| NICKEL PLATED BLUES - THE REVERB ROCKERS |
| This CD has got one of the greatest collection of original upbeat tracks I've heard in a long time. For the most part, they are fairly short tunes ranging from 3-4 minutes, and they are pretty well all foot-stompers or at least toe-tappers! What makes it work are the alternating lead vocals and lead and bass guitars provided by James McInnis (think David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Richard "Son" Newell of King Biscuit Boy) and Kevin Peterson, as their vocal ranges and pitch are like day and night and hence very complementary. Glenn Brandt, in addition, provides his own vocal prowess ("the best 3 note range in the business") as well as top-form work on drums. Several tracks are filled in with piano and Hammond B3 provided by Dave "Willie" Williams, Kevin Pelfer on tenor saxophone, and "Harmonica" Ray Baillargeon on wailin' blues harp. There are prototypical Chicago blues tracks such as the lead-in "Pre-Meditated Hindsight Blues" (written by Glenn Brandt and James McInnis) and "Squeeky Toy Blues", as well as the Creedence Clearwater-like intro to "She's No Longer (My Main Squeeze)", which morphs itself into a mean piano boogie-woogie, with many chord and rhythm changes. "Let Old Dogs Lay" is a barrel-house blues-rocker that reminded me of the Doors, as well as the Pretenders, and gives a lot of credence to the band's name, with its heavy guitar "reverberations". "Workin' Jerk", co-written by James McInnis & Kevin Peterson, presents a new take on being unemployed or, at least, under-employed, and has a very catchy rhythm. "Squeeky Toy Blues", co-written by Kevin Peterson and Raymond Gauthier, displays Kevin's obvious preference for swing blues and a "smoother" vocal style further enhanced by back-up harmonies provided by Glenn and James -a very entertaining piece and highly danceable! "Don't Wanna Leave Her" is the only real slow blues on the CD. Written and sung by James McInnis, who softens his own vocals on this track, and with Kevin again accompanying on saxophone, it was reminiscent of "St. James Infirmary", popularized by Joe Cocker. "Nickel Plated Blues", the title track, relates the tale of a possessive, double-standard, relationship which ends in a fatal conclusion and flight for freedom on the legendary "midnight train". "Owed to Son", referring to James' hero, Son House, is a traditional blues instrumental which introduces "She Make Me Wanna Rock", loosely inspired by John Lee Hooker. It was co-written by all three members of the band. "She's Got the Sugar", a Kevin Peterson composition a la Jack de Keyzer's "Cotton Candy", is pure 50s straight-ahead rock'n'roll. The CD is capped off with the "Gyratin' Vibratin' Boogie", self-explanatory by its title, with wonderful slide guitar - a great finale! |
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