Blind Pig artists: The Cash Box Kings - Black Toppin' - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Black Toppin' from The Cash Box Kings and it's super! Opening with Blues Falling Down On Me, Joe Nosek takes the lead on vocals and is chased by Joel Paterson with some cool slide work over the top of the straightforward drumming of Mark Haines. Black Toppin', the title track, Nosek revs up the heat talking the lyrics over constant harp reinforcement. Oscar's Jump is a hot number with Oscar Wilson on vocal and really hot guitar riffs from Paterson and cool harp work from Nosek. Down and dirty it goes for Money, Marbles and Chalk,where Wilson continues on vocals. Barrelhouse Chuck adds some trademark piano work on this track and Nosek gets some of his most authentic vintage tones on harp. Billy Flynn steps up to lead guitar on this track as well and does a really nice job. On Willie Dixon's Too Late, the Kings lay down a cool rendering of this classic track. Covering both lead vocals and harp, Nosek really brings it on this track. Wilson takes the lead on vocals again for Walkin' Blues which has a slight update in sound but retains a fat part of tradition with simple unpretentious slide work from Paterson. Probably my favorite track on the set. I Don't Wanna Fight takes a rockin stance with Nosek on vocal. Barrelhouse Chuck takes a cool key interlude and Paterson has a short rockin guitar solo keeping the punches coming. Tom Cat Blues is a great track that smells like Mississippi Mud. Featuring Wilson on lead vocal with simple acoustic (and electric) guitar work from Paterson, this is another really authentic track and one that really stands tall. Staying with simplicity, Hot Biscuit Baby is a primitive style Chicago blues really featuring Wilson on vocal and Nosek on harp with minimal backing. Very cool. Gimme Some Of That is a real toe tapper featuring Nosek on vocal and harp and light instrumentation. Kenny Beedy Eyes Smith keeps a tight rhythm with rim shots and Paterson plays jazz rhythm backing on guitar cutting loose for some hot riffs. His slide style is really quite interesting. Wrapping the release is Run Run Run, based on a boogie rhythm. This track, again featuring Nosek on vocal gives Paterson and Nosek the opportunity to play some cool blues boogie riffs over what is primarily an instrumental track. Another favorite. This is a cool release and one that I believe will win more fans for the already popular Cash Box Kings.   

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