The Paladins, a dedicated, hard-working powerblues trio from Southern California,
speak the kind of sweaty, Texas barroom blues rock-talk that's kept Stevie
Ray at the front of the mass-appeal blues circuit but with the kind of fire
and spirit that's made Carl Perkins a hall-of-famer. And although the Paladins
sound is decidedly retro (Dave Gonzales' guitar and voice closely resemble
Stevie Ray's), it's obvious they know their way from Texas to Tennessee, as
they lay out swinging blues-shuffles ("Kiddio"), funky, rhythmic vamps ("What
Side Of The Door Am I On?"), chooglin' freight-train rockers ("Mercy") and
heavy-handed blues walks (Let's Buzz") with complete confidence. And while
Gonzales writes in an often butchered framework, his guitar phrasings and
vocal stylings always come off as vibrant and melodic, the arrangments and
playing crackling with the fresh, honest feel of a live gig. Produced by
two guys who know that the nighttime is the righttime, Steve Berlin and Mark
Linnett, this party platter keeps workin' long after hours. Drop your quarters
in for these future jukebox classics: "I Don't Believe," "Untamed Melod "
and "The Thing."
Review from
|