Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to pose the newest release, All Blues , from Peter Frampton and I think it's his best effort in years. Frampton Comes Alive was great in it's time but this release shows maturity and poise. Opening with Willie Dixon's I Just Want To Make Love To You , Frampton reworks this classic track without adding a lot of fluff. With Rob Arthur on keys, Adam Lester on guitar, David Labruyere on bass, and Dan Wojciechowski on drums this is a great basic core. Kim Wilson adds strong harp riffs throughout and Frampton shows that he knows more than the basics about blues with his more traditional based guitar riffs. Very nice. On Taj Mahal's She Caught the Katy , Frampton adds even a little more of a funky bottom than Mahal used and the track feels really good. The firm bass work by Glenn Worf and stiff woodblock by  Wojciechowski give this track legs and Frampton uses them nicely to propel fluid guitar riffs. Very nice. Instrumental cover of Carmichael...

I just received the most recent release, Third Degree , from Nine Below Zero , and it's quite entertaining. This release is made up of two sessions, Third Degree Original Release: Simon Boswell Sessions and Glyn Johns' Third Degree Alternative Production: Recorded At Turn Up-Down Studios. Opening with 11+11 , 9 Below Zero is full force into alt rock with bright pop vocals. Wipe Away Your Kiss continues in the pop rock vein firmly establishing this band as a pop rock machine. Why Can't We Be What We Want To Be shows flecks of the earlier work with hints of harp and guitar but it's full ahead pop rock. Tearful Eye has the hook and the beat. This is the best track on the release with strong melodic feel. True Love Is A Crime gets a little bit of the punk edge but retains the polish of a pop band. A cool rocker. Sugarbeat really makes power pop it's motto. A strong pop track it is the catchiest track on the release. Easy Street SE17 has a bit of ska to it reatinin...