Customer Reviews

Boogie Man

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Omar's gritty and slightly hollow baritone vocals pay homage to the boogie blues by way of Memphis, TN. The Howlers stay closer to traditional Texas blues rock with roadhouse influences and an open-tuning slide background. Omar & The Howlers remind one of eating good barbecue in the August heat; weaving many traditional tunes by putting a Tennessee spin on the 12-bar. Omar's gruff and intense vocal interpretations will remind one of a more nasal and laid-back version of Bob "The Bear" Hite's recordings with Canned Heat in the mid-late 1970's (The New Age, 1973, Human Condition, 1978, Etc.) The ever-present influence of John Lee Hooker permeates every crevasse of this album in an 11 track front-to-back boogie. Many friends have showed their appreciation for Omar, lending their help for the release of "Boogie Man". With a growing and rotating list of contributors, the Howlers on this album include (but are not limited to) former Frank Zappa Drummer Terry Bozio, Texas guitar veteran Chris Duarte, and vocalist Alejandro Escovedo. Check back to his webpage for tour updates: www.omarandthehowlers.com

This is my favorite release by Omar & The Howlers since Wall of Pride or Hard Times In the Land of Plenty. It rocks. I have all of his albums (that I'm aware of) and I like this one much better than his last few releases. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical, but this is the album I've been waiting for from Omar & The Howlers. I got hooked quite awhile back on his rocking style and this album delivers that in spades. Great guitar hooks and good rockin' vocals. It takes great songs and great playing to get the magic this band is capable of and that's what you have on this album.

After a short hiatus following the passing of his wife Lyn, Kent 'Omar' Dykes is back with a new collection of blues, born in Mississippi, and tempered in the hot Texas sun. (Kinda like Omar himself) Boogieman is music that is home in any downtown hot spot or juke joint in Austin, but has an appeal far beyond the night haunts of the Lone Star state.

In this album, the influence of all the great masters of the blues float through the music like spectre's in a haunted house. Listen to the Title track, and you can feel John Lee Hookers ghost haunt every note, every lyric, every beat of the song. Bo Diddly, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Albert King they all have a turn tickling the hairs on the nape of your neck, and delivering that delightful little cold shiver down your spine, every time you hear Omar deliver the wisp of a lyric or pull a guitar hook.

The brilliant simplicity of Omar's delivery style on guitar is counterpointed by the grit and gravel of his vocals. The two opposites harmonize, to create the compelling sonic experience that is Omar & The Howlers.

There is a hidden bonus on this album. It is a collection of collaborations, as Omar teams up with the likes of Stephen Bruton, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Darden Smith, Steve Califf and Papa Mali to co-write the tunes. Performing with Omar is a collection of artists that really howl, including the Double Trouble rhythm section, guitarists Jon Dee Graham, Chris Duarte and Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourn, Howlers drummer Terry Bozzio, and the rock solid bass-and-drums duo of George Reiff and George Rains.

One of Omar's strongest albums yet, and proof positive that he is back with a vengeance! Rock On Omar! You are The Boogieman!

"Boogie Man" will grow on you! I like the title cut, and "Bamboozled" is great. You will find yourself singing along to "Drowning in Love", I guarantee it. This CD has good, fresh tracks, well recorded, and of course Omar's excellent vocals.

I've only listened to this CD twice so far. The first time I listened to it, I liked the first two songs: Boogie Man and Bamboozled. The first two songs were, to me, very much like I would expect from Omar; the rest of the songs seemed "different" somehow and I didn't like them. I was actually going to take the CD down to one of the local used CD stores and sell it, but I decided I should give it one more listen and I'm SO glad I did!

This is actually a great CD! I don't think there's a track I don't like. This is not background music; I think I listened to it as background music the first time, while I was doing something else and I had it at kind of a low volume setting. Tonight I turned it up some. I didn't turn it up to concert levels or deafening levels - just moderately loud - and it seemed to come to life.

Omar's voice is, as usual, growly and a little gravelly - that's an important aspect of Omar's music - his rough, growly voice. It sounds like a man who has some miles on him - been there, done that. The first two songs are fun and have a great driving beat and a foot-tapping rhythm to them - state-of-the-art Omar. The rest of the CD goes off in different directions. It still rocks, but it changes styles here and there and is not the style of some of his earlier albums that I have.

It gets more bluesy after the first two songs, but without losing the power of the music. I noticed in the last several songs, there is some slide guitar playing (I really LIKE slide guitar!). The guy playing slide is Malcom Welbourne (I've never heard of him until now, but I'm going to find out more about him). The sort of more standard Omar guitar style is still present throughout the CD, but in some places Omar is "front and center", while at other times some of the other guitarists take the lead. In a lot of the songs, Omar is accompanied by and/or trades licks with Welbourne's slide and some fierce guitar playing from Chris Duarte. Actually there are three guitarists on this this CD, besides Omar: Malcom Welbourne, Jon Dee Graham, and Chris Duarte. For me, the different guitar styles and the different musical styles on this CD make it pretty interesting to listen to. It's fun to turn down the lights, close my eyes, put away my iphone, put down any books or magazines I've been reading and just listen - nothing else - just listen. Once I kind of get in that calm place, I hear all the little things going on in the music that I completely miss if I'm not paying attention.

This is a really, really good CD. The recording quality is very good as well. If you want to just listen to a couple of tunes while you throw down a couple of beers and play pool or whatever, crank up the first two songs and rock out. If you're interested to see what else Omar and his pals have going on, sit down, relax, and listen to the music. I think you'll enjoy it. It may take a couple of listens before that sinks in (as it did for me).

This is a great CD full of wonderful boogie-woogie blues music. It will make you think of the legendary Mr. Bo Diddley. Omar starts the album with a wonderful track full of exquisite sound with a funky beat on the "Boogie Man." His next track is "Bamboozled" which is another great blues tune. I like the line: "I've been hood winked; I've been `Bamboozled!'" The next tune explodes with electrifying sounds right from the introduction: "I don't play nothing, but the "Stone Cold Blues"!" "White Crosses" has a different beat with a religious prospective: "I never could walk on water. Am I man enough to try?" The tune deals with the good and the evil. The line "got a devil on my left shoulder and an angel on my right..." display very meaningful words!! Listen as Omar's deep voice is showcase as he sings, "...Over my head, it sure feels good...Here I am `Drowning in Love with you.'" Excellent lyrics and beautiful love song! Moving on to a faster tempo with a wild and different sound is "Shakin." The next tune really touched me; it is my favorite from the CD: "...Stranger by myself, never thought I could hold on to anything but pain. I never knew the answer was `Right There in the Rain.'" Next, you can hear what an excellent voice Omar has in "Bad in a Good Way." Listen to those guitar riffs!!! More music with an enormous blues sound that is easy to the ears is "That's Just My Life." "Mississippi Mud" is the hard-to-come-back-home song. "...Protectoral son returns... it is hard to come back after the bridges, I have burned." Omar ends this CD with a stunning tune in "All the Love We Can Stand." "...There comes a time that you have to let go..." This CD contains a wonderful collection of blues; it is a keeper!

By: Kenita Vanderslice
www.CountryInterviewsOnline.net

I love Omar's older works, not least the two very fine albums Wall of pride and Hard times in the land of plenty. But this album is nowhere near as good. None of the tunes are catchy and the lyrics are filled with blues or Omar clichés. It is all Mississippi, shaking and hoodoo man - a lame reflection of past time greatness. Save you money. If you do not know the older albums mentioned afore buy them instead. My guess is that the positive reviews are written by people connected to the record company or by Omar himself.