Title: Better Off Now
This is the quintessential contemporary blues band; white, Middle-American and offering a wide spectrum of tastes and talents. The new album by The Kilborn Alley Blues Band, ‘Better Off Now’ effectively uses historical blues textures, sounds, instruments and themes to deliver a modern blues sound that is familiar, fresh and nearly at once, comfortable.
Nurtured in the traditional a ‘50’s blues environment of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois; KABB cherry picks influences from among the genres finest including; Buddy Guy, B. B. King, Denise LaSalle and others. While the references may not be apparent, what is clear is this band understands the difference between playing a twelve bar and playing some blues. They are seeped and authentic.
While the opening track, “Nothin’ Left to Stimulate” will draw nods of approval and a smirk in a country bitten by a downturn in economics and opportunity, programmers will want to wade much deeper into the albums track listing to find gold. The albums title track, “Better Off” has a Stax R n’ B sensibility. Eric Michaels organ playing on the track, “Tonight” harkens to those halcyon days when blues and R n’ B were played side-by-side in jukeboxes and juke joints across the nation. Joe Asselin’s harmonica on “Keep Me Hangin’ ” provides a traditional Chicago blues track to round out an already strong record.
This is an exceptionally tasty album that opens slowly but is worth the wait. Singer Andrew Duncanson uses a straight-forward style with an appropriate hint of rasp that is especially effective in ballads and extended notes. KABB has been frequently nominated for awards and national recognition; with albums like, ‘Better Off’ it is apparent why critics, radio hosts and venue are paying close attention.
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