Heartache By The Pound
Ogierea, 2022
8/10
Listen to Heartache By The Pound
The blues guitar wizard Kirk Fletcher returns with a 7th solo album, where 10 well thought out tracks were fleshed out at the legendary FAME studious in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and welcomes 3 different bands and plenty of guest musicians, too.
“Shine A Light On Love” opens the listen with bright horns, meticulous guitar and soulful vocals guiding the powerful blues climate, and “Afraid To Die, Too Scared To Live” follows with thumping drums and a bit of cautiousness in the rhythmic demeanor that hints at R&B.
Close to the end, “The Night’s Calling For You” offers an intimate and groove friendly display of gentle song craft, while “Wrapped Up, Tangled Up In The Blues” emits warm melodies and Fletcher’s smooth, soaring pipes amid well timed backing vocals and spirited guitar.
Nearing the end, “I Can’t Find No Love” brings darker wordplay to very stirring musicianship that’s got plenty of timeless blue flavor, and “Hope For Us” exits the listen with a more dense execution of grit and beauty.
Fletcher returns to his gospel and blues roots here, where he delivers songs about everyday life that we can all relate to, and his inimitable guitar playing and sturdy pipes make for a superb blues record.
Travels well with: Albert Castiglia- I Got Love; Phantom Blues Band- Still Cookin’