Ross Neilsen - Elemental - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Elemental, from Ross Neilsen. The release opens with It's Time You Made Up Your Mind, a dark spiritual kind of sound with warm, soulful vocals. Primal tom tom work by Matt Sobb give this track a cool vibe. Black Coffee is a modern take on the blues with harp by Steve Marriner. His vibrant harp work coupled with stylistic drums and loose guitar riffs give this track bite. Woman's Name is a cool track with solid drum work by Sobb, reminiscent of John Bonham and with Jack Bruce like vocals by Neilsen, and searing slide work by Jim Boskill, one of my favorite tracks on the release. Country flavored, Devil Made You shows strong radio characteristics highlighted by Boskill on pedal steel. Aided by the sounds of the fiddle, Ash Fault has the sentimental sounds of rural America. Another track with a country twist, Nobody Gets Lonely shows some of Neilsen's best vocals, backed by Boskill on mandolin and featuring a solid bass line by Darcy Yates. R&B track, The Race has just a pinch of country, punched up by the horn work of Ed Lister on trumpet and Brian Asselin on sax. Wrapping the release is a nicely written country ballad, Step Into the Light. With warm keyboards by Steve Marriner and nicely styles pedal steel work by Boskill, Neilsen accompanies himself on acoustic guitar for a nice conclusion to a solid release.




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Ross Neilsen Band - Resurrection - New Release Review

I just received a copy of the Resurrection, the newest release (available May 21, 2013) from Ross Neilsen and it's quite interesting. Neilsen has put together 10 original tracks traveling in many directions but remaining on a constant path. Opening with raw blues rocker, When My Trouble's Gone, Neilsen has a distinctively British sound on a well constructed track. Interesting processed guitar solos add interest to this cleverly written track. Walk On By opens with heavily over driven guitar and and a rockin boogie beat. Grinding away on the frets, Neilsen brings to mind earlier Texas guitar heroes. Nice track. Daddy Taught Me, a track putting me in mind of Wishbone Ash with it's guitar leads is more of an anthem blues rock track. Crossing over to more of a country pop sound with Ain't Like That, Neilsen puts out a track that is likely to be popular on the airwaves. Heartbreak Apart stays with the country path but a bit rockier and Jerry Garcia like melodic guitar riffs. Devil's Wife has a bit of a new twist on a grunge like track and with multiple paired leads. Interesting. Need You More is an upbeat rocker sounding a bit like Meatloaf. Another track that should find airplay somewhat easily with solid melody and hook. The release closes with Juanita, a moody almost Neil Youngish sound. This is my favorite track on the release featuring cool chunky guitar riffs and a straightforward attack. Neilsen covers a lot of ground here but puts together a cohesive pleasing set. The band includes Karl Gans on drums and Jim Guitar on bass. Also featured on the recording are Anders Osborne, Warren Riker and Justin Tocket.

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The Shack Up Session - Ross Neilsen - New Release Review

I have just the new release, The Shack Up Sessions by Ross Neilsen. Neilsen has taken his gear to the notorius Shack Up Inn outside of Clarksdale, Mississippi to make some music and this is the result. Thirteen tracks, many of them covers of traditional blues tunes demonstrating Neilsens take on his Resolectric guitar. Opening with Goin' Somewhere Neilsen shows his fluent knowledge of the open tuned slide guitar and his personal singing style which sets the tone for the recording. Next up is Can't be Satisfied and sticks pretty close to Morganfields original track. Next up a uptempo boogie version of Spoonful. Heartbreak Apart takes a more folk approach to the blues and has more emphasis on vocals. When My Trouble's Gone has a feel of a Gary Davis tune but with a modern pop twist. Human Mud, although keeping a modern sound, has many of the traits of a rockabilly track. Red Rooster is a fairly traditional take on the Burnett track. Back For More has a traditional blues feel but still retaining the modern folksy feel. What Love Has Done is a fairly straightforward folk track with interesting guitar work. Preachin' Blues again takes a traditional approach at blues but with modern characteristics. Walk In The Sun is a bit more uptempo with a rock beat but keeping with the more electro acoustic feel. Blues At Midnight is the most traditional sounding blues track on the release and possibly the most successful from a blues perspective. Slide work is interesting and vocals are contained. If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”