Whose Truth, Whose Lies?

In 2000, you would have been hard-pressed to find a more lowdown blues-oriented recording than singer/guitarist 's , which should appeal to anyone who likes his/her blues dark, shadowy, and moody. This isn't a CD that tries to win you over with slickness; whether is going electric or acoustic, he obviously identifies with the simplicity and honesty that characterized the country blues artists of the '30s and '40s. Not that sounds like a recording from that time. 's lyrics obviously aren't pre-World War II lyrics, and he has been influenced by soul, rock, and folk as well as country and urban blues. Not everything on this superb album adheres to a 12-bar format, and some of the tunes fall into the folk category. But even when he is getting into a folk or R&B groove, can always be counted on to provide a wealth of blues feeling. may not be the work of a purist, but it is certainly compelling. ~ Alex Henderson