I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep Living Til I Die, from Monster Mike Welch and it's terrific. I see Mike's clips on Facebook and I have really been looking forward to this and it was worth it... believe me! Opening with title track, Keep Living Til I Die, Welch is really hitting hard with super vocals and stinging guitar riffs. Brad Hellen on bass lays down a solid line, pumped up by Brooks Milgate on keys and heavy drum riffs by Fabrice Bessouat on drums. Excellent opener. On Love Me Baby with it's N.O. style rhythm reinforced by Milgate on piano and Hallen on bass Welch really drives this thing. I mean Welch is choking the crap out of the neck, ringing out every drop on blues and Bessouat anchors the track like lead. Wow! Resurrecting Aretha's, Good To Me As I Am To You as an instrumental, Welch has the lead on guitar and his guitar is just oozing soul. Rich organ and piano by Milgate gives the track serious gospel overtones. Sit back and enjoy. You'll soon get the feeling that Welch never lets up. On Rick Estrin's, I Finally Hit The Bottom, has a great R&B feel and Welch's vocals are stylin'. Let him step up with that guitar swagger that will part you hair. You know what I'm talking about. Lieber and Stroller's rockin', Some Other Guy, is bound to get your feet movin, with a strong piano rhythm and solo. Welch slashes in with a lower octave attack and driving phrasing with Ray Davies like vocal attack. Wrapping the release is Mudcat Ward's deep, Burial Season. This is absolutely Welch's best vocal effort with haunting vocal phrasing and "vocal like" guitar phrasing. I really love this release... possibly my favorite of the year.
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