Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2012
Time:51:40
Size:118,7 MB
Label:Nu Blues Records
Styles:Blues/Electric Blues/Blues Rock
Art:Front
Tracks Listing:
1. Best Damn Fool - 4:13
2. New Blues - 4:07
3. Satisfied - 4:37
4. I Luv You More Than U'll Ever Know - 6:05
5. Hang On - 3:09
6. Shakin' Off the Blues - 5:07
7. Gingerbread Man - 5:35
8. Say One Thing - 3:35
9. Rain - 5:15
10. Hammer & Nail - 4:43
11. If I Told You - 5:09
“Blonde Blues”: “BLONDE” is the singer Cindy Adams. In terms of strength she is compared to Grace Slick, the singer of the American rock band “Jefferson Airplane”, who was known in the 60s for the big hit “White Rabbit” and in terms of passion and emotions with Stevie Nicks, the charismatic singer of the English blues formation “Fleetwood Mac”. Cindy is, because of her gospel background, a good songwriter. Her lyrics always tell a story in every song. “BLUES” is, because of the right mix of traditional and new musicians, one of the best groups from the North Carolina area. The other permanent band members are Ross Osteen (guitar, vocals) and Rick Siller (keyboards). “BLONDE BLUES” wants to push the boundaries of the blues and is not afraid of something new. The group started as a foursome: Cindy Adams (vocals), Michael Creech (guitar, vocals), Michael Martin (bass, vocals) and Marty McCall (drums) and mainly played covers. The atmosphere was good, Cindy also worked on her own songs and two live albums were recorded. However, due to circumstances, Michael Creech and Marty McCall had to be replaced. Rick Siller, with a broad blues and jazz background, became the new keyboard player. He had the same vision as Cindy and Michael Martin and also wanted to release his own unique material. With Ross Osteen as guitarist and vocals and Spencer Wynn as drummer, the first studio album was recorded. The album “Envision Nu Blues” with a mix of old and new rock blues was recorded in one day. The song “Satisfied” was filmed and appeared on YouTube. The band in its current line-up with 26-year-old Jeff Lott (drums) and 27-year-old Jeremy Smith (guitar, vocals) are bursting with new energy and are a source of inspiration for contemporary music. For Cindy this is the direction she wants to take further. In their album “Envision Nu Blues” “Blonde Blues” is searching for the new boundaries of the blues. For the group the title is also ‘mainstream’ and “Nu Blues” means by definition “think, conceive ‘new’ blues”. The album contains eleven songs, of which 4 are covers. Two Buddy Guy covers, one by Al Kooper and one by Doyle Bramhall II. Well-known names: Georges ”Buddy” Guy (1936-) - American blues-rock guitarist, Al Kooper (1944-) - American songwriter and Doyle Bramhall II (1968-) - singer / guitarist who toured with Roger Waters (“Pink Floyd”) and Eric Clapton. Which of the old blues legends is preferred is clear from the covers. The opener is the first Buddy Guy cover. “Best Damn Fool” is a quiet song with nicely measured guitar solos and Cindy’s powerful vocals. The other Buddy Guy cover “Hammer & Nail” is also initially a quiet song, with more input from Rick Siller on keyboards. More funky rhythm changes, jazzy keyboard work and extra pedal work from Ross Osteen bring the song into a higher gear. “Say One Thing” is the cover of Doyle Bramhall II. Ross Osteen does the vocals and the arrangements are funky and innovative. The fourth cover is from Al Kooper “I Luv U More Than U’ll Ever Know”. It is a slow song, jazzy, with sparkling piano riffs and a lot of attention for Cindy’s vocal input. Most of the other songs are from Ross Osteen and Cindy Adams. Cindy’s songs bring recognizable everyday stories. “Satisfied” is a song in which Cindy talks about the man she let go, because he was the wrong man. Why can't we be satisfied, even though we know injustice is done... ”Gingerbread Man” is another song by Cindy about growing old. It is the frightening story about the older man and woman, about the inconveniences and shortages. The songs by Ross Osteen like ”New Blues” and ”Hang On” are ‘Nu Blues’. They are songs with a lot of room for personal input and improvisations. The lyrics are important, but rather melancholic and hopeful if we give each other time and space for changes and forgiveness. The other songs are co-written by Rick Siller, the keyboard man. ”Shakin’ Off The Blues” is an old-fashioned rocking blues with a funky piano line. The message is clear “Now, one of these days, I’ll be shakin’ off all the blues someday…” ”Rain” is more of a pop song about sadness at the loss of your loved one. We end with ”If I Told You”, a ballad by Ross Osteen. With the album “Envision Nu Blues” by the group “Blonde Blues” a step into the future is taken. The group clearly wants to make a mix of old and new, with a lot of input from singer Cindy Adams as songwriter. “Envision No Blues” is not a very optimistic, but realistic album, typical for the blues. Blues is about feelings, situations and relationships. “Blonde Blues” has understood this well and they want to bring this to us, in a new contemporary and innovative way. “Blonde Blues” colors the blues in a touch of blond and blue.
