Customer Reviews

Wetlands

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

 

 

While Tab Benoit is easily one of my top 20 favorite blues performers, his latest release "Wetlands", took me a little time to appreciate. For those that have seen Benoit perform know just what a high octane performance he is capable of delivering. Lot's of sweat and string breaking are a common occurance. This CD, however, is a different type of Benoit release, one that is a little more subdued.

On "Wetlands", Benoit returns to his Cajun roots and pays tribute to the likes of Boozoo Chavis on "Dog Hill", Professor Longhair's former bass player David Watson on "Her Mind Is Gone" and his grandfather Nat Babin on "Stackolina". Tab does come out of the tribute mode to return to top guitar form on the hard driving "Muddy Water Blues" and the slow blues numbers "Love Lips" and "Let Love Take Control" . Another high note on the CD is "Georgia" which features some acoustic guitar and vocals by Anders Osborne. Finally, not to be overlooked is the fine performance by Tab on Peppermint Harris' "I Got Loaded". Overall, it's not the Tab we have come to know lately (Nice and Warm or These Blues Are All Mine"), but it's an enjoyable CD in it's own right.

Wetlands is Tab's best Cd so far! I have been a huge Tab fan for 6 years, I own every Cd and I must say He's got the blues down pat, with his mellow down-&-dirty style in Wetlands! Tab's addicting guitar sounds leave you wondering when his next CD is coming out! Tab has Awesome talent!! This is a cd you can put in and play start to finish! (Which is hard to find these days!).....The last song on the Cd Georgia is Spectacular!!! Tab is a Down & Dirty Cajun....His voice & Guitar!! He is also Gorgeous..but I hear he is recently married =-(..I plan to book Tab Benoit for our Wedding! I guarantee you will like this Cd! Good Work Tab Keep the Blues Coming!!!!!!!

Tab Benoit has proven himself not only as an excellent performer, but also an outstanding guitarist. He can get down and dirty in 'Muddy Bottom Blues' and paint an emotional picture in 'When a Cajun Man Gets The Blues'. Listen to 'I Got Loaded' and I defy you not to tap your feet. Those that have seen him live can attest to the immediate attachment he makes with his audience, as well as his mastery of the blues. BUY THIS!!

Once again, Tab hits the mark. This album is a little grittier than past Tab albums, and the production is a little rougher (in a good way). Excellent songs, including a couple that Tab performs but hasn't recorded. The last song, a trio effort with Anders Osborne and Brian Stolz (funky Meters) is a treat. Highly recommended !

Although I own all of Tab's releases, I honestly feel this is his best effort yet.This CD will take you on a journey through the WETLANDS, and you will call it home. Makes this TN boy wish he was a CAJUN. Buy it!!

I am a huge Tab Benoit fan and have everything he has recorded since I discovered his tracks on the Blues for the Homeless CD.This is a more subdued recording and my least favorite next to the Homesick for the Road CD..There is a studio version of Let Love Take Control(found on the excellent live CD Swampland Jam which gives you a good taste of his live shows). Way too mellow for me.I would rather listen to Standing on the Banks, These Blues Are Mine, Swampland or Nice and Warm.

I enjoy Tab Benoit's music, but at the end of the day it's not very ambitious or extraordinary. Well crafted and delivered with some good backing musicians. If you like Benoit, you'll enjoy this album.

There is no way not to enjoy a Tab Benoit collection...now I just have to fight for custody of the CD with my son!

Here is another example of a CD that I did not expect to be recommending. Telarc releases quite few blues albums, but I have found most of them to be eminently forgettable. Wetlands, however, is a monster, combining the power of the blues and the passion of Louisiana music. The first cut, "Fast and Free," explodes out of the gate in a furious frenzy, the second cut, "Stackolina" summons the ghost of Professor Longhair with guitar rather than piano, and things just keep rolling along from there.

Most of the cuts feature Benoit's trio, with Benoit on guitar, Carl Dufrene on bass, and Darryl White on drums. Guitarists Anders Osborne and Brian Stoltz join in on the final cut, Osborne's "Georgia." Benoit pens some striking original tunes in several styles, and on cuts 7, 8, and 9 he does a great job covering Otis Redding's "These Arms of Mine," Boozoo Chavis's "Dog Hill," and Professor Longhair's "Her Mind Is Gone."

The sound is fat and dynamic, making this a CD that can be played LOUD. If you like blues or R&B or swamp music, you've got to give Wetlands an audition. As I said above, it's a monster.

If your foot isn't tappn' and your body swaying by the time the second chord comes 'round, call 911 cause you not livin' no more! Ain't nothn' slow 'bout this album. It's the glisten of his fingers on the fret board and the shimmy of his strummn' across, on top and all around the strings that give this work a gritty soul. My AC nearly broke cause cause all the boggy steam this album let loose.