CD Review
Dave Hole
Outside Looking In
(Alligator Records ALCD 4881)
by Dick Houff
Review date: August 2001
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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Another winner from Dave Hole. This is his sixth album from Alligator Records, and in my personal opinion-his best. I have never heard such raw power come out of a slide. This guy places the tube on his index finger and plays over the top-somehow manages to work the frets without missing a lick! Dave (see previous reviews) had an accident to his hand a number of years ago-thus the unusual style. I was a finger picking guitarist-turned slide player from an accident to my hand. I'll spare you the details. This much I will say-Dave Hole would bury me in 10 seconds! Dave is from Australia, and taught himself to play blues from listening to records. His first recording was self-produced and received rave reviews throughout the USA. And thanks to Bruce Iglauer digging the album, Dave was signed as Alligator's first overseas act. If you're a fan, or just a little bit curious, check out his tour schedule. His stage presence is commanding and raw to the bone. All twelve songs were written by Hole. You won't be able to catch a breath until track #6, a very sexy movement-the slide will melt your heart, very sweet indeed! Again, he rips into your nerve center and cuts you some slack with a beautiful ballad on track #11. What you're mainly dealing with is a killer CD. Here is the "rawology" list: tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 (my fav.!), 9, and 10. Give a listen to track #4: Outside Looking In. It reminds me of Mississippi Fred McDowell's, "You Gotta Move"-up tempo of course; a very cool attack! Mark my words Dave Hole is going to be around for a very long time, and I can hardly wait for his next recording!
This review is copyright © 2001 by Dick Houff, 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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