The New World Blues
Whiskey Bayou, 2020
9/10
The always impressive Alastair Greene returns with 11 new, original tunes, and he’s aligned with the Grammy Nominated Tab Benoit, who produced the affair and even helped out with drums, vocal harmonies, and songwriting, too.
“Living Today” starts the listen with Greene’s inimitable guitar prowess and husky vocals guiding a quintessential blues rocker with no shortage of gritty melody, and ‘Lies And Fear” follows with a bit of classic rock flavor amid the crisp percussion and rhythmic riffage that even embraces funk.
In the middle, “No Longer Amused” finds a calmer place to reside amid plenty of soulful musicianship and restrained, raw interplay, while “Back At The Poor House” rumbles with a bouncy spirit that’s as adventurous as it is memorable and with some excellent soloing. “Heroes”, a late album highlight, then flows with elegance and a laid back approach that’s both introspective and stirring.
Deeper still, “Alone And Confused” recruits guitar acrobatics alongside Greene’s underrated soaring pipes and the title track exits the listen with a buzzing display of guitar crunch and swampy blues that make an indelible impression.
Primarily tracked live with very few overdubs and often on the first or second take, Greene and company sure do embrace the Louisiana heritage where this was recorded with slide guitar and plenty of funk moments that add much to diverse landscape of yet another top notch Greene album.
Travels well with: Albert Castiglia- Wild And Free; Billy Price- Dog Eat Dog