SAMUEL JAMES

THE RETURN OF SUGAR SMALLHOUSE

2007-09-11

With a voice that sounds like a cross between George Thorogood and Magic Dick (of J. Geils Band fame) Samuel James delivers twelve self- penned cuts of classic sounding acoustic blues. Fueled by his slide ripping all over his national resonator guitar each of the tunes leads you through the many trials and tribulations of his life. The writing is so rich that you don’t know whether to crumble with empathy or to laugh at the seeming absurdity of the situations in which he finds himself. Things don’t get more low down than when your baby leaves you a kiss off note but steals your glasses so you can’t read it as on "The Thief" or when you sneak back into your own empty house out of long habit on "Sneakin’ Back In". James brings out the harmonica on "Stomp", a track that doesn’t do much on its own but serves as a nice change up from the guitar oriented material when you are listening to the disc from beginning to end. The other change up is the Leon Redbone style rag, "The“Here Comes Nina” Country- Ragtime Surprise". Overall, a well done effort that is worthy of much airplay. Smitty.

More reviews tagged #Blues

  • reviewed 06/2009

    GREG NAGY
    WALK THAT FINE THIN LINE

  • reviewed 04/2016

    COMPILATIONS
    Blues For Big Walter

  • reviewed 06/2011

    TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT
    Wrong Side of the Blues

  • reviewed 04/2012

    TOBY WALKER
    Shake Shake Mama

  • reviewed 05/2012

    JIMMY BURNS BAND
    Stuck In The Middle

  • reviewed 07/2012

    HERITAGE BLUES ORCHESTRA
    AND STILL I RISE

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.