The opening trio is nearly equaled by the closing trio of “Rattlesnake,” “Peaches,” and “Judge Harsh Blues.” “Rattlesnake” is another showcase of Slim's harp ability, backed by some snarling guitar. “Peaches” has a touch of the swampy feel of CCR's “Born on the Bayou” and album closer “Judge Harsh Blues” is a good, solid acoustic number that recalls The Stones' take on Prodigal Son” from Beggars Banquet.
Another of the great strengths of The Wheel Man is its consistency. There are no weak moments on the disc, although the traditional, a capella “Sawmill Holler” might not be for everyone. Even with musical accompaniment, it can take a little time to adjust to Slim's diction. The lack of it makes “Sawmill Holler” a little less fun than the rest of the record but not so much that you'll want to skip over it. These songs hang together and flow in and out of one another, creating a more satisfying listen than the wonderful self-titled album currently nominated for 6 BMAs. The self-titled predecessor has a few more peaks, but also comes with a couple of valleys.
Power, passion, joy, and skill permeate this record. Those attributes, when applied skillfully to good songs, are the formula for a great record. It is the formula for The Wheel Man.
I will avoid making bold proclamations about this album, just as I did with Norah Jones' Not Too Late, but Watermelon Slim has made a fabulous record that demands serious consideration in any discussion about the best blues records of this year.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
man, he is one freaky-looking dude. love that voice though.
2 - Josh
That's not the best picture of him, but I love the studio shot of both Slims.
Great album. It's been fun spreading the word.
3 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites and Boston.com.
4 - Oklahoma Rock
Thanks for reviewing Watermelon Slim!