ALBUM REVIEWS

A selection of new and reissued guitar releases, including Album Of The Month

Joe Bonamassa, Toto, End Machine, Scott McKeon, Steve Cropper & Cliff Moore.

ALBUM OF THE MONTH STEVE CROPPER FIRE IT UP Provogue 8/10

The legendary Steve Cropper of Booker T and The MG’s, Otis Redding and Blues

Brothers movie has a new album out and the

13 tracks make for great listening! His biting

Peavey T-type guitar, Fender amp and spring reverb tone is still something of wonder, making these instrumentals and songs both nostalgic and modern. Bush Hog Part 1 is a swampy instrumental groover, vibing with blues phrases and tasty 6th slides. Fire It Up is soulful with a great upbeat groove and Roger C. Reale’’s emphatic vocals are reminiscent of Joe Cocker. I’m Not Havin’ It has Steve’s rhythm guitar magic all over it with numerous great strumming and riff parts. As typical of Steve’s Booker T work, many songs feature organ and horn arrangements and Out Of Love is a good example - the structure is based in the 12-bar style, the band sounds tight and Steve takes a lovely solo. The Go-Getter Is Gone may evoke The Meters riffing style but the band, Steve’s 6th double-stops and lead licks plus Roger’s vocals make it stand out. Steve takes the album out in style with Bush Hog, groovy! JS

THE END MACHINE PHASE 2 Frontiers Music 8/10

This may be a new(ish) band but you’ll know the guitarist, US hard rock stunner, George Lynch, plus Jeff Pilson on bass, Robert Mason and Steve Brown on drums. While their first album was quite bluesy, Phase 2 makes a strong rock statement with nods towards Lynch’s and Pilson’s previous band, Dokken. The dozen songs are clearly focused on rock riffing, big vocals and statement solos; perfect for air guitar and open-top driving. Lynch’s humbucker style leans towards b2, and #4/ b5 intervals, screaming pinch harmonics, palm muted syncopations, wide vibrato and impressive two-hand tapping, all present here. Bold And Money is a good example; the middle solo is tightly executed with a palm muted theme, tapping legato, wide vibrato, harmonised lines and deft phrasing over the unique chord progression. Dark Divide has a pounding eighth-note feel, a great guitar arrangement in the verses and tasty blues rock licks before the slippery shredding and vibrato kick in. Crack The Sky is perfect for fans of George’s Lynch Mob era, a cracking riff rocker with one of the best solos on the album.

TOTO WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS The Players Club 8/10

Toto has been through various line-ups and this is the latest, created for this live concert/DVD album but also set for forthcoming tours. Fronted by Joseph Williams on vocals, Steve Lukather on guitar and keyboardist David Paich, new faces include bassist John Pierce and Snarky Puppy drummer, Robert Searight. As a 12-song greatest hits presentation, this live studio performance features the hits Hold The Line, Rosanna and Stop Loving You alongside great songs like Pamela, Kingdom Of Desire and opener, Til The End. It’s wonderfully recorded with the new musicians performing well. Luke is a legendary player; Kingdom Of Desire features not only his rich vocals but a cutting guitar tone that suits the song’s dark rock vibe. White Sister has tight vocals and Luke fries up his fretboard with a blazing solo. And Rosanna’s famous outro solo? It’s different but it’s a treat, Luke’s phrasing and blazing is pretty full-on here - one of the most vibrant we’ve heard from him live. Yep, the band may have altered but the chops and panache remain!

JOE BONAMASSA NOW SERVING: ROYAL TEA LIVE FROM THE RYMAN Provogue/Mascot Group 8/10

You might think it’s a little strange to release what is essentially a live version of JoBo’s Royal Tea album so soon after the studio album’s debut. We did. But as Joe was unable to tour thanks to Covid, he went to the trouble of hiring The

Ryman Theatre in Nashville to play a virtual gig so that fans could hear the new material in a live format. And this is the result. All the tracks from the album are present with the exception of Savannah, but there are three extra songs thrown in for good measure. Joe performs with his usual fire, making this unmissable for the Jobo fanbase. We liked it a lot too!

SCOTT MCKEON NEW MORNING Idaho Records 9/10

Recorded live at RAK studios in London under the eye of Oasis producer Paul Stacey, with Stacey’s brother Jeremy on drums, Rocco Palladino on bass and Gavin Conder adding occasional vocals, the album kicks off with the funky Fight No More. Packed with great guitar there are echoes of Hendrix and Clapton but with Scott’s personality all over it. All through the album’s nine tracks the playing and tones are raw but exemplary. Clearly fun was had by all. Continuing with New Morning, a feast of tasty slide and improvised fuzz wailing, it’s a treat to hear such fearlessness. Scott rarely strays from straight blues-rock vocabulary, but the broad dynamics and spontaneity make up for this in no uncertain terms. Gavin Conder’s voice is a great Steve Marriott, Paul Rodgers mix, and he sings funky rocker Everything Is Nothing (super solo!) and album closer Take Me Back with real soul. The playing from everyone is brilliant throughout. Available on Bandcamp and to stream, it’s a fantastic listen. NM

CLIFF MOORE 2020 VISION Tunecore Distribution 8/10

Younger brother of the late Gary Moore, Cliff is a busy performer in his own right. A quite different player and singer to his sibling, Cliff played all instruments and sang all vocals here. Lyrically the album was inspired by events of the last 18 months and describes the dystopian nightmare we continue to live through, perfectly summed up by opener, Welcome To The Madness, with its psychedelic vocals and pointed lyrics. Call My Name is a classic rock ballad with fine guitar and moody vocal harmonies. Crank, the album’s only instrumental, races to an Iron Maiden-like gallop, the harmonised guitars definitely evoking that great Murray-Smith vibe. Cliff wanted the playing to be melodic, not flash, and Love Hate, with its pulsing 7/8 sections follows that brief to a T. There’s the tinyest hint of Gary in the closer, A Perfect World, with its woman tone lead and descending chords, but we won’t begrudge him tha! Overall this is an album of heartfelt songs from a player who deserves to be far better known. NM