The Corner
VizzTone, 2021
9/10
Early Times is an artist with many talents- street poet, DJ and blues rock legend who began playing clubs as a teenager. Here with the High Rollers, he turns in 10 thick and moody tunes, where his inimitable vocals and analytical guitar playing soar across all originals.
“Come On, Let’s Ride” starts the listen with rugged yet melodic timeless blues rock, where Joshua Keitt’s fiery drumming and Dan Schnapp’s warm keys accent Early Times’ vocal acrobatics, and “On The Corner” follows with flowing guitar lines from Early Times as grit and power contribute to the soulful landscape.
Close to the middle, “She’s About to Lose Her Mind” brings Popa Chubby in on lead guitar as a bouncy spirit enters the equation, while “Rosie’s Herbs ‘N Ting” illustrates dynamic interplay between the all star musicians in the roaring instrumental. “Say, Man”, an especially noteworthy track, then recruits spoken word into a rhythmic and playful album standout.
Near the end, “Charlemagne” benefits greatly from Colleen Messina’s backing vocals amid proficient, bluesy swagger, and “Return Of The Queen” exits the listen swift, highly melodic and full of rock’n’roll energy that’s as contagious as it is absorbing.
Early Times is a hell of a storyteller, and his blues template also welcomes funk and folk ideas as he and the High Rollers deliver the first must hear blues record of 2021.
Travels well with: Too Slim And The Taildraggers- The Remedy; Johnny Burgin- No Border Blues