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| EVERYTHING BUT THE BLUES - BLUE ROOM (2005) |
| It�s fairly difficult not to like a tightly cohesive band with a great vocalist, and this one is no exception. Brian Neller mans the lead microphone with an alternating croon and slightly nasal grittiness that always complements the various musical styles exhibited here. Neller and his sidemen (Paul Sanderson - guitar, Fraser Lawrason - fretless bass and harmony vocals, Pat Quinn and Frank Watt � drums, and Norm Ryan � saxophone) have created some sort of fusion of bohemian New York �60s Beat and sophisticated West Coast swing, particularly on the title track and �Hard Drinkin� Woman�, resulting in an irresistible snappiness pretty well throughout the CD. Michael Fonfara fills in with B3 layering on �I Can�t Change�, which would have been a great waltz to snuggle up with the sweetie, but the smoothness of the rhythm is oddly broken up, albeit very briefly, into a stomping strut before easing back into the glide. Dancers who like some variation in rhythm and tempo from one song to another, however, will appreciate the diversity here � from the driving rockabilly pace of �Train� (featuring Dr. John Bjarnason on harmonica and Paul Sanderson on slide guitar) to the flute-flavoured smooth jazz of �Uphill Obsession� and �1001 Reasons� and the funkadelic spirit of �The Money Game� and �Too Little Too Late�. Lightweight Texas blues-rock is also given a nod on �Cold Hard Rain�, �Face Down in the Mud� and the apt closer, �Goodbye�. The CD�s producer, Paul Irvine, adds flute and tenor sax, and Joey Irvine and production assistant Will Vapors contribute various percussive touches and Ken Wannamaker joins the sidemen on back-up vocals. Almost all of these tracks are collaborative efforts among various members of the band, with the exception of �The Money Game�, written solely by Paul Irvine, and Paul Sanderson penning �Ready to Roll�, �Train� and �Goodbye�. If you want a recording that will get you up and hopping, this is it! Cool, Daddy-O! |