We Can Get Together
Delta Groove
It’s nice to watch Gen-X prodigies morph into world-class blues guitarists for the new millennium. Costello, 16 when his debut was released in 1996, possesses the same caliber musicianship as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, Derek Trucks and Joe Bonamassa.
Accepting Los Angeles label Delta Groove’s offer of artistic freedom, Costello returned to his old stomping grounds of Atlanta to churn out this intoxicating swirl of Louisiana/Memphis/R&B-influenced blues topped with a dollop of Stones adventurism. His vocals, greatly improved in the five years since his last release, are like main mentor Howlin’ Wolf’s but sung in a slightly higher register.
Oliver Wood (Wood Brothers, King Johnson) lends classy rhythm work on “Can’t Let Go,” “Going Home,” “All This Time” and “Little Birds,” blending perfectly with Costello’s cleanly executed riffage and short but sweet solos.
“Told Me a Lie,” with its sousaphone and accordion, has a New Orleans feel and features Donnie Mac (aka Donnie McCormick of Eric Quincy Tate fame) playing his famous “chicken coop”: a homemade drum kit built upon a wooden chicken crate, complete with cowbells and a pair of goat horns. McCormick sings background vocals elsewhere, including on his own “Have You No Shame,” a romantic ballad not unlike those Keith Richards used to sing toward the end of any Stones album in the ’80s.
Every tune is a winner, but the traditional “Little Birds” — which Costello says he learned from Levon Helm — is a case of the best being saved for last. It’s the only song on which he plays slide, which is so slippery it sounds like Ry Cooder circa 1969. Open note to Mr. Costello: Feel free to include more of that the next time.
Tracks
1. Anytime You Want
2. Same Old Game
3. Can’t Let Go
4. Told Me A Lie
5. Hard Luck Woman
6. How In The Devil
7. Have You No Shame
8. Going Home
9. All This Time
10. Feel Like I Ain’t Got A Home
11. Little Birds
Total time: 43:03
External links
artist’s link
amazon.com
iTunes Store
