Customer Reviews

Addressing the Nation with the Blues (Multichannel Hybrid SACD)

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Originally recorded in 1989, this CD is remarkably modern in every sense. Byther Smith isn't the most well-known bluesman but he really ought to be, for the music he writes and plays is full of fire and soul and is masterfully delivered.

This particular edition of this album has audiophile-grade sound, and mixing/mastering is so well-done that it really brings out all the warmth and soul that this record could hope to project. If you have a subwoofer, the SACD will make it come alive, literally. The mix is excellent, in that both Byther's guitar and his vocals are justly intense without being overblown or forgotten.

Byther Smith is full of fire. His vocals here have the strengh of BB King, and the sound of a young man. You can immediately recognize Byther Smith's intense vocals - they are the heart of his blues. However, his guitar work is no less intense or impressive. The way he plays guitar here is like every solo is a story. Every note appears to be blended with the next in a very fluid sense, with the real purpose, instead of some random plucking. While his guitar supports the intensity of his vocals and his overall songs, it does so without completely taking over everything, in a tasteful tone that seems to flow like a stream of his soul's expression.

Byther's background as a bass player definitely shines in the way he plays his blues - he has a very definite and strong sense of rhythm. His songs often employ a driving, danceable rhythm - great driving music, for instance. In some of his own compositions here, he gets creative with the more complex drumming patterns that would be more common in jazz rather than blues. Yet, this CD is unmistakably blues. Completely.

In my opinion, this is a stunning CD that every person who has a liking for the blues should give a listen. Byther Smith is remarkably overlooked, but he has a remarkable combination of talents which will hopefully give him the recognition he so deserves.