Blues music you will love

Blues

style / mood

Editor's Picks (see more)

JUKE BARITONE: Juke Baritone
New Orleans style blues from Australia? If only it were that simple. With a swampy sound that refuses to get bogged down, this six piece turns horn-heavy blues on its head, slyly clamoring through 9 tracks of barely restrained cabaret-esque compositions that might just make the perfect soundtrack to your next night of unbridled debauchery. It's not that they're necessarily drinking songs, or that there's anything inherently evil in the music; the songs just feel like they should be surrounded by alcohol and semi-controlled raucousness, and they bring to mind a dark cellar bar that maybe you haven't even been to yet. With gravelly vocals and driving horns, you could compare it to Tom Waits, but I think their own assessment of likening it to "Screaming" Jay Hawkins may be a little closer to the mark. It's that feeling of something brewing, the intangible element of impending insanity that envelopes the sound. The tempos hit like a hard heartbeat, knocking on your noggin while the horns almost force you to sway with the beat. It's fun, but it's the kind of fun that might get you in trouble. The best kind of trouble.
CD price: $15.97
THE BOOGLERIZERS: Ironbound Blues
Sometimes, when a group of guys get together to jam out the blues with nothing more than the love of music on their minds, the results can't help but be starkly honest, barrels of fun, and sublimely inventive. This particular group of guys have been playing together for a pretty darn long time, and it's evidenced wonderfully in the cohesion they display on these 15 tracks of acoustic roots music. They've got their bases covered: slide guitar, mandolin, washtub bass, acoustic fingerstyle guitar, and all kinds of percussion fill out the sound easily. Throw in harmonica, piano, and even a tuba, and you've got yourself a group of players who have left their options open for various degrees of musical madness. They take advantage, running through nine original numbers and six covers, each one taking on a different instrumental arrangement than the previous song. The tracks are short but sweet, packed with bellowing bottom end from the tuba, which keeps the songs chugging along and constantly pushing forward. The original works here are the real standouts, with lyrics that follow a traditional blueprint but aren't afraid to get a tad abstract. This one's non-stop fun from start to finish. They're gonna booglerize you, baby.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97
DENNIS CLIFTON: The Blues Highway
Clifton cites his musical style as being "honed from Delta Blues, Southern Rock, New Orleans Jazz and Muscle Shoals Soul." On paper, it looks like quite a bouillabaisse of distinct sounds, but his knack for blending them together yields an affinity within these genres that is both sensible and intriguing. The album starts with "Detour You," a semi-raucous blues number that incorporates both classic rock and country vibes while managing to be as pensive as it is fun. Clifton handles all the guitar duties (including lap steel and dobro) on the album and is razor sharp when it comes to tones and placement. "Boogie Woogie Woman" is a revved up rocker, featuring some rugged guitar work that fits perfectly within the context of the lyrics. Switching gears, he follows it with "If Leaving Was Easy," a lyrically downhearted lament that is echoed beautifully in his crying guitar licks. With top notch musicians backing him on keys, sax, and some tasteful backing vocals, he is able to crank the sound up to Southern Rock levels, but just as easily step back and delicately select individual notes. This seemingly effortless versatility is impressive, and sure to appeal to fans of blues, classic rock, country, or those who simply enjoy some fine guitar playing.
MP3 price: $12.97
BILLYLEE JANEY: Soul Driver
Marking his return to the "heavier Gibson/Marshall sound after 25 years as a Fender bluesman," Janey leads his veteran four piece blues band through hills and valleys of expansive sound on this powerfully electric album. Janey's versatility on the guitar is notably impressive, but his ability to steer the players in directions without forcibly overshadowing them may be his greatest strength. Leaving room for the bass, keys, and drums to shine on their own, he allows his band mates space to move and groove, and they take full advantage. This solid backup gives him more than enough fuel to deliver some striking solos that interface with the organ to create a sound that is multi-tiered and ambitious, without resorting to thinly veiled noodling. The lyrics wisely follow the music down the same path, staying true to the blues form, but getting effectively modern in their content and melody. This is blues with both feel and calculation, and it takes some wise and talented players to pull that off. This is a band that is up for the task, and they deliver the goods with rock and rhythm to spare.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97
KARL MORGAN: Talkin' With the Hands
With an undeniable feel and a seemingly effortless knack for agility, this Australian guitarist has no trouble proving that he is no run-of-the-mill blues player. Blazing through 12 tracks of original songs (with the exception of one cover) that not only showcase his prowess on the frets, but also his uncanny ability to craft a magnificent song, this album truly speaks from the heart of a man who still holds great faith in the blues. While it would be easy (and fairly accurate) to compare the way he approaches his playing to Stevie Ray Vaughn, it's not that cut and dry. There's tinges of funk, soul, folk, and straight rock here that really make this album stand out, while simultaneously reflecting the genuine versatility with which he handles the instrument. While these songs are full of plenty of licks to appease finicky guitar fans and aficionados, there's also no shortage of finely penned lyrics that lock arms with the gut-wrenching vocals, making sure these tracks are more than just templates for guitar solos. His ear for tone and balance adds to this, making sure the guitar is the driving force in the structure, but not overbearing and unnecessarily showy. Accessible and honest, this is a welcome album for not only fans of good ol' fashioned electric guitar playing, but also those who are looking for some finely tuned songwriting as well.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97

Top Sellers (see more)

RUTHIE FOSTER: Runaway Soul
Rip roaring Soul and blues vocals spilling over a folk goblet.
CD price: $15.00
MELODY GARDOT: Some Lessons -The Bedroom Sessions
With a quiet fire of Folky-blues, acoustic jazz, this Philadelphia based singer songwriter gently stirs the senses with six stunning songs filled with poignant honesty and inspiring empathy.
CD price: $9.99
NUNO MINDELIS: Twelve Hours
"The CD that I have been waiting for ever since we lost SRV... flat out full tilt killer blues."--Bandit Blues Radio; "Explodes with heavy, Hendrix-Vaughan guitar"--Blues Revue; "A classic in modern blues"--Real Blues Magazine
CD price: $11.99 / MP3 price: $11.99
MELANIE MASON: Bendin' the Blues
Debut album from lead guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Melanie Mason and her band; winner of WAMA's Best Blues Recording award. "10 out of 10." --Blues Matters
CD price: $15.99
THE DEVIL MAKES THREE: Longjohns, Boots, and a Belt
An all-acoustic trio from Santa Cruz take from many traditional old-time music styles -- bluegrass, ragtime, country, and blues and have produced a very unique sound.
CD price: $13.97 / MP3 price: $13.97
GRACE POTTER: Original Soul
Original Soul is a triumph it's one of the finest Vermont releases of the year. Potter sings strong and bold, sounding at times like Bonnie Raitt or even Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes.
CD price: $14.00
DAVID GRISSOM: Loud Music
Texas blues, rock, steel bending guitar music.
CD price: $12.97 / MP3 price: $12.97
WALTER TROUT POWER TRIO: Hardcore
Guitar Blues
CD price: $18.00 / MP3 price: $18.00
ERIC STECKEL BAND: A Few Degrees Warmer
With a feeling and natural ability that can't be explained for someone so young, Eric delivers a blues guitar performance with an intensity and skill that never fails to amaze. OUT OF STOCK-PLEASE LOOK FOR ERIC STECKEL "EARLY PICKIN"
BONNIE KOLOC: Timeless
Eclectic, clarion-voiced singer/songwriter influenced by folk, jazz and blues.
CD price: $35.00