Customer Reviews

No Paid Holidays

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

 

 

Once again.. Watermelon Slim is a winner.. The guy is a great musical genius.
Love it.

Wonderful mix of modern and traditional and even some whimsy...

I have seen Watermelon Slim twice in person. The guy and his band are amazing performers. Slim's slide guitar and harmonica are incredible.

If you have to do without lunch for a day or two to afford this, DO IT!! You can feast on the blues by Slim and the Workers!!!

Whilst I like some music that combines blues with other genres, I don't consider myself to be a blues fan. However, these days I am beginning to listen to a lot more blues music, and this album is 'all blues' (I think). Thus, I've written this review from the perspective of someone with more mainstream tastes, but also someone who can still appreciate some of the qualities of blues music.

Bill Homans (Watermelon Slim) sings with a lot of feeling, whether he is belting out high energy rockers or using a more understated style. He has a slight lisp which gives his vocals a little bit of character (but some listeners may find this distracting). One of the most striking things about the music is the electric slide playing which features on many tracks - some of it is astonishing stuff. The supporting musicians (including a tight rhythm section) provide first rate accompaniment; also, there are a few solos from guest players - piano (David Maxwell) on two tracks, and electric slide (Lee Roy Parnell) on one. The overall sound has a fairly raw feel, and I suspect that the album has been recorded 'studio live' - which is just as well, because this type of music rarely benefits from post-recording 'over-polishing'.

The music covers several blues styles - I don't know what these are called but, most certainly, there's a mixture of traditional and contemporary blues. In terms of my own enjoyment, 'No Paid Holidays' is a 'mixed bag' - I'm not keen on a number of songs towards the middle of the album (perhaps, better appreciated by more dedicated blues fans). Those that I like include the up-tempo rockers ('Blues For Howard' and 'Archetypal Blues No.2 - both of which blow me away), or the slower tempo songs with a strong groove ('Dad In the Distance', 'You're The One I Need', 'Bubba's Blues' and 'I've Got a Toothache'); I also like the lyrics on 'Call My Job' (I've been there!).

I'd recommend this album to both fans of blues music, and those (like myself) who haven't quite 'arrived' yet. I can't be as generous with my rating as other reviewers because there are 5 songs that I dislike - but even so, it's good to hear some decent music from an artist who hasn't been 'got at' by the major music corporations; 3.5 stars.

This is a fantastic CD from a man and a band are the real deal.

I had the good fortune to catch these guys at Warmdaddy's in Philadelphia 15MAY10 and they were tight and glad to be playing back in the US after spending a lot of time in Europe last year. The other guitar player in the band, Ronnie McMullen Jr. is a fantastic player in his own right and man to watch. They flat out swing the blues. The show, like this CD wanders through a wide spectrum of blues, from a testifying gospel style to a bouncing boogie. Slim delivers a triple threat of harp, slide guitar, and gravelly country trucker shaman vocals.

My three favorite songs: Slim's a-capella version of the Blood Sweat & Tears "And When I Die"; Detroit Jr.'s "Call My Job"; the blistering instrumental "Gearzy's Boogie".

GO SEE THEM LIVE! Slim had a heart attack in 2002 and while he's on fire on stage today, well...we're all day-to-day.

GO SEE THEM LIVE!

"Holidays" continues in the direction of Slim's last several albums. Blues, inflected with a bit of rock, country, and Americana. Slim is a breath of fresh air on today's blues scene and is in my opinion one of the top contemporary blues artists in the country right now. I love every track on this disc. The music is all over the place with surging rockers sitting along side acoustic country blues. Slim's lyrics always have something to say as he tells stories from throughout his own life along with characters he creates. Slim's slide guitar and dobro playing are in some spots awe inspiring as is his screaming harmonica that rips in throughout the disc. Slim's vocals are rough, but he has great tone and control. Highlights include "Blues For Howard", "Archetypal Blues No 2", "Call My Job", "This Traveling Life", "Bloody Burmese Blues", and the hilarious "I've Got A Toothache". Slim also does a very different totally acoustic cover of Laura Nyro's "And When I Die" made famous back in the 60's by Blood Sweat And Tears. Watermelon Slim has moved to the top of my list of contemporary blues artists and this album is about as good as the genre gets. Great stuff!

Let's face it, this guy probably has way to much integrity to ever put out something that is not a 100% effort. This is blues music at its finest. Great musicianship and as always great honest lyrics. I especially enjoyed his storytelling approach in "max the baseball clown". "The bloody burmese blues" brings attention to a tragic event that like many horrific events that are common throughout many parts of the world slip on by our N American consciousness. He manages to sing about this without shoving a lot of liberal propaganda down our throats (of which I am probably guilty of at times). This can be a difficult task when it comes to speaking out about injustice, but, as always, he makes it work through his honest storytelling way of writing. I wish there were more people out there who could pen songs as good as the ones on the 2 albums of his that I currently own. I guess that is just one of the many things that make him great. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention, I love his "lisp". Although I think of it more as an strong southern accent, it just helps to lend itself to his overall authenticity. He is truly unique. I will probably not stop buying his albums till I own them all.

No Paid Holidays is a strong, bluesy album. Glad I gave it a whirl.

I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Watermelon Slim for the first time on The Legendary Blues Cruise. I was absolutely blown away! As Slim says in his music " I am who I am and who I always have been". He is an original and an American treasure. I had the chance to talk to him and his wife and found them to be down to earth people who were very happy to talk to their fans. If you listen to Watermelon Slims music and don't like it then you just don't "get it".

As usual, Watermelon Slim is at his best in his latest work. If you know of him, then this is a must get. If you don't know him, then this is a must get.