The guitar solo driven “Tramp” has tons of soul while “She's Got the Devil In Her” and “Who's Been Foolin You” may be the few times the smoke clears slightly. Both still have a rough feel but in spite of slightly dark lyrics, they seem like two of the lighter songs on the album because they are closer to standard blues format and style. The twelve minute slow burning guitar workout, “I Gotta Try You Girl” is a definite highlight from this album and shows that Buddy Guy has not lost anything in his guitar playing (actually the entire album demonstrates that quite well). My other favorite song from this album is the only one actually penned by Guy: “Its a Jungle Out There”. This song sounds like the early morning... dawn breaking... after the long night in the club. With great guitar work, a subtlety soulful vocal line and a great feel it closes the album very well and kind of echoes some of the experience embodied in the opener.
The songs as a whole are not overtly catchy, but along with their great feel, they all have a little something that hints at something more primal and based in instinct. Catchy or not, I find myself listening to them all the time and, that's a mark of a great album.
There are a few things though about this album that may be considered detracting by some. As I said, it has a very distinctly dark, smoky and seductive feel all the way through. That may be something you either love or hate as it can sound a little too thick at times, like the music is just too clouded, echoed, or separated, and doesn't let up really throughout the album. Personally, I think it works well for these songs, really like how it feels and like the mood it creates.
The album is also not nearly as gritty as it could be, but I think that about most albums that are more recent releases. Some people may also find this album a bit too produced for a blues album, but I've heard worse. I don't find it a problem on this album at all, as the songs are rough in style and that makes the production slightly less noticeable when it is a little over the top. There are also a few moments where double tracked guitar solos split where I wonder why, but I can get past that. Some people may also find the use of unexpected key changes and slightly fractured syncopated guitar work disjointing but I like these elements too as it makes these songs far more spontaneous and progressive sounding than more fluid blues players.
Article comments