Customer Reviews

Blues with a Vengeance

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In my opinion this was the best album of 2004.He doesn't sound anything like his father but he has a great voice for blues and his own style.

The cd consists of seven orginials,three of his dad's songs and one from T-Bone Walker.His band is as tight as they come,great guitar.If your looking for something that will rock the house then look no further.

Right from the start I would like to make clear that this is "a traditional blues album". However this is a traditional blues album with something different in it. John Lee Hooker JR., as mentioned also in the review below, doesn't sound anything close to his father, his style is completely different, very close to the tradition of Chicago style but with something more add in the mix that make this CD sound really refreshing and innovative if you will. He has a great voice and also, and equally important, a very personal way of singing. As he states on the linear notes "we went out of bounds, beyond limitation, broke barriers, and broke the blues rules in working on this CD". And, from my point of view, they did it, and they did it also very well. The Final result is remarkably good: a very "innovative" traditional blues album. Most of the songs in the album include a powerful horn section and a very good guitar work from John Garcia who worked with his dad for many years. It is really a pleasure to listening to this CD and I really hope that it will have the attention both from public and critics that it deserves.

I'm an avid listner to most kinds of music. Plain and simple this CD blew me away. It's twenty years of this prolific writers work, and runs from mellow to rock. Every time I play it someone will say "Who is this? He's great" So if you are looking for a semi unknown artist who has really put the work in buy this CD you won't be sorry.

Track Listing

1. Suspicious

2. Check Yourself

3. Blues Ain't Nothin' But A Pimp

4. Dimples

5. She Wasn't Nothin' But A Devil

6. Boom Boom

7. Keep It Real

8. I'm Leavin'

9. Goin' Down To Baghdad

10. Stormy Monday

11. Groove Thang

12. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

We often want children to be as great as their parents and when it doesn't happen, we are disappointed. Needless to say, this is not fair. But it is life. I wanted John Lee Jr. to be as good as John Lee Sr. He is not. Oh, well!!