While his first album as a front man,
Heretic Blues
, saw
O'Donnell
struggling for focus in his many influences,
Control Freak
sounds more relaxed and confident. Stretching out to include funky soul (
"She Got the Apples"
) along with parlor swing and smoky blues (
"Tight and Long"
),
and his crew are in fine form throughout. Particularly impressive is the development of his songwriting skills. ~ Tim Sheridan