Knockout
Artist: Sugar Ray & the Bluetones

A surprisingly tasteful and solidly swinging album, Sugar Ray is a powerhouse vocalist and a more-than-respectable harp player. There are some good songs, too, especially the slow blues "I'm Tortured." ~ Niles J. Frantz, All Music Guide Read More

Wild and Cool
Artist: Johnny Nocturne Band

With a solid four-horn frontline that reads and solo in the fine old-time tradition of the territory bands of yore, the Johnny Nocturne Band come to the plate with their third album full of jazz heavily laced with blues. Leader and saxophonist John Firmin keeps his troops swinging throughout this 11-song set, working like a fine, precise machine... Read More

Just Won't Burn
Artist: Susan Tedeschi
Community Score: 8.60

The very idea of a lady slinging a guitar sets traditional blues fans swooning. But with the release of her debut, Susan Tedeschi slings, aims, and hits her target. What a talent! Singer, songwriter, player, performer, and more, the lady from Boston can do it all. Effective, she does justice to John Prine's classic "Angel from Montgomery" while... Read More

Buddy's Blues: The Best of the JSP Sessions
Artist: Buddy Guy
Have Horn Will Travel
Artist: Sax Gordon

Duke Robillard's sax player, Gordon Beadle aka Sax Gordon, comes to the plate with his debut album and delivers a disc with some true horn-honking wallop to it. Produced by Robillard and with essentially him and his band backing Gordon for this session, this is a fun album that's thoroughly grounded in older styles. But at the same time, it's... Read More

Deluxe Edition
Artist: Lonnie Brooks

Deluxe Edition rounds up 15 highlights from Lonnie Brooks' late-'70s and '80s recordings for Alligator. Like many Alligator artists, Brooks made records that were just a little too slick to demonstrate the depth of his talents and the grittiness of his playing, yet they still remained solid, rock-inflected contemporary blues albums. The bulk of... Read More

Live at Carnegie Hall
Artist: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Community Score: 8.00

Live at Carnegie Hall captures Stevie Ray Vaughan on the supporting tour for his second album, 1984's Couldn't Stand the Weather. The Carnegie Hall concert was a special show, since it was the only time Vaughan and Double Trouble added the brass section from Roomful of Blues to augment their sound; in addition, the concert featured guest... Read More

Let Me Play With Your Poodle
Artist: Marcia Ball
Community Score: 10.00

This album of snaky swamp rock is one of Ball's best recordings. Great choice of songs (she wrote 5 of the 13) that let her show all her talents, both vocally and instrumentally. Slow-tempo songs display the force of her voice, as in "I Still Love You," and another of the many gems, "For the Love of a Man." Meanwhile, the playfulness of the... Read More

The Colour of Love
Artist: Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters

The continuing musical saga of bluesman Ronnie Earl ventures further into jazz territory with this, his first release on the Verve imprint. As always, Earl is ably and tightly backed by the Broadcasters, featuring solid and empathetic playing from drummer Per Hanson, bassist Rod Carey, and keyboardist and co-collaborator Bruce Katz. It's Katz's... Read More

Greatest Hits (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)
Artist: Little Milton

Milton Campbell was a blues chameleon in his early recording career for Sun and Bobbin, changing styles seemingly with every record he made. But he found his groove -- a Bobby Bland-style R&B with a bluesy edge to it -- when he came to Chess Records in 1963. These 16 tracks collect the highlights of his six-year tenure at the label, featuring... Read More

Test of Time
Artist: Ronnie Earl

Test of Time collects the highlights from Ronnie Earl's six Black Top albums. The 18-song compilation showcases one of the finest blues guitarists of the '80s, picking nearly all of his finest material, which happen to include duets with Robert Jr. Lockwood and Hubert Sumlin. The album is an excellent introduction to Earl, as well as his most... Read More

Dark Night
Artist: James Armstrong

After miraculously coming out alive from being attacked and nearly stabbed to death, Armstrong came back strong with this wonderful collection of tunes featuring solid performances on every one. Armstrong turns over the lion's share of lead guitar duties to Michael Ross here, and his silky leads blend with Armstrong's still very potent singing... Read More