"Bare Wire", an eleven song CD is a pretty darn good. The cover shot shows an obviously young Bryce Janey with the required Fender strat and look of concentration on his face. Except for the missing hat, you might automatically think SRV Texas blues. Putting the CD in the player brings a totally different image than you might expect from the cover. His voice has an older sound to it, more like someone that is fifteen or twenty years older than Janey is. If I had to describe someone similar, it would have to be Coco Montoya. The guitar playing is also pretty mature, leaning towards better Buddy Guy (without the talking and stories) or Robert Cray. Overall, it has a kind of Chicago blues sound and it's done very well.
The CD opens up with 'Hold On', a Texas style shuffle with plenty of guitar licks before the vocals come in. 'Dangerous Cool' rides on a syncopated beat that reminds me of Coco Montoya. 'She's Nowhere' is a slow blues, with plenty of feeling, particularly with the vocals. 'Bare Wire', the title track is one that could be quite heavy in a live situation. With lots of power chords and a slow crushing beat, it's sort of a lumbering animal of a song. All the songs are fairly different and give plenty of variety for listening.
Bottom Line: This one's a keeper, something that I can't say about a lot of CD's that hit my mailbox. The vocals are excellent, the playing is mature, and the music production is very good. If you like Robert Cray, Buddy Guy or similar artists, you should like this one. I give it about 4 out of 5 stars.
Murf
e-mail murf01@sprynet.com
http://home.sprynet.com/~murf01/
Web site: www.theblueband.com
Bryce Janey - vocals, guitars
Billy Lee Janey - rhythm and 2nd guitar on 'Working fool'
Tom Giblin - Keyboards
Dan DJ Johnson - Bass Guitar
Steve Hays - Drums
This review is copyright © 2001 by Robert Murphy, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.
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