Jay Hooks has been playing around Houston area and Texas for a long time and this CD gives me the feel that his real element is the live setting. That's not saying that this CD is bad by any means, but the style of music just screams for a live club setting. Hooks started playing guitar when he was ten and was taken with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Winter and Jimi Hendrix. As a lot of other artists, Jay Hooks spent a few years performing as a sideman honing his chops. The last year before going solo was spent on a countrywide tour with Antone’s recording artist Miss Lavelle White. It always seems that artists who have spent time as a sideman seem to have a little more going for them as they understand the concept of what each member of a band is supposed to do.
The CD I received has no information other than the song titles and CD title and the web site doesn't go into detail as to who the additional musicians are. The web site does say that Jerry Gaskill from Kings X is on drums.
This is a CD that just grabs you from the first track and doesn't let go. With the sad state of radio, CD's like this make me feel like saying "yes Virginia, there is good music out there!" There are twelve tracks that are mostly fast Texas style blues. The CD was produced by Hadden Sayers, another Houston guitar player who is worth checking out whenever he is in town.
The CD opens up with 'Burnin Up', a shuffle with Texas style guitar. It doesn't open up any new territory from a musical standpoint, but it's a good listen anyway. This sounds like it would be a good bar tune.
"Last Stand" expands on the rhythm a bit with a Hendrix vibe, with a wah guitar backing. 'Once Around The Moon' has vocals that remind me more of Lemmy from Motorhead or Leslie West than anything else. The whole song has a Mountain feel to it. 'Cold Natured Thang' is a fast Texas shuffle with a solid rock backing. 'Strong Love' has a Stevie Ray Vaughn feel to it with a solid Texas rhythm and a medium tempo.
'Findin My Way'
'Wicked Wayward Son' digs into the Robert Johnson dobro slide style of blues. Very basic, and very raw without a lot of production. It's certainly a departure from the rest of the CD. It makes a nice contast adding to the overall variety. 'Across The Pond' returns to the rockin blues format. Guitar riffs form the basis of the song and don't let up until over three minutes later. This song is more rock than blues.
'Lowlands' gets into a 'Hot Rod Lincoln' feel more than anything else. The heritige of the song is apparent. Again this is a fast tempo and would be a good bar song. 'Half Hell & Half Voodoo' pays tribute to SRV's Texas Flood. This is a tried a true formula that people really dig. Overdriven guitar work is as expexted here. Again, there's not much new territory explored here, but I like it. 'Freedom' as expected is pure Hendrix with solid guitar work.
Bottom Line: Solid Texas rockin blues with lots of guitar work. If your a guitar freak, or you dig Texas style blues, then you should like this CD. the musicianship is good, the vocals work well within the setting, although they are not fantastic. If you like Texas blues, then you should like this CD. There's not a lot of new territory explored here, but Jay Hooks has explored and knows the territory well. These guys should be really good in a live setting based upon the CD. Lots of energy and blues rock attitude. I give it a solid three out of five stars.
If you want to check out some more great blues/rock based CD's with killer guitar, check out Grooveyard Records at the link listed below. They have lots of great titles for the guitar lover out there.
Jay Hooks - guitars and vocals
Jerry Gaskill - drums
Web sites:
www.jayhooks.com
www.grooveyardrecords.com
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