Customer Reviews

Midnight Blues

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

 

 

New CD's by BB King, Buddy Guy, and Magic Slim all within a month. How great is that for blues fans? Magic Slim is every bit the national treasure as BB and Buddy. He has a long time association with Blind Pig records but his new album is by far his best. There are several big name guest stars on the album but the real star here is Magic Slim. This is classic, gritty, Chicago blues and there is not a weak song on the CD.

Midnight Blues is a belated and much welcome new disc from Magic Slim and his Teardrops, and as usual they tear the roof off the mutha f$%^er with this set. Right off the bat 'Let Me Love You' kicks into overdrive, and Slim does Muddy Waters proud with two fine covers 'Can't Lose What You Never Had' and a little known number from his 'Hard Again' album called 'Cross-eyed Cat'.

He also revisits Hound Dog Taylor's 'Give Me Back My Wig' and carries on the tradition with pride! As usual, Slim's guitar playing is full of sting and those typical rapid fire notes. Even if his voice has weakened just a bit with age, he still has that gloriously wonderful growl. The only misstep may have been the country cover 'Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad'. Not that Slim doesn't play it well, it just seems out of character for his voice. As usual the Teardrops provide great backing, proving how a Chicago Blues BAND should sound like.

If you like generic Chicago blues played loud and raucus with nothing new to offer, I recommend this. Magic Slim does it as well as anyone but it has been done to death. The music is not original but it is performed with passion. However, if you want to hear how this style should be performed, with better songs, better musicians,go to the originals--Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf and Magic Sam. But, if you want to hear Chicago Blues live, Magic Slim and Little Ed are still around and no one does it better.

Didn't get excited about Magic Slim & the Teardrops the first time I heard them. Big, greasy Willie Johnson guitar work, Jimmy Reed slurred vocals, same fatback backbeat drums, nothing special about the setlist. Didn't get excited about Magic Slim & the Teardrops the second time I heard them, either, and so on and so forth through a lot of years to the present.
The thing is, during all those years, Willie Johnson and Jimmy Reed were passing away, and other road acts billing themselves as Chicago blues acts either lost track of the attitude or burned out. Magic Slim & the Teardrops are still enthusiastically at it, doing those songs that way because that's what they do and that's the way they like to do them, no matter who or what else they may see or hear.
They're not on a revival tour of their own better days; they never had better days. They've been solid blues craftsmen for a long time, and it's more of a joy and a relief to run into real craftsmen every day, because that breed is fading.
Strong band. Strong record. Thirteen classic tunes.

If you are looking for THE BLUES, you've found it! I'm sorry to say, this is my introduction to Magic Slim and the Teardrops. Where have I been all these years?? I love it, every single tune, even the country tune because it's very "bluesy". This music makes you feel like tapping your feet at the very least. If you aren't up moving in some fashion by the fourth tune, you're in a coma! This is a feel-good album to me; it may be mostly about the blues, but the music is mostly upbeat and up-tempo. "Carla" is a more slow tempo bluesy tune, makes you feel like swaying to the sad lament, and the guitar work is incredible. I don't care how old these guys are, they are amazing!! They are just like fine wine as far as I am concerned. If you are a blues fan, get this album, you won't regret it.

This most recent release by Slim & the Teardrops is among my top 5 Blues releases for 2008. These cats may be older but their experience fuels a tremendous collection of music. Crossed Eyed Cat is my favorite track. The bass & drums beat drives the hot guitar runs and the lyrics are growled with passion. If you dig the Blues get yourself down to the Magic Slim music stand!!! sch in Tennessee