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Big Shoes To Fill introduced me to Bill Homans, Aka Watermelon Slim, I started out with the impression that this would be just another blues CD with typical sounds and styles. Wow did I get a surprise, I got blown away by Slim and the band (that's the Fried Okra Jones Band to you). Not only did Slim write all the songs on this release, he sings them all and plays harmonica, dobro & slide guitar well, (or I should I say very well?). The music is great, Slim and all the musicians do a great job playing the songs on this album but Slim's voice is truly amazing, it is like nothing you have ever heard.
I have heard many a blues singer's voice described as a whiskey & cigarettes sound, not this guy. Slim has more of a southern, hard work, late nights and overtime sound, his voice is familiar but fresh, (if that makes any sense). I liked it right off, his singing gives off a serious & sincere feeling, it's a voice of experience. Slim's voice sounds like..Well it sounds like Slim. That was my shot at describing the indescribable..Now on with the review.
The songs on this CD are definitely songs of life in a modern world.
"She Makes Me Earn My Money" has a familiar music line with fresh lyrics, killer bass and some super harp playing, it's good stuff. Slim does some talking blues on "Shed My Blood In Mississippi", a song with a jazzy sound about the blues and butt kickin's, yes these are real life trials and tribulations. It's an interesting twist, the contrast of nice easy music and lyrics about fightin' (it works). "Immortal" fires up with a super slide sound then goes into something with a church feel, it's almost like a sermon to music, it's good. Slim hardens up on "Oklahoma Blues", the guitar(s) turn up, they get a distorted, almost psychedelic sound and his singing gets harder in style, it's a good jamming sound, just too short.
The slow groover, "I Got A Problem" has and interesting set of lyrics, lines like "I believe God's looking down sideways at me" it has interesting and different lines with some great bursts from Slims harp. "Who's Gonna Pay" is a slow, smoky sounding tune that has a sweet haunting harp line. This is a song about being hurt and wondering who gonna pay the bills, this is another good mix, old style slow groovin' music with modern real life lyrics. Speaking of modern lyrics, there is "WWW" a song about computers, it's a fun 3 ½ minute ditty with some funky and jazzy music. There's a semi "nasty" tune too, "They Call Me Watermelon Slim" has the story of how Slim got his name and has some classic lines in the tradition of risqué blues. Slim implies a lot using watermelon lingo, and with a good dose of harp and a healthy bass bottom. Here is a thought, if your gonna die, "Let It Be In Memphi"s, that's what Slim sings backed by a some super horns, a nice easy to listen to song that rocks. If you are a fan of a good boogie beat you will like "Crusin' " (down the avenue), this is another easy to groove to tune that just isn't long enough.
If you want a song with some real serious thoughts try "Red, White & Blues" a song about how things felt and how the world changed on 911, it may be the last track but it's the most important one, I just can't describe it in words but I really like it.
If you like music with serious modern lyrics and a southern twist then Slim's your man. I think the lyrics of Slim's "Take Off Your Mask" describe it well, "you know the blues ain't just music, it's the life we live & die". Looking for something different? There are many styles of blues such as Chicago, Texas or Delta and now we have Slim's "Oklahoma blues" to add to the list, it's definitely different.
Check Slim out at www.watermelonslim.com
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