Omar & The Howlers

A brand new project for Omar as he teams up with some of the strongest siong writers and performers from his adopted home town of Austin. The result is a slightly more polished effort than of late, but an album that gloriously demonstrates both Omar’s unique vocal talent, and thoughtful lyricism

Stand out cuts are a trademark boogie titled “Bamboozled”, curiously enough co written with Country singer ray Wylie Hubbard, while fellow New Country star darden mith chips in with a co write on the big guitar sound of “White Crosses.

Stephen Bruton helps on the Bo Diddley beat of “Bad In A God Way”, and there’s also an effective co vocal/co song collaboration with Alejandro Escovedo on “Right There In The Rain”, but the killer punch is delivered on the closing 3 tracks. “That’s Just My Life” is a part autobiographical boogie, part John lee Hooker ode, on which Papa Malin delivers some great slide, while Mississippi Mud is more hometown Omar.

The closing climactic “All The Love We can Stand” is another co write with the unlikely figure of Ray Wylie Hubbard. It’s a three guitar attack including the mighty Chris Duarte, that suggests the Hubbard/Omar Dykes writing team is one to watch for the future

A great album by one of Texas’s most consistent boogie blues men.

OmarAndTheHowlers.com

Michael Katon

More of the same from the boogie Man from Hell Michigan, means more quality guitar led rock solid boogie from a man who leads with some low down dirty slide guitar.

It’s a shame that Michael’s Roadhouse boogie rock has become marginalised along with so much other quality rocking, as tracks like the opening “Amercian McMofo”, the title track “Bad Machine” and the closing opus “Detroit River Dirty Blues” show just how good Michael’s unique powerful boogie is.

Katon.com

Various Artists

Released in association with Mojo, this 20 track delight is everything you would expect from a label that manages to be both eclectic and heavyweight without losing its musical focus.
From the clever lyrics of the late Warren Zevon, and the unique musical satire of Frank Zappa, through to the enduring talent of Robert Wyatt, to the down home blues of Kelly Joe Phillips, this sampler offers the lot.
What better way to broaden the musical palate than to grab an across the boad sampler such as this, put together with much thought and great musical insight.

RykoDisc.com

Leslie West

On which the famous leader of power rockers Mountain steps out into the blues world. Of course, Leslie has dabbled with the blues on several occasions, but this represents a solo album, comprising nothing but the blues.

Released as an advance copy of his forthcoming new year solo tour, this album finds Leslie in animated form, full of big chords, piercing notes, and a trademark scream. The only disappointing thing is the choice of material as the world could probably do without another version of “Don’t Start Me Talkin, “I’m Ready” and “Talk Top Your Daughter”.

That said, he excels on “Crawlin’ Kingsnake, the closing “Why I Sing The Blues” and a reworking of “Born Under A Bad Sign".

MountainTheBand.com

Paul Byrd

This album, like the artist concerned, is a slow burner. Paul Byrd hails from Fort Worth Texas, looks not unlike Bill Hayley and sings as passionately as any of his contemporaries. Oh! And he plays his guitar BB King style.

That’s not to say Paul is a great singer - he plainly isn’t , but the guy does have the blues and a very special presence.

Listen to the poignant slow blues “Poor Man’s Pride” and the equally deep rooted blues feel of the guitar led “Blues For Paul”, and you are listening to a white guy with a real blues feel

A slow burner, peppered with occasional rockabilly, Paul Byrd is great Texas blues.

PaulByrd.com

Colosseum

A couple of weeks after receiving this cd, it keeps making it back on to my deck, like some sort of timeless excercise in cool, intuitively played blues. 10 plays on, and the Clem Clemson/Pete Brown penned "Hard Times Rising" sounds even better.

So what are we to make of the pioneers of 70's Jazz Rock super stars Colosseum 30 years on? Well, "Tomorrow's Blues" is an apt title as blues holds centre stage with Chris Farlowe giving vent to his enduring vocal prowess, and guitarist Clem Clempson playing some lines as delicate as porcelain.
In between that there's some jazzy workouts such as Dave Greenslade's "Arena In The Sun", and the recently hospitalised Dick-Heckstall Smith shines on "Come Right Back".
A polished effort for long time fans.

Temple-Music.com

Ian Parker

The essential Ian Parker who after a couple of false starts, or promising beginnings, fulfills his potential - albeit in a slightly introspective way. "Inside" is full of deep emotional songs of which "Misfits & Fools" is an impressive funky older song, while "The Love I Have" is a metaphor for an artist with plenty to say.

Click to listen to parts of Misfits & Fools and The Love I Have - there are clips from all the tracks on Ian's website and in higher download quality.

IanParkerBand.com

Blues 'n' Trouble

Essentially the vehicle for Tim Elliott's writing and harp playing nowadays, B nT still pack a punch with a judicious mix of rocking blues and slow down harp led style
Recorded "live in the studio", this album has a welcome edge on cuts such as the slide guitar led "SorryYou've Been Troubled", and the heavy duty boogie shuffle of "You'd be Surprised". The album closes with a big guitar 50's style instrumental, which brilliantly lives up to its title as "The Caterpillar Crawl".

BluesnTrouble.com

The Tyla Gang

On which Sean Tyla teams up with Chris Staines on guitar / Ian Ellis on bass and Ken Ward drums for a trawl through the very best Tyla style Americana song book.
Formerly the leader of Ducks Deluxe, Help Yourself member and a one time solo star in Germany and the West Coast of the US, Sean has retained his California flavoured music sweep, for a bunch fo fine songs of which "Montanarama" is full of musical and lyrical vistas, and the funky "White Magic Woman" somehow combines a Dr Feelgood punch with a killer hook.
Other outings like "Take It On Trust" offer another great hook, and on "Hollywood Blues" Sean offers the immortal lines "Tinsel City breakdown, get me out of town, I've got the Hollywood Blues"..........great stuff..

SeanTyla.com

FAMILY

Marking the 30 year anniversary of one of Britain most innovative and exciting live bands, these re-issued Family albums come complete with bonus tracks, extensive liner notes, photos and band comments.

3 decades on some of “A Song” sounds of its time, but reminds you of the frightening energy of the band, while “Anyway” encapsulates the thin dividing line between the chaotic the inspired and the spontaneous

“Fearless” is the album on which it all came together in a post psychedelic haze, the perfect balance between eclectic song writing, delicately restrained aggression, and magical performances, all supplied by Charlie Whitney’s staccato guitar work, Poli Palmer's instrumental invention, and Roger Chapman's peerless passionate vocals.

“Bandstand” was the work of a mature rock band, and includes the hit “Burlesque” and live versions of “No Mule’s Fool” and “Weaver's Answer”, while “It’s Only A Movie”, despite its post pub feel has enough magical moments to remind you what a great band Family were, even with the drinking ethos of Tony Ashton.

“Family Live” is the first ever Family live album, and includes 5 cuts from the “Fearless era, and find Roger Chapman on top form, as the greatest vocalist of his generation. Go and buy!

Chappo.com