| [2012-04-17]
Koko
Taylor: "Queen Of The Blues"
"Accurately
dubbed "the Queen of Chicago blues" (and sometimes
just the blues in general), Koko Taylor helped keep
the tradition of big-voiced, brassy female blues belters
alive, recasting the spirits of early legends like Bessie
Smith, Ma Rainey, Big Mama Thornton, and Memphis Minnie
for the modern age."
"Co-producer Bruce Iglauer anticipated a future
trend by making this a set filled with cameos -- but
the presence of Lonnie Brooks, James
Cotton, Albert Collins, and
Son Seals is entirely warranted and
the contributions of each work quite well in the context
of the whole. Taylor's gritty "I Cried like a Baby"
and a snazzy remake of Ann Peebles' "Come to Mama"
are among the many highlights. "
~ www.allmusic.com |
 |
Mother
Earth: "Bring Me Home"
"The
late-'60s/early-'70s blues-rock outfit Mother Earth was
led by singer Tracy Nelson and issued
several somewhat underappreciated releases during their
time span."
"Not
really deviating from a formula which was modestly successful
for Mother Earth, the band takes the adage "if it
ain't broke don't fix it" to heart with Bring
Me Home. Staying in form with the blend of R&B,
gospel, folk and soft rock, this-nine song session remains
a vehicle predominantly for the group' s siren, Tracy
Nelson. The band delivers constantly solid performances
backing Nelson's impassioned vocals in a very complementary
fashion, but really doesn't set itself apart from the
majority of the group's output."
~ www.allmusic.com |
 |
