| CD REVIEW (This review has also been published at www.701.com and www.wablues.org) |
| BLOWIN' FOR BROKE - DAVID ROTUNDO & THE BLUE CANADIANS |
| David Rotundo & The Blue Canadians: Blowin' for Broke Produced at Liquid Studios Reviewed by Diane Wells Move over, Little Walter, you've got some serious competition here! Not since Muddy Waters first delighted us with his magical ensemble of struttin' blues guitar, boogie-woogie keyboards, gut-wrenching vocals and relentlessly "possessed" blues harp has there been an equal successor to the blues throne. And it's not hard to distinguish that particular influence here ('Punching Bag Man' and 'Devil in a Dress'). From the get-go, this CD aims, fires and blows your mind away! This entire collection will surely become future blues classics, with 10 of the 12 tracks being composed solely by David and the remaining couple being collaborations with David and producer/acoustic bass player Shane Scott and David with Peter Schmidt on electric guitar that compares favourably with that of Colin James. In fact, as the CD title suggests, all stops have been pulled out to ensure massive success at the risk of going broke, if nothing comes of it. I can't see the latter happening, if blues lovers in Canada and beyond have anything to say about it. This supernatural combination of players also includes Walter MacLean on radioactive drums and Dave's infamous sidekick, Julian Fauth (solo performer and with his own fabulous outfit, Dark Holler), on delectable keyboards, especially on 'Make Up Your Mind' and 'I'm Into It'. I'd be hard-put to name a favourite track on this CD, as they're all immensely appealing in their own style and arrangement. But if tracks like 'My Leg is Shakin', 'Working Class Blues' and 'Butt Bustin' Boogie' don't get you absolutely itchin' to get up and boogie, then you must be either dead or deaf! And if you're more the slow-waltz type, 'Bourbon St. Blues' is irresistible with its sexy guitar licks and keys. If this ain't essential blues in all its emotional spectrum, I don't know what is. Grab your own copy now but be sure to check out these guys "live" as well! Incidentally, Dave Rotundo can also be heard in action with Jack de Keyzer, another blues superhero of mine! |
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