, even to this day, one of the most influential records of all-time.
   
   Overall, if you like the blues, classic rock or great guitar playing, than you need this album. Highly recommended for anybody who appreciates music.
   
   One of the best records ever released. Highly recommended! ENJOY!!!



3. Robert Johnson-King Of The Delta Blues Singers ****1/2
   
   This is the quintessential recording for all blues fans and musicians. This is the one that inspired all those British blokes to play guitar in the 1960's like Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, and countless others, not to mention all the American's it influenced.
   
   Now I'll spare you the story of Robert Johnson and the crossroads and how he is rumoured to have become so amazing because I am pretty sure anyone reading this already knows. The point is that this is the best collection of Johnsons material, it sounds the clearest out of all the versions, and has the best song selection. This is a must have for any guitar player, or blues fan.



4. I have the box set. Sure it's (almost) complete, but the sequencing sucks and the digital clean-up is kinda sterile sounding. I got this cd awhile back just because of the extra song not available on the box. What I didn't expect was the far warmer sound of this disc in comparison with the box set. Occasionally the surface noise can be a bit a an obstruction, but, for the most part, this is the best way to hear these recordings without having to resort to 78 rpm records. Alas, sound quality should not be the determining factor as to whether or not one should be able to enjoy music, but this cd makes the case that a better sounding recording can enhance great music.
   
   As for the music: if anyone is buying this because he/she is unfamiliar with the recordings of Robert Johnson, go straight to Hellhound on my Trail and play it a few times. If that doesn't make the listener a life-long Robert Johnson fan, he/she should immediately consider a visit to the nearest e.r. so that said heartless, soulless tone-deaf lost cause can be resuscitated.
   
   For those who get the big picture and are hypnotized by the sound of aural perfection, proceed immediately to Skip James' "Devil Got My Woman", Blind Willie Mctell's "Mama 'taint Long Fo' Day", et al.



5. The initial burst of lo-fi sound alienates everyone at first, but if you get past that the legend is there. Robert Johnson is as every bit as good as he gets credit for and songs are song with a full throated passion and the music features almost every great blues guitar lick ever recorded. Even if you never get past the crappy recording, this is a must listen just for the historical importance of Robert Johnson.

5 comments about The Chess Box.

1. Like many blues musicians, Willie Dixon had an interesting background. He was born, and spent his childhood, here in Vicksburg. He never had formal music education, but a local carpenter taught him harmony singing. Dixon sang bass in a local gospel quartet. Along the way, he served a couple stretches on Mississippi prison farms. He started his career as a heavyweight boxer in Chicago, but switched to music and played bass, part of the time as a house musician.
   
   Dixon started out as a studio bass player with Chess Records when it was a fledgling company started by the Chess brothers. The present set includes 36 songs written by Dixon, and performed by a variety of artists in addition to Dixon including Muddy Waters (Hoochie Coochie Man, etc.), Howlin Wolf (I Ain't Superstitious, etc.), Bo Diddley (Pretty Thing, and You Can't Tell a Book by its Cover), Koko Taylor (Wang Dang Doodle) and many others.
   
   The boxed set is a must addition for your collection if you have a serious interest in blues. It also makes a good gift.
   
   I would note that the Vicksburg Blues Society and others served as co-sponsors of the Willie Dixon Wang Dang Doodle Blues Festival held in Vicksburg in 2006. The City of Vicksburg has added a Willie Dixon mural to the murals on the Mississippi River floodwall near Catfish Row (the southern end of The Delta). The mursl, featuring the legendary Blue Room in the background, was painted by the noted mural artist Robert Dafford under the sponsorship of local blues patrons Ray and Nancy Neilsen.



2. This set was my introduction to the *real* blues, and to not only Willie Dixon, but Muddy Waters and others featured in the set. For newcomers to the genre, it includes a wide array of rythms and styles in the blues category, showing its depth and richness. Lots of danceable selections, but more importantly, ALL genuine blues. Highly recommended!



3. the willie dixon chess set is a window into the early blues
   that was the basis for some of the most well known rock and
   roll songs of all time. from led zeppelin to the kinks willie dixon and his music was a source of inspiration and musical reinvention. sometimes you have to stay true to your roots. its
   an incredible journey into the heart of original blues.



4. I never have understood how some people have an inate quality for music and some don't. Well , Willie was one of those that definately did. It is hard to imageine the blues without the likes of Willie Dixon: the writer, the musician, the producer, the businessman. I listen to his work over and over again , each time learning new nuances I did not hear before.
   
   How incredible is that ?



5. This box is a fantastic introdution to post-war Chicago blues and the key figure behind Chess Records' success, Willie Dixon. I am a huge fan of the Chess box sets, and this one is my favorite. With seminal tracks by blues icons like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley and Koko Taylor as well as lesser known artists and Dixon himself, this CD is definitely on my deserted island list. If you're only going to have one blues CD in your collection (which would be a tragedy), this is the one to buy. Best of all, for the quality and quantity of music, you can't beat the price!

5 comments about It Serves You Right to Suffer.

1. This is a great John Lee Hooker and probably one of the best blues albums period. The sound quality on this album is top notch (this is not true with all John Lee Hooker material or blues in general). This also includes some of Hooker's best songs, including "It Serves You Right to Suffer" and "Sugar Mama".
   
   The real deal of this album is that Hooker is trying to mainstream himself here. This is not from the classic Hooker period (but it is a classic album). This album came out in the 60's after the start of the British Invasion and this is Hooker's attempt to make a mainstream album for those who were into British Invasion groups. This becomes evident during Hooker's version of "Money". Typically the blues artists that tried to make a mainstream/ pop album lost a lot of what makes them great but what is so amazing about this album is that Hooker makes a mainstream album and sounds like Hooker. One of Hooker's top five albums ever. You need to buy this.



2. This is the real deal. John Lee Hooker with some of his strongest blues and at a rock bottom price. YOu can't beat it with a stick!



3. Don't let the price fool you, this is not some bargain bin compilation, this was an official release from John Lee Hooker, and a great one. This disc is one of his strongest efforts from the 1965-1974 period. There isn't a weak song on here. "Shake It Baby" is one of my favorite John Lee songs and has an awesome high scream from him towards the middle. "Decoration Day" is another classic as is the title track. This CD captures all the moods of John Lee Hooker, the slow and brooding, the uptempo boogie, and everything in between. I would have spent three times as much on this great disc, but for $7 this is a STEAL.



4. I dared to buy this and yes, I did it for the free shipping. Definitely worth it for the definitive Hooker sound. Tunes mostly written by Hooker himself. Originally released in 1966, before the commercialized later versions. A rough raspy "Money" more gritty than the Beatles. And a sweet rendition of Decoration Day that gives a glimpse of John Lee's deep sorrow and hunger wrought thru the blues. Whether it is the myth or the man, you can feel it. Go get lost in the blues. it's Short, sweet, somber and sassy. What have you got to lose?



5. The review below is interesting, how is $5.99 a mere 5 bones?
   Sounds more like 6 bones to me.

5 comments about Crucial Harmonica Blues.

1. Various Artists
   "Crucial Harmonica Blues"
   Alligator Records ALCD 115
   
   Big Walter Horton and Carey Bell continue the protégé and mentor tradition on "Have Mercy". Blues harp doesn't get any better than that. Under-rated Bell appropriately adorns the disc's cover. With one `whew', you will recognize the brown jug, country blues of Sonny Terry on "Sonny's Whoopin' The Doop". Junior Wells could combine funk, grease and sweat like no other. Experience it on "Broke and Hungry". James Cotton's "Superharp" remains one of the best harp-blowin' tunes ever, while fiery Carey Bell shows why he now reigns as best harpist/vocalist on "Lonesome Stranger".
   
   Do these artists and songs qualify as Crucial Harmonica Blues? You're damn right they do.
   
   -- Tim Holek



2. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty good collection, but crucial? I don't think so. It should be re-named "A pretty good collection of blues harmonica from a diverse group of cats, ancient and modern", but of course, the name's too long.



3. It is a great collection, that harmonica lovers will enjoy - BUT it's also a great CD to give someone not all that familiar with harmonica playing. There is enough variety on here for everone to find a style they love.



4. Alligator Records hit it right on the head when they named this series, "Crucial". As in this is a crucial series that every Blues fan should add to their CD collection. I bought this CD because I'm new to the Blues and wanted to find a few new artists to add to my collection. This CD introduced me to several artists that I have now added to my collection buy purchasing several other CDs. This CD starts out with an up tempo and rousing romp with Charlie Musselwhite's "Make My Getaway" and then moves on to a Harmonica Duet by Big Walter Horton and Carey Bell. The Gems just seem to roll out one after another from there. Among the notables on the CD are Legends like Billy Boy Arnold, Sonny Terry, Junior Wells, Delbert McClinton and James Cotton. I not only recommend this CD from the Crucial Blues series but all of them, especially for new comers to blues material.



5. The tracks with Cephas and Wiggins, the harmonica champ Sonny Terry, and Billy Boy Arnold (best known for his work with Bo Diddley) are the standouts here. Among the many good collections of Harmonica music (particularly of the blues variety), this is highly recommended budget-friendly stuff that is for the casual fan of good music as well as the practicing harmonicist.

5 comments about Live At The Cafe Au Go-Go (And Soledad Prison).

1. John lee seemed like he had the blues his hole life.Maybe he did maybe he didn't. He played the hole blues man thing to a T. He seemed like the coolest of all cats when he was up on stage. That's because he was. The people bought it hook line and sinker as they should.I have heard,lived and felt the blues since I was 8 yrs.old. I can totally relate to what he was doing and singing about back then and now.Hookers blues and boogie music is and will always be timeless. That to me is the conection I have with him.Pure blues, no nonsense music that hits you like a ton of bricks. This CD does just that and more.



2. If I was stranded on a deserted island and I was to have one CD this would be the one , thought that Hooker and Heat was good , this blows it away ...............



3. This is actually two live albums combined. Cafe Go-Go finds Johnny earlier in his career and Live at Soledad prison finds Johnny mid-career right in the middle of his endless boogie phase.
   
   Live at The Cafe Go-Go is recoreded with Muddy Waters band (Muddy always had the best bands!) including the great Otis Spann on Piano. Muddy even plays guitar on one of the tunes. Sound quality is excellent and John Live is in fine form, but a little restrain. You get the feeling the band had not played that much together. Hearing JLH with Otis Spann in keys is pretty cool however. Bad like Jesse James is one of the creepiest songs made and is made even more haunting by Spann's parse piano.
   
   Live at Soledad prison catch John Lee is his Endless Boogie phase, which for me is where it is at. Sound quality is surprisely very good and his band, including his son John Lee Jr., are tight. Bang Bang Bang is a great jam all the way from the Motor City. This contains all but two cuts of the original Live at Soledad album. These two tunes were sung by John Lee Jr. I love how at the end of the album the prison plugs the plug on the band and it takes a while for everybody to figure out what happened.
   
   Looking for some more great live John Lee Hooker check the live Album with Albert King (they don'y played together, but share the same CD) 'I Play the Blues for you'. For me this is some of the finest JLH caught live on tape. JLH studio album 'Never get out of these blues alive' is also another great album.
   
   This is a great album for anyone who enjoys the blues, live blues, John Lee, or enjoys Otis Spann. Album should be the staple of any basic bblues collection. I highly recommend this CD.



4. Hearing John Lee Hooker backed by the Muddy Water's band from the 1960's is a real treat. The version of "I'm Bad Like Jessie James" that opens the CD is one of the most menacing songs I've ever heard; John Lee describes in detail how he will "take care of" a former friend he took in who went around town telling everybody that he slept with John Lee's wife. This song is a perfect example of how John Lee Hooker was the personification of badass. John Lee also runs through some of his classics like "One Bourbon, One Scotch, and One Beer" and "Bang Bang Bang Bang". I prefer the Cafe Au Go Go set to the Soledad Prison set, but both sets are worth hearing and are full of good performances from John Lee and the band. This is definitely worth getting if you are fan of John Lee Hooker or the blues.



5. It's hard not to get shivers when listening to this recording. John Lee Hooker had such an incredible voice and it's as if his singing and playing encapsulates all misery imaginable. He extracted so much emotion from these songs that made me feel as though I'd actually lived the experience. It's so incredibly painful to listen to in places that I expected the heavens to open up in response. This is a man who knew what he was doing.
   
   The band is in top form and John Lee uses them to get the crowd rocking as he works his magic. Everything is spot-on! From slow, painful numbers to upbeat, rollicking shuffles, John Lee Hooker and his band can do it all.
   
   This is a landmark album that shows a man (and a band) at the top of their game and it's something no self-respecting blues fan should be without! You'd have to be dead not to be affected by this!

5 comments about Moodfood.

1. From beginning to end, Moodfood by Moodswings takes one on an incredible journey. In my humble opinion, it is one of the best compilations of music ever produced. It is indeed, as the subtitle states: "Aural medication for tired minds." I have listened to the entire album, from beginning to end many times, and I have learned something new about myself; spiritually, mentally and physically, everytime I hear it anew.
   
   Edwin in Fort Lauderdale



2. This order was a replacement for the original purchased 1990's. No, I didn't wear it out, but close. It's a must have for New Age originals, especially Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. A real treasure!!!!
   Tucson, AZ



3. Have listened to this CD for the past decade +, it holds up as timeless and uplifting.



4. This album really does sound quite dated. If I had heard it 20 years ago, when I was into Vangelis and Jon Anderson, I might perhaps have enjoyed it then. But now it just sounds repetitive and bland. I played it a couple of times trying to convince myself that I liked it, but just couldn't. If you are seeking some ambient music, try looking for something more recent.



5. My friend purchased this CD back in 92 when it came out. I heard it and went right to the store to purchase it. Had it for many years and it got stolen out of my car. I had to purchase another one. That one got "lost" and I had to go get it again. It is some of the best music for relaxing ever created. I highly recommend it. I played for myself at work and my co-worker immediately asked me to order him a copy and I did. Fantastic, you must listen to it to really appreciate this ENTIRE album.

5 comments about Hard Again.

1. Not much new I can say about a classic, but I will say that it's very rare anymore to listen to a band and say to yourself, "Hey, these guys sound like they're having a real good time". In a world dominated by plastic sounding music(Plastic People! Oh, baby now you're such a draaaaaag! Sorry about that, I couldn't resist), it's so refreshing to listen to a group that doesn't sound like it's playing music simply because it's their job. Now while this was an attempt for Muddy to make a comeback, these guys sound like they love what they're doing so much that they couldn't care less if they sold one copy of the album, or even gave a hoot if they were being recorded at all! Muddy had a fantastic musical career long before this album, but in teaming up with Johnny Winter and his crew, he showed the world that Waters hadn't lost his edge but aged like a fine wine. Purchase!! Purchase NOW!!!!!!!



2. He's the man alright. Muddy Waters, lays it out from Mannish Boy to Little Girl. That's what the blues is all about.



3. 
   A long, long time ago, I listened to a flatmate's LP of this title and immediately liked two songs in particular: "Mannish Boy" and "I want to be loved". So, when I saw that a Muddy Waters compilation [Anthology] was listed in promotional list of 100 cds you must own, I bought it. Trouble was, the music in Anthology was NOT like I remembered it in Hard Again. For that reason, I'd only give Anthology about two or three stars out of five.
   
   So, I basically bought Hard Again on CD [the remastered version] to see if I had misrembered the sound of that cd. I hadn't. The sound is near flawless and has great presence. It is often bold and brassy. In "Anthology" the music is more sedate and not as present.
   
   In this album, the music is the offspring of Blues and Rock, and it really is the blues as I now like it. Comparing "Anthology" to "Hard again" is like comparing Bob Dylan to Midnight Oil. Both are socially and politically conscious, but you can dance to Midnight Oil, which is why I always will prefer the Oils to the Bob. The tragedy of The Bob is that other acts always do the definitive versions of his songs...poppier or rockier.
   
   "Hard Again" has spanking drums, a free-wheeling harmonica, electric guitar, bass, piano line-up, with perhaps a banjo and washer-board or some such on one song. It is also more up-tempo and energetic than the music in "Anthology".
   
   "Mannish Boy" is still my favourite Waters' song, and this new version of the song is the king of them all y'all. It's boldy, brassy, swinging and with a big beat. It's a raucous party song.
   
   Another song could be renamed "My ol' lady, she done run off with the bus driver blues". It includes an amusingly saucy line to the effect that his ol' lady would be 'riding' the bus driver tonight, or some such. The song features a very cool note picking guitar melody.
   
   "I want to be loved" swings more in this cd than in "Anthology" and has that classic 50's style bass sound, which pops up in other songs in this cd. The song doesn't match my memory of it the first time I heard it [i.e.it's not as catchy as I remembered it, but maybe my tastes have changed].
   
   "I can't be satisfied" is probably my second favourite song on this cd. It has a nice swing to it and some cool note picking on the guitar. Not sure if the "wa wa" effect on vocals is just Muddy or a glitch in the recording...not a major drawback if it's a glitch.
   
   "The blues had a baby and they named it rock'n'roll" is good with some amusing lyrics...for instance "Queen Victoria said it-'you know the blues got soul'. Well the blues had a baby and they named him rock'n'roll".
   
   "Deep down in Florida" marks a change of pace for Muddy-it's more sedate and has a heavy bass sound. Listening to "Anthology" you are struck by how nearly identical the music is in a few songs [the cliched Blues sound]. "Hard Again" doesn't fall into that trap...no recycled sounds.
   
   "Crosseyed cat" is a whimsical song...not sure if the title is a slang term or innuendo of some sort. It does have another Blues trait though...repeating lyrics. This to me is less of a minus than recycling the same music for different songs.
   
   "Walking through the park" is another track with the classic 50's style rock'n'roll bass sound. His woman in that song is not to be trifled with either..."My girl she may cut you. She may shoot you too". I'd feel safer with her in a walk through the park than with Muddy...at least I'd know she could handle herself if my big mouth got me into trouble with some unsavoury types.
   
   I wont put up a review of "Anthology" as I am not particularly positive about it. But listening to it I wondered if my pick as the greatest rock band of all time, AC/DC, were influence by Muddy's Blues.
   In tracks like "I'm ready", I think you can hear its echoes in AC/DC songs like "TNT", "Livewire" - I mean lyrical content wise. Muddy's song "You shook me" is perhaps more obviously echoed in AC/DC's classic [though by now flogged to death on Australian FM stations] song "You shook me all night long".
   
   Since I'm not reviewing "Anthology" on its own, I'll just jot some of my notes on that cd here: I think one of my notes says that 5 or 6 songs have the same intro as "Louisana Blues". "Still a fool" has a cool sound with a good riff and cool gurgling/howling vocals. Track 23 [didn't jot down its title in my notes" Muddy's vocals are distinctly different-phlegmy, in fact.
   
   Well, that's it for my review. I think Hard Again is the perfect marriage of Blues and Rock and would appeal to the rock crowd easily. Not sure how Blues "Purists" view this album, but to me it is Muddy Waters as I want him to sound.
   
   P.S. I've also reviewed at this site Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Midnight Oil, amongst others [including punk cds and heavy metal cds].



4. Great album, great to listen to over and over whether in the background chillin with friends or on your own. Awesome for a comeback. Only wish it were longer...You may notice many now too-familar riffs from rock music today, that originated right here.
   The Blues Had a Baby, and They Named it Rock N Roll!



5. There's not really anything about this album not to like.
   
   Muddy Waters? Forceful, energized, professional, singing with the same incomparable power and vigor he possessed in the 50s, and which he had struggled to recapture in the decade preceding this album. Moreover, he sounds like he's having the time of his life. The phrase "infectious enthusiasm" is very apropos here.
   
   Johnny Winter? All he does is handle the equally demanding jobs of lead guitarist and producer, and does both flawlessly.
   
   Bob Margolin, James Cotton, Willie Smith, Charles Calmese, Pinetop Perkins? All play in an inspired fashion, driving the songs like a freight train and pushing each other to new heights seemingly by the minute. Cotton's harp screams like no harp before or since, while Smith lays down the kind of pocket that guitarists and bass players dream about at night. Calmese's playing has just enough of a funky '70s edge to make the material sound contemporary and relevant while not detracting from its Chicago roots. Margolin plays with a tastefulness and restraint which belies his young age at the time, and Pinetop is...well, Pinetop.
   
   Old songs? This isn't a popular sort of thing to say, but the reworkings of Muddy's '50s classics presented here (particularly "Mannish Boy" and "Walkin' Through the Park") sound as good or better than their original Chess counterparts. That's not an insult to Jimmy Rogers or Little Walter, it's just the way it is.
   
   New songs? "Crosseyed Cat," "Jealous Hearted Man," and "The Blues Had a Baby" are as good as any blues music ever recorded. Ever.
   
   In summation, if you don't already own this album, stop wasting your time with this silly review and buy the damn thing. Right now.

5 comments about Hooker.

1. some material is repetitive but overall a must for any blues listener or any other music listener. the nuances of his playing develope deeper with each listening. hooker, buddy guy, b.b. king--what a great cache of music we have at our eartips to listen to.



2. This chronology of Hooker recordings is simply awesome! To walk through the progression of songs from early recordings to the present is simply mesmerizing. Some titles are repeated throughout the 4 disc set put are clearly an evolution of the artist. It is clear why he influenced so many artists, too. You can't go wrong with this set.



3. If you like the blues you gotta get these 4 CDs. At times the songs may seem sparse and repetitive but there is so much soul in them I can listen to them over and over again. A wonderful overview of John Lee Hooker's career. Excellent remastering.



4. This box set starts out with acoustic foot tapping blues just as you would expect but by the middle of disc 2 it really picks up.Disc 3 and 4 is John Lee Hooker at his finest.He truly was one of the best at singing and playing the blues.I would recommend this to anyone who loves the Blues.



5. Heard great review on NPR. Took gamble and was not disappointed. Excellent compilation

5 comments about Burnside on Burnside.

1. I'm a young guy and just scratching the service on blues legends like R.L. Burnside. This is the first CD of his I've bought and I'm extremely happy that I purchased it.
   R.L. has an absolutely perfect blues voice. His guitar playing along with Kenny Brown is incredible. The slide guitar is one of my favorite sounds on earth and they play it to perfection throughout the album.
   My favorite songs are Shake Em' on Down, Rollin' and Tumblin', Goin' Down South, Skinny Women (which is covered by a great band named the The Black Keys they call their version "Busted"), and Bad Luck and Trouble. But my very favorite is Walkin' Blues. It's the total package. It's perfect in vocals, lyrics, emotion, slide guitar, and everything in between. I can't get enough of that song.
   The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because a couple of songs are repetitious of each other and don't stand out to me.
   I would give this album a 4.5 stars but it won't let me.



2. Powerfull, driving and gets under your skin. Buy it and play it loud.
   My favourite blues album in my collection.



3. It don't get no better than this. Burnside's best. I wish I could compare it to something, but ain't nothin' to compare it to.



4. Skinny woman though... anyone heard busted by the black keys? Same song... subtly different lyrics. Black keys came out first though... I think.



5. This cat is good. Mesmerizing beat and tempo, he has the blues in his voice and his soul. A "must buy" for the down home blues lover. This is what it's all about.

4 comments about Truth Is Not Fiction.

1. I heard one of Mr. Taylor's songs at the end of "The Shooter" and was so moved I searched for his music to learn more. As a classic rock and classic country afficianado you might say I'm a little out of my league writing a review on Taylor's work. His music is soulful, deep, blues-y, full of emotion, powerful and thought provoking. I put the CD in my truck (I did say I'm a country fan afterall!) and lose myself in the lyrics as I travel down the road. I'll be buying more Otis Taylor and suggest you do the same.



2. This is a great CD. I first heard Otis on a movie soundtrack, Shooter, playing "Nasty Letter". Since them I've been hooked on his powerful songs and skillful guitar playing. Well worth a listen!



3. Otis Taylor is at the top of a very short list -- current, vibrant African-American musicians expressing themselves through blues. Although Taylor obviously has assimilated classic Delta, rural and urban blues but has no interest in becoming an archivist or revivalist. He is telling his stories, not recycling Robert Johnson's. The same can be said of his music.
   
   If there are "rules" to the blues, Otis Taylor is breaking pretty much all of them. These songs mix electric and acoustic instruments, with no drums. Taylor plays a very percussive banjo on some tracks, and other cuts include background cello that sounds like an early Suzanne Vega disc. Since this CD, Taylor hit upon "Trance Blues" as a way to describe his music. It simultaneously appeals to "jam band" festivals and John Lee Hooker fans. This is the most idiosyncratic blues(-ish) stuff I've heard in ... pretty much ever. Purists will be as unhappy with Taylor as the Newport Festival crowd was with Dylan in 1965. People who love blues but are ready to move on from Clarksdale circa 1938 without should really check this out. Folks who have worried about blues becoming fossilized with no means to develop or grow will be thrilled.
   
   I notice that one of the reviewers is dismayed by the subject matter in this CD. It bears noting that this is not heavy-handed or uniformly sad stuff. It is a pleasant listen. The song about organ transplantation ("Be My Frankenstein" -- I told you this is not 1930's blues) is downright lighthearted. Taylor is as entitled to write a song about lynching as Billie Holiday was to sing "Strange Fruit." But if you're looking for 12-bar shuffles, you won't find them here. Highly recommended.



4. Today just about any tradition-based, secular African-American musician is routinely called a blues artist, as if blues were all there is to be said about black folk music. So call Otis Taylor a "bluesman" if you will, but if so, he is far from an ordinary one. He fuses old and new in a striking, even startling, manner, and with such assurance that one cannot help comparing it to Dylan's comparable achievement. Though Truth Is Not Fiction has its own, distinctive sound, it will bring to mind such masterpieces as Time Out of Mind and Love and Theft. Yes, on the evidence of this disc, one can speak of Dylan and Taylor in the same sentence.

   Though thoroughly contemporary, the arrangements eerily bridge the 19th and 21st Centuries in roughly the way Dylan's recent work has done. Taylor's settings are sparer, however, and his narratives more straightforward. Taylor even manages to breathe new life into the one non-original, the hoary folk-blues "Baby, Please Don't Go" (Big Joe Williams's often-recorded rewrite of the old prison lament "Another Man Done Gone"), but it's his own material that places him among the most compelling American roots performers to come along in recent memory. Dylan would have been proud to write -- for but one example -- "Shakie's Gone," but even the master would be hard-pressed to pull it off half so well.

   This is music from a deep well, indeed. If you're looking for the stuff that lasts, Otis Taylor certainly has it.