You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks [CD]

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This is a great blues album from Seasick Steve, beginning with the introspective and quiet 'Treasures'. Then the fun begins. The title track is a real stomper with heavy blues slide guitar. 'Burnin' Up' is surely one of Steve's best songs and reminds me of John Lee Hooker - it begins quietly and conversationally then develops into this wonderful toe-tapping number. 'Don't Know Why She Love Me But She Do' is a rhythm-driven masterpiece (the percussion on this album is superb) a bit like early Led Zeppelin complete with slide guitar. 'Have Mercy On The Lonely' and Whiskey Ballad' are on the quieter side, then 'Back In The Doghouse' comes bursting in with thumping drums and electric slide. And it goes on! There is not a duff track on this album; Steve's vocals are terrific - I'll stick my neck out and say this is the best album he has ever released. Boy can he rock! This deserves to be a massive hit and is one of the best things I've heard all year. Highly recommended.

Another great recording from Seasick Steve, one of the true blues greats. Bursting onto the scene in 2006 with his patented brand of up-tempo blues played on a variety of homemade instruments, accompanied by spoken word stories of his life as a hobo, he has released a series of essential records.

With this album he shows that this old dog has managed to learn a few new tricks. He starts off with an uncharacteristic slow tempo moody song `Treasures'. The then kicks it up a gear and gets into full swing with the rocking `You can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks', which sets the tone for the rest of the album of scorching foottappin blues. As an added bonus, there is a 12 minute hidden track in which Steve tells more of his hoboing adventures, something that was sadly missing from his last album. He has expanded his musical palette a bit, with the aid of bassist Jon Paul Jones (yes, he of Led Zeppelin fame), who adds a rock steady rhythm and some rock credentials to the album. All in all this extension of Steve's basic sound works incredibly well, making this a classy and classic record.

The key to Steve's artistry is that, like all great blues artists, he has lived a full and eventful life, with much hardship. His writing and singing is inspired and informed by the years of hoboing around America. It adds another dimension to the recording, a touch of realism that sets it apart. It's reminiscent of the great Blues artists in 1950's Chicago, such as Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, many of whom had tough lives before (and after) they found fame. Indeed, there are several occasions when Steve plays guitar breaks that sound a lot like Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker.

This is music straight from the heart. No meaningless lyrics, pointless overproduction or synthesisers, it's real music played by real people with a great deal of skill and a deep love of what they're doing. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys music with feeling. Probably not of interest to fans of Cowell style plastic pop. This record really deserves to collect a lot of awards.

If you enjoy this then check out Steve's other offerings, `I started out with nothing', `Doghouse music' `Cheap' and `Man From Another Time'. I would also recommend `Electric Dirt' by Levon Helm, another record made with feeling.

I've been a fan of Seasick Steve since he first started popping up on 'Later'. I loved Dog House Music but found his next couple of albums were pretty much the same old sound & in a couple of places, seemingly the same riffs. But he's really developed here, having put a band together so it's no longer just his old guitar & the box he used to stomp on for percussion. Instead, there's more of a heavy sound. But none of the baby's gone out with the bath water - there's still Steve's distinctive tunes, great vocals & raw lyrics.

This is a great blues album, every track a gem.