Blue
Lunch
Not Live at the Copa
The
third release from Cleveland-based Blue Lunch, Not Live
at the Copa (Catch This Records), is a standard arrangement
of Mid-western jump blues. The album features three originals
and 11 covers, some only vaguely familiar, others imitated
once too often.
The
opening track, "Skin, Bones & Hair," sounds oddly similar
to the T. Bone Walker classic "Bye Bye Baby." The group then
rolls through a litany of cover songs, including Wyonnie Harris'
"Bloodshot Eyes," Tiny Bradshaw's "Gravy Train," William Ward's
jukebox classic "Sixty Minute Man," and Big Joe Turner's "When
The Rooster Crows."
The
musical arrangements are fair and it's hard to miss with these
toe-tappers. But after listening to the album several times,
I can't help feeling it is held back by the vocals, which
often sound strained and never really jump out of the songs.
Given the band's previous efforts and experience performing
on the Ohio swing circuit, I had hoped Not Live would
be more memorable.
Smilin'
Buddha Joe
Visit
the band at www.bluelunch.com
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