Sonny Landreth - Bound by the Blues

  by Carl Bookstein

published: 19 / 6 / 2015

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Review

Mississippi native Sonny Landreth’s new album 'Bound by the Blues” represents a return to the slide guitarist’s musical roots, with classic blues styling through ten inspired, well played tracks. The opener 'Walkin’ Blues' creates a rich and soulful groove. Laying down pure blues, Landreth provides charging guitar leads from the get go, with rollicking drums supplying the back beat. Landreth sings an apt heartfelt vocal as well: “Woke up this morning/Looking round for my shoes/You know I had the mean old walkin’ blues.” The title track starts out with slide guitar - straight up blues music, well played and resonant. Landreth sings the lyric: “Sisters and brothers of every color… bound by the blues.” Easy, soulful rocking blues, 'The High Side' includes some tasteful, complimentary dobro guitar playing. Landreth and his band exude soul all down the line, with consistently solid material here. A fine, first rate rendition of the blues classic 'It Hurts Me Too' offers more stinging Landreth electric guitar, and 'Where They Will' features a searching, rising lead. 'Cherry Ball Blues' includes more charging, cascading guitar growing toward a blistering pace. Next, in memory of Johnny Winter, 'Firebird Blues' is an instrumental that pierces the soul, once again showcasing Landreth in top of the line form. 'Dust My Broom' conjures the ghost of the great Elmore James, who made the song the classic it is known as. This version puts forth strong slide guitar and evocative powerful playing. There is also a fine rendition of 'Key to the Highway', the number Eric Clapton included on Derek and the Dominos 'Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs'. On 'Simcoe Street', the instrumental closer, Landreth, with building momentum, takes the listener home in fine blues guitar fashion. In the end 'Bound by the Blues' is a pleasing journey through ten great tracks and a solid effort top to bottom.

Track Listing:-

1 Walkin' Blues
2 Bound By The Blues
3 The High Side
4 It Hurts Me Too
5 Where They Will
6 Cherry Ball Blues
7 Firebird Blues
8 Dust My Broom
9 Key To The Highway
10 Simcoe Street

Band Links:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_La
http://www.sonnylandreth.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SonnyLandreth
https://twitter.com/sonnylandreth

Label Links:-

http://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mascotlabelgr
https://twitter.com/MLG_Rocks
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDim5
https://instagram.com/mascotlabelgroup