Magic Slim has been playing the blues for more than 50 years and been recording since 1977 with his band The Teardrops. The lineup has changed over the years but the sound and intent have not. With his 2010 release Raising The Bar, Slim declares not his intention to do it different but only to do it better. It's hard to imagine a 72-year-old man and 50-year veteran still having a lot of upside, especially when you're talking about someone who has done it so well for so long but it's nice to know he still feels the fire to challenge himself and his band.
"Part-Time Love" opens with a precision, rhythmic stutter that would make Rush and Yes proud before giving way to a slinky disco groove the late Rick James would have surely loved. Slim has the kind of presence at this point in his career that he can put something like that beneath him because no matter what he plays it's still going to come out as the blues. The relentless groove is irresistible whether he and his band are chanting the title or Slim is flicking a flurry of notes from his guitar. Later on the record, "Shame" has a little shake of its own. It's not built on the same dirty disco-funk rhythm but there's a muscular strut behind it that gives it some dance potential.
"Do You Mean It" and "I Can't Hold Out" are familiar constructions brought to life by Slim's commitment to raising that bar. "Do You Mean It" is fueled by some gravelly guitar lead and vocal from Slim and stickwork from drummer BJ Jones that is both flashy and muscular when needed. "I Can't Hold Out" is an Elmore James tune and it's a little interesting to hear that classic James intro played without the slide. It's a solid, spirited number that lacks surprise but not energy. Another fun cover on the album is his Slim'd version of J.B. Lenoir's "Mama Talk To Your Daughter." It may not be material you'd expect from a 72-year-old man but Slim doesn't flinch. It's a good song and they play it well.
Article comments
1 - Joanie
Amen!
I much prefer this album to the last one because it just feels fresher and has more life to it.
Woo hoo!
2 - Josh Hathaway
Careful now. I liked Midnight Blues. I thought Nick Moss did a real nice job producing that one. Still, this is a strong record from Slim. He's become pretty reliable. He doesn't change his stripes much but he doesn't have to because he makes it work.
3 - Joanie
I liked Midnight Blues, too. I'm just saying that, in comparison, this feels livelier. And in the end, that's what keeps me listening to a CD