Coco Montoya - Writing On The Wall

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2023
Time: 58:50 
Size: 136,7 MB 
Label: Alligator Records
Styles: Blues
Art: Full 

Tracks Listing:
 1. I Was Wrong - 3:49
 2. Save It For The Next Fool - 4:19
 3. You Got Me (Where You Want Me) - 3:33
 4. (I'd Rather Feel) Bad About Doin' It - 4:05
 5. Be Good To Yourself - 3:16
 6. Stop - 5:43
 7. Writing On The Wall - 4:16
 8. Late Last Night - 4:52
 9. What Did I Say? - 5:33
10. A Chip And A Chair - 4:39
11. Baby, You're A Drag - 4:47
12. The Three Kings And Me - 5:27
13. Natural Born Love Machine - 4:25

Beloved blues guitar master Coco Montoya returns with his sixth album for Alligator records, Writing On The Wall. The internationally renowned, award-winning blues/rock guitarist, singer and songwriter proves he’s at the top of his game with his new release, produced by Grammy winner Tony Braunagel (Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal) and Jeff Paris (Keb’ Mo’, Bill Withers.)Writing on the Wall is a hook-filled 13-song set that sees the preeminent bluesman and past John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers guitarist, digging deep on searing slow blues, up-tempo blues/rock, rock & roll and R&B. It’s the first time Montoya recorded with his long-time road band and there’s nothing like a band that’s had enough time performing together live to sync perfectly with one another.Originally Albert Collins’ drummer, Coco Montoya was mentored by the Master of the Telecaster on guitar and soon became his second guitarist and close friend. After two years Montoya left Collins’ band and joined John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers as guitarist. For ten years, he toured the world with Mayall and recorded with him on seven albums, following in the footsteps of Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor.Montoya’s first solo album Gotta Mind To Travel (1995) established him as one of the best contemporary blues players. Followed by more critically acclaimed albums, his newest release Writing On the Wall, sees Montoya joined by Jeff Paris (keyboards, piano, songwriter), Nathan Brown (bass), Rena Beavers (drums) and guests Ronnie Baker Brooks (vocals, guitar), Lee Roy Parnell (slide guitar), Dave Steen (rhythm guitar) and Tony Braunagel (drums).Kicking down the doors of Writing On The Wall is the scorching “I Was Wrong” about love lost and mountains of regret. It’s one of those songs that hits you where it hurts whether you like it or not. It’s mournful and desperate, fueled by Montoya’s passionate vocals with a tough edge. His guitar is as moving as the song itself, bending notes as if his life depended on it. Montoya says “When we started recording ‘I Was Wrong’ and getting into it, I realized that I was channeling my Bluesbreaker days with John Mayall.” And that says it all right there.“You Got Me (Where You Want Me)” a fun blues shuffle featuring Ronnie Baker Brooks on guitar, just rips. Between Brooks and Montoya on guitars, the two of them set this track on fire. Nice groove too.A mashup of blues styles, Writing On The Wall features ten originals and about half written or co-written by Montoya. From the title track that veers into a blue boogie, to the rocking and rolling blues rocker “A Chip And A Chair” featuring Lee Roy Parnell on slide guitar, there’s plenty of variety and top-tier musicianship for all. “The Three Kings” written by Dave Steen is a knockout slow blues with some of the most beautiful guitar work by Montoya—tone, phrasing and above all feel. There’s nothing hurried about his solo—a salve for this rushed life. His vocals are also at some of their best—storytelling soulful. About going solo on Christmas, the songwriting just couldn’t be better. “The city is sleeping in six feet of snow, I can’t hear a sound from the street down below. And I got my three wisemen on my stereo, keeping me company”. The organ fills by Paris add richness and drums by Beavers keep perfect time for this gem.Montoya is the real deal.

Writing On The Wall