Ain't Just Temporary

Hamilton Loomis

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 8, 2007)
• Original Release Date: May 8, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blind Pig
• ASIN: B000OONP22
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #154,426 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This young blues/soulman is already a road-hardened veteran, having released his debut back in 1994. Loomis's second disc for Blind Pig shows that the Texas-bred musician has matured into an experienced songwriter, a compelling vocalist, and a talented multi-instrumentalist, proficient on drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, and harmonica. If needed, he plays them all, as on four tracks here. Hardcore blues fans may not approve, but Loomis uses Johnny "Guitar" Watson's late-'70s albums as his template for this slick yet enjoyable and immaculately produced album. Not only is Watson's "Bow Wow" covered in this set dominated by originals, Loomis also nestles into a similar groove between the easy funk, R&B, blues, and pop that defined Watson albums such as A Real Mother for Ya. It's a slinky, sexy, and often sensual style, updated with the occasional drum loop and a sonic sheen that sands off the rough edges without sounding anemic or overly commercial. The Bo Diddley cameo on "You Got to Wait" brings a slow, swampy beat that unwinds leisurely over five minutes and defines the disc's unhurried, sometimes hypnotic vibe. Loomis's boyish tenor vocals, somewhat similar to those of Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook, accentuates the pop element, especially on upbeat rockers like "Where We Started." The lyrics aren't especially enlightening, but they work adequately with songs that wonderfully capture his retro soul in a contemporary format. It's not flashy, but Loomis's savvy sense of restraint and sheer musicality show him to be a gifted auteur whose best work likely lies ahead of him. --Hal Horowitz

Product Description
Hamilton Loomis is one of the young artists at the forefront of bringing blues into the 21st century and redefining it for a contemporary audience. Ain't Just Temporary is a tasty second helping of Hamilton's patented "blues outside the box," and features a killer duet with his friend and mentor Bo Diddley, who contributes his unmistakable voice and funky tremolo guitar to "You Got To Wait," a tune he and Hamilton co-wrote for the album. On his new release, Loomis masterfully blends his myriad influences (blues, Motown, Texas swing, soul), at once forging ahead into new musical territories while maintaining a strong connection to the blues legends (such as Diddley, Johnny Copeland, Gatemouth Brown, and Albert Collins) that took him under their wings at an early age.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something big is happening in Texas, July 10, 2008

By	The Proverdude - See all my reviews

Now I know why I moved to Houston. The young man from Galveston makes his guitar scream. A solid hard driving rhythm on bass supports a funky blues riff and complemented by some choice sax and keyboard with an energetic drum and spiced with a bit of blues harp makes for a complex mix that will leave you waiting more. Mostly a blues love album (why is it that the blues and love seem to go together so well . . .). You may not be able to sit three feet from Hamilton like I did and feel the energy of his live performance and no recording will ever replicate that, but this album does a good job of capturing the experiance. The cover art shows the back of his guitar he has had since he was a kid where he has worn off the finish from constant play. His live shows also feature him on the rectangular electric guitar that his mentor Bo Diddley gave him. "Innovate don't Imitate" starts his web site and no disapointment here, from the songs to the vacuum cleaner attachment he uses to hold his blues harp.

Play it loud.

1. "Best worst day" reminds me how I felt when my girl brought passion to my life. Starting with a fun diddley drum add in the bass then the guitar and the lyrics & sax makes this not only exquisite listening but reminds us men how vulnerable we are to women.
2. "Legendary" another song about the fine women in our lives. Starts with a funky beat and then Hamilton pleads for a bit of love. We have all been there.
3. "Where we Started" angst. On another album this would be one of the stronger songs here it just seems average.
4. "Slow Lover" Tell the girl what you can do. Bends the strings with some solid sax when he is not romancing the girl.
5. "Good Enough" when love starts to go bad, we want to maintain it and like a moth to a flame we keep going back. When will we learn?
6. "You Got to Wait" with Bo Diddley, do I need to say more you bug eyed sucker?
7. "My Pen" One of the strongest songs on the list. Solid bass and walking up and down the guitar. Not very serious lyrics just fun compliant about the difficulty in writing.
8. "Love Again" okay we have to get serious again "yesterday is dead and gone".
9. "Won't Get Away" features some excellent guitar work.
10. "That Thang" we are finishing strong here. I am willing to overlook the hackneyed use of thang instead of thing because HL makes it work here. A little more harp in this tune with the bass holding it up plus some screaming guitar just makes you want more.
11. "Bow Wow" one of only two covers on the album, but if you are going to cover someone picking Johnny "guitar" Watson is certainly a good choice. It just makes you want to grove. Justice is served and if you don't hit replay after this ends then there is something wrong with you. The Funk is back.

The Proverdude says buy this CD -- yours may not be signed like mine is but I'm just bragging now.

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