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| ALL TORE DOWN - DAVID BREWER (1994) |
| All Tore Down is David Brewer's follow-up to his 1990 debut CD, Bad Habits (the title track of which was popularized in Canada by the smoother-voiced Colin Jamesl). Perhaps in memory of his time spent in Texas, and later touring (and recording) with Albert Collins, Seattle-based Brewer kicks off this release with a hoppin� original Texas-style boogie called �A Little More Time�. It's a great introduction to David�s fluid and fiery fretwork and solid vocals, backed up by a tightly wound rhythm section provided once more by bassist Tony �Darkman� Thomas (who passed away shortly after the recording was completed) and Raven Humphre's drummer, Pete �The Beat� Langhans.
The pace slows down just a bit on a rockin� shuffle called �Wouldn�t Treat a Dog�. It�s a Price-Walsh-Barri-Omartian collaborative composition that was previously recorded by Bobby Bland, and, following David�s inspirational version of it, by Cher, Polly O�Keary & The Rhythm Method (with guitarist C.D. Woodbury on vocals). Now, in 2006, the legendary Mel Brown has put his own stamp on it. �Just More Dues� is another example of Mr. Brewer�s playful spirit when bending the strings, and after listening to it a few more times, I found it reminded me of the 1978 vaudevillian punk-blues cult-classic by The Electric Chairs' called �If You Don�t Wanna F*** Me, Baby�. �Lookin� for Some Good Luck� is a great example of David�s vocal dexterity, not to mention a knack for excellent songwriting. For those who get bored easily just waltzing, you could get a powerful strut happening on the dance floor with this one. Chuck Berry meets David Lindley on Brewer�s cover of �Route 66�, that infamous and now historic stretch of blacktop that spawned an era of traveling minstrels, migrants and military manoeuvers �from Chicago to L.A.�. John Steinbeck referred to it as �The Mother Road� in his classic novel, The Grapes of Wrath. It�s a full-throttle rocker echoing Lindley�s manic cover of K.C. Douglas�s �Mercury Blues� and might have been better placed as a climactic closer for the CD. David then pays homage to the Allman Brothers, with a combined arrangement of �Don�t Keep Me Wondering� with �Whippin� Post�. I wasn�t really keen on these tracks, particularly as his powerful vocals can nevertheless become grating when over-infused with an element of fury. �Bob�s Trailer Heaven� is a less abrasive two-step boogie that recalls Berry�s �Memphis, Tennessee�, but I didn�t care for that relentless cowbell-banging competing with that lovely guitar solo towards the end. �You�re Gonna Need Me� is the quintessential slow-blues and that chainsaw-rippin� guitar will curl your toes, if not your hair! Unlike most showcase tracks, David reins it in just after four minutes, which left me wanting to hear more. At one point during this innovative song, I thought I detected a bit of �brass�, which could have been saxophonist Raven, who engineered and assisted in the mixing of this recording at his Black Wing Studio in Ravenwood, although there's no mention in the credits of Raven performing on the CD. The final (title) track, �All Tore Down�, despite my earlier comment about �Route 66�, is nevertheless an explosive bit of funk that retains David Brewer�s rockin� sensibility. There�s not a second of dullness on this CD, so if you�re up for a party, throw this one on the player and press �repeat�. As David himself is quoted, "The blues are life with the dull parts left out." |
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