CD Review
    LUNCHBOXX
    MY FRIEND JOHN
    (Fuel 2000 Records)
    by Joe Curtis
    Review date: January 2004
    "Keeping the Blues Alive Award"
    Achievement for Blues on the Internet
    Presented by The Blues Foundation
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    LUNCHBOXX is an easy-going folk-influenced acoustic blues guitar/vocals solo act. He has an equally enjoyable, easy-listening CD out, entitled 'My Friend John'. I've listened to it on a number of occasions, and have never ceased to feel relaxed and at ease when it's on! There are 12 tracks on this highly enjoyable well-put-together 45 minute-plus winner. It's well worth several listens to! To me, only track 6 evokes some unfavorable, negative images in what I otherwise consider a perfectly conceived and created folk/blues CD.

    The opening self-titled "My Friend John", is a rollicking tribute to 'John the guitar store owner'. Lunchboxx's vivid lyrical impressions of the guitars and amps found in 'John's music store', (and the joy of playing them), is ably evoked with ease and fun in Lunchboxx's ingenious, musical hands! This title tune gives me the craving to check out 'John's store' -- if only in my imagination!

    Only an extraordinary talent like Lunchboxx could follow up this great original tune with yet another soothing folky/bluesy wonder/original composition -- "Your House Isn't Your Home", (it's in your heart) - so well put … succinct and true!

    Lunchboxx's rousing version of the ever popular "Mercury Blues", gets the 'mercurial' adrenalin flowing in every note and syllable. Lunchboxx's vocals stimulate the energy nodes; helped along with zest by his superb acoustic guitar work. The fullness of sound from Lunchboxx's guitar pluckin' genius, feels and sounds like an 'acoustic guitar orchestra'! It's a definite cure for sluggishness! Lunchboxx then slows it right down with another smooth-flowing original "Lord Uncle Jim Eats Flies". It's a comical as well as entertaining addition. Even Lunchboxx's pluckin' and guitar rhythms evoke vivid imagery, as do his clear, soothing vocals! The barking dog at one point, adds humor -- reminding me of a 'blues hound dog' in a tune ("Shamus"?), on the classic Pink Floyd 'Meddle' album, from the early '70s - (a certain rarity from a group (P. Floyd) not known for blues or folk, let alone a 'hound dog') - but the 'howlin' hound' is there, nevertheless!

    'My Friend John' is Lunchboxx's third solo acoustic folk/blues effort; following 'Don't Go Near the Water' from 1999, and 'Wide As Tall' from 2000. From info garnered from perusing Lunchboxx's equally enjoyable site, www.downhomeblues.net, it appears the first two Lunchboxx CDs met with much praise and appreciation. No wonder at all - the music here is pleasing to the inner as well as the outer ear! A rare feat to achieve, to be sure! Pure genius, (as is contained here), does know no bounds!!!!!

    Be sure to take 'My Friend John' out for several 'lunchboxx bytes' - I'm sure after several helpings of Lunchboxx's enjoyable musical delicacies, you'll agree that this is only a tuneful appetizer, deserving lots more serious listening. If cravings for more Lunchboxx originals happens, don't be surprised. Lunchboxx is one talented dude!

    Artist: LUNCHBOXX
    Album: 'My Friend John'
    Website: http://www.downhomeblues.net/
    Email: lunchbox@delanet.com
    CDs available at: www.cdbaby.com -- http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lunchboxx3 or call 1-800-BUY-MY-CD with a major credit card

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