Album title: Ready Now
Artist: Jimmy Hall
Genre: Blues/Rock/Country
Nationality: American
Familiarity (artist): Zero
Familiarity (genre): The usual; I like the blues, but only certain types. My exposure to the genre is mostly through the greats, and contemporary artists such as Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore.
A word before I jump in: I read this guy is the lead singer for southern rock band Wet Willie. This means nothing to me, but may to some of you. He’s also said to be a harmonica player, so perhaps we can expect to hear some of the old mouth-organ? I find the blues to be quite repetitive and generic - don’t expect there’ll ever be such a sub-genre as progressive blues (though having said that, I’ll probably find if I look that there is one): you can usually make pretty good guess at what you’re going to hear, from Howlin’ Wolf to Robert Cray and Son House to Samantha Fish. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it’s rare I hear a new sound in blues, though again, it’s not like I listen to a lot. I do think though that with the blues, you kind of know what you’re gonna get.
Tracks
“Girl’s Got Sugar”
And what we get here is a pretty raucous start with piano and yes indeed, harmonica. Love that harmonica! To be fair, this isn’t really what I’d call blues
per se, more a kind of hard rock
a la early Deep Purple.
Rating: 7
“Jumpin’ for Joy”
Great honky-tonk piano here, tempo bouncing along nicely with a kind of a rockabilly beat is what I hear.
Rating: 7
“Risin’ up”
More low-key, reminds me of Donald Fa
gen (how funny is it that the system censored his first name?)
or maybe Robert Cray, some nice sharp geetar in there. The sleazy organ and rippling piano are sweet, and there are touches of gospel in the backing vocals.
Rating: 8
“Dream Release”
An acoustic start with brass and nice soft piano which sort of makes me think Jackson Browne, maybe Bob Seger or someone like that. Pretty nice.
Rating: 8
“Ready Now”
Nealy acapella opening with single guitar chords leading into a kind of testimonial with a bubbling organ in the background.
Rating: 8
“Holding On for Dear Love”
Sounds a bit funky, with some good handclaps and a whining organ
a la Roy Bittan, and I feel this is a ballad.
Rating: 8
“A Long Goodbye”
Long rising organ (yes yes, ooer!) leads harmonica into a true blues ballad, the kind of thing I love when hearing the blues. Really nice.
Rating: 9
“Will You Still Be Here?”
Strides along on an arrogant organ line from the start, certainly makes your toes tap and your head wag from side to side. Smooth.
Rating: 8
“Without Your Love”
Oddly enough, the opening of his brings to mind Chris de Burgh’s “The Traveller”. Guess that’s just me. Nice mid-paced rocker that moves along with purpose.
Rating: 8
“Love for it”
Almost a “Mama” (Genesis) opening here, with electronic drum machine and a thick organ laying down a gospelly beat.
Rating: 8
“Eyes in the Back of Your Head”
With the harmonica kicking things off this has a country feel, the kind of thing I could hear Steve Earle sing.
Rating: 8
Average Track Rating: 7.18
Comments: Yeah, again I don’t see it necessarily. It’s not what I’d call a blues record, more a kind of - well, I don’t know: rock? Blues rock maybe. Definitely some blues in there, but it doesn’t dominate the album as I had expected, and there’s to me a fair bit of country knocking around in there too. Interesting.
Album Rating: 7D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmN4LWTXUCU