Acoustic duo Booze Monkey consist of guitarist BLUE and bassist Joel
"Spider" Ludwig. BLUE has travelled across the musical continents over the
years, but always finds himself returning to the blues. Whilst the two have
worked together for over 10 years, "Good Luck Mr. Gorsky" is their debut
recording.
The album opens in cracking style with thumping guitar and bass on the
excellent rockabilly instrumental, "Taylor Boogie." The duo then divert
slightly into rock and roll territory for "8ees" which features some adroit
slide guitar work, and gives the listener the first chance to hear BLUE's
great voice. Then it is back to rockabilly for "Cats Are Rockin'" which
even namechecks the legendary Billy Lee Riley.
Whilst there is plenty more rock and roll, and rockabilly, "Good Luck Mr.
Gorsky" also features plenty of blues too. Songs like "Jaw Breaker," "My
Drinkin'" and "Old Enough To Know Better" all truck along nicely, but the
duo show that they can do 12-bar too, with "Mi Mujer (es muy malada)" which
its nicely wry lyrics--a feature of many of the songs here--sung in
English, in case you were wondering.
It is on songs like "Son" and "Surely Hang," though, where the Booze
Monkeys excel. The former, featuring driving resonator and bass, topped off
by BLUE's voice, is reminiscent of some of the Blasters' best work. The
latter features more resonator, and hints at the sort of blues that
characterised the Gun Club's work.
"Good Luck Mr. Gorsky" is a fine example of how well acoustic guitar and
acoustic bass can work together. Stylistically, Booze Monkey fit best into
Blasters territory. This is American music, pure and simple: blues,
rockabilly and rock and roll, all done acoustically. And if that fails to
sell "Goodbye Mr. Gorsky" to you, buy it anyway for the selection of
original cocktail recipes!
www.SanityCheck.net
Buy this CD NOW:
Your purchase through the Amazon.com links at the end of each review, or by simply clicking on this banner (below) to order this or many other products from Amazon, helps to support this website as well as the featured blues artist.
"This review is copyright © 2004 by Gordon Baxter, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without permission."
Copyright reuse notice: If you would like to reprint or use this review please include the above copyright notice, contained within the quotation marks, PLUS this statement: "Used with permission." Then send an email to Ray at: mnblues@aol.com indicating how you are using the review or the website page address it will be appearing on. Thanks!
Your purchase through the Amazon.com links at the end of each review, or by simply clicking on this banner (below) to order this or many other products from Amazon, helps to support this website as well as the featured blues artist.
Click on this banner to get you new low percent credit card:
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! You can help support this blues website by making a contribution (click on the banner below for details).
Or mail a donation to: Ray Stiles % Blues On Stage, PO Box 582983, Mpls, MN 55458. Thanks!
Web Hosting & Design:
CLICK HERE for Web Design SPECIAL, get your own website for just $75.
The most affordable web hosting and design services available. Click Here
to find out how you can host your current site at Blues On Stage, or how I can help you design your own website!
If you would like your CD reviewed, please send TWO (2) copies, along with promotional material to:
Blues On Stage
PO Box 582983
Minneapolis, MN 55458-2983
E-mail Ray Stiles @ mnblues@aol.com with any questions.
We build websites