I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Intention, from Slim Butler and it's terrific! Slim has great style and it's been too long since I reviewed his last release Inner Blues back in 2013.
Opening with All About You a cool R&B style blueser, a la Robert Cray, Tad Robinson shows just how sweet his voice is on soulful music and with a tight band lead by Jarmo " Slim" Puhakka on nicely stylized guitar riffs, Esko Ollila on drums, Harri Taitonen on keys and Hannu Lehtomaa on bass and punched up by the horn section (Slimcuts) of Tapio Maunuvaara on trumpet, Jukka-Pekka Peltoniemi on trumpet, Olli Tuomainen on tenor sax and Antti Napankangas on trombone. Great opener. On driving rocker, Mean Trouble, Andrew Black has the mic with a heavier feel and Slim keeps things close on guitar. On funky, Junk In The Trunk, you get a definite Tower Of Power feel with nice horn work, Black again on lead vocal and excellent drum work from Ollila and with super bottom by Marja-Kaisa Villanen on bari sax and featuring some nice guitar riffs by Slim. Very nice. R&B track, It Ain't Me has Robinson back on lead vocal with cool key work from Taitonen and nice horn backing. Slim really winds it out nicely on this track with cleanly articulated guitar runs complimenting the closing refrain. Jumpin' Santa is a real cool little instrumental with a boogie beat. Slim sets a real nice loping pace on guitar and Markku Orislanti hits on drums. Very smooth. On title track, Bad Intentions, Slim takes the mic and is joined by Harri Raudaskoski who plays an aggressive guitar solo with Slim on guitar 2. A Stone Free "styled" track, this is a cool rocker. With a snappy, swampy beat, Monkey Moon is infectious. Slim lays in slick guitar riffs under silky smooth vocals by Robinson. Cryin' Shame is another super track with a nice bass line by Lehtomaa and excellent lead vocals by Black. With really nice sax work Olli and great horn work overall by the Slimcuts, this track defies you to keep your bottom still. With a great walking bass line by Lehtomaa, smokin' riffs by Slim and great lead vocals and harp by Robinson, Lady In Blue is a super track. Wrapping the release is solid blues number, Coast To Coast featuring the soulful vocals of Black. Warm organ lines by Taitonen and bluesy riffs by Slim really cement this excellent closer.
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