Hipsterdumpster Records artist: Matty T. Wall - Blue Skies - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Blue Skies, by Matty T. Wall and it takes the best from rock, pop and blues and blends it together for a crisp new sound. Opening with blues rocker, Burnin' Up Burnin' Down, Matty T. Wall grinds out a great rhythm guitar sound with a thick cut of sound. His vocals are solid and with strong support from bassist Stephen Walker, Gordon Cant on organ and Jasper Miller on drums, these guys rock the house. On Keb Mo's, Am I Wrong, Wall puts up a high energy level, rocking with a smoking bottom and rhythmic top. Original blues ballad, Love Gone Away, is a sweet Gary Moore style track with soulful vocals and high reaching ruitar lead. Bound to be a crowd favorite, this track is hot! Scorcher is a runaway train with machine gun picking, super harmonic bends and snappy country style drums work. Excellent! Title track, Blue Skies, has a catchy melody and nice harmonies with Deli Rowe making an ideal radio track. This Is Real is a lightly funk salted track with a jazzy bottom. Another track with strong radio appeal showing the lighter side of Wall. Hendrix's Voodoo Chile gets a total rework with a monotone bass bean and an almost spiritual arrangement on the vocals. Wall takes a new approach on the guitar lead blending Muddy Waters' style in making one of the most unusual and successful covers of this track I have heard in quite some time. Jamming for almost 12 minutes, Wall and crew really work this track out, pushing the envelope without repeating the past. Very nice. On Broken Heart Tattoo, the first thing that hits you is the snarl of Wall's guitar. With Walker on walking bass and light percussion by Miller, Wall casually tells the story as he throws quick blues riffs in a as accents before breaking into his guitar refrain. very interesting. Smile is a very nicely written track, basically acoustic rhythm guitar paired with airy melodic electric guitar lead. This is a very cool track. Wrapping the release is a modern stylized acoustic folk cover of Robert Johnson's Hellhound On My Trail. With a lightly covered Dazed and Confused acoustic undercurrent, tension is add against Walls solo vocals, augmented by percussive guitar and drum rhythms. A very cool closer for a pretty strong release.



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Jordan Officer - Blue Skies - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Blue Skies, from Jordan Officer and it's actually quite amazing. I recall being quite taken by Officer's earlier release, I'm Free and this album, totally different, shows what a complete artist Officer is.

Opening with the title track, Blue Skies, penned by Tom Waits, Officer slips right into a gypsy jazz mode blowing out absolutely incredibly beautiful riffs on his guitar in a very subdued studio like setting, backed by Alain Berge' on drums and Sage Reynolds on bass. Big Three Trio's Got You On My Mind has an easy blues feel. Officers guitar riffs are tight and spectacular. Fats Domino's It's You Love has trace New Orleans rhythms but subdued with light vocals over sparkling guitar riffs. Arthur Alexander's Shot Of Rhythm and Blues has a pure 60's beat feel and Officer really revs up the playful nature of the rhythm. Clever double stops, vocal harmonies and slick runs give this track a unique feel. Big Joe Turner's Chains Of Love maintains it's traditional blues base with simple vocals and articulate guitar riffs. Sensuous and mature. Instrumental, Night Flight has a Tex Mex rhythm featuring Augie Meyers on keys. Office shows fluid runs and lush chords making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Leroy Carr's How Long Blues is somber and savory. Maintaining it's rhythmic guitar strum and jazz chords, this track has some of the cleanest blues phrasing that I have heard in a while. Beautiful! Louis Armstrong's That's For Me, is a quiet ballad with strong jazz style picking. Officer is really quite amazing. Phil Spector's Then She Kissed Me maintains Spector's original timing on the melody but double times the guitar work. With the band picking up the bottom almost making it into a country track, Officer maintains his stellar guitar work with my best comparisons being to a young Les Paul. Literally spectacular! Bob Dylan's When The Deal Goes Down, in 3/4 time maintains a quiet composure but Officers incredible elaboration on the fretboard is impossible to ignore. Wrapping the release is another Tex Mex style instrumental, Takin' Off. With Meyers on organ and Tony Albino on drums, this track has a great beat. Office flashes his teeth a few times but keeps his guitar contained for this quiet closer. This release may not be for everyone, but I recommend that everyone check it out. It is really quite different...and amazing!

   

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”