"Up In Flames" is a medium tempo blues shuffle. "Cold Hard Cash", the title track is a straight-ahead rocker, which could be described as a Chuck Berry tune updated to the 90's. "I Wish I Knew" is a Midwest style blues with horns. "She Works For Me" is another song is a song that reminds me of a Robert Cray or Tinsley Ellis style. It's got plenty of blues licks and sounds like it would be song that would work great in just about any blues club. "Let's Think Twice" is a medium tempo blues. "Jenny's In Love" reminds me a bit of Jimmy Thackery in vocal style but with smoother vocals. "Love Ran Out" reminds me a bit of something you might hear in a contemporary church service. I think it's the organ and choir style vocals in the chorus.

If you like contemporary blues artists similar to Robert Cray, Tinsley Ellis or styles of music similar to that, then you should like this CD. The vocals and musicianship are good and the production is excellent. If you like blues guitar, there's enough here to satisfy that craving even though I wouldn't describe this as a guitar CD. It's songwriters CD although I think that the songs presented here would work better in a live situation. The only thing that prevents this CD from getting four stars is that there aren't any songs that just reach out and grab your throat for attention. I give it three stars out of five.

www.burnsiderecords.com
E-mail: music@burnsiderecords.com

Scott Ellison - lead vocals, guitars
Mike Turner - rhythm guitar
Alan Mirikitani - baritone guitar
Boyd Lefan - Bass
Armando Compea'n - bass
Mike Thompson - piano and B-e Organ
Jim Pugh - B-3 Organ

Murf
E-mail murf01@bellsouth.net
http://personal.mco.bellsouth.net/~murf01/

This review is copyright © 2001 by Robert Murphy, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, 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.