This starts out sounding like the intro music to one of those bad detective shows. Seriously. Like if they bring "In The Heat Of The Night" back to the air here's your theme music. It's that kinda half rockin' stuff with really bad "I'm a badass" lyrics that you can't help but laugh at.

Musically, it isn't terrible but it’s not good either. I’ll bet this guy really likes STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and stuff like that. White-guy rock for dudes who wear golf shirts and think the STONES should keep playing. You know the type. They'll argue that "Goat's Head Soup" wasn't the cutoff. They are also the same people who will listen to Keef ape ROBERT JOHNSON to death again and think it's creative.

The second tune (“Shake Hands with the Devil”) is hittin’ some points but it's just not ballsy enough. If I saw ‘em live I would probably be diggin’ it, but the recording is just lacking. It's just not all there. I almost feel like I'm being too harsh but if it can't even hold a candle to the STONES (the third track sounds like a later STONES tune back from when they couldn't hold a candle to themselves) ZZ TOP, and all the other bands they wish they were then I’d have to say I'm not. The chorus to “Dance Around the Fire” kinda sounds like MUDHONEY. I can listen to it and somewhat enjoy it but it's not like I’ll remember any of the songs after it's over. My advice to these people would be to pick it up a bit and add some fuckin’ spice to the mix man! Live is probably where you need to hear this but I fear it would make me wanna drink Miller and debate whether STEVE WINWOOD had any soul. And if you didn't catch how I put those two together you ain't never been “back in the highlife again”, my friend.

He's got some good guests with him but it doesn’t change a thing. “Howlin’ for You” kinda picks it up but it's still plodding. It reminds me of LOU REED fronting a really boring UNSANE song. YAWN! The last track tries to do traditional reggae and on that note I can listen no longer. These dudes all sound like the boring old men who hang out at CB's and talk about seeing the VOIDOIDS or “That one time that Keef came to see the HEARTBREAKERS. Man that was a hoot!” UGH! On that note, time to listen to some real bluesy stuff and then scour my ears with Brillo pads. WHEW! That was rough! I just wish people would think about the fact that it takes something extra to make your band stick out from the rest of them. Try a few outstanding solos or something heavy like that to draw the listener in. Otherwise you're just background. I'd be willing to bet more than one of these guys did smack heavy at one point or another and that's why they sound like they do. Repeated heroin use makes you boring. Just ask Lou, or the numerously mentioned Keef. Hell! Dig up JOHNNY THUNDERS and enjoy his later rambling steaming piles of rehashed crap. Boring!

- Two Tub Tony

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