This debut CD, Now Blues For Now People, by L.A.-based blues band, Cosmo St. Clair, is mind blowin' from beginning to end. It's high-energy blues, to say the least - a great party CD, for sure! From the first track to the last, this CD really has what it takes! Cosmo supplies all the guitar parts and lead vocals, as well as most of the bass parts on Now Blues ... That's one reason why the instrumentals blend so well together .. one blues-minded soul that knows where blues is at, callin' all the shots on the parts played and sung.
Now Blues .. starts off with "Things I'd Do For You" -- ("there is no end to the things I'd do for you.") A real rouser, guaranteed to please in every way! The Stones' "The Spider and the Fly", contains so much rousing blues pleasure in every note, it could almost be classified as 'musically illegal', on this very satisfying 'blues plate special'! Sunny Girl Yoko's harp parts can really get ya goin'! Spectacular Cosmo guitar leads, vocals and pumpin' bass lines, along with right-in-the-pocket drums supplied by Rob Klonel, will keep ya on the dance floor, or anywhere else ya wanna rock!
"If You Love Me" ("why d'ya treat me like ya do?"), features more awesome vocals, scorching leads, and wild Klonel drumming. Can't get 'no better, no how'! "say you'll never run, you'll never stay out late", sums up this universal sentiment, perfectly! "Down Home Girl" features more mouthwatering Sunny Girl Yoko blues harp, the way it's supposed to be played - right from the soul! More kick-ass drums, searing vocals, etc. Very impressive! This band knows how to groove, 'n rock up the blues. Muddy and Sonny Boy ll would be proud!
"Little Bit", asks for a "teeny little bit 'o your love", but gives 100% all the way! More excellent lead guitar, rousing percussion rhythms, etc. Cosmo's vocals click on every level. Doug Nahory's lilting organ riffs help "Little Bit", be a 'lot bit!" "Oh Baby, (We Got a Good Thing Goin')", rocks it up without constraint. Everything fuses nicely on this tune! Cosmo's vocals are A-1 all the way .. he's definitely got a good thing goin' on this one!
John Lee Hooker's "Boom, Boom", is the best you could ask for in this very cool rendition of one of Hooker's major compositions. (I can almost feel JLH is itchin' ta sit in with Cosmo's band!) My fingers are 'dancin' on the keypad' as I'm listening to this all-time blues classic. Scorching leads, rockin' skins, and very cool Cosmo vocals, send this well-known JLH tune into blues orbit! Just in case you can stand more of the best blues around, Cosmo delivers up more rousing vocals on the classic "Jealous Man", who's "crazy about my baby too much!", and "locks her in her room all night". This tune is 'knee-slappin' good, all the way! The Wiggles Hollywood, better known as Miss Kastle and Miss Elis, echo Cosmo's 'jealousy' with like-minded background vocals, while Larry Rott guests on melodic bottom-end bass lines that really help the energy flow along nicely. More unbelievable Sunny Girl Yoko harp coolness, combines with 'to die for' leads by Cosmo … I wanna hear 'em in my sleep! Cosmo's invigorating leads and vocals can hold ya in the 'palm of his hand', in "Palm of Your Hand". Sunny Girl Yoko's incredible harp technique gives strength to this musical winning 'hand'!
"Sugar Coated Love", is belted out by Cosmo, accompanied by his heavy-duty rhythm guitar and leads, that spell it out, in no uncertain terms. Like Cosmo says, "she's a real gone baby, I don't mean maybe, she's mine!" - I'm sure The Rockabilly Gods would approve!
The final tune on this unbelievably good CD, is "Got Love If You Want It!" Cosmo's leads on this tune, seem to spin into the blues cosmos -- where all good blues comes from. The same can be said about this whole CD. In my estimation, it's one of the best, rousing blues albums I've ever heard - a classic in it's own time! There aren't enough stars in the 'rating system' to do it justice!
Artist: Cosmo St. Clair
Title: Now Blues For Now People
Label: Analog y Digi-tal Recordings # AYD-002-2
Website: www.cosmostclair.com
Cosmo St. Clair email: nowblues1@aol.com
CD sales: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cosmostclair
Retro Mail:
Cosmo St. Clair
8424 - A Santa Monica Blvd. #286
Los Angeles, CA
90069
U.S.A.
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