Big Legal Mess artist: Robert Finley - Age Don't Mean A Thing - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Age Don't Mean A Thing, from Robert Finley and it's a powerful new soul release. Opening with high stepping Memphis groove, I Just Want To Tell You, Robert Finley wastes no time establishing that his talent far exceeds his professional experience. An extremely soulful vocalist, Finley traveled north to Memphis to work with members of the Bo-Keys. Players include a who’s who of the Memphis soul scene including drummer Howard Grimes (Al Green, Otis Clay, Syl Johnson, OV Wright), Marc Franklin (Bobby “Blue” Bland), Jimbo Mathus (Elvis Costello), Al Gamble (St. Paul & The Broken Bones, the Hold Steady, Alex Chilton), Kirk Smothers (Jim Lauderdale, Buddy Guy), Reba Russell (U2, BB King), Harold Thomas (James Carr) and Daunielle Hill (Solomon Burke). With full soul backing vocals and Al Gamble's B3 rolling this is a great opener. On title track, Age Don't Mean A Thing, Finley really sings with gut wrenching authority. This track is exceptional with almost spiritual organ work by Gamble and essential underpinnings by Mathus. R&B track, Let Me Be Your Everything, is saturated with horn work by Kirk Smothers and trumpet by Marc Franklin and super backing vocals by Russell and Hill. Slowing down to a smoldering simmer, It's Too Late, puts Finley back upfront with nicely blended backing vocals by Russell and Hill. This is a really nice track and one that could easily hit the radio hard. Solid soul track, Snake In My Grass, has a nicely anchored melody with Finley's vocals drawing out the emotions, complimented by Smothers and Franklin. Very nice. James Brown like, Come On, gets a super groove cooking pressing you to get on your feet. With warm vocals and horn punctuating over a wah wah and funky bass work, how can you not love this! 70's pop track, Make It With You, written by David Gates, is given a really soulful overdo with light guitar rhythm, shimmery organ and Finley's powerful vocals. Very nice. You Make Me Want To Dance has a real Al Green kind of feel and you automatically feel that bounce starting in your head. Russell, Thomas and Hill really warm up the background on this track and Smothers and Franklin work is tight. Super. Wrapping the release is excellent soul track, Is It Possible To Love 2 People. With warm sax work by Smothers, nicely placed guitar riffs by Mathus, tom tom work by Grimes, B3 by Gamble and tight punctuation by Franklin, this track leaves you with nothing but wanting more. Excellent release.



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Catfood Records artist: Daunielle Hill - Daunielle - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (February 18, 2014), Daunielle, from Daunielle Hill and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Runaway Train, a full blown chuggin train with Andy Roman on sax, Mike Middleton on trumpet, Robert Claiborne on trombone and Nick Flood on bari sax. Early Grave is a cool R&B infused track with Johnny McGhee playing great punctual guitar riffs complimenting Hills vocals nicely. Damn Your Eyes has all the soul of the original and is well executed with Will McFarlane on guitar, the great Bob Trenchard on bass and Richy Puga keeping the drums tight. I Got A Voice has more of a pop feel with a driving bass line by Trenchard. McFarlane again steps up on guitar with some cool riffs on guitar. Biloxi has a Latin rhythm driven solid by Puga on drums. A happy go lucky island feel complimented by Ferguson on keys and accordion. Higher and Higher, the R&B standard is given new life here by a springy vocalist in Hill and backing vocals by Big Baby Goodman. Roman, Middleton Claiborne and Flood also add substantially to the overall feel as does the organ work from Ferguson. Fallen Bird, a straight up ballad really gives Hill the opportunity to deliver on vocals and with precision key work from Ferguson, deliver she does. Nobody Cared has a real solid feel and could be one of my favorite tracks on the release. It has a Mayfield groove and great instrumentation giving Hill the floor for a stellar performance. McGhee also gets the opportunity to step forward with some smokin guitar riffs which really highlight a super track. Romeo and Juliet is a definite radio play track with a catchy melody and instant hook. Goodbye Kiss wraps the release with cool guitar riffs in tremelo and horns. Hill does a superb job of vocal execution on this particular track and it is certainly understandable why this is saved for last. Ferguson lays down a nice organ bed that the backing vocals by Reba Russell float over while Hill lays out the lead. Very cool. A nice sax solo from Andy Roman is also a  treat on this track.

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