With the dying record industry's ever-increasing obsession with the exploitation of young artists, it's clear that sometime soon, these creepy record execs are going to have to troll kindergartens for the next BLINK 182 or MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE. The case for age and experience is made by legendary TRUTH AND JANEY guitarist Billy Lee Janey and his band on their latest album. They might look like a bunch of old dudes, but the wisdom that exudes from every note on "Soul Driver" will make a believer out of anybody. This is the type of tasteful, groovy blues-rock the likes of which the world can never hear enough of.

Bossman Janey's guitar-work brings to mind masters like Hendrix, Beck and SRV, but it shines with vitality all its own, partially due to the great musicianship of his sidemen. Everyone here plays their asses off. For an example of their ownership, one only needs to go to any song on "Soul Driver" and wait for the solo section. Highlights include "Way Down," and "Pop the Top," the later featuring a noisy, almost psychedelic freakout that would send many of the current crop of post-rock darlings back to the woodshed. Further evidence that this band is comprised of "musician's musicians" is in the liner notes, where each member lists off the makes and models of every bit of gear that they utilized on the recording.

While the music biz isn't going to expand its constant narrowing parameters any time soon, the Billy Lee Janeys of the world need not worry or concern themselves with their own relevance. The flavors of the months will come and go, but good, well-performed music will always have an audience.

- Broadbent

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